Dear Friends,
This is a word of deep appreciation, a bit of reflection, and an invitation for you to share feedback on our Thursday, September 24, 2026 launch of Mayport Open Table’s Neighborhood BBQ.
First, to God be the glory! Who can deny that Thursday was a wonderful evening in Mayport? I call it a win for Jesus. The rain clouds parted, and the Holy Spirit touched down. Through you, the love of Christ was magnified in a very hungry community. Hallelujah!
Thanks - all of you - for helping to make it possible, including those of you who recruited, posted on social, or added a flyer to bags of food for kids so that the community was aware that something new is happening among us.
While I don’t have an exact number, by my count of names and faces (with visual from your photos of the evening), we widened the boundaries of hope in Mayport for at least 73 men, women, and children.
The Numbers (in alpha order):
2) Corrie and Jim - two local friends who also pack weekend food bags and deliver when needed, and who brought cornhole (great call!)
3) Dignitaries :-) - Mitch Reeves, Rev. Dr. David Rollins, and Rev. Jim Black!
12) Fletcher Middle School
5?) Marine Science Education Center HS - our host! Thank you to the principal, her teachers and her administrators who persevered after a long day of school.
6) Mayport PC - including Abby, who baked, and Linda who’s brother just passed away a couple of weeks ago
7) Palms - Donna, Connie, Ellen, Holly, Howard, Alan and Carol who baked, grilled, stirred, picked up, dropped off… my friends…who am I missing?
12) Pastor Gibson’s RMP AME congregation - 12-13 adults and a couple of very sweet young people plus Joyce’s sister from Beaches Habitat). See you at your groundbreaking on the 18th!
25) Mayport Village locals: ~ 23 adults; 12 children; 2 babies (one was only 11 days old!)
1) Me
For a new worshiping community to take root, it is critical for us to simply be present - from Go. Your presence Thursday evening lowered anxiety of those who might otherwise hesitate to walk down the driveway. And, you became conversation partners for folks who may have been unsure of what they’d gotten themselves into.
In church plant language, we call you seeds. You were most excellent seeds!
Observations:
Games and activities for the kids are key. They also draw enthusiasm from adults. That was a win/win.
Table Talk/Conversation Cards may have been helpful, but they were hardly necessary. The immediate, fluid conversations didn’t require that I draw our attention to them after the introduction (that was new for me).
Pastoral message length, content, and tone seemed to work - pls LMK (really. It’s ok.)
Opening prayer - Thanks, Jim!
Community Offerings - Prayer requests: I will wheel a white board over next month so people can add their prayer requests as they arrive. Community Announcements: Mitch and mine - were they well placed? Feedback, pls.
Food - More than enough, but not because people didn’t eat! Donna, you, Holly, and Connie outdid yourselves! In the future, we will fill pitchers with water and tea and place them on each table.
Music - Great addition! Our new friends played secular music. Would Christian music have been necessary, in your opinion? (Might be harder to find and more expensive.)
Set up - the Marine Science Center graciously provided all of the table set up. Let’s build that team.
Clean up - everyone pitched in, anchored by the MSC. Thank you!
We are now imagining seasonal themes and programming for future months. Please let me know if you are interested in helping!
Photos - thanks to you who snapped shots of the community in action. Thanks to Mitch how posted them on the Mayport Waterfront FB page. Keep them coming! A young man has offered to create a brief video for us to use.
What else? I sincerely welcome your ideas, suggestions, critiques, and encouragement.
Follow-up will include social media posts, another door to door, posters around town, and our presence in the community - particularly the Saturday market and local coffee shop, singleton’s and Marie’s art gallery. We will continue to reach out to the Ombudsman’s offices.
To conclude for now, I repeat my deepest gratitude for your support of this new worshiping community. It was an extraordinary launch. Now, let’s see what God has in store next!
Never hesitate to reach out. I am here for you, and you, and you.
In the love of Christ,
Beverly
M: 201-214-9526