And the Table Will Be Wide

Post date: Jun 04, 2021 3:20:56 PM

Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,

Blessings of Pentecost joy be with you!

June is Pride month and as such, we at Middletown Reformed Church celebrate that all God’s children — specifically, LGBTQ+ people — are welcomed into the full life and ministry of the church. We affirm “You will never look into the eyes of someone God doesn’t love” (author unknown). We are committed to sharing and being a witness to this love with everyone we meet. We know that the circle of God’s unending and amazing grace is always growing, ever expanding to welcome more and more people to the feast that God prepares for us, and we will continue to advocate for this welcome in the Church Universal. I could share more God-affirmations with you, but I came across a poem that I believe captures God’s radical hospitality and our faithful part in being bearers of this truth. May it be so.

"And the Table Will be Wide"

by Jan Richardson 

And the table

will be wide.

And the welcome

will be wide.

And the arms 

will open wide

to gather us in.

And our hearts 

will open wide

to receive. 

And we will come

as children who trust

there is enough.

And we will come

unhindered and free.

And our aching 

will be met 

with bread.

And our sorrow

will be met

with wine.

And we will open our hands

to the feast

without shame.

And we will turn 

toward each other

without fear.

And we will give up

our appetite

for despair.

And we will taste

and know

of delight.

And we will become bread

for a hungering word.

And we will become drink

for those who thirst.

And the blessed

will become the blessing

And everywhere 

will be the feast. 

I’m looking forward to joyously worshiping with you in person, via Zoom, or livestream at 10:30 AM this Pride Sunday as we celebrate the arms-wide-open welcome of all God’s beloved children. Our musical offerings this Sunday will inspire your faith journey. Our bell choir will be ringing “Amazing Grace” for our Prelude; Nancy Coffin will be singing “Grace Alone” for our Anthem; and Judith Daugherty will be playing “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” for our Sermon Prayer Reflection. I will be preaching from 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1 and my sermon title is These Earthly Tents. We will also celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper together, so for those at home, please have bread and juice/wine with you during worship. For those worshiping in person, masks and social distancing are optional.  

May we be bread, drink, and a blessing so that God’s feast of love may be everywhere and enjoyed by all people — no matter what. I’ll see you on Sunday. Happy Pride!

In gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish