A hangout for God

After a few smaller gatherings to eat and dream, The Supper made its CUMC debut. Twenty-two people (including two babies) showed and slurped scrumptious homemade soups: pumpkin black bean and chicken fajita. We had some intentional conversation over dinner about where we were each born, something we do that we'd like to do more of and something we've never done that we'd like to try. I learned lots--even about people I've known for a while! There were people at each table who are primarily Spanish-speakers, so all conversation was in two languages--so great!

After dinner, we used paper, crayons and markers to create a visual piece that expresses how we experience God's presence, then shared our creations with one another. The conversation was rich and there was love in the listening. Here are some photos of folks at work.



What a gift to sit together and attempt to point, individually and collectively, to where God is and what God is about. And how amazing to have folks from different parts of our community, some members of the church, some connected through the Community Table Food Pantry, some friends, some friends of friends, some neighbors. And two people that just showed up randomly, unaware that we were having a meal. We all sat down and ate together.

It's like the words from Paul that we shared during our supper--when we get together, especially with all different kinds of people, we make a pretty good place for God to hang out. It's from Ephesians 2, The Message:

The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in
brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.