The Sandia Great Banquet

by Dr. Doug Hucke on February 01, 2024

What Is the Great Banquet?

The Gospel of Luke presents the parable of the Great Banquet. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying, "Come, for everything is now ready." After so many excuses for not attending by his invited guests, the master became angry and ordered his servant, "Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame."

After this had been done, and room still remained, the master told his servant, "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full." Then, as additional invitations were given, the banquet was presented to his guests. The result of the master's invitation was to feast and fellowship at a banquet given by God. (Luke 14:15-24)

The parable above provides the picture for the Great Banquet. Like its counterparts, Cursillo, Emmaus, and Tres Días, this movement examines Christianity as a lifestyle. The Great Banquet is an orderly, structured weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christians. Through a combined effort of laity and clergy, the Great Banquet focuses on the renewal of the church.

The Great Banquet is a 72-hour experience, beginning on Thursday evening and ending Sunday evening. For three days, guests live and study together in a worshipful time of singing, prayer, and discussion. During each of the 15 talks given by laity and clergy, the theme of God's grace is presented. Guests participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and examine more fully the presence of Christ in His body of believers. They personally experience His grace through the prayers and acts of a loving, Christian support community.

One of the most important parts of the Great Banquet is the follow-up. Although the weekend lasts only three days, guests are invited to use its lessons for the rest of their lives. After attending the Great Banquet, they are challenged to:

Strengthen their own spiritual life through study and active congregational participation; and
Strive to become active disciples of Jesus Christ in the world through their church.

When Are the Next Weekends?

Men's Weekend #21 is April 11-14, 2024.

Women's Weekend #22 is April 18-21, 2024.

Sponsor Form

Guest Registration Form

After the Weekend

To assist guests in their discipleship, the Great Banquet offers specific opportunities. First, reunion groups of three to five people meet to examine their goal of spiritual growth and to encourage one another to a life of discipleship. Second, there will be opportunities to assist in future Great Banquet weekends through prayer, support, and team involvement. Third, guests are made aware of community needs through a newsletter of other Great Banquet weekends.

If you would like to attend one of the upcoming Great Banquet weekends, email Mary Reith at or Doug Hucke at .

Tags: community, discipleship, growth, retreat, worship, prayer, study

About the Author

Dr. Doug Hucke

I was not raised in the church. Like so many people, I came to faith later in life. I came to know Jesus through Young Life in high school. My first ministry experience was with Young Life, but eventually I went off to seminary. I later found myself in a Presbyterian church with the distinct and overwhelming sensation that I needed to pursue church ministry as my life's mission.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University, went to seminary in Pasadena, California, and have an M.Div (Master of Divinity) and D.Min (Doctor of Ministry) from Fuller Theological Seminary. I also have a Th.M. (Master of Theology) from Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.

I have been married to my lovely wife, Debbie, for 25 years. We have a beautiful and smart daughter in Becca, and we have the bravest son in the world in Ian. We moved here to Albuquerque in 2012, and we love it. But mostly I love being a pastor at Sandia Presbyterian Church.