Gather around the table
that tells the most profound story of all time.
A Gift in Every Bite
The table has long been a symbol of shared meals and a hallmark of community. For centuries, shared meals have built trust, fostered belonging, and addressed our very real needs for food and community, especially within the church. From congregational potlucks to Friday Lenten fish fries, fellowship meals have given people a place to gather and belong.
But today, many of us have complex relationships with food, our bodies, and the church. And in recent years, basic rhythms of communal eating have fallen away. Packed schedules, the experience of ongoing isolation following the height of the pandemic, and increased political polarization have left us increasingly lonely, wondering if we still have a place to belong at particular tables.
Worship at the Table is designed to help Christians understand, reclaim, and enjoy the spiritually formative, socially profound experience of sharing meals with one another.
Gather your people and grab a seat at the table.
Find healing and belonging in community.
Our relationships with food and with one another cannot be mended in isolation. Sharing a meal can be a powerful, sacred tool in bridging divides and finding a place to belong. When we gather, despite the complexities we find at the table, we’re continuing a beautiful and storied legacy of Christians gathering together to share meals.
Worship at the Table was created for people who want to:
Understand the role of food in the story of Scripture
Experience a deeper connection to God and one another
Redeem their relationship to food
Build rhythms of shared meals that fit the needs of their community
Become more resilient in the face of conflict
Testimonials
“After no inside church for a year and no adult Sunday School in many years, we started a breakfast and conversation centered around these lessons. We had very successful, meaningful interactions with each other through breaking bread along with difficult conversations on our current world situation. We are still meeting each Sunday with breakfast conversation. Open hearts, open hands, open minds. ”
“Worship at the Table was a helpful resource as we revamped our Second Table program at Pulpit Rock Church. Vanderslice gives words and life to the beauty of coming to the table.”
“Our Worship at the Table Group had their first session, and it went really well. We’re all looking forward to the next session. I’m loving the course!”
Want a closer look?
Check out a sample lesson.
What’s Included?
Worship at the Table is a six-week small group practice. Each week is designed for you to gather at the table as you learn about gathering as a practice, setting up sustainable rhythms you can follow long after the curriculum concludes. The materials arrive straight to your inbox—a digital Leader’s Guide and Participant’s Guide that can all be downloaded and printed for your whole group to use.
Everyone prepares for the gathering by reading the weekly Scripture and reflection prompt. Then, you’ll gather around the table, ready to share a meal and your thoughts. Weekly discussion prompts are included to guide your dinner conversations along the way!
All six lessons include:
A meal plan with recipes, including recommendations for dietary restrictions
Scripture reading and reflection
An optional ice breaker question or activity
Dinner table discussion prompts
Action points to engage with during the week
3 podcast episodes for further reflection
