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connections: Jacksonville’s Longest Table

December 31, 2019 Leave a Comment

In this last video of the year, Bishop Ward shares about her experience with “Jacksonville’s Longest Table.”

Bishop Ward:
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ. May the generosity of the Christmas season continue as we move into the new year. Recently in Jacksonville, Florida, I was taking a walk and came upon an amazing table. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce sponsors an event called “Jacksonville’s Longest Table.”

Speaker:
This is our fourth year. We close down Independence Dr. in Jacksonville. We have six hundred of our closest friends from the community. They come here, and they have a shared free meal where people are breaking bread together and hopefully having a meaningful dialogue.

Bishop Ward:
The table stretched down the street, seated six hundred people, three hundred on each side. An amazing diversity of people came to the banquet. The food was donated by local restaurants. It was an amazing sight. As I saw this long amazing bountiful table and as I spoke with the young adults who were preparing it, I remembered the ministry of Jesus. Jesus Christ ate as many tables. He ate with surprising people. He was criticized for doing so. We who follow Jesus know the expansive welcome of God. May the memory of this very long table remain in your heart as it remains in mine, and may we live with abundant generosity in the year to come. 

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Filed Under: Connections

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Christmas Blessings

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NC Conference of The United Methodist Church · 700 Waterfield Ridge Place · Garner, NC 27529
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