This past Wednesday we gathered for our third dinner at a local restaurant. Our theme this month is different faiths, and this night we were talking about Judaism, Islam, and Baha’i faith. One of our folks had never even heard of the Baha’i faith, so I was googling the answers beyond my surface knowledge when a lovely woman from the next table came over. We had met briefly when we first arrived because her son had some of the dinosaur toys at the restaurant and he kindly offered to share a few with our kiddos. When she came over this time, it was to tell us she had been eavesdropping and she wondered who we were and what we were about because she was Baha’i. We quickly invited her family to join us and asked if we could ask her some questions. We were here to learn, and what better way to learn about a faith than from a practitioner of that faith? She was very open and quite willing to share her faith with us. I played with her son while she talked with the rest of the group. Since our table was the only one with kiddos we got all the dinosaurs together for an extravagant play session. She started asking us questions about who we were and what kind of a church this was. As her son got less interested in the dino party and more interested in going home she tossed off a quick, “I’ll see you next week here” and was out the door. She has already found us on Facebook.
This is part of why we meet in this restaurant, to have a table where anyone interested in what we are talking about can join us. This is the work we do, meeting where people are in ways that fit their lives. The holy happens in sharing a meal with strangers who become friends and learning from each other as we learn more about ourselves. Plus we play with dinosaurs.
In the United Methodist Church we talk about the open table, which means that communion is open to everyone. We don’t have restrictions about confession or right belief before sharing in the eucharist. Our Book of Worship states” All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited. to receive the bread and cup. We have no tradition of refusing any who present themselves desiring to receive. At SFC we practice an open table, not only for communion, but for all of our work. Any who desire to come and listen or share are welcome as we grow together and experience God in our midst.
-Eilidh
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| Dinosaur Party |
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