Community, Hospitality, & The Table

By Gregory

Community

We’re social animals, we can only thrive when lovingly connected with others. We crave intimacy and to be known and involved.

Many of us crave spiritual intimacy and community – a place to connect with others and God, a place to talk about our deepest held convictions, a place to be fully ourselves, spirituality included.

There are broader reasons why people engage religious traditions and communities – perhaps, in the broadest sense, to provide meaning, identity, and a sense of place and purpose in their life. The rituals, prayers, and teachings reinforce the meaning derived by participation.

There isn’t a religion I know of that works best by one’s self. It’s hard to be a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist, or even a Pagan alone. Many do walk their path alone – but most would prefer to walk it with others.

Hospitality

Hospitality is a lost art. Fewer people welcome others into their home. I hear the frequent excuses – “we’re too busy”, “it’s too much work”, “we don’t really have the space”. “I can’t cook”, and so on.

But there’s something special, even sacred, about being invited into someone’s home. There’s something inherently community-building about getting to know the people we worship with – outside of the confines of the temple, synagogue, church, or grove.

Having people into your home doesn’t require anything fancy – store bought appetizers and some wine and beer suffices for a fun and casual evening. Even a sit-down dinner can be simple. Lavishness isn’t a requirement.

Conversation, feeling welcomed, and the opportunity to engage with others outside of institutional settings is the heart of the transformational power of hospitality.

Hospitality cements relationships. It deepens commitments. It grows community. It brings people closer to the Divine. It’s vital for any spiritual community that wishes to endure.

The Table

Scripture is full of imagery of the table – there’s something intimate and spiritual about eating together, about sharing food – that which feeds our life in a fundamental sense.

The table allows us to sit face to face, in a leisurely setting where conversation, sharing, laughter, and good food can be passed around. To sit at table and share a meal is an innately human act.

Judaism has the Seder and Shabbat dinner – the Rabbis built a new form of Judaism around the table, knowing its inherently sacred and spiritual – and humane – characteristics. Christians center much of their sacred activity around the table, too. The altar represents God’s table and many denominations celebrate Jesus’ last meal with his disciples on a weekly basis – and in doing so, find God present in multiple ways.

I know that over the years, I’ve experienced power, grace, mercy, love, and joy at the Seders, dinners, and meals I’ve hosted.

Engaging with Spiritual Community

I’m blessed. I have an abundance of spiritual community. Temple Emanuel here in Grand Rapids is my primary spiritual home. Friday night services are filled with joyful music, hugs, and people I have grown to call friends.

I meet with two theological groups outside of Temple. The first is a – A Space In Between – named after this blog, and with two of the bloggers involved – me and Matt. Our group is an exploration of what it looks like to live in authentic, faithful community in the 21st Century. Some of the other members are Catholic, some are Evangelical, and some are Reformed Christians. Oh, and yes, there’s me, the Jew.

The second group I belong to is comprised of folks who follow a nature-based spirituality. These friends are engaged in various forms of ecospirituality. We meet to discuss ideas, talk philosophy, socialize, and share. My Jewish spirituality has rich nature-based aspects – the Jewish holidays follow the seasons, much like the Pagan Wheel of the Year. The scriptures are alive with theophany experiences based in nature – burning bushes, roaring winds, earthquakes, and so on. There’s no shortage of touch-points.

As I said, I’m blessed with good friends, and abundance of spiritual community – and theological diversity, too!

Join Us in Grand Rapids

If you live in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, and are interested in theology and would like to engage with us, let me know. We’re always looking for folks who enjoy theology and philosophy and who appreciate mixing and seriously engaging with people from different perspectives.

We’re not ideological, we have no agenda other than discussion, community, and mutual respect. Be forewarned – we’re not liberal or conservative – we don’t live under labels. We are simply ourselves, and we create a safe space to learn, listen, speak, and be with one another.

We share meals together often – and this has been a blessing.

What do we discuss? Our conversations are wide ranging – we talk about the meaning of salvation, how to interpret the scriptures, the nature of God, who Jesus was and what he taught, the possibility of an afterlife, moral issues, the meaning of Jewish holidays, Christian Reformed Theology, and lots of other stuff. We also get to know one another, as in, like, friends.

The group is definitely diverse, so we hope you’re comfortable with diversity. But if you’re interested in possibly attending, or know someone who might be, shoot me an email – [email protected].

Peace, Pax, Shalom