Memorable Meals (Day 22)

#31days of Missional Meals

"Entertainment has little to do with real hospitality. Entertaining says, I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, my gourmet cooking. Hospitality, however, seeks to minister." -Karen Mains

Most people can tell you little about the tablescape or centerpiece at their most memorable meals. They probably don't remember the decorations well or how clever the place-cards were presented. Often they'll remember the food. But the most important part of any meal is the people. Conversations and company are what make meals memorable.

Perhaps you'll notice a theme in a how I approach missional living? I'm into simplicity. I believe less is always more. If you're the queen of Pinterest parties that's great. But you're probbably not going to want every missional meal to be an elaborately themed event especially fi you're opening your home at least once a week.

So how can you keep your meals simple so that there's room to focus on relationships? Below are some of my ideas:

• Keep a simple menu. Use a crock pot for a big pot of soup served with crusty bread and salad. Or a simple pork tenderloin from the crock pot will make a big impression with very little effort.
• Set a simple table. White is always classic and showcases your delicious food. A simple short candle grouping is always a fine center piece. When I want something more specific to the season I use 12x12 pieces of scrapbook paper as place mats. They're cheap and you can simply toss out them after the meal if they get ruined. 
• Have an after dinner plan. Will you retire to the living room for games? Will you have coffee on the back deck or cordials on the porch swing? Remember the meal is only the beginning and you want to keep the conversation going. Oftentimes a more comfortable seating area is all you need for rich conversations that last well into the night.

What are your tips for keeping hospitality simple? I'd love to hear from you. For more encouragement in this area see A home that says, "Welcome".

Over the next few days I have some wonderful friends and loved ones that will be sharing some of their most memorable meals while I prepare for Allume. Stay tuned because I'm so excited about what they each have to share.