The Open Table

This is a picture of the beginning of Eucharist at our church, Grace Episcopal, from about four years ago.  Reverend Kit is at the center of the altar, with lay episcopal ministers at her sides.  Pat Dell is on her right, and Donald Holland on her left, who has since become a priest, currently at the parish in Douglas.  The picture was taken by David Rollison, a great church leader, and a friend of mine, who passed a year ago. David and his wife, Sarah, were two of the first people I met from this area, and always made me feel welcome and accepted.

I love many things about our church.  But first and foremost was the concept of the open table.  Other churches refer to this as Communion or The Lord's Supper.  We and the Catholics are about the only denominations that do it at virtually every service, including weddings and funerals.

Our Eucharist is open to everyone. not just members of our parish, but to all believers everywhere.  Anyone who has baptized can join.

We make no distinctions based on race, economic or social position.  We do not judge anyone.  People who are gay, including those in loving, committed same-sex relationships, are welcome.

Even those who have genuinely sinned, if they are confessional and repentant, can participate in the open table.  We are all sinners, of one kind or another.  It is hard to keep God at the center of our busy, secular lives.  It is not always easy to walk in the footsteps of Christ.  But he is a forgiving God, open to us trying to do better, always accepting of us and our humanity.

Inclusivity has its price.  Not everyone is open and tolerant.  As the Church opened more and more to the LGBT community, some left.  The diversity was just too much for them.  They could not get past seeing homosexuality as a sin. I don't know what to say.  We are all at different stages in our faith journey.  I believe, over time, more and more will come around.  Their eyes will slowly open.  The power of God and love is just that strong.

I have sometimes thought it would be good to be in a church that just had the Christian Left in it.  But I have come to love and respect even that aspect of our church's diversity.  We have a variety of political views in our parish, and I'm not sure I would have it any other way.  Being around people of various sides helps you have a better appreciation for those whose views are different than your own.  You're confronted with the reality that somehow people who listen to sermons of tolerance and acceptance, of the importance of taking care of the poor and disadvantaged, can still wind up voting for someone as despicable as Trump.  I don't know how it happens, but it does, and you have to learn to be tolerant and accepting yourself.  It's one thing to view Trump voters as the deplorable others.  It's another when they are in your midst, and you know them to be good and decent people outside of voting for that repulsive clown.  It's not easy to reconcile, but it's better to see them as real people and not just abstracts.

Openness and diversity are very important.  Even in ways that challenge my thinking and prejudices.

The Episcopal Church is not perfect.  It doesn't pretend to be.

I do believe, however, the open table is the perfect symbolism for the true greatness and strength of the Christian faith.

Join us, if you so choose.

All are welcome at God's table.