An Invitation & a Meal

In an effort not to bury the lede… We have over 25 people RSVP’d for the Jackson-area young adult gathering this evening at Fertile Ground! Thanks be to God! 

If you’re reading this before September 23 and you fall into the young adult category, you are invited to join us from 6-8pm at Fertile Ground for fellowship, food, and certainly some fun. If you are reading this and you’ve offered emails and numbers of young adults for me to reach out to, thank you! I’m often asked how folks who don’t describe themselves as “young adults” anymore can help and my answer is simple: invite a young adult, welcome them in, and connect them with me or another ministry they’re interested in. I believe there is something holy in the act of inviting someone to come and follow Jesus and sharing a meal with them, which is what we plan to do tonight! This week in particular, I think of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, whose feast day was Sunday, September 21st. Matthew was a tax-collector who Jesus saw and said, “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). Matthew accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, shared a meal with Jesus and sinners, and was transformed by the love and grace of God shown to him. An invitation and a meal– might it be that simple to share the love of God? Y'all, it just might be. 

When I think about the 25 RSVPs that landed in my inbox, I get excited about what the Holy Spirit is doing through an invitation to Fertile Ground for pizza and drinks. It’s the same exciting feeling that comes when I think about all we can do in our own almost-fully-renovated kitchen– invite those we meet to come and follow Jesus and share a meal with them. 

An invitation and a meal– might it be that simple to share the love of God? 

This week I’m eating GOOD with St. Columb’s. The menu is pizza tonight and curry and cocktails on Thursday hosted by the Benners and the Guinns. These evenings are invitations for me to follow Jesus and share a meal in hopes that there are many, many invitations and meals to come with young adults across Jackson and from the fruits of our shared labor in the St. Column’s kitchen. 

Jesus extended the invitation to Matthew, a sinner and tax-collector, and extends that same invitation to follow him to me and to you. I hope to see everyone on Thursday and hear what you imagine the first holy, transforming meal from the St. Columb’s kitchen might be. 

An invitation and a meal– might it be that simple to share the love of God?

Peace,

Gabbie