the weblog of Alan Knox

Pulling up a chair at the table of the Lord

Posted by on Nov 1, 2012 in blog links, fellowship, ordinances/sacraments | 5 comments

There have been some really good blog posts lately about “the table of the Lord.” I want to highlight a few of them.

Kathleen at “Church in a Circle” writes about the table in her post “Tomorrow’s church – Part 5: Food and fellowship.” At one point, she writes, “The act of sharing food draws us together. It relaxes us, and creates an intimate space to talk and interact. It ‘greases the wheels’ of conversation and fellowship.” Then she connects this conversation and fellowship to the meal that we call “the Lord’s Supper.”

Jamie at “The Cost of Community” also writes about the table in his post “At The Table of Belonging.” He says, “The start of our time together is our shared meal- a potluck dinner where everyone (who is able) brings something to add to the table where we all partake. For me, this shared table is the center piece of our worship together.” I think he describes a great way of meeting together around the table.

Finally, David at “Reclaiming the Mission” writes about extending the table in his post “The Table in the Neighborhood.” He begins with this thought-provoking statement: “One important pathway to mission in the neighborhood is ‘the meal.’ This is what I have been learning these past many years.” The remainder of this post is how meals have allowed him to connect with his neighbors.

I’d encourage you to read each of these posts, and join in the discussion at each site.

Then, I wonder, how have you seen God use meals (and especially meals among believers – i.e., the table of the Lord)?

5 Comments

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  1. 11-1-2012

    Alan,

    Such an interesting topic! I can honestly say that food and fellowship go hand-in-hand, as you well know. There’s just something about the physical braking of bread with other believers that seems so appropriate.

    As a personal chef, I can tell you that my best conversations have taken place over a warm stove, not only with the lost but also with the saved. The kitchen becomes like a sanctuary, a “church” if you will, and the family gravitates towards it like moths to a flame.

    Communion, as you have mentioned in past postings, should not simply be bread and wine, (although this is a part of it), but more so the laughter, fellowship, and bonding that takes place when believers come together. Indeed!

  2. 11-1-2012

    Thanks for mentioning my post, Alan. I really enjoyed reading Jamie’s post, too – especially the images of popcorn and casserole, muffins for dinner and pizza for dessert. God’s ways are not Lways our ways, but they are often more fun and delightful!

    I’m encouraged to read of the positive experiences others are having around the shared meal. God really did design us to slow down and live life together, not book more program’s into our frenetically paced schedules.

    Blessings,

    – Kathleen

  3. 11-1-2012

    Donald,

    I didn’t realize you are a personal chef. I like what you said about communion being “laughter, fellowship, and bonding that takes place when believers come together.”

    Kathleen,

    Thanks for a great post! This is so important: “God really did design us to slow down and live life together, not book more program’s into our frenetically paced schedules.”

    -Alan

  4. 11-2-2012

    I know of a church that has had a meal after the Sunday gathering for at least 30 years…all organized and distributed among the groups on a rotating schedule…cook, pray,clean. It makes a great way to have more extended conversations with people you may not know.

    In a recent church I got disgusted at the moans from the leaders about the idea of having a potluck more than once every 4 months or so, so I offered to do the ENTIRE meal for the 30-40 folks once each month. Perhaps it is the gift of administration or organization, but it was quite easy…one month it was a large pot of spaghetti (6-8 lbs.) and a large pot of sauce (made from institutional-sized cans of tomato paste and a couple pounds of hamburger. Salad was a couple heads of iceberg lettuce cut up with dressing. If anyone wanted to help they were ALLOWED to bring some dessert or help wash dishes. The next month month it might be baked beans and hot-dogs. I wouldn’t guess it cost us more than $10 or $15 a month and it really wasn’t much work with a little bit of planning. If someone didn’t like the menu, they were free to skip out to McDonald’s or bring something else to share. After doing that for two years I concluded that it contributed to getting to know one another…and free food seemed to draw a few extra folks on those weeks. The main thing taking the initiative did was take the (perceived) burden of the ones who had been tasked with it in the past…probably the ladies…perhaps because there was a pride thing instilled from childhood. The mess-hall take-it-or-leave-it perspective eliminated a lot of the uncertainty. I recommend it.

  5. 11-5-2012

    Tom,

    That’s a great example! I love how you demonstrated that the food doesn’t have to be extravagant or elegant. The important part is eating together, not what you’re eating. Hopefully, more people will follow your example.

    -Alan