Several years ago, I served as co-coordinator of the Methodist student group at Yale Divinity School. One of my favorite responsibilities of this position was planning and leading worship every few weeks. While I was a student at YDS, there happened to be several individuals in the student body who were interested in food. I mean REALLY interested in food, especially the connection between food and faith. It was this gastronomic dynamic combined with my love of the annual "Hearty Eucharist" that gave me the idea to throw a biblical feast. I searched the scriptures for references to food, noting how and by whom the food was used. I then put together a service which essentially consisted of an alternation of scripture readings and the partaking of a biblical food. We sampled pomegranates, cheese, bread, olives, etc. We had great attendance, including quite a few non-Methodist students (mostly Lutherans... I don't know what that means). I imagine that such a service would work well for family-oriented worship, or perhaps as an expanded version of a love feast.
Suggested hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal:
97 "For the Fruits of This Creation"
599 "Break Thou the Bread of Life"
621 "Be Present at Our Table, Lord"
629 "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart"
632 "Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether"
Suggested hymns from The Faith We Sing:
2061 "Praise Our God Above (Harvest Song)"
2132 "You Who Are Thirsty"
2265 "Time Now to Gather"
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