As we begin our Lenten series, Breaking the Cycle of Violence, we are starting with a conversation about what Jesus’ death on the cross meant 2,000 years ago. Was Jesus’ death really necessary to appease an angry God, or did it mean something else entirely? Join us as we welcome Dr. David May, professor of New Testament studies at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, who will lead a discussion on what Jesus’ death has meant to people experiencing oppression.

Every quarter at The Open Table we like to slow down, take a deep breath and recenter ourselves. Join us as we finish up our series, Embracing our Whole Selves, with a refreshing, contemplative gathering in the spirit of the Taizé community.

In order to adapt to the new realities given the COVID-19 pandemic, this gathering is offered online. Check out our blog post online for a self-guided, contemplative liturgy. Also, we are including a guided meditation by Sarah Pickrell for you to participate in.

Grief manifests in more ways than just as a response to death. Our lives are made up of many moments of ambiguous, unnamable loss. In a culture where emotions are expected to be contained to certain events or locations, how do we allow ourselves to feel and move through this grief? How does it live in our bodies and communities? Listen in as we discuss the varying forms of grief and spiritual practices for grounding within it.

Art can be used as a tool of empowerment and identity formation. Join us as we explore art as community, identity and empowerment through the lens of developmental disabilities. Imagine That!– a local art studio that serves creative individuals with developmental disabilities– shares how they provide artists with the space and tools to define themselves.

Advent is a season of awaiting change: awaiting the birth of Jesus into a world of oppressive power; awaiting the birth of a renewed spirit & hope. The queer story is not unlike the story of Advent. To be queer is to be something outside of the world’s norms— to await a changed world that reflects the peace and power found in the Divine, through us. Tune in for our Christmas gathering!

Hope is inauthentic when we fail to acknowledge the oppression and trauma that exists in the world. Listen as we discuss how to embody a more grounded and authentic hope this holiday season.

Visual storytelling has been utilized throughout social movements as a means of documenting reality and disrupting systems. Stories invite us towards empathy, which has the power to shift narratives and change communities. It reminds us of our shared humanity, and calls us into deeper work together.

Join us as we hear from KC Tenants the important role visual storytelling has played in their work of building a multiracial tenant-led movement.

Public art plays a significant role in our world. It is an invitation for community involvement— where one is encouraged to question and discover. In light of our current immigration crisis, we have seen art used as a form of protest in public parks, urban spaces, and even along the US/Mexico border. What may seem like a paradox of hope & despair, actually engages us in reimagining another narrative where human dignity can be restored.

Join us for a conversation with artists Israel Alejandro Garcia Garcia and Enrique Javier Chi as they share how their art reflects the immigrant experience and the fight for justice.

The world is rapidly changing and disappearing at the hands of humans. Our easy consumption driven lifestyle has resulted in communities, such as those in the Amazon, being destroyed and ravaged. In the face of fast production and convenience, how can humanity participate in healing mother earth and one another? Join us as we hear from local poet & activist, Mary Silwance. She will be sharing the power behind lament as a means of activism– the work of grieving & healing our planet.

Throughout history, art has been used to tell stories, disrupt reality, celebrate identity, and invite us into a new consciousness. Art has become a sacred expression of liberation and freedom in social justice movements, which has inspired a paradigm shift in how we reclaim narratives today. It reminds us we’re not alone and that there is more to be seen and healed. All it requires is for humanity to be willing to connect and communicate more deeply.

Listen as we kick-off a new series on Art as Activism. We will be exploring various mediums in which artists tell change-making stories that speaks truth to power and calls us to action towards the mending of our world.

We will be hearing from various local artists who will share why the intersection of justice & art matters now more than ever.

Our current political climate has become a breeding grounds of fear & hate towards immigrants and refugees. In the face of xenophobia, we must ask ourselves if our country’s history ever reflected a welcoming spirit to our immigrant neighbors.

Listen to the second installment of a two-part series as we hear from local organization, IJAM on ways we can effectively disrupt & respond to the current crisis on the border.

Our current political climate has become a breeding grounds of fear & hate towards immigrants and refugees. In the face of xenophobia, we must ask ourselves if our country’s history ever reflected a welcoming spirit to our immigrant neighbors. Listen to the first installment of a two-part series as we hear from local organization, AIRR KC on ways we can effectively disrupt & respond to the current crisis on the border.

Indigenous spirituality is deeply tied to the earth. Through ritual, song, and dance, this connection to the earth is nurtured and sustained. Join us for an interactive conversation about Chickamauga Cherokee spirituality with Robert Francis, Uku ᎤᎫ at Daksi Gatiyo ᏓᎧᏏ ᎦᏘᏲ. Through discussion, song, and ritual, we will explore ways to reconnect with the earth, our communities, and ourselves.

Our bodies are communicating with us all of the time, but we are often taught to ignore these messages or not trust what our bodies are telling us. Join us as we reclaim the body as an integral part of life and spirituality. Shana Puckett, local spiritual director, and Madi Parker, local performance artist, will facilitate conversation and experiences to help us restore the connection to our bodies.

Throughout Celtic poetry there is an emphasis on liminality and blessing, thin places and thresholds. This spirituality invites us to find God in nature and in those around us as we embrace our interconnectedness. Join us for a conversation about Celtic spirituality, led by Rev. Kristin Riegel and Rev. Paul Rock from our parent church, Second Presbyterian.

Often the experience of the queer community is one of being hidden from view. In some cases, sexual and gender identities are completely erased. What does it mean to reclaim our story? When we own our stories we empower ourselves to be seen and known. Join resident Tony Beyer as we explore the spirituality inspired from the wisdom of the queer community. Warning: this will be an open and frank discussion. Because of the more provocative nature of this topic, discretion is recommended.

One of the challenges of the spiritual life is society’s pressure on us to become the most powerful, productive, and spectacular—often communicating that the number of followers we have determines our worth. God’s story calls us to a different way of life which instead emphasizes community, transformation, and authenticity. Listen in on a conversation about the spiritual practice of simplicity with Rev. Eric Garbison from Cherith Brook Catholic Worker.

When doing the work of justice and peace, we require a rootedness of purpose which helps sustain our attention and channel ourselves towards the good. A growing body of research shows that mindfulness can promote empathy, reduce stress and anxiety, help address depression and addiction, and teach us to respond with intention whenever we come up against difficulty. Listen in as we have a conversation about the practice of shamatha, a form of mindfulness meditation which means “calm abiding” or “tranquility.” Sergio Moreno, a hospital chaplain and meditation instructor at the Rime Buddhist Center, will guide us through the practice together.

The overarching narrative of Christianity’s practices of Holy Week and Easter is one of speaking truth to power, bringing that power to the marginalized, and a life-and-death commitment to Love. Listen for an interactive, story-based celebration of Jesus’ journey and the message of Easter, as The Open Table KC community celebrates this important season in the church.

When whiteness is centered in contemplative spirituality, the contemplative practices of black, indigenous, and other communities of color are minimized and ignored. Join us for an experiential conversation about contemplative practices of the black church with Dr. Amy Hartsfield, Counselor and Assessment Consultant at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.