Gathering around tables at Messy Church
Rev. Luke Edwards, a big supporter of Messy Church in Western North Carolina and a previous Board member for Messy Church USA , brilliantly describes “the beauty of Christ’s Table. What happens when people gather around tables at Messy Church? Are they creating something they can take home to remember the scripture? Are they playing a game during the welcome time waiting for more people to arrive? We know that at Messy Church, everyone sits down together for a meal. Food is always a part of Messy Church whether it be breakfast or dinner or tacos or sandwiches. I wonder what relationships are being formed at all of these examples? What conversations are occurring?
Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church, writes about the importance of the meal in Messy Church :Fresh Ideas for Building a Christ-Centered Community. (IVP,2017)
“The meal feeds body and soul as the congregation sits around tables or picnic blankets as equals and breaks bread (or pasta or potatoes) together in a nonverbal expression of the feast of the kingdom of heaven, where all are accepted and everyone belongs without a need to earn their place or fight for recognition and status.”
What is your favorite table story from your Messy Church?
I have many favorite stories but if I would have to choose just one, it would be this one. It happened a long time ago but I still remember it really clearly. We celebrated communion for the first time at Messy Church during Lent one year. Following the celebration time with communion, I was sitting with a dad and his preschool age daughter. I don’t remember what as served that night but we had bread. The girl kept dipping her bread in her glass of water. Dad asked, “why are you dipping your bread”, to which she excitedly replied- “I’m having communion!”
Share your story by writing me at roberta@messychurchusa.org.
Here are some recent table pictures sent in for the 12 days of Messy Christmas! Enjoy!
