Making Room at Our Tables

Sunday, August 23, 2026

Lisa Vahey

Allied Person of Faith

Quote

And God will delight when we are creators

of justice and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators

of justice, justice and joy!

~For Everyone Born

Devotion

These words are the refrain of Shirley Erena Murray’s hymn, For Everyone Born, which has been beautifully updated with revised lyrics by Avery Arden at Binary Breaking Worship. Here is one of their new inclusive verses:

For gay, bi, and straight, a place at the table,

Invited to wed, to baptize and preach,

a rainbow of race and gender and color,

for Queer, Trans, and ace, God’s justice in reach.

There are many New Testament stories to remind us that Jesus was a gracious guest and host: turning water to wine at a wedding here, multiplying loaves and fishes there, sharing His parables at meals, reminders that we need to make room for everyone at our tables. Of course, He was also one to offer plenty of reminders that “all means all,” calling out hypocrisy was one His talents. Something tells me He would love the way Avery made more room at the table of song with those revised verses, that He’d lift His voice and sing along with us all.

I’m reflecting on my own new dining room table, and the meals I hope to serve there. What a blessing, to have a table with plenty of comfortable seats, the warm glow of candles, bowls of good food to pass from hand to hand, with music and laughter and gratitude spilling into the meal.

Reflection

Today is a good day for me to consider the justice and joy Murray writes of, and the inclusive and welcoming revisions Arden created - to call myself in to the ways I make room at my table, to ask forgiveness for falling short, and to commit to doing better.

Perhaps you’ll reflect with me.

• Have I cared too much about the beauty of my table rather than ensuring it is a place of welcome and care?

• Have I made room for everyone - no matter their pronouns, gender, sexuality, skin color, hair style, clothing, status, language - and shown them love and generosity?

• How can I make my table a table of true belonging?

• What verses in my own life might I need to add or revise to bring the kind of inclusive love that Jesus preached of, to my daily life?

Action

When and where can you expand your table (figuratively or literally)?