A Particular Gratitude
Nov. 16, 2022.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there is a particular divine outpouring that is occurring of which I am deeply grateful…
I am thankful for the historic richness of the Jesus Table that is rebirthing before our eyes.
I am thankful for how church after church is setting a bountiful table each week – offering a living picture of Christ’s lavish Gospel.
I am thankful for the sacrifice of leaders and congregations who are entering challenged neighborhoods and traveling distances each week to provide an Agape’ Table, because they feel everyone should get a chance to be with Jesus.
I am thankful for a renewed understanding of the Jesus Stories which is giving us a powerful voice with our secular neighbors – something that had been lost in recent decades.
I am thankful for a new vision of ‘koininia’ = the deep fellowship that naturally forms at Jesus Tables and among the teams of people who are leading them.
I am thankful for the healing that is flowing from our hands – if we are in the ‘Jesus Table’ business, we are in the ‘Healing’ business.
I am thankful for a re-awakening of the New Passovers which Jesus instituted on the first Holy Week, and the restoration of mission it is offering to the church family.
I am thankful for denominational leaders who are welcoming and supporting Dinner Church planting initiatives throughout their ranks, and watching congregations go from ‘struggling’ to ‘thriving’.
I am thankful for the many people who energetically gather for Dinner Church trainings across the country because they want to maximize their effectiveness.
I am thankful how the Dinner Church is enabling us to live out our foremost Christian vocation – populating heaven.
I am thankful for leaders who are engaging the frontlines of the Gospel, where the inbreaking Kingdom of Jesus is advancing against the uprising kingdom of darkness, and are contending in prayer for the souls of their neighborhoods. Darkness and oppression wins until we show up, then the strongman flees (Ja. 4:7)
I am thankful that Jesus has opened up for us a door in heaven that no one can close (Rev. 3:7), and if that weren’t enough he put the keys to those doors in our pockets (Mt. 16:19) so we can pray with assurance that there will be a constant flow of Jesus’ presence, Jesus’ healing, and Jesus’ embrace at our tables.
YES…I am profoundly thankful to be watching the rebirth of the Jesus Table in our lifetime.
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 100-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
11.18.22
By: John Farley
What we’ll be using for our parish Thanksgiving Meal:
As we gather to tell stories about Jesus…We light a candle of Remembrance
Like Jesus, who shares many meals with his family and friends…We bring flowers of Remembrance
Like Jesus, who shares meals with the poor and the outcast…We bring flowers of Hope
As we gather to celebrate his love for us…We light a candle of Hope
As we gather as sisters and brothers…We light a candle of Peace
Like Jesus, who calls all people his brothers and sisters…We bring flowers of Peace
Like Jesus, who teaches us to love God and one another…We bring flowers of Faith
As we gather to grow together as Jesus’ disciples…We light a candle of Faith
As we gather to honor and praise our God…We light a candle of Reverence
Like Jesus, who shows honor and respect for God and all people…We bring flowers of Reverence
Like Jesus, who loves to share food and fun…We bring flowers of Joy
As we gather to delight in the presence of our God…We light a candle of Joy
As we gather to share food and fun…We light a candle of Thanks
Like Jesus, who gives himself to us as the Bread of Life and Wine of Compassion…We bring flowers of Thanks
11.21.22
By: Sandy Johnson
I am so thankful to you, Verlon for blazing this trail for those of us coming after you to engage in Jesus tables in our communities. I’m grateful for the amazing team of volunteers who have caught the vision of how God is using our Dinner Church. We are seeing the hope and power of Jesus’ life and words transforming lives before our very eyes every week. I’m grateful for Jesus doing what only He can do to change a life over and over. It’s truly a privilege to be involved in what Jesus is doing.
11.23.22
By: David Bennett
Keeping in the spirit of Verlon’s thanksgiving blog …
I am thankful for the opportunity to exchange gifts and discover so much more about dinner church and the movement that is awakening from the hard work of the Fosner’s and others who have joined them on this journey. Thanks for investing in me so that we can continue to invest others.
01.1.23
By: Steven Curry
This is coming late for me, but I am still thankful. Even on this first day of 2023.
I have so many things to be thankful for, far beyond our new way of sharing Christ with our neighbors. I’ll keep this to The Table @ Westport.
I am thankful for that skipped work session at a kid’s pastor’s conference in Seattleso many years ago to have a conversation about dinner church.
I am thankful for the birthing of a heart for the City of Westport and our South Beach communities.
I am thankful for a senior pastor who shares the same heart for those communities.
I am thankful for a senior pastor who said put it together and move forward.
I am thankful for a supportive board who said they would support our efforts.
I am thankful for those in our parent church who wanted to participate.
I am thankful for a team of Christ followers who pour their hearts into people’s lives every week.
I am thankful for stable finances.
I am thankful that The Table @ Westport is now a hub church in Westport.
I am thankful for The Table @ Westport starting to reach out beyond its self, deeper into the community.
I am thankful for Jesus stories and the sharing of Christ each and every week to those who need Him.
I am thankful for Jesus who saved me and has placed our community on my heart.