Open Tables

"I've seen you serving food every time I'm here.  I had no idea you could write like that!"
-a member of our new "Arts and Culture" group at Broad Street Ministry said this past Wednesday night.  We were all in tears of laughter after hearing our friend Jack read us a hilarious poem addressed to his former boss.

BSM can be a large place, difficult to navigate and find community within.  As a result, I have been working with Erika and some key members of the community to create groups to address this issue.  We wanted to have opportunities for people to get to know one another on deeper levels, without creating cliques of like-minded people.  What resulted from conversations with members of the community was 3 groups: Movement, Arts and Culture, and Community Activism.  All three backed by fantastic people dedicated to giving room for relationship building and community empowerment.

Judging from the fun we had at the first instance of these groups on Wednesday, there is a definite place for these groups.  We saw glimpses of personality in people that was not often seen during normal events at BSM.  It's amazing what happens when you give room for creative expression.  People's walls come down just enough for transformation.  This is exceptionally true for those who have no other opportunities for creative expression, due to life circumstances, or people/groups in the past who have denied them and their gifts.  Many of us have experienced this, on both ends of the spectrum!

As "community trailblazer" this year, I have had many conversations with amazing people who have come through the doors of Broad Street Ministry.  I have had glimpses of their gifts and personality that are just bursting to be known.   I have heard stories about church and work environments where they are denied room to use these gifts.  I've been excited to see these groups take shape and I truly hope they continue to grow, giving people an opportunity to be known in the large community that is BSM.

Given that Jesus spent most of his time around a small group of disciples, its hard not to realize that Jesus was an advocate for close relationships in small groups.  This setting is where people become known and empowered to follow Christ out into the world.

May we continue to guide people to open tables where they can become known.