– Kim R. Smith, Sound District Lay Leader
There is something profoundly joyful about sitting around a table with people in fellowship. Close your eyes and think of holiday dinners as your loved ones are gathered around you. Let your mind wander to those nights you invited friends over and shared a meal together as you laughed until the early hours of the morning. Even those nights when the carpool lines followed by the music or athletic practices ended with a bag of fast food around the table together as you talked about your days. The table is a place of connecting our lives one with the other.
Many congregations across the Sound District welcome the community to their tables for a meal and fellowship. Providing the basic need of a meal is crucial, but there is so much more than simply filling the stomach temporarily. Often, in our minds, we think of those in financial need when we consider serving meals. Yet, there are so many beyond the financially poor who are struggling and could benefit from a meal together with loving hearts.
A single parent who is exhausted could use someone to hold their small children as they simply rest and eat a meal. Single military members who are missing their homes could benefit from being around a supportive community. The elderly, who are alone most of the day, instead of fixing a sandwich as they watch the evening news, could laugh with others and interact as they share a warm meal. Teens who are raising themselves need to be around loving and nurturing adults, and they need to eat balanced meals. If you think there aren’t any in your community, I encourage you to look again in new places because I promise you there are many in all our towns and cities.
Around tables, relationships are built. People who have felt invisible and alone are seen and are part of a support system. Laughter, tears, and frustrations are welcome at those tables. As are love and prayer…forgiveness and acceptance. Just as our communion tables are open to all those who want to repent and be closer to Christ tomorrow than we were today, maybe our dinner tables should be as well.
There are so many creative options for bringing people together around a table. Some churches with early services have breakfast together before worship begins that is open to the community. Others have regularly scheduled meals that are free and open to the public. Creative congregations have small groups and consistent gatherings around tables in homes that help to foster loving and nurturing relationships that will stand the test of time.
It doesn’t matter whether you are serving scrambled eggs for breakfast, soup, and sandwiches for lunch, or tacos on a Tuesday for dinner; the connections that are made once hearts walk through your doors are where the love of God takes hold. We must feed the stomachs and the souls.
Consider how you might expand from your inwardly focused sharing of meals together toward an outward focus of wrapping new hearts in the love of Christ as they gather around your tables.
“God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it.” Hebrews 6:10 MSG