Place at the Table

WELCOME to the Lenten Welcome Ministry Blog!

This blog is a space for members and friends of FPC to continue our journey to grow our welcome, and to expand our table.  Many home dining room tables have a couple of leaves to grow the table when guests are invited to dinner.  At FPC, are we prepared, open and eager to add more leaves to grow our table at FPC,  to expand our welcome, and to affirm and embrace ALL - especially LGBTIA+ persons?  Is our table set for EVERYONE born?

"All are Welcome" on a church sign is just not enough for most marginalized people to risk entering church doors. Historically, the message received is “All are Welcome" if you look like us, think like us, and act like us. Yet, Jesus prepared a place at His Table for ALL - for everyone born!

• “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

As in any life journey, there are times such as this when we are called to intentionally step up the pace, to speak out, and answer the call to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God just as  Esther did:

• “For if you keep silence at a time like this, relief and deliverance will rise from the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

It is  time for us to do the intentional work of digging up the hard packed soils of our lives that can keep our hearts closed to marginalized communities. Maya Angelou is quoted as saying, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”  Let’s do better to welcome ALL to enter our doors, and then welcome ALL to the place that we have already set for them at our table.

“And God will delight when we are creators of justice, and joy, compassion and peace.

Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy.”

New resources and voices will be added frequently to this blog. ALL are welcome to share comments, resources and personal stories! Join in the journey!

With Great Joy!
Cheryl Klink