Vision For Luther’s Table

The Great Commission of Matthew 28 begins with a verb that we the church seemed to have over looked.  The action is to go into the world.  The church of the twenty first century is a settled church that has reversed the direction of the mission.  Today the church issues to the world the invitation to come.  “Come check us out.”  In the words of the song, “If you want it.  Here it is.  Come and get it.”

St. Matthews Lutheran Church has felt the nudging of God now for over a decade to get outside the four walls of the church and to encounter Jesus out in the community.   We want to challenge the notion that the doors of the church are the dividing line between the sacred and the secular.  We want to enter into relationship with God’s people out in the community who likely will never grace the doors of traditional church.   We want to learn together what it means to be faithful.

SMLC is well postured to enter into this ministry because of our proven track record of having established credible relationships with key community partners including the Renton School District, Renton Technical College, the Ikea Performing Arts Center, downtown business owners and the City of Renton.

The vision is to open in collaboration with community partners a meeting place that would be serviced by a coffee shop and pub.  By day it would be a coffee shop catering to the downtown businesses, residents and students attending Renton High School.  By night it would be a pub catering to adults attending the performing arts center or looking for a third place gathering.

The gathering space would be staffed by the church, while the café/pub would be staffed by people with expertise in those fields.  All staff would be trained in how to have conversation and to identify ministry needs.  There would be weekly programming in the evening that would center around music.  This would include an occasional open mike.  The music menu is likely to include jazz, blues, rock and sacred.   A worship experience designed with the venue in mind could become a weekly occurrence.

Faith formation would be introduced in an organic way as people indicate a desire to learn and grow. This is likely to take the form of spiritual direction. Opportunities for servanthood and mission outreach would be built into the DNA of the place. It would be a pub that can become a sacred space, moreover that IS a sacred space.  Consider it a leaping off point for ministries and passions both locally downtown and offsite, perhaps even internationally.

The name of the gathering place that has surfaced is Luther’s Table.  It captures the spirit of Luther sitting around the table engaged in discussions of the faith with students and visitors alike.  The name holds true to the tradition and at the same time can grow in identity for those who are looking for a place to gather, commune, grow and serve. 

Serving up generosity

• The most important thing a non-traditional ministry site can offer is grace, and a sense of generosity – generosity of self, caring, portions, peace, space, etc.

Missional mindset, but not overbearing or even obvious.

• When trying to appeal to non-church people, or people who have been damaged to the church, it is very important to NOT start with the question “Are you saved?” but to start with “How’s it going?”

Easy atmosphere

• It is of the essence that people feel that this place is already home, already comfortable, not someplace that they have to “get used” to, or join to be a part of.

Youth

• This is a welcoming place for youth to hang out and be themselves – not worrying about propriety or safety issues (see generosity)
• We offer coffee and pastries, an open mike and a place kids can chill and study before school, for lunch, and after school

Involve the arts

• Musical, visual, spoken word, culinary, theater

Moderation

• Human beings are creatures with limits, and when we try to exceed these we can get hurt
• While our atmosphere will help provide some limits, we will have outreach teams trained to assist those who may have had a bit too much to drink or who need support in other ways 

How the facility might function on a given Tuesday: 

6:00 am           Open as coffeeshop/pastry house/study place

11:00 am         Transition to lunchable foods, maintain coffee goodness

2:00 pm           Stop lunch service, revert to just coffee and pastry

• Caters to the needs of the high schoolers.

4:00 pm           Host student poetry slam on stage

5:00 pm           Poetry slam ends

5:30 pm           Transition to serving dinner/pub open

• Close stage side to minors.
• Caters to the needs of the people attending shows at the IPAC

8:00 pm           Local band takes the stage, plays tunes 

10:00 pm         Kitchen closes, band starts to wrap up

11:30 pm         Last call