Jon Bergstrom's Table Blessing #1

Creator God,
Who brings forth life from a seed that falls to the ground and dies,
We give you thanks for the hands and soil that have nurtured and prepared these once-living things over time, so that they might nourish us as food.
Refresh us with this meal, and rejuvenate us with the fellowship we share around this table,
So that we might serve you and serve those who lack nourishment.

Amen


This prayer attempts to reflect some of my initial theological understandings of food. I think it is important to remember the cycle of life and death that is inherent in our eating. And I think it is important to remember that it is God who brings forth and sustains life out of death (that whole resurrection thing). I also think it is important to remember that life and growth take a very long time, whereas death and breaking things down (like we do when we eat) take a relatively short amount of time. And of course there is more to the meal than just food, the fellowship can often be just as nourishing, so let us pray that it is.