This song has been going around my brain constantly for over a week!  That's no bad thing, it's a geat song, albeit a challenging one to sing.  This morning at church we adapted part of the liturgy from the BUGB-BMS Assembly Communion service as an activity at the close of the sermon - it seemed to work.

There were around 70 adults present (small people were in Sunday School or creche) and it was not a Communion Sunday, but we had the communion table placed very prominently, with a white cloth on it and loads of space around it.  Earlier in the service we had added 12 bowls to represent the money raised for Christian Aid Scotland, which would be enough to feed 12 children for a month.  Hopefully my description makes sense - it was an amazing symbol when completed...

The old and the young

Even little children

There is a place prepared for you

[Table placed either end of communion table]

Women and men

free and oppressed

there is a place prepared for you

[white lacy cloths placed on tables]

Regardless of our colour or ethnicity

Impairment or ability

there is a place prepared for you

[Vases of flowers placed on tables]

Singles or couples

Straight or gay

Friend or stranger

there is a place prepared for you

[Name cards for people goups in liturgy placed around extended table, all facing out to congregation]

Rich and poor

Employed and jobless

Housed and homeless

there is a place prepared for us all

[Explanation, and invitation to add our own name and/or a people group we think is missing from the above during the singing of 'for everyone born'. Name cards passed out to congregation as tune played over, added to table at any point during the hymn]

The tables were completely covered with place cards - an amazing sight, which really symbolised the eschatological banquet in the house with many dwellings.

After the service, all the cards were gathered up and pinned to one of the noticeboards with the words "for everyone born a place at the table" central.  It was humbling and moving to read them