The Cool Table

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Today was Pentecost Sunday, commemorating the birth of the Church, fifty days after the Resurrection. Please don’t gloss over the significance of this day in church history. On the Day of Pentecost, my Helper, Comforter, Paraclete (all ways that He has been translated) entered into the 120 disciples in the Upper Room and into every Christ-follower since, and that includes ME! I don’t know how I’d be able to serve the Lord or face life in general without Him. Praise be to God!

Worship was especially meaningful to me today. We observed Communion today. It was my practice while I was pastoring to observe Communion on each of these significant “holy” days (Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost, etc). The focus of our pastor’s message was on being included at the Lord’s table. 

Our church hosts middle schoolers monthly during the school year. It’s both an outreach to the community as well as a ministry to the youth of the church. The middle schoolers eat foods that middlers like (not necessarily the most healthy), play games, interact with adults, learn about Jesus, and talk about how He affects their lives. The pastor shared something that was absolutely genius. They only have ONE long table rather than individual tables. Why? Because everyone is welcome at the “cool table.” 

Every one of us has experienced being left out by the cool kids as we grew up. Remember how that felt? Not very good. I don’t think I ever got into the same orbit of the cool table. What a message of inclusion one table communicates. The other thing that happens on middler nights is the adults communicate with the youth on their level, in “their” language (not always easy, but important).

What does this have to do with the Day of Pentecost and Communion? There are two takeaways from all of this. First of all, the Lord’s Table (Communion) is inclusive. There are no degrees of coolness or worthiness at the Table. And secondly, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, present in our daily lives, is present enough to know where we are and He speaks our language. It’s as though we chat as friends, because He IS a friend that sticks closer than a brother!

So, welcome to the “Cool Table,” the Lord’s Table, where He abides with us—He speaks our language.


(Credit given to the Rev. Dr. Catherine Craley for your Holy Spirit inspired insights.)

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