May-cember and The Table
One of our highest priorities in our Table faith community is doing life together, and May seems to bring a lot of life doing. From choir concerts to graduation parties, birthday celebrations, and more, the families of The Table saw an extra lot of each other outside of our Sunday worship services. There’s a reason it’s referred to as “May-cember”!
In addition to showing up to support and celebrate each other, we had some opportunities to serve the community around us as well. In early May, several of the ladies of The Table attended a lunch at Matthew House in west Mesa to learn more about the work of Phoenix Refugee Connection, and ways we can support our refugee and immigrant neighbors. We enjoyed catered Afghani cuisine and received information on tutoring children, teaching English to adults, and partnering with new families in friendship as they acclimate to their new surroundings.
We also made another trip to Savanna House to fellowship with the memory care residents. This was a great experience for all ages. We enjoyed a wild game of balloon tennis, fun stories and a sing-a-long.
Both experiences were such a solid reminder to all of us of the value God puts on people and to always be asking ourselves how we would want to be treated if we were to find ourselves in their shoes (Matthew 7:12).
Throughout the month, God just showed up all over the place, present with us as we were present with each other. Prayers of healing were prayed in our favorite coffee shop…and answered. Troubles were shouldered together over loaded french fries on a Friday night. Kids and adults saw symbols and reminders of Jesus in a $5 movie about sheep who were also detectives. And, singing “He’s got the whole world in his hands” took on a new sweetness when belted out in a memory care home rec room.
Money given through tithes, offerings, and gifts from supporters just like you helped cover groceries for two families going through medical hardship, as well as begin kicking off our Back to School drive for two of our neighborhood Title 1 schools.
If you would like to participate in the drive over the summer, you can drop off black Expo wipe board markers to any of our Table gatherings, or order from the Amazon wishlist and items will be shipped directly to Pastor Christy to drop off at the school.
I know the idea of being part of a faith community and being committed to a church congregation can be scary for some people. And there’s usually good reasons for that. Sometimes it can feel easier to just do the Jesus thing on our own. But I don’t believe a solo faith journey is what we’re made for. God wants us to wrestle through the good, the bad, and the ugly of life together. We were made for each other. I pray that wherever you are, you find the people who will follow Jesus arm and arm with you. And, if you’re in Mesa, Arizona, still looking for that group, we always make room for more.
