things. But I ask my congregation to give of themselves for justice, too. T at is a signifi cant “ask” of people who are comfortable, content, and not [yet] personally touched by the injustices of the world.
To suggest faithful churchgo-
ers should exchange cozy, reas- suring theology for a theology that cannot be still while injustice exists is not popular! But when we fall in love with hymns like this one, and sing them over and over again, then stop to think about what it is we have been singing, a song can be an important piece of what leads us to seek justice.
The open kitchen table In other words, this hymn
brings beauty to the search for justice. It is one thing to sing it in our familiar sanctuary as we off er bread and juice to people who have worshiped together for a gen- eration or more. It is quite diff er- ent to realize that, as this compel-
CI
ling melody has seeped into our souls, the words snuck in, too, and are now demanding to be lived outside the walls of the church.
T is hymn also makes me
think more deeply about table fellowship. Jesus’ practice of shar- ing meals with outcasts and those who considered him an enemy was powerful. For too long I limited those stories to days gone by. I thought the open table was only the communion table. With these lyrics working in my spirit, I started to wonder if my table should have a place for everyone born. What would it be like to wel- come absolutely anyone to dinner at my kitchen table? What if every table where bread (or tortillas or injera or ...) is broken was to be an open table? What would happen to my relationships if my table was open? What would happen to me? I would more oſt en be in the presence of Christ. I would bring delight to God and joy into my
CC C CW Forming Christian Worshipers
En la mesa de Dios/At God’s Table is a bilingual (Spanish-English) children’s book exploring the richly symbolic practice of the Lord’s Supper as a multi-faceted event that nourishes our faith and stirs our imagination to see the gifts of grace and signs of God’s ongoing work in our lives and God’s world.
This book offers a wonderful invitation to children and adults alike to engage with the Lord’s Supper. Bright illustrations, warm colors, and down-to-earth verse in Spanish and English all make this an incredibly appealing introduction to one of our most powerful acts of worship—eating bread, drinking the cup, and receiving God’s love and triumph over our fears, trials, and death itself. Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt University
own life and home. I know be- cause I have practiced this in small ways already, and I am called to more, too. Finally, “For Everyone Born”
reminds me that justice and joy are intimately interconnected. When joy is shared, it multiplies exponentially. When joy is ex- panded to include a person or a group not formerly welcome, my joy is sweeter as a result. T e more who are welcomed, valued, and counted as beloved, the deeper and wider the joy becomes for all. And I believe it is not just our joy that increases, but God’s joy, too.
KAREN
HERNANDEZ is an ordained elder in the Oregon- Idaho Annual
Conference where she serves Kuna United Methodist Church near Boise, ID. She can be reached at
RevKarenHernandez@gmail.com.
CALVIN INSTITUTE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
worship.calvin.edu
Calvin College Press, 2017
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January-February 2018 • WorshipArts •
www.UMFellowship.org
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