To come as you are, to bring all that is weighing on you, to pull up a chair, to rest, to laugh, to share your story, to find welcome, to experience the grace of seeing yourself and those around you through a lens of love and understanding.

Summer has a way of inviting us to slow down, savor the moment, and make space for what matters most.

This year, our Summer of Welcome series carries a special purpose. Following the devastating fire that impacted several small businesses in our hometown of Lexington, NC, we wanted to find a meaningful way to support our neighbors.

Throughout the summer, we'll be sharing reflections from the summer section of Seasons of Welcome, and all profits from book sales will go directly toward supporting the businesses affected by the fire. We believe welcome is more than gathering around a table—it is caring for one another when it matters most.

Along with each weekly reflection, you'll also receive a companion reflection for kids and a summer activity sheet designed to spark conversation, creativity, and connection.

Thank you for joining us in this small act of community care. Together, may we create a Summer of Welcome filled with hope, healing, and generosity! 💛

We, at The Welcome Table®, believe that real conversations and community happen in the spaces where the belovedness and the voices of all are welcomed and valued. For us, this is rooted in the example of Jesus who often used food and table to bring people from all walks of life into community together. Our objective is to help facilitate meaningful conversations that lead us to re-examine our own beliefs through a deeper understanding of the experiences and stories of those around us. This can only happen when people like you bring yourself, your voice, and your heart to the table.

We are “The Bunce Girls”, or at least that is what we have been called most of our lives. Originally from Lexington, North Carolina, we were raised surrounded by music, justice, and faith. Our mother and both grandmothers were music ministers, our father was an attorney, one grandfather was a professor, and the other was the pastor of our church. Needless to say, we were constantly challenged to express ourselves in thoughtful and meaningful ways. Often that was through the use of our voices, whether through singing or just good, honest conversation - conversations that most often took place around the table. Most of our Sunday afternoons were spent gathered around an open table with family and friends where the food was plentiful, stories and laughter connected our hearts, and where the presence of each individual was held sacred. It’s those moments that have inspired The Welcome Table®.