Come to the Table

There’s something quietly powerful about gathering around a table.

On Maundy Thursday, our 1st Pres family did just that — young and old, longtime members and new faces, all coming together to share a meal, move through prayer stations, and remember the night Jesus gathered with his disciples and gave them a new commandment: love one 

Kierstie Renninger

another. The word maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “command,” and this simple but profound invitation from Jesus shaped our entire evening.

​We began in the most fitting way possible: at the table.

In a simple and meaningful time of communion, we were reminded of the grace given to us in Christ — bread broken, cup shared, love poured out. It was a holy, grounding moment that invited each of us, no matter our age, to receive. To pause. To remember that before we do anything, grace comes first.

In many ways, the whole evening flowed from that place.

Just as Jesus gathered with his friends on that holy night, we gathered too — breaking bread, lingering in conversation, and creating space to be together. There was a tenderness to it. A slowing down. A sense that this moment mattered. And it did.

Maundy Thursday is not just about looking back — it’s about being formed. This night helped prepare our hearts for what was to come: the grief and sorrow of Good Friday, and the deep, joy-filled celebration of Easter morning when we proclaim, He is risen. He is risen indeed!

What made the night especially beautiful wasn’t just what we remembered — it was how we experienced it together.

From the very beginning, the room felt alive. Kids colored on the table runners, friends lingered in conversation, and laughter mixed with the clinking of chairs of those coming and going. There’s something sacred about sharing food, about slowing down long enough to look across a table and really see one another. It set the tone for everything that followed: this wasn’t just another event on the calendar — it was participation. It was community.

As we moved into the prayer stations, something even deeper unfolded. Around every corner, different generations were engaging side by side — coloring, writing, praying, wondering. Little hands drew hearts and sunshine as bright notes of encouragement, while adults carefully wrote messages of hope and love for some who could not be with us. No one was too young or too old to jump in.

Intergenerational worship isn’t always neat or predictable — but it is rich. It makes space for curiosity, for creativity, for movement and meaning to intertwine. It reminds us that faith is not just something we learn — it’s something we practice, together. And sometimes, it looks like playing. Sometimes it looks like creating. Sometimes it looks like sitting quietly with a stone in your hand, whispering a prayer you didn’t even know you needed to say.

Throughout the night, we saw our Love 1st mission come to life in tangible ways. Grace was received. Gratitude was expressed. Love was shared — through words, through presence, through small but meaningful acts of care. It was a living picture of what it means to be the church.

A HUGE, heartfelt thank you to the many hands and hearts who made this evening so special. From those who helped with set up, prepared the food, cleaned up, welcomed, and served in countless unseen ways — your care created space for something truly sacred. You helped make this gathering an experience of worship and connection for our entire church family.

As we continue to build and nurture opportunities like this throughout the year, we’re grateful for the ways our community shows up in support. Our upcoming flower basket fundraiser is one of the ways we help fund special gatherings like Maundy Thursday —moments where faith is formed, relationships deepen, and love is lived out across generations.

What a gift to experience and grow in …

     A church that prepares hearts — together.
     A church that gathers.
     A church that loves first.

With grace & gratitude,

Kierstie

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