The Table Church, D.C. - Sermons: One Offs

From Straight Assumptions to Queer Freedom

Heidi Mills — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0100

From Straight Assumptions to Queer Freedom

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Heidi Mills

Downtown

Date: 1st June 2025

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What happens when the faith you grew up with doesn't have room for who you're becoming? Pastor Heidi Mills shares her personal story of moving from conservative Christianity's rigid expectations to discovering her queer identity at age 30. She explores how religious spaces often force people into narrow boxes that prevent authentic self-discovery.

Through her own experience of questioning, deconstructing, and ultimately embracing her sexuality, Heidi demonstrates how supportive communities can create space for people to explore their true selves without shame or judgment. Her story reveals how stepping outside familiar boundaries—even when it costs relationships—can lead to greater freedom and self-acceptance.

Whether you're questioning your own identity, supporting someone who is, or wondering how faith and sexuality intersect, this honest conversation offers hope that there are communities where everyone can belong exactly as they are.

Chosen Family: Where Pride Meets Faith

Antonio Ingram — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Chosen Family: Where Pride Meets Faith

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Antonio Ingram

DC Bilingual

Date: 1st June 2025

Passage: Genesis 3:1-24

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Growing up queer in religious spaces often means inheriting a legacy of shame—being told your identity is incompatible with God's love. But what if the very questions that expose our shame could lead us back to belonging?

In this Pride Sunday sermon, Antonio Ingram explores how the Genesis story of Adam and Eve offers a surprising framework for understanding queer identity and faith. Drawing on the concept of "chosen family" familiar to many LGBTQ+ folks, he reframes our relationship with the divine not as one of exile and hiding, but as adoption into a family where shame has no place. This isn't about sanitizing faith or ignoring harm done by religious institutions—it's about reclaiming a spiritual heritage that says you belong, exactly as you are.

Whether you're questioning, affirming, or somewhere in between, discover how ancient texts speak to modern struggles for dignity and belonging.

Cast Yourself Into the Sea: Faith When the World Is Burning

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Cast Yourself Into the Sea: Faith When the World Is Burning

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

DC Bilingual

Date: 20th April 2025

Passage: John 21:1-25

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Anthony Parrott tackles the question we're all asking: How do we find hope when the world feels like it's burning? Through the unexpected story of discouraged friends going fishing after a crisis, this sermon explores how meaning often shows up in the most ordinary moments—like breakfast on a beach. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by global crises, personal failures, or the daily struggle to keep going, this Easter message offers a fresh perspective on how small acts of community and care can become radical responses to empire and despair. Recorded April 20, 2025.

More Than a Piece in Their Games: Refusing Empire in DC

Heidi Mills — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0100

More Than a Piece in Their Games: Refusing Empire in DC

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Heidi Mills

Downtown

Date: 13th April 2025

Passage: Luke 19:28-40

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In a city that often feels like the Capitol from The Hunger Games, how do we maintain our humanity and agency? Heidi Mills explores what Jesus' radical entrance into Jerusalem teaches us about confronting systems of power without becoming what we oppose. Perfect for anyone tired of feeling like a pawn in someone else's game, searching for ways to create meaningful change in a world that prioritizes power over justice. Drawing parallels between ancient Jerusalem and modern DC, this sermon offers four practical strategies for living with purpose in the shadow of empire.

Growing as An Empathetic Church

Christopher Anderson — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Growing as An Empathetic Church

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Christopher Anderson

Downtown

Date: 26th November 2023

Passage: 1 Timothy 6:1-21

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I. Introduction

Background information on the church in Ephesus and the reason for Timothy being sent there
Reflection on the importance of church and the question of why we attend

II. The Church as Wounded Healers

Pope Francis' reflection on the church as a field hospital after battle
Questioning whether we sometimes forget our role as wounded healers
Importance of church being about more than just superficial aspects

III. Humility in Spiritual and Practical Lives

Examination of 1 Timothy 6:6-8 emphasizing the call to humility
The idea that we enter and leave the world the same way, focusing on our humanity
The mantra that having bread on the table and shoes on our feet is enough

IV. The Road to Ruin and Destruction

Discussion on the lust for money and its potential consequences
Balancing the desire for financial stability with the call to humility
Consideration of those who struggle with finding work and financial stability

V. Jesus' Teachings on Money and Worry

Connection to the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus' teachings
Examination of Matthew 6:24 and the impossibility of serving both God and money
Analysis of the Lord's Prayer and the emphasis on daily bread
Jesus' teachings on fasting and the dangers of seeking recognition
Jesus' words on worry and the importance of trusting in God

VI. Conclusion

Reflection on the cultural context of Jesus' teachings and their relevance today
Identification of pitfalls to watch out for, such as the lust for money
Encouragement to pursue humility and trust in God's provision

Stewardship

Tonetta Landis-Aina — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Stewardship

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Tonetta Landis-Aina

Downtown

Date: 19th November 2023

Passage: Luke 16:1-13

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November 19, 2023 - Pastor Tonetta takes a fresh look at Luke 16: 1-13, the story of a rich man who has a manager that is squandering his property.

Go Swimming While in Exile

Tonetta Landis-Aina — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Go Swimming While in Exile

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Tonetta Landis-Aina

Downtown

Date: 12th November 2023

Passage: Ezekiel 47:1-12

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During Babylonian exile Ezekiel has a vision of a river flowing from God's temple. While most of us will never experience physical exile we can relate to Ezekiel on levels of sexual orientation, group oppression, or sense of exile from the church. Pastor Tonetta examines Ezekiel 47:1-12 and looks at how God can be present in the midst of trauma.

Lament, the Prelude to Resurrection

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Lament, the Prelude to Resurrection

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Capital City

Date: 9th April 2023

Passage: John 20:1-31

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Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. Preacher: Anthony Parrott. Before the resurrection, the Gospels set the scene: disbelief, doubt, grief, fear, and lament.

Your hard emotions aren't keeping you from God. In fact, they are the very thing that may lead to your encounter with the Divine.

Four Questions from the Magi

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Four Questions from the Magi

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Downtown

Date: 8th January 2023

Passage: Matthew 2:1-10

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Pastor Anthony compares the story of the Magi with 4 key questions from the book "Four Thousand Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman.

Where in your life or your work are you currently pursuing comfort, when what's called for is a little discomfort?

In what ways have you yet to accept the fact that you are who you are, not the person you think you ought to be?

In which areas of life are you still holding back until you feel like you know what you're doing?

How would you spend your days differently if you didn't care so much about seeing your actions reach fruition?

New Years Day 2023

Heidi Mills — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000

New Years Day 2023

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Heidi Mills

Downtown

Date: 1st January 2023

The Spirit and the Divine Feminine

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0100

The Spirit and the Divine Feminine

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Downtown

Date: 4th September 2022

Passages:

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A few months ago, a sermon got interrupted due to a medical emergency. But that sermon is finally out as a bonus episode in our podcast feed! Pastor Anthony explains how the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures regularly and routinely use feminine language for God — and we should too!

Revelation 7 and The Proactive Table Church

Tonetta Landis-Aina, Anthony Parrott — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0100

Revelation 7 and The Proactive Table Church

Series: One Offs

Preachers:

Tonetta Landis-Aina
Anthony Parrott

Downtown

Date: 3rd July 2022

Passage: Revelation 7:1-17

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Sunday, July 3, 2022. Pastors Tonetta Landis-Aina and Anthony Parrott share on the vision of Revelation 7 and how The Table is working to carry out that vision.

A Tangible Kind of Faith

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0100

A Tangible Kind of Faith

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Columbia Heights

Date: 17th April 2022

Passages:

Luke 12:36-42
Luke 24:1-12

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Sunday, April 17, 2022. Preacher: Anthony Parrott. There are two kinds of faith. One is toothless and dangerous. One is tangible and can heal the world.

Allyship to Solidarity - MLK Jr Day 2022 Teach-In

Tonetta Landis-Aina, Itzbeth Menjívar, Kristin Kumpf — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Allyship to Solidarity - MLK Jr Day 2022 Teach-In

Series: One Offs

Preachers:

Tonetta Landis-Aina
Itzbeth Menjívar
Kristin Kumpf

Online

Date: 16th January 2022

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This past Sunday during our Sunday evening service, we hosted a virtual teach-in in honor of Dr. King. Our wonderful teachers Itzbeth Menjívar and Kristin Kumpf talked about the role of power in our movements and the need to move out of allyship and into the deep, costly work of solidarity. Sunday, January 16, 2022

5 Things We Need When Everything Sucks

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 10:15:00 +0100

5 Things We Need When Everything Sucks

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Date: 11th October 2020

Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-21

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Pastor Anthony teaches from the story of Elijah about how we can respond when we are in the valley and it feels like our lives are falling apart.

Pastor Raimon: Testimony

Raimon Jackson — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 10:15:00 +0100

Pastor Raimon: Testimony

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Raimon Jackson

Date: 2nd August 2020

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Pastor Raimon shares some of his life story.

I Am Weak, But I Am Hopeful

Raimon Jackson — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 10:15:00 +0100

I Am Weak, But I Am Hopeful

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Raimon Jackson

Date: 7th June 2020

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Pastor Raimon shares next steps we can take as we pursue racial justice.

My Father Was A Wandering Aramean

Anthony Parrott — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 10:15:00 +0100

My Father Was A Wandering Aramean

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Anthony Parrott

Date: 26th April 2020

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Pastor Anthony preaches out of Deuteronomy and tells us about his life story.

The Week After Easter

Richard Kelley — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 10:15:00 +0100

The Week After Easter

Series: One Offs

Preacher: Richard Kelley

Date: 19th April 2020

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Pastor Richard teaches us about how Jesus is with us in the midst of our hurting.