Coffee, cakes and gospel at city’s first cafechurch (From Worcester News)

Coffee, cakes and gospel at city’s first cafechurch

4:50am Wednesday 5th January 2011 in News

A WORCESTER coffee shop has become the venue for the city’s first cafechurch.

The first service, called Carols @ Costa, took place before Christmas and a monthly service will now be held at Costa Coffee in the High Street.

The cafechurch network was founded in 2008 to give people the opportunity to discuss faith in a relaxed cafe environment.

Worcester’s cafechurch will be run by City Church, a Barbourne-based evangelical group, and Resonate Elim, a new church movement aimed at young people and students.

Ann Coyle from City Church said: “We opened very successfully with live carols and festive music but cafechurch is not just for Christmas.

“In January we will be welcoming people who want to share a coffee and chat about the realities of financial pressure – a very real issue for many of us today.

“We’ll have experts on hand from local organisation Worcester CASH to help answer questions.”

Local youngsters from Resonate began meeting at Costa every Sunday about three months ago.

“We’ve been creating an environment where people can explore questions about life, God and the world we live in,” said Resonate spokesman Mark Pugh.

“The evenings are discussion based with everyone having an opportunity to contribute.

“Those involved are mainly young people, students and young adults.

"It’s a great opportunity for those who wouldn’t normally go to church, people who might normally feel intimidated or out of place in the surroundings of a traditional church building might feel more at home in a coffee shop.”

The next meeting is on Thursday, January 13, and love and romance will be discussed on Thursday, February 10.

Dawn Brown, manager of Costa, said: “We’re delighted to have built links with a church group and we’re looking forward to sharing in the evenings that cafechurch have planned.”

To find out more information visit cafechurch.net

Resonate Elim meet at Costa in Worcester between 6pm and 7.30pm every Sunday.

Search for Resonate Elim Worcester on Facebook for details.