Weekly Update: Chase Cafe Adventures

For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Matthew 18:20

If you were there you know Sunday night for our inaugural service we had competition. A Goth night and birthday party had rented out the rest of Chase Cafe and was to begin at the same time as our service. This confused some of our visitors so soon we will have a sign, (details, details), to make it clearer where we meet. The evening worked out well except for the discussion time after the sermon when we had to speak over loud Goth music to hear each other.

Though, come to think of it, the party did seem to wait till we concluded before really turning up the volume. Everyone was very friendly and cooperative.

Kate and Larry were quite at home since Goth is our subculture of choice, and Larry in the cassock Kate made fit right in, and liturgical vestments fit in as well. Goth night and church.
AKMA presided at Eucharist and Jane, Tripp and Larry preached a team sermon. The count was about 20 people for worship.

All in all it was a fine beginning for us. The management at Chase Cafe was very apologetic for the overlap, which we appreciate though we expected something like this might happen from time to time. So, when you come to visit, bring your party togs. You just never know.

Given the laid back environment of Chase and the numerous events it hosts we are use to the space never being the same from week to week. So we come early re-arrange the room we rent and bring in chairs from other parts of the cafe. All in all it is good, and it keeps us on our toes. Feel free to join us early if you like. The more the merrier.

We look forward to the journey we have embarked upon and pray others will be led to join us. If you are interested in knowing more about the vision of this community. Feel free to follow this link to the Pastoral Vision statement. It is a living document, so be prepared for it to change every now and again.

Each of us affirms our first allegiance and fidelity to Jesus Christ. Each of us wishes to focus primarily on helping form Christian disciples. (Matthew 28:28) Each of us celebrates the unique and beautiful expressions of Christian faith as found in each of our traditions. Each of us holds intense loyalty to each stream of Christian expression that has refreshed us, strengthened us, and led us to pitch our tents. But each of us also laments the limitations of our denominations - not due to their expressions of faith, but due to habits of over-familiarity that lead either to ignorance or contempt of other valid expressions.

As such, this vision of shared faith, of common call within diverse tradition and theology, finds a place of deep resonance in our hearts. (John 17:20ff) - Pastoral Vision Statement of the Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler