I mentioned in passing last Sunday that the times where we get together at picnics or potlucks are fun, but that they’re also important. There’s something about sharing around the table that invites people to get to know one another, to listen, to understand and empathize. I know we joke around about food (the core of Baptist theology is the casserole), but there is actually some healthy theology behind that. Jesus talked about the Kingdom as a Banquet or a Feast. His disciples were not known for their austere fasting but for eating together! The holiest symbol and sacrament that Christians have to mark us is the Table. We eat the Lord’s Supper, some even going so far as to insist that God is in the meal! We eat together and we do so to remember our connection even among our differences.
So don’t take these announcements in the bulletins lightly. Potluck is more than just a meal on Wednesday night. We’re eating together to grow together. When the youth call us together to eat, it’s more than just pasta they’re offering. They’re serving community. One of the most fun nights I’ve had with our church family was last year’s dessert auction. I’ve never had so much fun losing in all my life! I’ll be entering a dessert this year, so bring your checkbook because it will be worth whatever you can pay. And it’s all for the teens! You sponsor their trip this summer where they will bond and learn and grow in faith. Community for the sake of building greater community.
Finally, I want to encourage our recent members to come to our next New Member Orientation. There’s a meal and that’s intentional. I want the chance to get to know your stories better and share with you some of our church’s story. It won’t be too intense, but it will be worthwhile. There’s always a reason to eat in the Baptist church. I didn’t even get to mention the Celebrate Spring lunch after worship, but keep an eye out for these opportunities. They’re more than just food and fun. It’s a chance to practice what we preach.