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Food is a necessity of life — and a meal shared with others can be life for the soul.

Our human interactions with and around food are a universal experience and are likewise found throughout scripture.  Sometimes those meals are life-changing; from Abraham and Sarah setting a feast before three strangers who will share good news, to a Passover feast eaten hurriedly in anticipation of God’s saving work, to the meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion…

In our lives today, meals are both an ordinary experience and one with the potential to experience God’s presence is made tangible.  How might we lean into that potential, both in our the lives of our homes/families and among our friends and wider community?

Some quick thoughts:

• Use a meal as an opportunity not only to connect with friends but to get to know new people.  Invite someone you don’t know as well.
• If family meal time has become scattered – what would it look to prioritize that time at least a few times a week?
• Another building block would be to use conversation starters or short devotional times as part of the meal.
• Remember that at the core of this is loving one another where they are at.  It is important to stay open to spiritual opportunities and deeper conversations – but the goal is not “getting people to come to church” or a aiming for some kind of conversion conversation.  Let God do that work.  People are not projects for us to work on, but are beloved by God whatever happens or doesn’t happen in a specific moment.

A quick note – obviously much of this is more difficult in the time of Covid; particularly outside of the people in our immediate circles.  The CDC has provided updated guidance for small gatherings of fully vaccinated people, and the possibilities that opens up.  For Christians, the law of love of neighbor and care for those most vulnerable/at risk, continues to take precedent in guiding our choices and actions.  In the midst of this, let us continue to think and act creatively so that we are connecting with others while caring for one another’s health. 

Ideas and Resources for Gathering around the Table:

(links provided are not a blanket endorsement of all content and perspectives found within them; take/adapt what is useful)

Small Group Meal Resources:

Meal Ideas — something to get some friends together and try: http://sneakyspoons.com/2012/01/small-group-meal-ideas.html

Incorporating meals into existing small groups: https://www.smallgroups.com/articles/2009/sharing-meal.html

Family Resources: 

Simple conversation starters provided monthly by the UMC https://www.umc.org/en/content/get-them-talking-discussion-starters-for-families

50 Table Talk Questions (general questions that open up conversation)

The challenge of leaning into difficult subjects around the dinner table:

Religion and Politics at the Dinner Table: Challenging the Old Maxim

Tips for Having Challenging Conversations – Some really good practical advice here