Wednesday Witness: Luther's Table

Okay, I'll admit, this week's Wednesday Witness is coming on Thursday, but we just got home from an epic 10 day journey that covered 10 states.

There were many moments of grace during this time away, but one of the highlights was visting Luther's Table in Renton, Washington.  Luther's Table is an ELCA ministry where the always fabulous Pastor Gretchen Weller Mertes is the Mission Developer.  I have followed this project over the past several years and was SO glad to finally have a chance to visit.  If you are ever in the Seattle area, go to Luther's Table.  Seriously.

Here's why you should go...
1.  The staff and volunteers are so gracious.  They practice amazing hospitality.  You will be welcomed.  No matter who you are or where you come from.

2.  The food and beer are delicious.  I recommend the Greek Veggie flatbread and some Katie's Amber Ale.  So good.


3.  If you can catch some music, it's sure to be good.  I heard Nate Houge, a fabulous folk singer from Minneapolis who sang about hippies, faith, love, Jesus, and composting.  Good stuff.


4.  You will see God at work.  The night of my visit, guests included a group of high school students having dinner before a dance, neighborhood kids, a Vietnam veteran, the architect of the building, friends and family of Nate's, five pastors, an almost-three year old, an under-one year old, and the neighborhood beat-cop, among others.  If you don't see God in that hodge-podge group of people, you need to squint a little harder.  It was a beautiful mosaic of God's people, all coming with our own stories, our own stuff, and our own gifts.


There are lots more reasons why you should visit, but even if you don't get a chance to visit, there's still lots to learn from Luther's Table.  It's a place that is very connected to the community.  It's a ministry and a gathering place.  It's a place to get a good bite to eat and a good beer.  It's a place to come in out of the rain and warm up for awhile.  Elements of the old church are tied in--a stained glass window here, some old bricks there, a quilt made of the liturgical paraments on the stage, booths made out of old pews--but it doesn't necessarily "look" like church.  And yet it does.  Because it's a place where people are just people.  Period.  And that's not always easy, but the staff and volunteers try really hard to make it happen.  And in the midst of that, there's a whole lot of grace.