Coffeehouse Service
I promise this is my last blog of the day. I think I set my blogging record today! I've had this recurring thought recently that I wanted to get some blog reaction to. I think there are ways of doing church that no one has thought of. Part of what has gotten me thinking about this is our prayer meetings. We didn't really have an "agenda" going into them and it was so cool to see how the Lord led us by prompting different people to share different things. It was exciting to see the way the Spirit led. I'm afraid that most churches and most services are missing that element of surprise.
I really want to think long and hard about our Saturday night service at Ebenezers. I have a feeling that it'll be it's own animal. I think it'll feel very different than our services @ the theaters. I really want an interactive element. I've dreamed for years of doing a service that allows for Q & A. I used to be afraid of that idea, but now it excites me. I don't even mind questions that are confrontational or controversial. I think it allows for honest dialogue that is missing from so many churches. Those can be some of the best "teaching moments."
I don't really want the "service" to feel like a church "service." I want it to feel like something else. Maybe it's part talk-show, part rock concert, part prayer meeting, and part conference. I'm not sure how the elements combine, but I want to "invent" a new format or way of doing church. I don't want it to be different for difference sake. I just want it to be unique because the Holy Spirit gives us unique ideas.
All of that is to say this: feel free to share any ideas about what a "dream" coffeehouse service would look like? No holds barred. What elements would it contain? Are there any "secular" models that we could learn from? Have you had any past experiences that you'd like to see incorporated into the coffeehouse service? Speak now or forever hold your peace. Actually, you can speak later too. I think we'll be thinking about this for several months. I'm planning on two reconaissance trips to check out a couple churches that are doing things different. Two churches on my hit list are Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis and Mars Hill in Michigan. I want to see how they do their Doubt Night.
I really want to think long and hard about our Saturday night service at Ebenezers. I have a feeling that it'll be it's own animal. I think it'll feel very different than our services @ the theaters. I really want an interactive element. I've dreamed for years of doing a service that allows for Q & A. I used to be afraid of that idea, but now it excites me. I don't even mind questions that are confrontational or controversial. I think it allows for honest dialogue that is missing from so many churches. Those can be some of the best "teaching moments."
I don't really want the "service" to feel like a church "service." I want it to feel like something else. Maybe it's part talk-show, part rock concert, part prayer meeting, and part conference. I'm not sure how the elements combine, but I want to "invent" a new format or way of doing church. I don't want it to be different for difference sake. I just want it to be unique because the Holy Spirit gives us unique ideas.
All of that is to say this: feel free to share any ideas about what a "dream" coffeehouse service would look like? No holds barred. What elements would it contain? Are there any "secular" models that we could learn from? Have you had any past experiences that you'd like to see incorporated into the coffeehouse service? Speak now or forever hold your peace. Actually, you can speak later too. I think we'll be thinking about this for several months. I'm planning on two reconaissance trips to check out a couple churches that are doing things different. Two churches on my hit list are Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis and Mars Hill in Michigan. I want to see how they do their Doubt Night.
3 Comments:
Every week at church, I am always disappointed when the service comes to a close. I always feel like there is so much more to learn from your sermons, and often times I have so many questions about things that you've said. I think a Saturday night service with almost an open mic feel to it would allow people to ask questions, which allows for a better understanding and a better learning experience. I also would love if the coffee house could stay open all night so people can hang out and talk about the service, because all of my best conversations have occurred in the middle of the night...there's just something about that late-night feeling that allows people to open up and be really ready for what God has for them to learn.
Hey Mark,
Wassup from the Left Coast!
I mentioned this once before when I was still out there with you guys and we were in a "big idea" meeting...
I think the "talk show" format is a cool interactive way to let God speak. It allows the message to be weaved through the intro comments, what the guests say and closing comments.
We just did a talk show format today for our Sunday gathering (http://www.PathwayPaloAlto.com).
The theme was "Miraculous Survival Stories" and I had two guests come and share their stories of how God saved their lives.
One shared how God saved his life in World War II when he got hit by a shrapnel bomb. He was hit in 13 places - one breaking his right arm. His life was saved because he had a pocket bible in his right chest pocket. The piece of shrapnel lodged into the Bible but didn't go through. It was like a bullet proof vest! :)
The other guest survived a mid-air collision between two planes (a Convair 990 and a Navy P-3 Orion) in 1973 . He fell 12 stories and survived. Out of the 17 people that were on both planes he is the one survivor. He's been paralized below the chest, but he's believing God to allow him to walk again. After 32 years, he's beginning to have more and more feeling in his mid-section and legs!
Their stories were cool!
Anway, all that to say...
It seemed to go well today.
People seemed to like it and I think we're going to experiment with it more and in different variations.
A talk show format is really a "ninja" testimonial service anyway. Oprah just stoled it from the church! :) We should be able to use it too!
I think this is a fantastic idea. It's something I've been thinking about for a while-cool how God likes to put these ideas out there for multiple people, isn't it? It was just a couple of weeks ago that I was talking to Heather Sawyer about this and she mentioned Solomon's Porch.
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