In our house when I was growing up, my parents had an old dining room table they purchased when married that still functioned as our formal table for the holidays. When I was very young, I remember being astonished that the table seemed to “magically” grow at Thanksgiving and Christmas. How did that little table with four people around it expand to seat eight or ten? As you know, it was not magic, but leaves that can be inserted into the middle to make room for more people.
Last week we heard an encouraging word from Cress about the need according to God’s grace to keep expanding the “Welcome Table.” There should always be room for family and guests alike. However, most churches with declining membership, and apathy among those who do attend, find little problem with space limitations as rows of pews remain vacant on Sundays. But having chairs ready to welcome and meet the needs of God’s beloved is another story entirely!
You see, chairs require people - people with needs, people maybe not familiar with our church lexicon and traditions, but people who are indeed gifted by God’s spirit, people ready to serve, people who are seen as family not simply guests intruding on the dinner.
This Sunday we will be in conversation about not only expanding the table, but adding “working” chairs as well. Hope you will come and take your seat ready to eat.
See you Sunday,
Steven
Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.