The Call:

God calls us from darkness into the light.
God calls us out from fear and despair.
God calls us to the table where our thirsts are satisfied, our minds renewed, our spirits given power.
Come to the table. Come, share, and be filled.

Convening in the Spirit: "Come Unto Me"

Centering Prayer

O Holy One,
Source of life and end of life, Circle us with your spirit,
Give us courage to speak, Patience to listen,
Wisdom to understand, And power to act in your peace.
Amen and Amen.

Readings:

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. (I Corinthians 4:1)
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies. (I Peter 4:7-11)

Conversation: Stewards at Table

· Practice hospitality
· Respect each voice
· Listen to each person's hunger
· Engage in appreciative inquiry
· Encourage persuasion and sharing
· Seek covenant in conversation
· Celebrate God's creative work

Song: "The Church Is Like a Table"

Prayers of the People

Response: "Lead us with your Spirit, O God"

The Memory

With towel and basin, you showed us the way.
With questions and stories you opened our minds,
With food and with wine we tasted your future,
With song and with shout we danced in your circle,
With grateful hearts we came to your table.
Your mystery is with us today.

"So build us a table and tear down the walls.
Christ is our host, There is room for us all."

The Thanks

For lives unique, for lives together, we give You thanks.
For the mercies of others, our hearts are filled with gratitude.
For food and drink that fills our bodies, words and images our minds, hugs and handshakes reassuring, we give hearty thanks.
For Your circle of unending love, we lift our song in thankful praise.

"So build us a table and tear down the walls.
Christ is our host, There is room for us all."

The Nurture

We have a new life, a new birth, a new being in the circle of God's love and conversation. We gather at the table of God's wisdom and nurture, a promise of the banquet in God's new Creation yet to come.

"Enter into the mystery of life at God's table."

The Hope

O Gracious Giver of Life,
You alone are holy,
Come and rightly govern us,
Give us today all the food that we need,
Release us from debt as we release our debtors.
Save us in our time of trial, and deliver us from evil powers.
For in your justice is our constitution,
In your power is our peace. AMEN.

Blessing:

Go now as a steward at the table of God's mysteries - the mystery that invites us to life, to love, and to reconciliation. Be of good cheer, God's life remains among us, within us and before us.
AMEN!

Song: "Jerusalem, My Destiny"

*

 Close Window