About
Who we are
Rev. Celeste Kennel-Shank
Pastor
Celeste (she, her) is a bivocational pastor and journalist. She is also passionate about gardening as a way of cultivating food, beauty, and solidarity.
Raised in an ecumenical worshiping community in Washington, D.C., she is now ordained in Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA. She studied at the University of Chicago Divinity School, receiving an M.Div. in 2013.
Contact Celeste at pastor@moveablefeastcommunity.org
Leadership Team: Adrienne (she, they) and Josiah (he, him)
Our fabulous leaders collaborate with Celeste in shaping Moveable Feast's life together. Meet them at a Moveable Feast gathering and learn more about their roles and whether you might want to join the leadership team at some point.
Moveable Feast was formed, as the Holy Spirit formed the church at Pentecost, on the principle of solidarity with each other, with all other people, and with all of the creatures of the earth.* That formation is not a one-time event but requires continued self-examination, transformation, and growth in order to tear down all human hierarchies. It also requires a rhythm of rest for growth to be possible.
*Phrasing inspired by Ruether, Rosemary Radford. Women and Redemption: A Theological History. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998), 194.
Moveable Feast is an emerging community of faith rooted in the Mennonite tradition but open to all. We have three types of regular gatherings:
Interfaith sabbath suppers: An ancient practice of Judaism that continues in Jewish communities today, sabbath is countercultural. Going against the dominant culture is difficult. These suppers seek to invite all of us to grow in our practice of sabbath. We can have 24 hours (sundown to sundown) in mind as a goal; a place to start can be sabbath walks or naps (i.e. setting aside a few hours on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), and logging out of social media and turning off devices, or at least putting them on Do Not Disturb. Sabbath suppers are at sundown Saturday, celebrating either the ending or beginning of the sabbath for participants. Those who practiced a Saturday sabbath would be freed from bringing anything to the potluck. These are monthly and welcome people of all traditions as well as atheists and agnostics.
Sunday evening services: For those who want to explore how the heart of Christianity can be liberative and queer-celebrating, we gather on many Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. with scripture, a homily and time for shared reflection, the Eucharist, and singing. We meet in the chapel of the Community of the Holy Trinity, 3241 W. Wilson Ave., Apt 1.
Text studies: These gatherings involve reading through the Bible along with literature or other texts. We have read Let There Be Light by Liana Finck alongside the book of Genesis; Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston alongside Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; and The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks alongside the Book of Samuel and Chronicles.
We hope to soon begin another kind of gathering:
Intergenerational theological activities: These include a time geared toward Christian formation that children, youth, and adults can all engage in their own way. Some events include agape meals—a simple main dish, bread, and cup—modeled after early Christian gatherings in homes.
All photos on this page by Charissa Johnson Photography.