Image: The Best Supper
© Jan Richardson
Near the end of her life, one of my aunts was at a dinner table at the home of friends. During the dinner, she asked a pastor who was at the table, “What do you think heaven is like?” The pastor paused, looked around the table, and said, “I think it’s a lot like this, only with more people.” I love how a table invites us to know this, and how it calls us into a life that is not just for “someday” but is present here and now.
This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. In celebration and in hope, this blessing is for you. Every day.
And the Table Will Be Wide
And the table
will be wide.
And the welcome
will be wide.
And the arms
will open wide
to gather us in.
And our hearts
will open wide
to receive.
And we will come
as children who trust
there is enough.
And we will come
unhindered and free.
And our aching
will be met
with bread.
And our sorrow
will be met
with wine.
And we will open our hands
to the feast
without shame.
And we will turn
toward each other
without fear.
And we will give up
our appetite
for despair.
And we will taste
and know
of delight.
And we will become bread
for a hungering world.
And we will become drink
for those who thirst.
And the blessed
will become the blessing.
And everywhere
will be the feast.
—Jan Richardson
from How the Stars Get in Your Bones: A Book of Blessings
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Using Jan’s artwork
To use the image The Best Supper, please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com.
Using Jan’s words
For worship services and related settings, you are welcome to use this blessing without requesting permission. All that’s needed is to acknowledge the source. Please include this info in a credit line: “© Jan Richardson from How the Stars Get in Your Bones. janrichardson.com.” For other uses, visit Copyright Permissions.
September 30, 2026 at 12:37 PM |
Jan, I am so glad you are back to posting poems on your website. I really liked “And the Table Will Be Wide” and your introduction.
This encourages me to share my poem “Welcome”
https://longingforautumn.org/2022/08/welcome/
Love and light,
Bob