The Biggest Table

In this inaugural episode of The Biggest Table, I am joined by my good friend, Ty Hoad. Ty recounts his own journey with food and unreasonable expectations he put on people. We also look back at the meals we have shared together, including peach donuts, white truffle risotto, and smoked Waygu short ribs.

In this podcast episode of 'The Biggest Table,' host Andrew Camp engages in a conversation with Derek Vreeland, a discipleship pastor and author, about the significance of food, hospitality, and the Lord's Supper in experiencing God's love. Derek reflects on his dramatic calling to ministry and his experiences over 34 years of discipleship work. The discussion delves into the role of the Lord's Supper in combating secularism, individualism, and nationalism, highlighting its power to unite the congregation and deepen one's relationship with God. They also address how the practice of communion can transform lives and offer insights on structuring inclusive worship activities like election day communion services. Derek shares personal anecdotes, theological insights, and community practices that emphasize the importance of communal worship over individual spirituality.

Derek Vreeland is the Discipleship Pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he is known for his thoughtful, humorous, and authentic teaching style. He is the host of the Peaceable and Kind podcast. Derek enjoys reading, running, hiking, and rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. He and his wife Jenni have three sons, one daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.

Connect with Derek:

• Derek Vreeland's website
• Peaceable and Kind Podcast
• Derek Vreeland Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Click here for more information on Election Day Communion Services.

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, host Andrew Camp engages in a profound discussion with Gisela, a theologian and writer with deep roots in Christian spirituality and a passion for exploring the holistic embodiment of spirituality through creation. Focused on her experiences growing up in a family-owned winery in Germany and how it shaped her view on work, community, and spirituality, Gisela unfolds the intricate relationship between wine, theology, and the vocational life in the marketplace. She delves into the redeeming act of consuming, connecting theology with the physical, and sensual aspects of wine tasting, drawing on her rich familial and professional background. The conversation traverses through topics like the spirituality of wine, the deep connection between the vineyards and theological insights, and practical advice on appreciating wine as an element of spiritual practice. Gisela shares her vision for a church that deeply understands what it means to be the body of Christ, intertwined with the earth and each other through communal meals and hospitality. The episode concludes with thoughtful reflections on enduring food traditions, the profound link between food, wine, and memory, and an encouragement toward a more embodied form of Christian spirituality that embraces God's creation with gratitude and joy.

Gisela's website: https://www.thespiritualityofwine.com/

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

Join me in my conversation with Richard Beck. We explore the themes of hospitality, hope, and enchantment in Christian practice. From embracing marginalized individuals with grace to recovering an enchanted faith in a skeptical age, the conversation delves into the significance of ordinary moments, like sharing meals, in cultivating a sense of wonder and community.

Richard Beck is an author and professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University. Richard's latest book is Hunting Magic Eels: Recovering an Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age. As a prison chaplain, Richard leads a weekly Bible study for inmates at the maximum-security French Robertson Unit and has written and spoken extensively about his work among the incarcerated.

Richard Beck's Substack: https://richardbeck.substack.com/
Richard Beck's Blog: https://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, host Andrew Camp explores the intersection of food, wine, hospitality, and spirituality with guest Adam McHugh. McHugh, a former Presbyterian minister turned wine tour guide and sommelier, discusses his transformative journey into the wine industry, chronicled in his memoir 'Blood from a Stone'. They delve into the significance of the Santa Ynez Valley's wine culture, the impact of the movie 'Sideways' on the region, and how wine and the act of tasting can mirror the introspective and slow-paced aspects of listening and spirituality. McHugh reflects on his faith, the process of leaving the ministry, and finding new forms of connection and belonging through wine. The conversation also touches on terroir, the embodied aspects of winemaking, and the power of wine to foster community and mindfulness.

Adam McHugh is a wine tour guide, a sommelier, and a Certified Specialist of Wine. He is the author of Introverts in the Church, The Listening Life, and most recently Blood from a Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back from the Dead. He is also a regular contributor to Edible Santa Barbara & Wine Country. He lives in the Santa Ynez Valley on the California Central Coast.

Follow Adam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adammchughwine/
Adam's Contact: [email protected]

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.