May 15 Reflection: The Great Dinner
Thursday, May 17th, 2012Last Wednesday, before Vespers, we held a meal for those at Holy Covenant who had just finished final exams of various sorts. Our hope was to offer sustenance and to celebrate the completion of good, hard work by young, strong minds. As we pulled chairs around the great new tables in the gallery, though, it was a small crowd. I joined Emily and Libby Johnson and Ann Hillman (hoorah!) at the table. Our other students continue to have busy and unpredictable schedules!
After a few minutes, we heard footsteps and looked up expecting to see another of our scholars, but in walked Kokomo Joe with a big smile and stage hands. He joined us at the table and the conversation became a bit livelier, with a lot more rhyme. Once Joe was settled and we began to eat our meal, another gentleman appeared in the Gallery. Pete was one dollar short on his CTA card and needed to get back to Hyde Park after a long day’s work. I just happened to have a few extra dollars on my pass left over from “Friday Free Grace for All.” As I searched my bag for the card, we showed him all of the extra lasagna and pizza (we planned for 10) and invited him to join us for a meal. After a bit of hesitation, he, too, pulled up a chair. I was smiling to myself recalling words from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” If you cook it…
Just then, there were more footsteps in the sanctuary. I walked around the corner hoping to greet someone who had come early for Vespers; Pastor Matt was close behind me. It was there that we met Gene. You may have gotten to know Gene, short for Eugene, from Matt’s sermon on Sunday. A new resident of his retirement facility, Gene had wandered too far and was very lost and very tired. While we contacted the staff at his home, Gene, too, joined the table for some dinner. He especially liked Emily’s key lime pie and requested the recipe.
We talked about music, construction work and publishing for Steven King. We chatted about growing up in the Chicago area, what has changed and what has not. We compared used book stores and musical instruments. It was our own version of the Great Dinner from Luke 14. The intended guests were not available, and so those in need were invited “so that my house may be filled.”
I was touched by the way our best and organized intentions are sometimes replaced through grace by even better outcomes. I felt the privilege of communing with such a diverse and unique gathering of the children of God. I was struck, yet again, by the great potential of this space on Diversey at the El to be a true sanctuary, a safe place, a healing place to share the love of God.
We share the Sacrament of Holy Communion around a fabulous table several times each week. It is a symbolic meal, a tidy meal, pointing us toward God’s grace. For me, this Wednesday night supper was Holy Communion in all its messiness, the passing of drinks and the wiping of spills, the comments about too much green stuff in the food, and the small talk among strangers. I imagine this was a bit more like the meals Jesus shared with his disciples than our formal Sunday rituals. I am confident that Christ was present. God invites all to his table, and gives us the opportunity to do likewise. Let’s keep the invitations coming, and the doors open!
Polly Toner
Ministry Associate
P.S. By the end of the evening, there were not any leftovers!



