November 13, 2025

There’s a Place for You at my Table.

On World Communion Sunday, Pastor Maria sang the JJ Heller Song, “At My Table.” The chorus goes like this:

“If you’re broken, you are welcome. If you’re outside looking in, if you have no place of your own, my door is open, it’s always open. There’s a place, there’s a place for you at my table.”

These lyrics have been in my head this past week. They are Gospel words to me. A reminder of the unconditional love and welcome of God. This is who I believe God calls us to be as a church. A place where on your very worst day you find a community that accepts you as you are and loves you. A community that feeds you when you’re hungry, embraces you when you’re alone, and welcomes you in your despair and shame. I can’t say that we do this perfectly, we are human after all. But this is the goal, to keep striving to be a church where indeed in our brokenness, sorrow, loneliness and shame we follow Jesus example and proclaim, there is a place for you at my table.

On Sunday, Tom Baker shared his story of being welcomed for a “Rock around the clock” fundraiser even though he came unprepared and didn’t know what he was in for. But the love of his youth leaders changed his life, leading him to a deep calling to youth ministry. I am so thankful for his story. My prayer is that this is the same welcome we give to all people, allowing them to come as they are- prepared or not and know there is a place for you at Grace. And more importantly, there is a place for you in God’s family.

In just a few weeks we will sit down at our own thanksgiving tables. As we prepare for this tradition, I invite you to consider your own tables of welcome. When have you been welcomed in a radical way and what difference did it make in your life? How might JJ Heller’s lyrics inspire you to reflect God’s welcome and love and proclaim: “There’s a place for you at my table,” however that looks.

Blessings,

Pastor Joanna Mitchell