top of page

The Christmas Table

Making room for more people at God's table, here at home, and around the world.

The Invitation

This November we’re looking at the tables Jesus set: a hillside meal for 5,000, dinner with tax
collectors and sinners, a banquet thrown open to the people nobody else invited. Every one of
them says the same thing: there’s still room. (Luke 14:22)
Jesus set a table for us long before we deserved a seat. This Christmas we get to set one for
someone else.
The Christmas Table is our year-end offering, one gift from our whole church family. It’s how
Reach makes room for more people at God’s table, in Blair and around the world.

OUR GOAL: $100,000

 

Together we’re aiming to give $100,000 to The Christmas Table this year. Every gift, large or small, makes room for one more person at God’s table.

WHERE YOUR GIFT GOES

 

Starting New Churches

Every new church is a new table in a new community. Your gift helps plant churches wherepeople can meet Jesus for the first time.

​

Training Pastors

Around the Globe strong churches need well-equipped leaders.

We’re helping train pastors who will shepherd people we may never meet.

 

Reaching the Next Generation

Students and kids today will lead the church tomorrow. We’re investing in ministries that helpthem know and follow Jesus.

OUR PARTNERS

Your gift makes room at these tables:

  • One Kingdom Church · Spreading the good news of Jesus and making an impact in Kansas City 4theWord Ministries · Training pastors around the world to shepherd the people we may never meet.

  • Students International · Katie Wolf is providing medical services to impoverished andunderserved communities in the Dominican Republic

  • Greenhouse Church · A new church in Montana in the middle of a building project as they launch their first Sunday in Fall 2026.

  • Facility Upgrades · Making more room at our own table, so every family that walksthrough Reach’s doors finds a place.

 

HOW TO GIVE:

Give online any time, or bring your gift to any Reach service this December.

Sundays at 8:30 & 10:00am

One Kingdom Church

Spreading the good news of Jesus and making an impact in Kansas City

Set the Table: 100 Gatherings FAQ
 

Reach Church · #SetTheTable2026
The challenge: 100 Reach families each invite someone new to their table by the end of 2026.

Throughout Luke, Jesus does some of his most important ministry over a meal. He welcomes crowds,
eats with tax collectors, and tells stories about banquets with empty seats. Set the Table is our invitation
to do the same, one meal at a time.
 

THE BASICS
Is this gathering supposed to be for our church community or for people who don't go to
church?
Both, but make room for someone new. The goal is that every table has at least one person who
wouldn't usually be there. That could be a neighbor or coworker who doesn't attend church, or
someone who just started coming to Reach and doesn't know anyone yet. Church friends are welcome
to join you and help make it feel easy. In Luke 5, Levi's banquet had Jesus, his disciples, and a crowd of
tax collectors around the same table. That's the picture.


What counts as a gathering?
Any time you open your table and invite someone in. It can be dinner at home, pancakes on Saturday
morning, a backyard fire with s'mores, coffee at your kitchen counter, or a meal out together. It doesn't
have to be fancy, and there's no minimum or maximum size.


Who should I invite?
Start with who God has already put around you: the family next door, a coworker, a teammate's
parents, someone you sit near at church, the person who just moved to town. If you're not sure, pray
about it this week and watch for a name that keeps coming to mind.

 

Does it have to be a whole family?

No. Singles, couples, empty nesters, students, and roommates all count. "Family" just means your
household, whatever it looks like.
 

What's the deadline?
The goal is 100 gatherings by December 31, 2026. You'e welcome to host more than one, and we hope
this becomes a habit that lasts well past this challenge.

 

HOSTING

I'm not a great cook. Does the food have to be homemade?

Not at all. Order pizza, grab a rotisserie chicken, do tacos, or ask everyone to bring something. People
remember being welcomed, not the menu.

 

Money is tight right now. Can I still take part?
Yes. A pot of chili, a breakfast casserole, or coffee and cookies is plenty. Hospitality is about attention,
not expense. Splitting the meal potluck-style is a great option too.


My house is small or messy. Does that matter?
No. Jesus ate in fishermen's homes and on hillsides. A cleared-off table and a warm welcome are
enough. If home really won't work, meet at a park, a coffee shop, or a restaurant.


We have little kids. Is that a problem?
Kids make gatherings easier, not harder. Invite another family with kids, keep it simple and early, and let
the noise be part of it.


I'm not outgoing. What do we even talk about?
Ask good questions and listen. Some easy ones:

  • What's your favorite [movie, music, Thanksgiving dish]?

  •  What's a meal that reminds you of growing up?

  • What's been the best part of your week?

  • What's something you're looking forward to this season?

  • Who is Jesus to you?

  • ​

Do I need to talk about faith or invite them to church?
You don't need a script. Be yourself, be kind, and pay attention. Look for opportunities to share honestly
what Jesus means to you. If it feels natural, invite them to join you at Reach on a Sunday at 8:30 or
10:00am. The goal is genuine friendship, not a pitch.

 

SHARING YOUR GATHERING
How does my gathering get counted toward 100?
Take a photo and share it in either of these ways:

Each photo counts as one gathering.


What if my guests don't want to be in a photo?
Always ask before you take or post a picture. A photo of the table, the food, or just your hands around
the meal works perfectly. Your guest's comfort matters more than the post. If you cannot take a photo,
you can also email us a quick note instead.

​

Will Reach share my photo publicly?
Photos you post with #SetTheTable2026 may be reshared on Reach's social media. We will also print
these photos for our Lobby area. If you email a photo and don't want it shared, just say so in your email.


HOW IT FITS TOGETHER
How does this connect to the rest of Set the Table?
Set the Table has three ways to take part this season. The 100 Gatherings challenge is the first one.

  • Gather. Open your table to someone new.

  • Give. Make room for more people at God's table through The Christmas Table Offering.

  •  Serve. Set a table outside our walls at an outreach or serve event. Find one at reachchurchne.org/events.

Who do I contact with other questions?
Email media@reachchurchne.org or talk with any Reach staff member on Sunday.

bottom of page