A Maundy Thursday Prayer of Shared Table and Love in Action
Prayer by Cameron Helwege (He/Him/His)
Communications Coordinator for MFSA
God of shared tables and open doors,
On this night, we remember a meal—
simple, ordinary, and full of meaning.
Jesus gathered with friends,
knowing what was coming,
and chose love anyway.
He washed feet.
He broke bread.
He said, "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
Tonight, we exist in a world still divided—
where some are welcomed, and others turned away,
where some eat, and others go hungry,
where power is hoarded instead of shared.
And still, your invitation remains.
Teach us to practice that kind of love—
not only in our words, but in what we do.
In how we make room.
In how we serve.
In how we refuse to let anyone be disposable.
Let your table stretch wider than we could ever imagine.
Let it disrupt who we think belongs.
Let it remind us that community is not a feeling—
It is a commitment.
As we remember your mandate this night,
make us into people who keep showing up for one another,
who resist evil, injustice, and oppression,
and who build a world shaped by love and care.
Amen.
Cameron Helwege (he/him/his)
is the Communications Coordinator for the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). He is also the Creative Director at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. With over two decades of experience in communications and media production at different levels within the United Methodist Church and beyond, Cameron has played a pivotal role in various church and nonprofit settings, focusing on creative work that fosters inclusivity and dialogue. Cameron is driven by an innate curiosity and a passion for understanding how things work. As an Enneagram 5w4, Cameron is known for his thoughtful, introspective approach, often found working quietly behind the scenes. He is deeply passionate about social justice, inclusion, and healing from church trauma.
Allendale United Methodist Church is a justice-seeking, inclusive congregation committed to practicing Christ’s example of unconditional love without exclusion. Allendale affirms the sacred worth of every person and invites people of every race, background, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic situation, age, and ability to participate fully in the life of the church.
Rooted in the belief that all people are God’s beloved, Allendale strives to embody love through acts of grace, advocacy, and community care. As a community of seekers, followers, and doubters, the congregation gathers to grow in faith, support one another, and work for healing, justice, and advocacy in the wider world.