Come to the Table Gatherings

In worship this week, we introduced our new worship series, “Come to the Table,” as we heard about the invitation to community found in the stories of Jesus eating with his companions.  We learned that Jesus’ invitation is wide, and that he constantly invites us to join him at the table, while also urging us to extend the invitation as well.  When we are able to eat together in a community, our connections with each other grow as our relationships deepen.  By spending time in community around the table, we learn how to support one another in the best of times and in the worst of times.

So, let’s gather around the table together!  We are a growing church community with varying life experiences, spiritual paths, and needs for community. There is so much we can learn from each other just by sitting for a meal together.  Thus, in an effort to connect with each other on many different levels, we would like to invite you to join in an experiment centered on building community around the dinner table.

This is an invitation to a small group experience of around 3-7 people, with each group setting its own schedule.  Once groups are finalized, each group will meet around three to four times over the course of the year, about once a quarter.  When gathered, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about whatever you want to talk about, though we can provide some guiding questions to get you started.  The goal is simply to gather and be in community with one another, perhaps even getting to know someone new.

By that measure, these meals don’t need to be formal or fancy, though they can be if that’s what the group wants.  It’s up to each group to decide when and where the group will meet, and what kind of meal they’ll share.  Some groups could meet during coffee hour after a Sunday worship service.  Some groups could meet in someone’s home or rotate through the group’s homes.  Some groups might like to meet at a restaurant, while others might find it fun to meet with a meal on the go during a hike.  The possibilities are endless, limited only by the desires and consensus of the group.

If you’re interested in experimenting with us, please fill out this Google form.  We’ll use the submissions to match groups together, with a goal of starting the gatherings in late October or early November.  Sharon Hobbs will be organizing the groups, so if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to her at shobbs862@aol.com.