Week 3: The Table of Grace
by Shelley Regan, Director of Community Engagement
In Luke 7:36-50, grace arrives as an interruption. A woman, burdened by her past, disrupts a dinner party to pour out her gratitude at Jesus’ feet. The host judges; Jesus sees love, offers forgiveness, and her life is changed forever.
Grace often surprises us, interrupting us with unexpected kindness. Elizabeth Gilbert experienced a moment like that in Eat, Pray, Love. Hearing of a family facing unimaginable tragedy, she said to her sister, "That family needs grace." Her sister responded by saying, "That family needs casseroles," and went on to mobilize the neighborhood to provide meals for an entire year. Those casseroles became grace embodied—love and support delivered tangibly.
I’ve had the opportunity to be in on the ground floor conversations of the women who are launching our new Table Blessings Meal Ministry at First Christian. As I’ve listened to their ideas and their passion to deliver the grace of a meal in times of joy and sorrow, more than once I’ve been reminded of my grandmother’s lime Jello salad. Each time one of her friends experienced the death of a loved one she would make that same vibrant green Jello, filled with pineapple and marshmallows. One time as we were walking up to the door to deliver a dish of the congealed mixture I asked her why we never took anything different. Her response was simple "Others bring heavy dishes," she explained, "but sometimes you need the simple grace of something refreshing in the refrigerator." That simple dish was more than food; it was thoughtful care, interrupting grief with cool comfort.
Real grace makes room—it lets go, moves first, and sees dignity in every guest at the table. It doesn’t worry about what others are doing. At First Christian Church Edmond, grace isn't just a sermon; it's love made visible through ministries like Table Blessings, interrupting isolation with the comfort of a meal delivered to the door. Life happens. May we embrace interruptions, seeing in them opportunities to experience—and extend—the grace that changes everything.
Prayer: God of surprising grace, interrupt our routines with compassion, and inspire us to notice and respond to those in need of comfort. Amen.
Practicing Our Faith: Fast from Routine to Pause for Grace
Each day this week set an alarm at a random time. When it interrupts your day, pause for one full minute. Take a deep breath and bring to mind someone you believe could use a dose of grace. Say a silent prayer for them to feel a touch of grace. Notice how these brief interruptions create space in your heart for compassion.
Sharing the Feast: Putting God’s Love in Action
This week, prepare (or purchase) a simple comfort food—maybe some muffins, a casserole, or even an old-school refreshing Jello salad. Deliver it unexpectedly to someone experiencing a difficult season, offering a taste of grace through something tangible and tasty.
Reflection Questions:
What's your favorite comfort food, and how does it make you feel better when you're having a tough day?
Have you ever tasted kindness through food someone made just for you? What did that feel like?
Who might need the grace of comfort food this week, and how can we share it with them?