“There is room for us all
And no gift is too small
There is room at the table for everyone
There’s enough if we share
Come on pull up a chair
There is room at the table for everyone”
~Carrie Newcomer
Following my sabbatical last summer, I came back to my new office space located in the church office suite on the main floor. There are many perks to my new location, including seeing so many more church members coming in and out each week (come visit me!), working alongside our stellar volunteers (they are amazing), and being able to pop over to Sally’s office with my dozens of questions each week (she knows everything!). But perhaps two of the most surprising and best things about my new office space is that it came equipped with five pieces of church furniture (1 round table and 4 chairs from our old buildings), *and* I now get to work close to my talented colleagues – so close that we can holler to each other from our desks! This was a gift that I didn’t even realize that my soul needed. Together, my office suite neighbors and I started gathering at that round table in my office for what we’ve affectionately called our “lunch bunch,” and ironically, there was room for us all.
On a regular basis right around the lunch hour, without any words spoken, folks start showing up to eat lunch together at that round table. We bought some bread and PB&J to have on hand for the days when one of us has a rushed morning and doesn’t have time to pack a lunch. There are times there are leftover desserts from a church event, or random Oreos that show up in our space. And it never fails that Mr. Gary is next door in the facilities office brewing a fresh pot of coffee (we don’t think he eats real food – he just drinks coffee *all* the time) Somehow, we always manage to put our resources together to eat a lunch of champions. We quickly found that no gift was too small to make for a big experience.
As our church is in full swing with our summer supper groups, table fellowship has become a grounding spot for many of us. It’s the place where we share our life stories, where we hold one another’s celebrations and grief. It’s the place where laughter and silliness happen. It’s the place where big and creative ideas are born. It’s the place that celebrates the fullness of who each person is and the unique perspectives they bring. For our lunch bunch, it’s the place that has become how we continue to find our rhythms as a team. In a world that feels chaotic and scary, I invite you to pull up a chair for table fellowship. You might be surprised by the beautiful and holy connections.
You are loved!
– Pastor Amy
