Nov. 1st: A Place at the Table

Hey everybody —

First Sunday, which means just about everything you know about Sunday morning is temporarily wrong. Different place, different time, and — let's be honest — a considerably better food situation.

We're at First Tongan United Methodist Church (4600 SE 97th Ave) this Sunday, November 1, at 12pm (not 10am). Not the Foster Theater. Write it on your hand if you need to.

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Soups, Sides & An Ofrenda

This month's community meal is a Soups and Sides potluck, which is frankly the correct genre of food for the first cold Sunday in November. Sign up here and bring something to share.

It's also Día de los Muertos, (also known as All Saints Day) and we're making room for that in our liturgy. If there's someone you've been missing, bring a photo or a recuerdo to set on the ofrenda. We'll remember them together — their names, and the ways their lives are still shaping ours.

You don't have to explain to anybody who they were. Just bring them.

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Scripture Experience Hang

If you've been doing the Scripture Experience — reading along and talking it over on the forum with Pastor Joel — find each other at lunch and sit together. Bring what you've noticed, what's been hard, and whatever you're still chewing on. Some conversations work better off-screen.

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Contemplative Healing

West Hills Covenant Church (5815 SW Gillcrest Ct) is hosting a fall contemplative retreat on Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

It's self-guided and silent, with a short centering time at the beginning and the end led by Joel To, a pastor and spiritual director. A few one-on-one spiritual direction slots are available during the day. Lunch is from Baja Fresh, the cost is $20, and scholarships are available — so money shouldn't be the thing that keeps you home.

Access Church will sponsor the first ten people who want to participate. Pastor Joel will Venmo you the cost if you sign up, so register here for the retreat.

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And that’s not all… there’s great fall fun stuff with Access peeps happening tonight (Apple-pressing with the Bonhams!) and tomorrow (Halloween at the Greenidge house). Don’t miss out!

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One final thought

November 1 is All Saints' Day, and the reading appointed for it is Revelation 7:9–17 — John's vision of a crowd nobody could count, drawn “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,” standing together.

“They will hunger no more, and thirst no more… and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:16–17 (NRSV)

Notice what that scene actually is. Shelter, food, people in their feelings, and God showing up in a powerful way.

That’s basically what we’re doing this Sunday, just on a considerably smaller scale. Gaby asked us to think about immigration and God with us. This week we get to practice God’s presence in the most ordinary way available, by pulling up another chair.

Tuesday is Election Day. Whatever happens, the people at that table on Sunday are still going to be our neighbors on Wednesday.

So here's the question to bring with you: who needs a place at our table?

See you Sunday — at noon.

Onward in the love and grace of Jesus, who as always, gives us Access to God.