01/09/2024
From the beginning, one of our biggest desires has been to embody the diversity that we see in our city and most importantly, in the Kingdom of God. We want to build strong bridges across communities, genders, ethnicities, and generations. The fellowship of Christ welcomes strangers to become family, and though we strive to reflect this in each of our Sunday gatherings, we wanted to create environments that allowed for the intimacy of conversation over a meal with friends.
Our Tables Ministry gathers groups of three people (spouses can attend as one) across a spectrum of faith experience, age, and background. These groups will meet once per month to share four key things: a joy, a struggle, a meal, and a word.
We believe that by sharing these things in groups together, relationships can be formed on the foundation of Christ, who dwells richly with us. So we gather at a place Jesus did for much of his ministry, a table, and we do what we know builds a healthy community. We rejoice with those rejoicing. We weep with those weeping. And because Christ is present, and His Spirit is within us at these tables, we speak His words of comfort to one another, sharing verses or moments in Scripture that come to mind as we listen.
There isn’t a magic formula to this. Nor is there pressure to be extra vulnerable or exceptionally perceptive or boldly prophetic. With friendship as the basis for these tables, each person present gets a chance to share, listen, and provide and receive the comfort of Christ.
Each month groups will be shuffled again to create more avenues of connection. Our hope is that out of these tables enduring and substantive relationships would emerge, deepening worship at The Garden and strengthening the ministry and testimony of our church.
This Sunday we’re offering the first experience of Tables after service, 12-1:30PM. Lunch will be provided, and you can register for free at bit.ly/gardentables, which will help us get a head count and thoughtfully match you with a group. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!