What is the Great Banquet?

The Great Banquet is an orderly, structured weekend designed to strengthen  and renew the faith of Christians. Through a combined effort of laity and clergy, the Great Banquet focuses on the renewal of the His body, the Church.
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The image of the Great Banquet comes from Luke 14:15-24. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying "Come, for everything is now ready." Many had excuses and did not attend. 
Finally, many were brought who were poor, crippled, blind and lame. The result of the master's invitation was to feast and fellowship at a banquet given by God. 

What happens at
​the Great Banquet?

The Great Banquet is a 72-hour experience, beginning on Thursday evening and ending Sunday evening.

For three days, guests live and study together in a worshipful time of singing, prayer and discussion. During each of the fifteen talks given by laity and clergy, the theme of God's grace is presented. 

Guests participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and examine more fully the presence of Christ in His body of believers. They personally experience His grace through the prayers and acts of a loving, Christian support community.

Who should attend?

  For anyone who:
  1. Wishes to strengthen their spiritual life;
  2. Wants to have a better understanding of prayer, the sacraments, study, and Christian action;
  3. Strives to live a Christian life that bears fruit for God;
  4. Seeks to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and to make Him known.

What happens after the Great Banquet?

One of the most important parts of the Great Banquet is the follow-up. Although the weekend lasts only three days, guests are invited to use its lessons for the rest of their lives.

After attending the Great Banquet, they are challenged to strengthen their own spiritual life through study and active congregational participation, and strive to become active disciples of Jesus Christ in the world through their church.

To assist them in their discipleship, the Great Banquet offers specific opportunities:

First, reunion groups of three to five people meet weekly to examine their goal of spiritual growth and to encourage one another to a life of discipleship. 

Second, there will be opportunities to assist in future Great Banquet weekends through prayer, support and team involvement. 

Third, guests are made aware of community needs through a newsletter of other Great Banquet weekends, both locally and regionally. ​