Welcome to the Official page of Delavan United Church of Christ Congregational Community Dinner Table
We host a free community meal the last Thursday of every month starting at 5pm. Community Dinner table Mission Statement, Vision, and Goals
“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3:10). Mission
The mission of the Communit
y Dinner Table is to provide a regular monthly nutritious and enjoyable meal for individuals and families experiencing economic and/or food scarcity at no cost to them, to have available toiletries available to take as needed, to
offer to-go sack lunches, and to create community and discipleship through inclusion and assimilation of our guests into our church community. Vision
Our vision is to foster Christian discipleship by dismantling the classism that is built into the system of traditional charity which keeps those who are presently or chronically poor in that position (receiver) while those who have more remain entrenched in their position
(giver) thus entrenching the classic societal structure of the ‘haves’ versus the ‘have not’s’ with all its associative adverse effects. And eventually, poor people start to see themselves as being defined by their needs, instead of their potential as fellow human beings. When we are asked to help a person in need, the first thing we should consider is this:
Will what I do build this person up to their full potential, or am I just reinforcing the perception that I’m the giver and the other person is the receiver? Just as Jesus looked beyond social class or status, so too do we seek to build up to gifts, talents, and potential of all human beings with whom we are blessed into relationship. Goals (in stages of relationship building):
Intentionally fostering an environment of trust and acceptance
Developing on-going and deepening relationships with those we serve
Inviting those we serve to become servers through assisting in all phases of preparation of the monthly meal (set-up, meal planning, meal preparation, clean-up, advertising, and hosting). Create an atmosphere where relationships lead to full integration in the life and work of the church. Create an environment where each person becomes aware of their own tacit participation in maintaining systemic injustice through self-awareness and education and actively seeks to remedy this in one’s self, community and beyond. Forming ecumenical and community partnerships
