How very good and pleasant it is when kindred dwell together! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
– Psalm 133
Dear Caldwell,
Someone asked me recently whether the people of the Bible had coffee. I admitted I didn’t know for sure, but I imagine they might have been more tea drinkers. But we do learn a lot about the ministry of hospitality from scripture. Gathering around food and drink was the basis for community and relationship building. Travelers were honored guests at the table. As we read in James last Sunday, part of God’s identity is God’s generosity and we are called to extend that to others.
A little less than a year ago, several people started working on the idea of transforming the old, little-used Fellowship Hall under the sanctuary into a coffee house (like Amelie’s in NODA, pictured above). A vision emerged that Caldwell could offer a space where coffee, comfort and community converge. It would also be a space Caldwell could use for gatherings, fellowship events, classes and more.
An initial vision team fleshed out the idea, which the congregation received with strong approval and good input. Let’s bring that vision to life! Are you interested in helping?
Caldwell needs to form a new team to implement the concept. It will initially focus on two areas:
- Space Design and Decoration, to provide an inviting tone and feel to our neighbors.
- Marketing and Neighborhood Awareness, to get the word out to CPCC, Kings College, Elizabeth Traditional Elementary, Presbyterian-Novant, neighboring churches and others.
– Theology on Tap meets at 7 p.m. tonight at Kickstand on Central Avenue, a continuing and wide-ranging discussion of the book Living the Questions.
– Welcome back to the office Sally Herlong, who had her gallbladder removed last week.
-No yoga tonight as our teachers are traveling.
– Don’t forget that you can use today’s lunch money to help end human trafficking and slavery through our campus partner, Hagar. Visit https://hagarinternational.org/usa/get-involved/pack-for-traffick/
The concept includes partnerships with Kinfolk Coffee, a small catering operation that provides jobs for youth in the low-income Enderly Park neighborhood, and the Community Culinary School of Charlotte, which also provides job training and employment to those in need.
Lots of church members and friends expressed interest and enthusiaism and the church is full of creative people with fresh ideas about how we can offer the ministry of hospitality to the neighborhood, thereby demonstrating the love and welcome of Christ. This team will coordinate its work with the session.
Can God use your gifts in this way? All who are interested, please email Clerk of Session Peg Robarchek at coachpeg@aol.com. We will gather names and the team will organize and get to work, aiming to have a soft opening sometime this fall, if all goes well.
Thanks to all those who have already spent hours and hours to refine the concept, and to all who provided additional ideas and expertise in our town halls.
And, next time I am in the seminary library, I will look into what the ancient Hebrews and first-century Christians drank to keep going …..
In Christ,
John