Held Together By Love
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider how every instrument in an orchestra plays a vital role in bringing the composition to its full richness and harmony.
What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.
— Dionne Warwick
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.
— Coretta Scott King
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Food for Thought
Growing up in central North Carolina, Black History Month was always a significant and transformative time within our community. My elementary school was not far from historic institutions like North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University, and Winston-Salem State University—places of immense pride, resilience, and excellence. Many of my teachers, including my principal and my favorite teacher of all time, were strong, brilliant Black women. They taught with passion and purpose, instilling in all of their students the stories of great leaders, trailblazers, and dreamers who shaped our collective history.
Each year, we celebrated with school presentations filled with the powerful voices of teachers singing Gospel songs, Spirituals, and Freedom hymns—music that carried the weight of both joy and lamentation. We learned about the history of slavery, the realities of segregation, and the injustices of Jim Crow laws. We listened to the stories of those who marched, rallied, prayed, and sang in pursuit of a more just and free world, and we felt the responsibility to carry forward their legacy in our own lives.
This experience has remained precious to me throughout my life because I know that these are the experiences that taught me the value of community, the gift of storytelling, and the importance of opening ourselves up to those around us. Through those and other experiences in my life, I have learned to value deeply the gift of one another. Our diversity — what we as individuals bring to the collective — is a gift. It is a testament to the beauty of humanity in its many forms, a reflection of the divine in each of us. The histories, cultures, and experiences that shape us bring depth and richness to our shared story. I cannot imagine a world or our communities without this vibrancy.
As a pastor, I have seen firsthand how powerful community can be. There is a transformative, healing power that comes when we embrace one another fully, when we care for one another, when we lift one another up, and when we share in one another’s burdens. I have learned that when we come together—when we truly see, hear, and value each other—we create something more beautiful than we ever could have done on our own.
Romans 12:10 reminds us to "be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." This is a holy calling on each of us: to love beyond boundaries, to honor the stories and struggles of others, and to build a world where every person is cherished as they are.
To celebrate others in their uniqueness and fullness, is not just an act of respect; it is an act of love, of affirmation, of recognizing that we are all better because of what each person brings. It is a way of showing our devotion to each other—not just in words, but in action. Honoring each other’s experiences. Listening openly to one another. Opening ourselves in compassion. Reaching out in friendship. Gathering together around the table.
In doing so, we will continue creating communities where our diversity is treasured. Where every child can grow up knowing they belong. Where friendships are formed despite differences. Where kindness leads. And where the balm of this world’s pain is found in the healing of our communal brokenness.
So, let us keep singing. Let us keep celebrating. Let us keep believing that our communities can be places where all are seen, honored, and embraced. And may we continue to carry forward a legacy of love with our lives - continuing to hope for a world where we can all be freely and fully ourselves — a wonderfully diverse collection — colorful mosaic of human life — held together by love in this beloved community.
Every day try doing a different act of kindness that helps build community. These could be small things like complimenting someone, helping a neighbor, or learning something new about someone’s culture or background. You can even involve children by having them come up with ideas for kindness actions that promote love, respect, and inclusion.
If you have access to a public place, start a "Wall of Kindness" where people can post notes of appreciation, honor, or love for others in their community. The wall could feature messages of encouragement, highlight diverse contributions, and celebrate both big and small acts of kindness.
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
Gracious and Loving God,
You have created us in beautiful diversity, each of us a unique reflection of Your image. Teach us to be devoted to one another in love. Help us to honor one another above ourselves, to listen with open hearts, to embrace with open arms, and to lift each other up with kindness and compassion. Let us see the divine beauty in every person, recognizing that each story, each voice, and each life is a sacred part of the whole.
Amen
A little Table Talk for your table...
How have you experienced the beauty and richness of diversity in your own life?
Who are the people in your community who have shaped you, and how have they influenced your understanding of love and honor?
Where do you see God at work in bringing people together across differences, and how can you be part of that work?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Ask your kiddos what they think it means to "honor one another above yourselves."
Make a list of ways we can "honor one another above yourselves." Choose at least one to do this week.
Challenge your kiddos to take turns sharing something unique or special about themselves that they think makes the community better or more beautiful?
Meet This Week’s Writer!
Rev. Daryn Stylianopoulos is originally from North Carolina, but has called Boston, MA home for nearly twenty years. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Boston University School of Theology and serves as a Baptist pastor in the Boston area. Daryn is an advocate for the marginalized and works against injustices in her community. She believes in creatively cultivating a spirit of cohesion, welcome, and healing in the world. A lover of art, music, gardening, and, most of all, family, she often looks to these for inspiration in her work and ministry.
To hear more from Rev. Daryn throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!