“For everyone born, a place at the table.” The first line of Shirley Murray’s fantastic hymn. At Christ’s table no one is refused a place!
Food is a key ingredient to Christianity, as with most religions. Food: sustaining, celebratory and building of community. Food. Jesus on his last evening together with his disciples invited them to eat with him, share food and share something of his life eternal. For Christians, the supper, communion, thanksgiving, are all brought together in a shared experience with Jesus serving each of us. Christians believe Jesus excludes no one and Murray’s hymn celebrates that fact. But for some Christians it also makes them uncomfortable: for them Christianity separates the pure from the wicked. The United Reformed Church believes otherwise and you will find a welcome in our churches, whoever you are, wherever you come from. You will not be judged by the colour of your skin, your past, or your present, your gender or your sexuality. We celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion in all we do.
And if you venture in, there is a place at the table,
“to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free.”
Words: Shirley Erena Murray: copyright© 2004 Hope Publishing Company