What do your tables look like? Are they loud? Quiet? Long and formal? Or round and casual?
When I think of the tables I find myself around in L’Arche they are usually loud, crowded, and a little bit sticky. In our community a lot of life happens at the table. We share meals, we welcome guests, we celebrate birthdays, we say prayers, we even play cards at the table. These are moments of connection and sharing. The table is also a place where we make our voices heard. This is why tables made a fitting theme for our retreat together, “At The Table.” Every other year we have an all community overnight retreat. This year we packed our bags and headed Loyola’s Ecology and Retreat Campus.
Last weekend our tables got a little bigger as we gathered. This year’s retreat was extra special and we welcomed 3 new core members who will be moving in later this year. Talk about a celebration!
One of our traditions in the community is to welcome new community members with a candle, a blessing, and a song. The blessing goes like this,
We bless (name) and their presence in our L’Arche Chicago community.
We are grateful for your arrival to L’Arche Chicago, for the gifts and vulnerabilities that you will share with us. We look forward to the ways your gifts make us a stronger community together. We look forward to the ways we can walk alongside you in the joys and challenges of sharing life with us. And we are thankful for all the twists and turns that will happen along the way.
May you experience this community’s love and friendship around you as you settle in and may you trust that you are exactly who the community needs you to be.
With love, we bless you as you move into this new season at L’Arche.
We’re so excited to be welcoming Andrea, Iggy, Johno, and Stephan this fall! Below are some snapshots from our retreat and welcome celebration.
