TABLE GROUPS 2020
The miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish has always been seen by church as pointing towards the Eucharist. As our Lord, “took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude” (Luke 9:16) The verbs took, blessed, broke and gave remind us of the institution of the Eucharist at the last supper. In the early church, an image of the 5 loaves and two fish was seen as a secret symbol for the Eucharistic gathering in places such as the catacombs in Rome. We have chosen this image for the logo as it reminds us of the Eucharistic table, which is the centre of the Christian life as it is where we become one with our Lord Jesus Christ, a foretaste of the eternal life.
What is a table group?
Table Groups are small groups, of about 7 -12 youth with a leader who meet regularly to support each other on the journey in Christ. We don’t like using phrases such as spiritual life, work life, social life, family life etc as that compartmentalises our lives. Rather, we have one life and that is a Life in Christ, which encompasses everything that we do. We were created to do life in partnerships, fellowship and community, and a table group will help us grow in our Life in Christ together.
Table Groups are a great way for you to develop and connect to a community of believers who provide one-on-one support to grow spiritually. It is also a great way to ensure that you are continually fed with the Word of God in an intimate setting that allows you to ask questions and participate in different ways which help you develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word and its application in your daily life.
Why is it called a table group? Is that just another name for a small group?
Biblically tables are places of hospitality, sharing, love, service and fellowship. Our Lord shared tables with many people, and broke cultural and social norms by sharing tables with tax collectors and sinners. He instituted the Eucharist at a table after a meal. The early church would gather for the Eucharist and then for an Agape meal (love feast) where they would all share a meal in a spirit of equality, communion and love. Small groups usually gather around a theme or an activity, be it bible reading, discussions or service to others. Table Group will do that and more. It will prioritise meeting at the altar table as that is the centre of our lives, partaking of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will then extend this joy to several other tables such as the fellowship table following the Divine Liturgy where a meal is shared with the whole congregation, a discussion table when the Table Group gets together to discuss and share in God’s Word, and an outreach table where we try bring others into the life of the Church, serving them out of our Love for Christ and our neighbour.
Practically, what is involved?
Members of a Table Group will encourage and support each other to attend the Divine Liturgy each Sunday on time, and to not only attend but to pray and live the liturgy. They will then meet in their Table Group once every 2-3 weeks at each other houses, with the leader facilitating the discussion and fellowship each week. Throughout the year each member will host their table group at their home once or twice.
Throughout the week they will support and hold each other accountable to various initiatives that they will agree on in their first meeting by staying in touch with each other through their chosen communication platform. As each Table Group builds trust amongst each other, the leader will then work with their Table Group to arrange various activities as suits the circumstances of each Table Group. For instance, the leader and the Table Group may choose to go to the monastery together for a day retreat, or participate in a homeless ministry.
What happens each time we meet?
Opening Prayer
Time for sharing
Contemplative Reading of Scripture and facilitated discussion
Hospitality and questions/discussion
Conclusion, housekeeping and prayer
Which day will we meet?
Please indicate the preference for which night works best for you below. Once you are allocated to a group you can discuss with your fellow members if a certain day/time works best for the group.
How are Table Groups allocated?
When a member signs up to a Table Group, they will list two people that they want to be with in their Table Group, we will then match each member with at least one of the people they listed.
What if I prefer to meet at church instead?
There will be the option to join a Table Group that will meet at church instead of members homes as we understand that this may be more practical for some people.
I get embarrassed and shy when I am asked to share in a group setting
That is ok, we all have our own level of comfort. Come along and join a group and share as much as you will be comfortable with. Table Groups are not designed for each member to share their life secrets, rather, it is a place for general sharing and conversation. For instance, each member in the group may be asked to share their favourite verse from their reading in the previous week. Each group will make a covenant with each other at the beginning where they will agree to maintain respect , confidentiality and love in each session.
I am just at the beginning of trying to get back into Church, is a Table Group suitable for me?
Absolutely! A Table Group is a great place to be supported regardless of where you are on your journey. All of us are walking on a journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven, lets walk together and support each other along the journey, regardless of where we are.