Last summer, Park Royal United Church was fortunate to receive funding through The United Church of Canada's 100 Tables initiative (https://united-church.ca/100tables). Created as part of the United Church's centennial celebrations, 100 Tables invited communities of faith across Canada to transform picnic tables into places of welcome, connection, and belonging. These tables became gathering spaces where people could share food, conversation, stories, and community.
Using funds from this project, Park Royal purchased our own Portable Party Picnic Table—a simple but powerful tool for bringing hospitality beyond our church walls.
Since then, our table has travelled throughout the community, creating opportunities to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. It has been a gathering place at the PEI Pride Parade, on the UPEI campus, during our Sunday School Picnic, at seniors' home visits, and through Park Royal Kids Food Bank birthday bag celebrations. Wherever it goes, the table becomes a visible reminder that there is a place for everyone in our community.
We are excited to share the story of our table and the connections it has helped create at Rural Routes Through the Holy (https://ruralroutesthroughtheholy.ca/) in Hunter River, PEI, on June 5. This gathering celebrates the many ways faith communities are engaging with their neighbours and creating meaningful connections in rural Prince Edward Island.
Our portable picnic table may be simple, but it has become a powerful symbol of welcome, hospitality, and community—one conversation, one meal, and one gathering at a time.
