Community Calendar
Greeter Training
If you’re a greeter, you’re invited to come make pizzas in the Pope’s backyard pizza oven! We’ll share delicious food and conversation, and we’ll do a safety training refresher, too. We need a headcount for pizza-making supplies; please RSVP below or to Maggie Keller.
Backpack Drive for Park Place
Every August, we work with our actual neighbor (we share the building!) The Park Place to get backpacks and school supplies to Latine kids in the Powderhorn neighborhood.
Here’s how it works: you donate a new backpack stuffed with a $20 (for supplies). They host a Back to School Bash for families to purchase backpacks and school supplies at a greatly reduced cost. This approach maintains dignity for all involved.
Notes on backpacks:
new, unused backpacks
for younger students, choose cartoons/characters/playful designs
for older students, choose high-quality brands like Jansport, Columbia, Wildkin (we heard Costco’s got Nike backpacks for $25!)
Stuff each backpack with $20 cash or check made out to The Park Place
We will collect backpacks on August 3, 10, 17.
New this year: Volunteering!
Can’t donate a backpack? Volunteers are also needed to help organize the backpacks and set up the week leading up to the Back to School Bash on August 23. Please connect directly with Becca below - Spanish fluency is not necessary!
Book Study: Migrant God
Cody hosts a discussion on the book Migrant God by Isaac Samuel Villegas
Table Kids Summer Break
On August 17 and 24, our Table Kids team takes a break to rest and get ready for fall programming starting September 7!
On these two Sundays, Kids in pre-K and up join their families during worship; the nursery is still available.
No Worship: Labor Day Weekend
We won’t be meeting for worship on Labor Day Weekend. We’ll see you next weekend (September 8) for our fall kickoff!
Fall Kickoff Sunday
SAVE THE DATE! September 7 marks the beginning of an exciting new season in the life of The Table, when we officially welcome our new co-lead pastor, Justin Bell. During the service, we’ll have Table Kids programming for PreK through 5th grade; the nursery will be open for babies and toddlers.
Plan to stay after the service for lunch and a celebration! More details to come!
Conversion Therapy Survivor Support Group
Hosted by Lee Start, LICSW, LADC, (they/them), of Noble Tree Therapy, this 8-week support group is designed for survivors of conversion therapy.
The group meets in St. Paul on Monday evenings, September 8-November 3 from 7-8:30pm. There are 8-10 spaces, $75/session, sliding scale available. Interested in learning more? Schedule your free consultation by August 8:
New Member Welcome
If you call The Table home, but have yet to make it official, now’s your chance - in three easy steps.
Step 1: Fill out the form below.
Step 2: Plan to join us at the next New at The Table on Wednesday, July 16.
Step 3: If you decide you’re ready to become a member, we’ll welcome you in service the very next Sunday, July 20.
*If you attended the last New at The Table gathering in March, just fill out the form below and we’ll welcome you in service on the 20th!
New at The Table
If you’re new or newer to The Table, this gathering is for you! You’ll meet staff, board members, and other community members, hear the story of The Table, learn about ways to get connected. You’ll be able to ask questions and even have a chance to opt-in to membership!*
We’ll meet at church at 7pm; enter through the lower level glass door.
*If you do decide you’re ready to become a member, there will be a New Member Welcome in service on Sunday, July 20. More details here.
Table Family Pool Party
Table Kids and their families: come swim at the Kellers’ pool in the Powderhorn neighborhood! We’ll be out all afternoon, so come when you can, leave when you must. We’ll have hot dogs on the grill; bring a dish to share if you can.
Rain date: Saturday, July 19.
Congregational Meeting
On Sunday, June 29, we’ll host a brief congregational meeting after the worship service to vote on the next co-lead pastor. Everyone is invited to stay for the meeting; members will be asked to vote.
Not a member yet? Attend a New at The Table gathering (the next one is July 16) and then be welcomed in service on Sunday, July 20!
Sunday Morning Worship
Our Sunday morning worship gatherings follow a rhythm: singing with Christian, hearing from Debbie and the rest of the team, sharing communion, and ending with our community benediction. We’d love to have you join us!
Kids begin the service in their groups (read more about check-in and Table Kids programming here) and return for communion. Communion is served at the front of the church after the sermon. As you’re ready, we invite you to come forward down the left aisle, take a piece of gluten-free bread, dip it into the cup of grape juice, and eat it as you return to your seat.
After the service, we invite you to get a cup of coffee (from Bichota!) and hang out. If it’s your first visit, stop by the Welcome Table in the back of the Sanctuary—we’d love to meet you, share more information, and answer any questions you might have.
If you’re not able to join us in person, we post the sermon to our Recent Messages page the following Monday, or you can listen via your favorite podcast provider.
The Table at Pride
We can’t wait to see you all for Pride weekend! Pride is our top community event of the year and every year, many people join our community because they meet us at Pride.
We need volunteers to stand at the tent, greet visitors, and let folks know there’s a safe space to be queer and a Christian. We’ll also need a volunteer who is willing to give blessings to queer folks and parents of queer kids.
We’ll host a brief volunteer training on June 22 immediately after the service. Please plan to stay for that if you’re signed up to volunteer. We have a limited number of “Love Thy Neighbor” shirts; if you’d like one before Pride weekend, Sara Baaker will have them at church on Sundays in June (suggested donation $10).
Find us below on the map:
Derek Webb in Concert
Our friends at Grace-Trinity have invited The Table community to join them as they host Derek Webb for an intimate concert that includes new songs, discussion, and limited seating. Webb’s latest album, Survival Songs, was written for queer youth as “a soundtrack to comfort, encourage, and empower them.”
Free tickets for LGBTQ teens (18 and under). Tickets for adults are $25.97. See more details and purchase tickets below.
Celebration for Jae Bates
Jae Bates has been a pastor at The Table for nearly three years. Following a season of traumatic family events and being laid off from his full-time nonprofit work, Jae has discerned the need to resign from his position at The Table in order to allow for a season of rest and healing before he begins a PhD program this fall.
Jae has brought so much to our entire community, and he will be deeply missed. Be with us on Sunday, June 22, Jae's last day on staff, to celebrate Jae and all God has done through him. We’ll have an opportunity to share with Jae written prayers of blessing as he embarks on this season of rest.
Even as Jae takes a break from church activities this summer, he welcomes folks in the community to reach out and connect with him!
Pride Month Guest: Oby Ballinger
As part of our Pride month series, we welcome Rev. Oby Ballinger.
Meet Justin Bell: Candidate for Co-Lead Pastor
After a months-long process, the Discernment Team has put forward a candidate for the co-lead pastor position: Justin Bell, who currently serves as the Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Elkins, North Carolina.
We’re excited for Justin and his partner Manuel to visit Minneapolis the weekend of June 8th. The community will have a chance to meet Justin and hear him preach at The Table that Sunday. Please make every effort to be with us that day to meet and hear from Justin!
Workshop on Trans-Inclusive Theology
Join Dr. Miche van Essen of Transmission Ministry for a workshop called “An Introduction to Trans-Inclusive Theology & Community Practices.”
Author Panel: Supporting Trans Youth
Join authors Nico Lang and Dave Edwards for an engaging panel discussion on supporting trans youth.
ICE Raid Response Training
This training is hosted by Unidos, and several Table folks are planning to attend. Learn morea and register below.
The incoming administration has vowed to deport millions, starting in blue states. We're preparing to act together and shine a light on injustice. Join us for a raid response training to support immigrant communities and join Unidos' rapid response network. Let's ensure no one faces the worst alone.
Men at The Table
All guys are welcome to hang out over drinks and food at the Giovanellis’ house!
Middle School Gathering: Game Night
Game on! Bring your favorite board or card game and get ready to school us all in it. We’ll be in the Commons downstairs—enter through the ground level glass door.
2nd-5th graders are welcome; this is a fun opportunity for kids of different ages to have fun and get to know one another. We will have some food and a Nintendo Switch available for Mario Kart so your child can bring their own controller if they wish. Invite a friend!
Parents are welcome to stay with their child if they choose (but we have plenty of volunteers). If you’re staying, younger siblings are welcome as well but the event itself is geared to 2nd-5th grade for accessibility of game instructions and to ensure that the age range makes it fun for everyone.
As a reminder, Men at The Table is the same night at Gino’s in St. Louis Park. If the overlap of these events creates a logistical issue, let me know and we may be able to coordinate rideshares with other families!
Middle School Gathering: Earth Day Cleanups!
We encourage Middle Schoolers AND their families to attend a local Earth Day clean up over Easter Weekend. We won't all meet at the same one, but we encourage you to buddy up and go together! Earth Day events are searchable online; here are some options to get you started:
Middle School Gathering: Maundy Thursday
Middle schoolers are invited to join Pastor Jae for a Maundy Thursday gathering in the downstairs Center of Belonging space. We will read from the story of Jesus' instituting the Meal (communion), eat together, and discuss the significance of this act and why it still matters to people today.
Will there be foot washing? You'll have to show up to find out! When you arrive at church, enter through the lower level glass door.
Community Meal
Stick around after service on Palm Sunday, and we’ll have brunch together!
We still need help with setup, serving, and/or teardown after the meal. Please consider giving of your time in that way!
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday reminds us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and our kids will do a palm parade through the Sanctuary!
Here’s what families need to know:
All are welcome: kids of all ages, their parents and siblings, toddlers from nursery, etc.
Everyone should check in in the back of the Sanctuary as usual, but then meet in the gathering space (where the bathrooms are) instead of going upstairs. Any babies and toddlers not participating in the parade can go straight to nursery.
Kids will receive their palm branches and parade through the Sanctuary during the second song, and then head upstairs together to the kids’ space.
The community meal takes place after worship in the gym, so the gym will not be available for play this week. Please ensure kids are monitored by a caregiver and remain on the main level due to ongoing renovations in the building.
Q/Ts at The Table
Gather with other queer folks for food and conversation in community.
First Sunday Morning Worship
We’re so excited to be in our new home at 35th and Aldrich! On March 9,* come see what Sunday morning church is like, and plan to stick around afterwards; we’ll have pastries and coffee from Bichota! We hope this is a time to celebrate new beginnings—invite your friends!
*Yes, that’s Daylight Savings—we’re sorry!
Final Sunday Evening Service at Bethlehem
Bethlehem Lutheran Church has been so good to us—our church community has been loved, supported, and changed because of their generosity to us. Be with us Sunday, March 2 at 5pm as we express our gratitude and worship one last time in this beautiful space.
On Sunday, March 9,* we’ll be at 35th & Aldrich for our new service time of 10am! Come check out Sunday mornings!
*Yes, that’s Daylight Savings—we’re sorry!