Throughout the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we find Jesus eating with people. God become flesh met, walked with, and healed people. Many of these people he joined with over a meal, and it wasn't the people the rest of the society expected but rather the broken, lost, and often judged. So important it was for Jesus to eat with people, that at the last supper he washed their feet and broke bread with them, instructing them to love one another as he loved them which would be evidence to others that they were His disciples.
At Supper Club, we confess that we are far from perfect, and yet Jesus loves us immensely. In response to that love, our hope is to show and share the love of Jesus with our community, starting with a meal.
We empathize with many in our society who have experienced prior trauma on their spiritual journeys. This was not unlike the context of Jesus' ministry, who confronted religion and invited people into relationship, stating that he would destroy the temple and in three days raise it up (again). While many were confused, and even opposed to this, at Supper Club we affirm that the priority of our faith is to be deeply rooted in our identity in Christ, rather than church programs/activities, small groups, musical preference, preaching style, etc.
Because of this, our desire is to safely invite one another to intimacy and vulnerability (deconstructing our religious traditions) in order to come to a restorative place of surrender (reconstructed as the hands and feet of Jesus). Here, we can hear His voice, experience His peace, and respond to our personal and corporate calling as restorative agents in the world with joy. We believe that the church is not a building but the people, and that when we intentionally take time to listen to the Holy Spirit, he uses the body of Christ -- the Church, to heal people, places, and nations.
We generally start at 4 as this coincides with supper. The later start encourages us to practice Sabbath and enjoy God's presence throughout the day. Twice a year, we practice Corporate Sabbath (no Sunday service), to remind one another to prioritize our relationship with God instead of our religious traditions. On these Sundays, we have the freedom to go for a hike, fellowship with another local church, or simply take time to rest and be alone with God.
Like the first church in the book of Acts, expect a house church vibe. Our worship space has couches and the seats are always moving.
Typically, we start our Sundays with praise & worship with a focus on (inward) posture rather than (outward) practice. This might be done through corporate singing or even an extended time of silence and reflection, we want to intentionally wait on the Holy Spirit. From there, we'll spend time in the Bible. With the intimacy of our fellowship, our prayer is to hear God speak through a group Bible study or an interactive sermon.
Additionally, we pray together. We pray for our city, for the nations, and each other. Expect to be invited into a small group to allow for greater intimacy and transparency. Sharing is invitational, at a level each individual is comfortable with.
Finally, we practice communion. Like Jesus setting the table and preparing each of the 12 disciples for the Last Supper, we extend the offer of communion to anyone who's express desire is to eat at the table with Jesus. This might be done through a wafer and juice or a potluck meal (especially the last Sunday of every month).
We practice inter-generational fellowship with everyone being welcomed to experience Jesus together. We believe the diversity of our fellowship encourages empathy, testimony, and valuing others. In addition, there are a number of different seating options for people to use.
Parking is available in the lot immediately north of the building at the SW corner of Kingsway Ave and 119 St.