May 17, 2026
The Great Banquet
Keisha’s talk centered on the parable of the Great Banquet and the idea of belonging at the table. Drawing from both a joyful experience at a Portland Fire basketball game and the deep grief of losing her mother, she reflected on how true belonging looks like celebrating, grieving, and making space for others together. Keisha challenged the community to think beyond simply welcoming outsiders and instead wrestle with the harder question of leaving room at the table for people who have hurt us or cannot “repay” us relationally. While clearly affirming the importance of boundaries and safety, she emphasized that the Kingdom of God is built on grace rather than repayment, inviting listeners to consider who they may have removed from their table and what it would look like to leave a chair open for mercy, healing, and possibility.