Wanting to attend a real, safe, open and affirming (queer and trans-affirming) church in the Twin Cities or remotely from afar?
Here’s how to attend, and what to expect on a typical Sunday at Living Table.
View from the Tech Deck at Living Table that makes hybrid interactive worship possible.
We meet every Sunday in the room and on Zoom at 10:30AM-noon Central Time.
View our location on Google Maps.
Message for the Zoom passcode.
Use Google to confirm when 10:30AM Central time is in your local time zone.
Who are we?
Living Table is a church born from the merger of Spirit of the Lakes and Minnehaha UCC. We have a legacy of radical inclusion and hospitality and we plan to live into it as we live into 2023 and beyond. We are on a spiritual journey, as a community with very open doors. We seek to follow the radical teachings of Jesus that focus on liberation and justice for all peoples. Read more on the history of Living Table.
What do we believe?
We have a diversity of perspectives on who Jesus is and was, and we welcome your perspective to join ours, because together we are committed to embodying the love Jesus taught: love of neighbor and self that is unconditional. We are a group of believers, seekers, followers, and skeptics. We firmly believe that all people have a place at God’s table. Therefore, each Sunday we celebrate that Christ is the host, Christ sets the table, and Christ welcomes all.
Sunday morning space?
Church is so much more than Sundays, but Sunday mornings are the entry point. If you are in the room, please wear whatever clothing is comfortable for you. Some people dress up a bit, in churchy clothes at Living Table, and others will always wear a hoodie and jeans. It’s all good.
Whether you are cisgender, trans, gender-queer or something different, please wear the clothing you want to wear. You really are welcome here. If you are in recovery and want to know that you are around many others in various stages of recovery as well, who are there to support you, please join us. We know that the historical church has caused harm, because many of us have experienced it. Therefore we are really good at nonjudgmental welcome, and we value making reparations.
Accessibility?
Accessibility is very important to us. If anything on this website or in our building is not accessible to you, please let us know what you need in order to participate. You can submit this accessibility report form to communicate about access needs.
Children?
If you have young children in your care, they are welcome to be with you. We don’t hear the noises they make as distruptions. Bring them with you. Our sanctuary space has a prominently-placed child engagement area they can enjoy if they want, and you can sit with them in full-sized seats behind their smaller ones.
Holidays?
We gather 52 weeks a year for Sunday worship, but the various Holy Days, or holidays, can be some of the most memorable. Please browse the Holidays Posts on the blog for a sense of how Living Table interacts with the liturgical year.
Virtual/Zoom attendance rules?
If you are attending via Zoom, you can turn your camera on and be seen, or leave it off, as you wish. Our interactive setup means that you will see people in the room, and they will see you *if you want*. If you’re not feeling like you want to be seen, please feel free to leave your camera off. There is no pressure. You can also participate remotely, to the extent that you want to, whether your camera is on or off.
Some people highly participate via Zoom, even helping to lead the service remotely. Others attend via Zoom, leaving their camera off, and never unmuting, attending in full stealth mode. All participation is optional. Nobody will ever “call on you.” This isn’t high school.
How long are services?
Services at Living Table run about 90 minutes, and what makes things go longer than the normal hour is our prayer time, which is important to us. We also have communion every week, also valued.
About Communion?
If you are joining us in the room for communion, we serve juice, not alcohol, and our bread is made free of most common allergens (no grains at all, no soy, no dairy), for accessibility, because we intend to invite everyone to the table. If you are joining us via zoom, please have something for communion. For example, you could bring a piece of bread and some juice if you’d like to participate with everyone.
Is there a catch?
Nope. You are welcome to come one time, twice, or whenever you’d like. Your dropping in does not create any sort of obligation, no worries. You can stay after worship for kinship time, make an appointment to talk to the pastor if you want, or do both or neither. You can also attend a service once and leave at the end of it.
We hope this overview gives a better sense of who we are, what you can expect attending Living Table for the first time. And we hope that it’s apparent that you really are welcome here. If you have any questions or access needs, please contact us. If you want to attend virtually, get the Zoom password from below. Links to everything you need are under Sundays in the menu on top of every page on the website. We hope to meet you soon!
Interested in what’s going on? Check out the latest Living Table blog posts.
The Joyful Chaos of Life in the Spirit
Pentecost is the “birthday of the church” and it is a celebration of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s All Engage in Unexpected Kindness
Studies show that doing something nice for someone else improves our own sense of well-being.
Last updated on 5/25/23. Masks will be required on two Sundays a month, optional on others.
Barb’s Celebration of Life will be at Living Table on Friday, June 9, at 1 pm.
Poem by Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk
Ashe concluded her sermon on May 21, 2023 with her poem about the Holy Spirit, shared here.
Ann’s multiple contributions to the Living Table Community were celebrated on May 21, 2023.
Volunteer with New Branches at Twin Cities Pride June 24-25, 2023
It’s not too early to sign up to volunteer at Pride 2023.
Who read this post about Living Table? Feel free to comment right here introducing yourself. I’m Erika, the website admin for Living Table. I live in West Saint Paul with my wife and her dog and cat. Posts in the Tech News section of the blog are mostly from me.
I’m Amy, and a rabbi . . . so not looking for a church so much. 🙂 However, if I were, I’d definitely be looking for one like this one. (And not just because you have an awesome and accessible website.) Also, I like the set the cookie, don’t set the cookie message. I live in Saint Paul with my wife and our two dogs.
Hi, Rabbi Amy and Neighbor, Thanks for leaving a comment. Thanks also for noticing some accessibility features. They are so important, and I was glad to be making a website for a church that values access. I had a little fun with some of it too, such as the cookie checkbox text. 🙂
What a thoughtful website. I appreciate the information shared. When I visited in person many years ago I remember finding the space for children to be so refreshing. It is one thing to say you are a welcoming community, and it is another to see that love in action.
Thanks, Robyn. I’m so glad you were able to witness our authenticity in this way. And we’re in a renovated space now in the shared campus at New Branches, so the children’s space got an upgrade! 🙂
Love the messages and thoughtful commentary. I read this site in addition to attending my own church on the East Coast.
We are glad you are here, Lisa.
Since I’m a member, I’m rather biased. I’m a “cradle” congregationalist and have never strayed far from what is now the United Church of Christ. It’s where as an out gay man I’ve always found true welcome, and my gifts for ministry are embraced. In particular, Living Table holds my heart and nurtures me. When we sing occasionally Marty Haugen’s powerful hymn, “All Are Welcome,” I’m always moved to tears; I’ve found a place where that is true.
Thanks, Doug. Living Table is what it is because of the people, like you, who are here and live out an “All are Welcome” kind of faith.
As a former web developer, I’m in awe and appreciative of the accessibility/usability of this website. It is no easy task to make a website that reflects the valuing of every unique individual that is so core to the life and mission of Living Table.
Living Table prioritizes accessibility. I think this is one of many aspects of Living Table that really makes the community exemplary – I wish all churches valued increasing access and removing barriers.
I like the vibe of your site and your church! As a fellow inclusive minister, I send you blessings in gathering and feeding the flock of the Christ. 🙏❤️🕊
Rt Rev Mary Francis Drake, Founder of Sacred Balance Community
Thanks for visiting and sharing the love.
I found this church in 1999 on the recommendation of Harriet, a Jew who was friends with the pastor at the time, Nancy Anderson. I figured if the pastor was friends with a Jew, I had to check it out! It has been my church home ever since.
Judy, we’re glad you’re here.
This church is not only welcoming, it’s a family…the kind one would choose!
I wholeheartedly agree! My partner introduced me to Living Table when they met in the other church. I was moved to tears with the prayers of the people. I had never experienced such a thing!