When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him …

 -Luke 24:30-31a

 Old School Potlucks

One great thing about church life is intergenerational wisdom. I’ve learned much from Saint John’s people of all ages. Donna Beth McCormick and Emma Lea Mayton told me about the Longhorn Band’s trips to Washington DC, and that the Longhorn Band has played in five presidential inaugurations. Rev. Ralph Underwood led a church in inner city Philadelphia before he was a professor.  Young Alana taught me the powerful skills of “bat lady” Matangi in Moana 2. Middle schooler Hobson knows a LOT about animals. Our young adult pastoral interns each summer have richly blessed our community.

What have you learned from people of all ages at Saint John’s?

The beloved and deeply missed Catherine Foster told me the absolute funniest potluck story I have ever heard. Once, Catherine and a group of church women were planning a potluck. They decided not to have a sign-up because they knew it would all work out. Every single woman in that small group showed up to that potluck with pea salad. Pea salad! That's the worst thing that could happen at a potluck.

But it wasn't. They shared their recipes with each other and learned different ways to make pea salad. They had a great time of community building.

For the next three Wednesdays, you are invited to gather with your church family in a good old-fashioned potluck. While we study the places of Genesis in Sunday worship, we will gather on Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. to hear about the Holy Land. Three sets of speakers will talk about their trips to sacred sites of our faith and what surprised them about these blessed places. We will learn from these presentations, and we will also learn from our church friends in conversation around the table. Potlucks are old school, yes, and there’s a reason they have stood the test of time – we are all blessed when we share food together and we also share stories of our lives.

In the famous story of the Walk to Emmaus, Jesus is not recognized until the breaking of the bread. How have you gotten to know someone in a different way when you sit down to eat with them?

Sign up for the potlucks here and let us know what you are bringing. I’ve got the pea salad.