e common table it was mentioned before, McClendon refers to the meal as an important part of the practice of community formation. The community of koinonia should be a sharing community. It means also that Christians relational commitments should be not only on an inner level, but it must be expressed visibly to the other people. The practice of sharing meal reflects and expresses the reality and meaning of the Kingdom of God. Shannon defines food as a generator of community of fellowship. Sharing food with somebody is initial and basic act which socializes people as human beings. Sharing food is a central practice of every nation, because people can not live without food, without nourishing themselves and others. Eating and drinking is a communal experience. When food is eating and drinking in community of people it implies special meaning. It shows a genuine sense of togetherness, unity, and communion. People can feel united themselves with each other by eating together. Common table of sharing expresses a desire to be together. In light of these considerations, it seems clear that meal and sharing meal has its relational dimension.food sustains and nourishes not only our bodies, but also our relationships with each other. It can create and sustain new relationships as well. When people are eating or drinking together, it shows that they are all, first of all, accepted in that community; secondly, it expresses mutuality within this group of people. As Pohl points out, food has a profoundly egalitarian dimension. Following this statement, the common table of the Lord s Supper can include everyone; everyone can partake in it. The common table excludes any difference between people. For the common table it does not matter what is person s background. All participants of the common table are equal. Henson says that the common table is also a celebration of the physical. The bread and the wine which are used for the Eucharist are the physical things. Nevertheless, they play the role of witnesses of Jesus Christ. It shows that the sacramental depends on the physical. makes a connection between people. When we are sharing our food and eating together, it reveals our interdependence. Sometimes we depend on others, who can give us some food. Sometimes we depend on those who can grow and planted the food on our tables. Sometimes we depend on those people who can cook it for us. Consequently, meal shows mutuality between human beings in need for food. Sharing meal also implies a dimension of joy. When people are eating or drinking they do not share only with food, but also they share in joy. They are celebrating the presence of each other. However, from my point of view, this joy of presence also implies the presence of peace within participants of common dinner. Being around the common table can speak about the quality of relationships. People, between whom their relationships are broken, can not sit at the one table. Therefore, I think that it reveal another aspect of sharing meal that the common table can be a healing place for broken relationships. Then people, who are sitting at the common table, use a trajectory of moving from isolation to the extended relationships in the united community of koinonia.the same time, sharing meal breaks the boundaries which people make between themselves. Here I would like to refer to Jesus example. His attitude was to accept all of people; even those who are seem as unacceptable. In the course of His ministry Jesus spent a lot of time by eating and drinking with such unacceptable people. There is also a powerful example of Peter which written in the book of Acts 10-11. It is a powerful story about the common table between the apostle Peter and the gentile Cornelius. Peter said, You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person ... unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection (Acts 10: 28-29). Therefore, the common table of sharing meal means hospitality and acceptance of every person.it was mention before, meal has in itself a performative character. Sharing meal is a gesture. It is also a type of non-verbal communication. Even the simple gesture of passing the potatoes is a natural moment of communication which can bring people out of their isolation. They can not remain behind the barriers of their depression when they have to ask for the salt. The need for food encourages communication. view of the above considerations, there is an important meaning of food in the people s lives in different aspects. However, such considerations are quite new and exotic for Ukrainian Baptist context. Nevertheless, from my point of view, the Ukrainian Christian communities should rethink and redefine the meaning of a meal. Here I would like to make a special reference to the faith community, to which I was belongin...
