Make it Missional and intentional
This coffee and welcome time can be a fantastic platform for the service ahead if done at the beginning. This could just be by way of creating space for people to chat, offload, and lay the week down. Or it could as we said before, be more intentional, perhaps the relevant Bible verses are projected somewhere, or a short snappy video, even the news items could be done by video in this time, to free up time in the service. Get creative here! Maybe there’s a little something you could hand out to people to tie in with the morning.
This creative social space is a fabulous opportunity for people to stretch tipsier giftings. If you have people who love to pray with others, let them go for it. The pastoral people will certainly be useful just mingling and checking in on those life stories they know about. Evangelists can excite people about the day, and about events coming up, perhaps an Alpha, or an evening get together. Apostles and the prophetic will love seeing what the Holy Spirit is at work doing. A real opportunity for people to feel valued and encouraged as soon as they arrive! If you have a team who pray for the service before it starts, get them to include this time. The coffee time can be as important and filled with Jesus, as the service- controversial I know! God loves to land messages and encouragement, through conversations.
Cafe Space
If you have a really lovely set up, how about making it a mini cafe in its own right? People could perhaps meet at friend at 9.30am for a coffee and croissant, without the expectation of the friend staying on for church. This could be a really easy way of someone getting used to a church environment, and even meeting a few people from the congregation, without having to feel they’re fully committing just yet.
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