The Table Church launch

So here's the freshest of fresh news for The Table.

 

We opened the doors around 3:45 and started the meal just after 4pm.  We ran out of seats!  One of our guys tried counting about 30 minutes into it, but it was a zoo -- at least 100 - and I'd guess closer to 120 based on the taken seats.

 

At 5:00pm we moved into the main worship area and started with some modern carols.  When I counted loosely midway through there were 125+, not counting the kids in the play area.  Good estimation is ~140 total.  (!!!!!)

 

After the service we went back to the Fellowship Hall for dessert -- there had to be 80 people there at least.  The line for the gingerbread mousse stretched way back.

 

[[Huge praise: money collected for the meal exceeded the cost!]]

 

Keep in mind that all these numbers are inflated by friends of The Table, including people from our host church (Church of Our Lord - REC/ACNA) and partner church (Open Gate - ANiC/ACNA).  We were aiming/hoping for 120 for the launch and aiming/hoping to avg around 80 people by the end of October.  (There's always a little dip after the initial launch.)  Needless to say, we're pretty encouraged.

 

It was surreal seeing so many faces I'd never seen before.  People seemed genuinely joyful and festive, and you wouldn't believe the decorations.  It actually felt like Christmas.  The two dozen people who helped prep the place the night before deserve much praise.  I'll send a link to some pictures as they become available.

 

PLEASE PRAY:

 

1)  That God would water seeds.

 

2)  Strong turnouts for both our Table Conversations (tableconversations.ca) on Monday (collaborated with Open Gate) and Tuesday and follow-through with those who came on Sunday.

 

3)  That we would be content what God has given and continue to press on with full vigour (Conversations, support raising, prep for second stage launch on Oct 3)

 

4)  That God would defend us from all self-doubt, hypercriticism, arrogance, and all other evils.

 

5)  For a potential partnership with Vision360, a church planting movement.  There may be some concrete decisions coming about as early as this week.

 

THANK YOU for your prayers and support!

 

Joyfully, in Christ,

Josh