TABLE FOR 26 PLEASE…. 

It’s an old Dad joke. Two disciples go to the upper room to make preparations for the Passover on the night before Jesus died. Aware of the Lord’s requirements as captured by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous painting, they go to the owner of the upper room and order .. a table for 26.

Why 26?

Well we are only going to use one side of the table….

If you haven't noticed it before you can’t unsee it!


On Sunday we held our most recent inter-generational service. As we considered the story of Solomon dedicating the temple from 2 Chronicles 6 and 7, we recreated the sense with a gazebo, a fire pit, some bubbles and lights that depicted the falling of the glory of the Lord filling the temple.
It was indeed a glorious experience!

Everyone there had a ringside seat in that the chairs had been arranged “in the round” with each side facing each other with an open space in the middle.
As the privileged speaker doing the talk - and also having the opportunity to lead a communion service in the same format in the Third service - it had a profound effect on me.
So much so I confessed to the staff team on Monday morning in our weekly gathering “I really liked it”.

“I can’t quite articulate why, but it was very special”.
After some prolonged discussion (not unusual for our staff team) we agreed that it was worth pursuing as an option.
Hence, this Sunday again the church will be laid out in that format.
But why? What difference does it make?
Let’s see if I can now articulate what I could not on Monday.
Firstly, the practical. The “v” shape of the chairs creates an open space which can be used flexibly for whatever a service contains. A preacher with space to move if they want to. A communion table. A play or drama. A demonstration. A choir even. All could make use of that space.

There are constraints, not least the ability of the streaming team to angle cameras in such a way that they capture the more proximate action. But overall we gain more flexibility than the narrow strip of stage in front of the band.

Secondly, intimacy. The slightly silly opener to this blog above raises a serious point. The disciples lay down, relaxed and reclined next to and around the table to share the last supper. While we understand the artistic licence by which the artist depicts them all lined along one side, it is not what that gathering did. They assembled and gathered around the table so that they could see each other and talk to one another and share the experience.
The temple of the old covenant was a series of areas leading to the holy of holies at the apex which was only accessed by the High Priest. Our churches have over time developed this layout where all points in a linear fashion towards the “sanctuary”. The synagogue, following the exile and destruction of the first temple, was much more likely to be gathered around a central space where the Word of God would be positioned and all would surround its reading. Face on rather than side by side was the way of the itinerant (and errant) worshipping nation. Far from home and in need of the company of the assembled faithful.

The new covenant has one High Priest (Jesus) who’s own sacrifice was once for all making the sacrifices of the priests redundant. The veil was torn as the curtain fell in pieces as he died on the cross. And ALL have access to the Father, individually and as a body of Christ.
This intimacy in worship is a reflection of the intimacy of the meal they shared, round a table, facing one another and all being part of it - not observing Jesus side by side looking at his performance at the head of the table.

I remember my first PCC meeting in a cramped side room in the halls at my previous church. They automatically set it up as was the custom, with theatre style rows of chairs and a top table for Rector and secretary. I rebelled vehemently saying that “we do this together “and insisted we created a circle, no table, but boardroom style, where everyone was facing everyone else. In it together so to speak. Well if that intimacy is called for in charity business done by trustees together, how much more the collective worship of the living God?

As a service leader and preacher there is something very powerful and humbling in preaching “amongst” others rather than “to“ others. There is an intimacy that engenders passion. And we set ourselves to mission to make passionate disciples.

It requires a different skill to look left and right to draw all sides in, but it’s a small adjustment for a big payoff.

Thirdly, authenticity. The church we see in the New Testament is a series of house churches. The sense is of a gathering or assembly. It’s not about what the priest does (in fact there is not a Greek word in the New Testament equivalent to the Old Testament priest, rather the sense of an elder - known as a Presbyter). We have one Great High Priest whose own sacrifice of himself meant the end of the priesthood - in favour of a priesthood of all believers. That’s you!
An authentic assembly is about all being devoted to God’s Word. All the opportunity to be involved. A feeling that we are part of one body.
With Jesus as both the centre and the head.
But what might hold us back from this?
What if I don’t feel comfortable sitting opposite others?
There are areas of chairs around the edges that are oriented towards the stage if preferred.
It might not work for some services (eg Remembrance)?
We can move things back occasionally as required.
How will I see the screen?
The small screens are oriented towards the new seat directions and the large screen can be seen from most locations.
The plan is to trial this formation and ask for feedback both as collected worshippers and from a technical perspective.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)

Let me know what you think.
Vicar@christchurvhpurley.org.uk

Doug
Ps our Archdeacon loves the idea of, before you ask….