Welcome to our table
Welcome to Community Dinner, where we build spiritual community with friends and family around a shared meal and care for our neighbors by living a life of welcome.
The “As we gather” and “As we go” prayers can be read by one person or everyone together. If together, one person can read the regular type and the group can read the italics in blue together. When you see a video, tap play and the file will open. To return to the guide, just tap the “x” in the top right corner.
As we gather…
We gather around this shared meal and these conversations
daring to hope that you are with us and for us.
We bring all that we are, our own stories, struggles and joys.
to know more of your love for us and share it with each other.
May you bless the ones who prepared, packaged and organized this meal.
May their gift open the space for us to hear you welcoming us to the table. Amen.
Greeting song
Now take a few minutes during the greeting song “Where I Belong” by X Ambassadors to tell greet and welcome someone!
Dinner and Conversation
Tonight we taste the goodness of a meal together and connect our lives with God and one another.
- Are you an organizing list maker or curator of messy piles?
- Share about a not so smart choice you made that you can laugh about now.
Centering song
Listen to “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury to center your thoughts and emotions for tonight’s story.
Storytelling
Todays story is from Lamentations 3:19-24. The story behind the words sharing about deepest loss and struggle.
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom.
I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
Reflection
Conversation
- Share with each other where you see yourselves in this story - whether it’s the Jewish poet’s story or John Newton’s story.
- Are you in a place of lament? or hope? Neither? Or are you straddling both?
- What does this story help you understand about God?
- And who can you share it with this week?
Pray together
Take turns sharing how the group can pray for each other in the coming week and after each person shares, say together:
Lord, hear our prayer.
As we go…
God, when we find ourselves in a time of great sorrow
give us the gift of tears that moves us beyond sadness into compassion.
Inspire and empower us not only to cry about others
but also to weep with them.
Teach us to lament, so that we do more than regret our circumstances;
we resolve to cooperate with you to change them. Amen.
Credits:
Created with images by Riedelmeier - "river rocks stack" • Diggeo - "water reflections waterscape" • 12659751 - "waterfall longexposure volcanic" • petrrgoskov - "Healthy salad, leaves mix salad with mangold, spinach and vegetables in the plate over wooden background, top view. Food background." • Jon Anders Wiken - "listen think speak text engraved in wooden signpost outdoors in nature during sunset and pink skies." • Pok_Rie - "sunrise jetty lake" • Natallia - "Raking fall leaves with rake in the yard. spring clean in garden back yard. Autumn season. Seasonal work. Lawn Care in Winter" • 강춘성 - "road pavement woman"