Table Practices

Because we share these core convictions, we commit ourselves to these Table Practices. We covenant together to:

  • Share the story of God’s salvation and, in particular, the story of Jesus Christ, the expression of God’s self and God’s shalom for the world.
  • Listen when alone and together to the Spirit, to the Word of God, and to the world, to actively discern how to live as God’s children.
  • Seek to follow Christ faithfully and joyfully in life, offering the good news of God’s saving restoration in active witness and service to our neighbors.
  • Draw from ancient wisdom and multi-ethnic streams for our worship, making music and singing songs with deep histories and heart-felt rhythms, dramatizing biblical stories, opening spaces for prayer, testifying to God’s goodness.
  • Break bread and celebrate the eucharist weekly, inviting all who want to walk with Jesus to the Lord’s Table, where grace is offered and makes its claim on our lives.
  • Offer holistic hospitality with word, deed and good food, acknowledging that we are all broken people in need of loving encounters with God in community.
  • Invite servant leaders who work together as a team to lead us, to serve as table hosts, and to provide guidance and structure for our worship, fellowship and service.
  • Name each other’s gifts, offering spiritual direction, calling out and equipping each for participation in God’s mission in the world.
  • Integrate worship and learning across the generations, celebrating, confessing, telling stories, praying, discerning, and serving intergenerationally whenever possible.
  • Nurture personal faith in daily prayer and meditation on the Scriptures, with transparency in the Spirit¹s presence; nurture corporate faith with shared practices in worship, hospitality, holy living and service.
  • Share our lives and possessions freely as energetic stewards of the earth’s bounty; live simply and in harmony with God¹s good creation.
  • Expect deepening commitment to Christ and voluntary, wholehearted participation in body life, offering our resources and ourselves for the emerging Kingdom of God.
  • Agree to be accountable to each other, living open lives of authenticity and integrity; creating safe spaces to confess sin and be honest about our questions and lifestyle.
  • Advocate in the public sphere on behalf of the poor and marginalized when moved to do so by the Holy Spirit and byJesus’ word that what we do for the least of these, we do for him.
  • Work for peace and justice in the Spirit of Jesus, showing our all too violent and mean-spirited world a compassionate, courageous alternative modeled best on his non-violent love for enemies.
  • Interpret the Scriptures in light of the Mennonite Confession of Faith and remain rooted in the Mennonite Church USA while learning from many rich and deep spiritual streams.
  • Remember, with thanks and humility, that we are who we are by the generous mercy of God, the giver of all that is good.