On The Table

Hi church,

Welcome to Lent. In the Christian year, Lent is a time of self-examination, of turning an appraising eye inward and asking God's help in seeing - and working on - those parts of ourselves that are in need of further transformation. Often this takes the form of simplification ("giving something up"), or the adoption of a new spiritual practice, or just a simple inventory of our habits and patterns to examine where we're living as we believe God would have us live, and where we aren't.

In Common Table's short history, we've developed a few traditions that help us, as a community, approach Lent in much the same way. So we've often simplified our worship services and our shared meals, given up Chipotle (giving the money to somebody who needs it), or adopted a new daily practice of reflection on Lenten art or devotions (thanks, Ben!) We've often hearkened back to our church's "Plowing Under" period - a time of simplicity and discernment in the context of an open-ended leap of faith.

This year, we've been talking with folks at New Hope Fellowship, a wonderful congregation made up of over 50% homeless folks, about a plan for partnership between our two communities - a partnership that might allow Common Table to do all of these things, and more, together with New Hope, as we journey jointly through Lent to Easter.

Please join us at Jammin' Java at 10am on Sunday, March 1st, as we begin to explore what that journey might look like.

And may God bless us all during this season of repentance, forgiveness, and grace.

Peace,
Mike Croghan

Labels: lent, New Hope