Reunion Groups
Small groups of three to five people meet weekly to examine their goal of spiritual growth and encourage one another toward a life of discipleship.
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Our Story
The Great Banquet
An ecumenical, orderly weekend that strengthens and renews the faith of Christians — and examines what it means to live that faith out, day to day.
The Image of the Great Banquet
The Gospel of Luke presents the parable of the Great Banquet. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying "Come, for everything is now ready." After so many excuses for not attending by his invited guests, the master became angry and ordered his servants, "Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." After this had been done and still room remained, the master told his servant, "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full." Then, as additional invitations were given, the banquet was presented to his guests. The result of the master's invitation was to feast and fellowship at a banquet given by God.
“Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”Luke 14:23
What Is the Great Banquet?
The parable above provides the picture for the Great Banquet. Like its counterparts, Cursillo, Emmaus, and Tres Dias, this movement examines Christianity as a lifestyle. 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 church.
What Happens at the Great Banquet?
The Great Banquet is a 72-hour experience, beginning 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 — experiencing His grace through the prayers and acts of a loving, Christian support community.
The Follow-Up
What Happens After the Weekend?
One of the most important parts of the Great Banquet is what comes next. Guests are challenged to:
- Strengthen their own spiritual life through study and active congregational participation.
- Strive to become active disciples of Jesus Christ in the world through their church.
Serve a Future Weekend
There are ongoing opportunities to assist future Great Banquet weekends through prayer, support, and team involvement.
See Volunteer & Guest Forms →Stay Connected
Community members are kept aware of needs and news from other Great Banquet weekends, both locally and regionally.
Get in Touch →A Bit of History
To become familiar with the Great Banquet, it helps to know the history of its counterparts, the Cursillo and the Walk to Emmaus. The Cursillo (a 3-day course in Christianity) began in Spain in the 1940s in the Catholic Church. It spread to the United States and evolved for Protestants into the Walk to Emmaus under the auspices of the Upper Room and the United Methodist Church. An Emmaus Movement was started by the First Presbyterian Church in Madisonville, Kentucky in 1982. After a 10-year history of the Walk to Emmaus in Madisonville, Rev. John E. Pitzer and lay people from First Presbyterian Church formed the Great Banquet. Governed by an ecumenical board of directors and using the "Cursillo model" but with a different image, the Great Banquet continues to emphasize personal Christian discipleship. The movement is institutionally sponsored by local church groups, with Lampstand Ministries formed as a covering corporation to move it into new areas.
Purpose
The focus of the Great Banquet is to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and to make Him known. The objective is to continue the 3-day weekend by serving Christ in local churches, homes, and workplaces. To live a life of grace and respond to higher levels of Christian discipleship is the purpose of the Great Banquet.
Is This For You?
Who Should Attend?
- Anyone who wishes to strengthen their spiritual life.
- Anyone who wants a better understanding of prayer, the sacraments, study, and Christian action.
- Anyone who strives to live a Christian life that bears fruit for God.
- Anyone who seeks to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and to make Him known.
Ready to Learn More?
Reach out to a Community Lay Director with questions, or find a form to get started.