In 2015, our denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), took a huge step in relaying God’s message to the world. The Disciples of Christ, at our General Assembly, created a new tagline: All Means All. This statement means that no matter your sexual orientation, gender, race, etc., you are always welcome with us in the house of God.
This was such a huge step for our church as a whole because we finally accepted and understood what Jesus was trying to tell us all along–that at God’s table, everyone is welcome.
It doesn’t matter if you have everything you need or are barely scraping by; you are welcome at God’s table.
It doesn’t matter where you are from or your backstory; you are welcome at God’s table.
It doesn’t matter who you love; you are welcome at God’s table.
Being invited to the table is not something that you have to earn. Communion is not something that you can deserve and no one can be banned from God’s table. The table is an open invitation party, and you just have to show up. You just have to be willing to share in communion with the diverse and vast community of God. You just have to be willing to extend the invitation to come to the table to yourself and others. You just have to accept the love of God for yourself, and for everyone else around you.
Written by Ella Johnson, a junior at Fort Collins High School, on the occasion of the installation of our new pastor, Daniel Lyvers. Ella is active in Christian Youth Fellowship and serves on ECOY (Executive Council on Youth) for the Central Rocky Mountain Region.
Photo credit: Christine Engelen
heart at heart 