Pastor’s Corner

I’ve been thinking a lot about “Open Table” lately, perhaps because in these last days of August I have more time for reflection on our weekly lectionary themes. I guess I anticipate the coming frenzy of September by lingering in the long days of summer – a luxury, to be sure.

My reflection on this theme began with the passage from Luke describing Jesus’ dinner in the home of a Pharisee. He was an invited guest, but apparently with some reluctance. His host and the other guests were suspicious of him, unsure of how this ‘country bumpkin’ rabbi from the provinces would behave in the presence of so many sophisticates there in the Big City. Yet, even in the midst of their fear, they invited him, and (sort of) welcomed him.

That reflection continued with remembrance of our Baptism of Braden Francis Walker during our worship not long ago, and morphed into a veritable inventory of ways that we are a congregation of “open tables.”

When we celebrate the sacrament of Baptism, we also have an “open table” approach. We mostly baptize infants, but occasionally an older child or an adult is welcomed into our midst. We don’t require any tests, or impose any restrictions. Instead, we welcome all who wish to come, promising them our love and support as they grow in their faith and determine their own way in the community – whatever that way may be.

It’s similar to our other sacrament, Holy Communion, where we have a literal “open table.” These words always appear in our Bulletin on Communion Sundays: “At South Congregational Church we offer an open communion. Anyone who wishes to receive the bread and grape juice is welcome to do so. You need not be a member of this church, or meet any test, or subscribe to any creed. You are already goodness and light in God’s sight.” We use the same words every month, and we mean them, but sometimes in their ‘ordinariness’ we lose sight of their meaning.

Another way we are an Open Table is in many of our activities. Throughout the year, our church is a veritable “beehive” of activities, all of them open to all who wish to participate. From theatrical presentations of the Piedmont Players, to joint celebrations with our sister congregations in the Waterbury Congregational Union, to our many festivals and ‘just plain ol’ church suppers, our tables are always open to all. And, we always have respectful availability of “scholarships” for those of limited means.

In countless other ways, we are God’s people, setting an Open Table wherever we are. In our support of GWIM, Waterbury Baptist Ministries, Acts4 Ministries and other community-wide services, we open our tables of abundance to those in need. We ask nothing in return – we know that our reward is in the doing. Setting – and being – and Open Table is richly rewarding in itself. Thanks be to God!

Bob McGrath