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
