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.
For prayers, one person can read the regular type and the group can read the bold 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.
Greeting song
Say hello to someone and ask them “what’s going on with your week?”
Sing together: Stand by Me
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.
Centering song: Be Still
Dinner and Conversation
Tonight we taste the goodness of a meal together and connect our lives with God and one another.
- What’s your favorite or most disliked movie ending?
- What is something that is different in your life this year from last?
Storytelling
Job
Todays story is about Job, an Old Testanent character who endured a lifetime of loss in a very short time.
Reflecting
- Are you in a season of celebration or suffering?
- How do you feel about God and what he seems to be doing or not doing in your life?
- What questions do you have or even demand that he answer?
- And is there something you know for sure that can anchor you?
- Do you hear an invitation to trust him?
Prayer Stations
Today we set aside time to rest in the presence of God and really reflect on the season that we are in. Here are a few pure exercises to help guide you. But really, the encouragement is to just take time to listen, wait, and expect God to show up.
Lord, hear our prayers.
I am here
Celtic Circle Prayer
This prayer is meant for quiet and stillness and creating space to listen for God. Take these moments to sit with tension or joy, struggle or wonder and just be still in sacred presence.
Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth. And I will see him…
Job 19:25
As we go…
God, when things go terribly wrong in life
Remind me there is no question, concern or complaint that you cannot handle
Help me to start with what I know to be true even in the midst of the struggle.
and let that anchor me
In the middle of losses I don’t understand and despair that persists
Invite me to trust you. Amen.
Credits:
Created with images by Riedelmeier - "river rocks stack" • Diggeo - "water reflections waterscape" • 12659751 - "waterfall longexposure volcanic" • Jon Anders Wiken - "listen think speak text engraved in wooden signpost outdoors in nature during sunset and pink skies." • RitaE - "pumpkin soup soup hokkaido soup ginger" • photosforyou - "man think throughts" • 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" • Pexels - "candles flames candlelights" • 강춘성 - "road pavement woman"