Gathering around a table is woven into our faith. Jesus shared meals with welcome and grace. At the Last Supper, he gave his disciples bread and wine, telling them to remember him. When we gather at the Communion table, we remember Christ’s love and sacrifice and are reminded that we belong to him and to one another.
Something special happens when we gather around a table. We slow down long enough to listen. Newcomers find a welcome. Familiar faces become friends. We come to know one another and find a place to belong.
Thanksgiving has long been a time to express gratitude by caring for others. In By These Stones, Virginia Lobdell Jennings described First Presbyterian members who welcomed college students unable to go home into their family holiday celebrations. Sunday school classes and women of the church prepared food baskets for neighbors in need.
In 1962, the church began a new tradition with a Wednesday evening Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Elizabeth Rabalais and her staff prepared a meal for more than 500 people. Mrs. Floyd Crawford’s committee helped serve the large crowd that included members of St. Joseph’s Cathedral. In later years, the welcome extended to other downtown churches and residents of the Catholic-Presbyterian apartments.
That spirit of fellowship continues today, from family suppers in the Gym to multi-generations sharing crawfish in front of the church on Palm Sunday. Each gathering offers an opportunity to make room for guests, deepen friendships, and minister to each other’s needs.
This November, we give thanks for those who have made room for us in their homes, at church gatherings, and in their lives.
In December, Rooted & Reaching begins our celebration of 200 years of God’s faithfulness. Through the months ahead, we will reflect on what has sustained us, what endures, and consider what we will pass on to the next generation.
Perhaps that begins around your Thanksgiving table. Consider who you could invite to share a meal with your family. Share stories of those who welcomed you or helped your faith grow. Invite someone younger to listen and share a story of their own.
The welcome we have received can become the welcome we pass on.
Then and now: Making room for one another. Across generations, gatherings at First Presbyterian have helped us build friendships, extend hospitality, and find a place in our church family.
TOP PHOTO: Palm Sunday Crawfish Boil, 2025
BOTTOM PHOTO: Thanksgiving Congregational Dinner, c. 1997
