FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS DINNER CHURCH?
It’s church…over dinner. It's the ancient practice of a shared sacred meal during a worship service with time for meaningful relationship building with the community and God. Read more about the bigger picture, here.
BUT REALLY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
We gather with heartfelt prayers, smoky incense, a centering song, and the lighting of candles. We sit down to eat family style with all generations and walks of life sharing the same sacred bread, a hearty meal, and meaningful conversation. We’ve got high chairs, couches, pews, “regular” chairs… whatever floats your boat. We tell the old, old story and engage its significance for our lives. We are moved into further prayer and song, the sharing of gifts, and finish with a cup of blessing. Everyone’s invited to reset the table for the next person – to continue the connection through clearing carafes or doing the dishes. If you have to rush home one week to make sure homework is ready for the next day or the dogs get let out…we get it. The work you do at home is holy too. Here’s the deal…we share our lives in their wholeness, their brokenness, and their hopefulness. We create the community together.
What about kids?
Dinner Church is designed with kids in mind. High chairs are available for the tables and a soft rug with low tables up front bring the central elements of worship to our youngster’s level. There will be a specific time when youth and adults have space to engage and young children have their own space to engage. We create intentional space for each, but are still within the same sacred sanctuary. We use a Montessori-based way of engaging our sacred stories and we are building more and more resources for this model of Godly Play. We gather together again to share the communion cup.
How long will it last?
The time from lighting our candles to putting the plates away is about an hour and 15 minutes. If you’d like to pitch in, anyone can come 30 minutes early to help set the tables and prepare.
I have dietary restrictions, will there be anything for me to eat?
We serve our meals in a sort-of deconstructed form so that you can adapt your plate to your needs and preferences and we always plan for portions that are gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian. This means there’s something for everyone from herbivores to carnivores. It helps us to know if you have other allergies, so let us know at office@kindredmontrose.org.
I’ve never been to church before or I’ve been to church for Christmas or I grew up as the president of church youth group.
Great. You have a significant place at the table. You have something to teach us about how to be church together. You don’t have to know all the words, we teach them every week as we learn together. KINDRED is sacred, but not stuffy. We are contemplative, but also casual and comfortable. Worship is anchored in tradition while remaining familiar and fresh.
What do I wear?
You can come as you are in big church hats or jeans. Still in your pajamas by dinner time? We’re not even mad, just impressed. Coming straight from work? Sport your scrubs, you paint-splashed pants, or your uniform polo. Come as you are, we really mean it.
Who is welcome?
Kids are welcome and grandparents are welcome. You and your same-sex partner are welcome. If you have never been to church before, you are welcome. Whether you live in a high-rise condo or on the street, you are welcome. We are a “Reconciling in Christ” community - a formal way of saying that people of all races, genders, gender identities, abilities, sexual orientations, fashion sense, and political leanings are not only welcome, but embraced.