“This is what Gods kingdom is like: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, because they said yes. And there’s always room for more. (Rachel Held Evans)
Many people wonder about Common Table ... what is it really? Sometimes we ourselves are not even sure. Descriptions of it over the course of our history have led people to believe that it's a "home group" or a bible study. It can't possibly be a church ... can it? Where are the rows of chairs? There are no kids program, no student ministries, no women's or mens or singles groups. There is no stage or platform. There is no one standing in front. There are no offerings. There is no attendance taken. Most of the marks of what we in our culture have come to identify as a church are evident in our community. That is entirely true. However, we would argue that there is so much more that we do have more closely identifying us with the actual idea of a church community. Rows for us have been replaced by a table central to our identity. It is around that ever expanding table that we share meals, wine, water, bread, laughter, tears, prayer, liturgy, teaching, questions, conflict, and resolution. We conspire to do good. We share life, milestones, grief, and loss. We identify with the Jesus of the gospels more than the contemporary version. We don't listen to scripture, we wrestle with it. This journey has been 10 years in the making ... filled with all of the above. What follows in this blog is a sometimes rambling account of how I came to be the somewhat reluctant pastor of this beautiful mess of a gathering and a defense of our claim to absolutely be striving to be church in its purest form. Welcome to our gathering.
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Dan JacobsThe reluctant pastor... continually being reshaped by this beautiful mess. ArchivesCategories |