I sometimes like to imagine how things might be some sunny Sunday morning ....
Entering the Banquet Hall I find a mid-room U-shaped banquette with seating for no more than two dozen....at the door is a box into which guests may place gifts...the host walking around the gathered, greeting, seating, and blessing each guest ("Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord!") and pouring herb scented water over their hands, while a co-host catches the water in a basin, and another co-host dries the guests' hands with a warm towel...finally, a co-host washes the host's hands standing before the center of the banquette and the host washes the co-hosts hands and seats them, seating himself last....the host asks a guest to lead the gathering in the Lord's Prayer and after the amen the guest asks those present for a few minutes of silent reflection on the week past - thanking God for the good and seeking comfort from God for the bad...finally a co-host says, "May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. And let us all say, Amen."
A wordless tune begins at the banquette and the co-hosts bring the tables and linens and utensils and dress the tables before the banquette while the song continues....salt, round bread, honey, wine, olive oil, vinegar, and water are placed before the host, and after a call for quiet, the host offers a blessing to the One by whose will all things exist through Jesus Christ our Lord... the host cuts a cross into the loaf of round bread which is then broken into smaller pieces - and the broken bread, the appetizer, is distributed and consumed around the banquette while co-hosts distribute additional salt, round bread, honey, wine, olive oil, vinegar, and water and then bring food to the tables on platters - simple, seasonal, local fruits, vegetables, more breads, hard boiled eggs, fish, cottage cheese or home-made yogurt - servings are family style.
The guests eat quietly and slowly while the host tells them stories from the Scriptures Old and New - with pauses for riddles, a puzzle, a tune and jokes to keep the guests entertained. He might even offer a few brief words on how the stories speak to his own life and concerns. When all are finished with their meal a co-host gives thanks to the One who sustains all through Jesus Christ Our Lord and the co-hosts clear the tables of their utensils.
Now it is time for the host to retell the Passion story from one of the Gospels and remind all present Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. A hymn of praise to God for grace, love and blessings is sung by all. A guest chants a psalm with an antiphonal response while the co-hosts undress the tables and remove them. Finally, the coming week's host or a co-host stands and asks a continuing blessing on all present and their family, friends, and neighbors, all whom they will meet in the week to come, all absent, and all who have left or are leaving the community. And a (different) co-host then says, "Let us go forth and live into the Kingdom of God for the glory of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!" And all respond, "Thanks be to the Living God!" A wordless tune begins and for some it might be a time for a circle dance of praise and thanks - men with men and women with women. Guests and hosts trade gifts of words, or tools, or pass on gifts which they themselves have received or made to honor or remember another....and the gathering winds down.
The co-hosts then gather on either side of the door and as guests pass through and take their leave each is given a sealed envelope which is the guest's take away - all contain a thank you for attending and a small physical reminder of the day's story(-ies) as well as a reminder of the coming week's daily Scripture readings, notes on upcoming key community events, a query and advices gathered from the universal Body of Christ over the centuries on a moral or ethical issue - this is for personal reflection...but some may also contain a pastoral note, an invitation to meet at another time for a talk or a visit, or include some assistance, or a reminder or...these were made up prayerfully in advance by the week's host and co-hosts together for their usual guests with additional envelopes for any visitors. This weeks hosts will be among next weeks guests...
Finally comes the clean up by the whole group of the week's hosts....one is sometimes guest, sometimes host....
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