SU MME R 2022
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ILLUMINE
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T HE TA B L E by Chris Kelley
T
he late comedian Robin Williams was a proud Episcopalian. On one of his HBO Specials, he counted down his list of 10 top reasons to be an Episcopalian: 10. No snake handling. 9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. M ale and female God created them; male and female we ordain them. 7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door. 6. Pew aerobics. 5. Church year is color-coded. 4
4. Free wine on Sunday. 3. All of the pageantry - none of the guilt. 2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized. And the number one reason to be an Episcopalian: 1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you. The Table, Fig’s 5:30 p.m. service on Saturdays, is like Williams’ humor in that both can be summarized in one word: Approachable. Simple and intimate, rich and practical, truthful and smile-producing, The Table is intentionally less formal than other Fig worship services on Sunday with fewer readings and a more relaxed atmosphere. The sermon is delivered from the f loor – albeit behind a portable podium. (We are Episcopalians, after all). The Table is especially welcoming to newcomers. The worship bulletin, for example, includes red-letter explanatory notes that brief ly unpack the purpose and meaning of a worship service component.
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