When I step away from the online world and back into real life, I don’t see people as opinions or political leanings. I just see a man and woman chatting in line at the coffee shop, a mom soothing her toddler at the grocery store, a teacher smiling as she opens the door for children to walk into school.
We live in a hyper-individualized culture, and social media only amplifies it. Platforms are curated for “Follow me. Like me. See me.” Me, me, me. But the Bible reveals a different way of living—one centered on community and interdependence. If we look at the first church gatherings, we see that they shared life together—including meals. The good news is this: when you decide to host a gathering, you don’t have to feel crushed under the pressure to provide it all. When everyone brings something, the table becomes a community space filled with dishes that reflect the uniqueness of each person. Maybe the way forward isn’t doing more, but sharing the table—and the load. Here’s what makes me ask… The Rehearsal Dinner Years ago, when my husband and I were newly weds, we lived in Aspen, CO. This was half a content away from our families. So, when the holidays rolled around, we didn’t have family gatherings to attend. Some of our new friends in Aspen recognized this and invited us to their “Rehearsal Dinner,” a meal planned for friends to gather before Thanksgiving and practice the dish they’re going to make for the holiday. The catch was, you couldn’t tell anyone what you were making. If there were three green bean casseroles and five pots of macaroni and cheese then so be it! It was a blast and we surprisingly had a variety of dishes to choose from. My husband and I carried this new tradition home with us and we started throwing our own Rehearsal Dinner with all of our friends when we moved back to the Carolina’s. Our small 1,000 square foot fixer upper of a house would be overflowing with people and eclectic dishes were spread out on every inch of counter space. We have now moved into a bigger home and have a bit more space for our guests. But some things about the Rehearsal Dinner have never changed. Nothing was ever and still is never perfect. I roll out parchment paper over every counter and throw out some sharpies with instructions for guests to write down the name of their dish. Plastic cups and paper plates abound. It’s messy and loud. But that’s what makes it perfectly imperfect. There is a beauty to everyone bringing “just a little” and that resulting in “more than enough” for anyone who decides to walk in the door. This is the heart of a potluck— it’s not about perfection, it’s about participation. Acts 2:46-47 reveals that the early church “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” The church, the first communities committed to following the way of Jesus, discovered the power of a potluck. When each person brings their part, God multiplies the whole. We would be wise to learn from their example. In a cultural climate full of division, loneliness, and isolation, we (as Jesus followers) can offer a different way of life. We can show others that unity doesn’t have to mean uniformity. We can have different views and still recognize that everyone has a place and something to bring to the table. We people bring whatever they have whether that's food, a special gift or talent, and their stories and testimonies, no one leaves a gathering empty. I don’t imagine the first church meals were star dinners. I’m willing to bet they were humble, traditional, and a little bit of whatever anyone had on hand. So, we can let go of the pressure to be the hostess with the mostest. To build community, all we really need is a kitchen counter. Here are a few tips for hosting a potluck:
If getting started planning your potluck feels a little overwhelming, I made this FREE sign up sheet in Google Docs for you to copy and paste. Brand with your own theme or paste it into your notes app or text thread to share with friends. Make a plan, send out the sign up sheet and just roll with it! Here’s your free sign up sheet to get started: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GPxGTJhfXlrvWfiElEUt5Cf0j_-e3tJpzL5kxK2v8ug/edit?usp=drivesdk Reflect
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