Tables

Posting some old drafts...

At the church that Dan and I now attend, they don't have traditional "small groups" where people gather during the week for a Bible study. Instead they do something they call "Tables." Which is local gatherings of people to share a meal together, usually dinner, and just hang out. It's an opportunity to get to know one another better and also to have a space to invite other friends and neighbors and non-believers into a setting that doesn't center around a reading or study. It's all about fellowship.

Fellowship around food is a really big part of the church in general and why there is always brunch prepared after church on Sundays. Dan and I found it so much easier to connect with people and build relationships during these meal times as opposed to just having to approach people before or after service. It's a much more natural way of getting to know someone while you both stuff your faces with pancakes :o).

Since we started going to this church in late fall we were too late to join a weekly Table but we were soon asked if we wanted to HOST one in OUR home after the start of the year. Initially I was hesitant since one, we'd never been to a Table, and two, I get a little nutzo with hosting things. But before we knew it we were suddenly co-hosting a bi-weekly Table gathering at our apartment. The couple sharing the co-hosting responsibilities became fast friends as our first few gatherings were just the four of us.

But soon we had a full house with up to 15 people, including kids, all crammed into our living room eating tacos and throwing bananagram game pieces and Uno cards all over the place. I surprised myself with how much I actually enjoyed hosting it in our apartment. It didn't bother me that I no longer had control of our space and it helped me mentally prepare for having a kid of our own jumping on the couch and getting into everything. It actually made me happy to see our space used that way.

Of course, plastic cups are always entertaining too...

Everyone was always willing to bring food to share to round out the meal and it was a fun time to chat, play games, and interact with the kids. We had a blast and were sad when the semester ended.

Since Tables ended, our co-hosts moved to Portland so we're sad about that but we see everyone else nearly every week at church. 

We are looking forward to hosting again although the format of Tables is changing and we don't know what that is yet but surely more fun ahead.