by emma | Mar 6, 2008 | Travel
I spent Tuesday morning at Ground Level Cafe in Naperville, a part of CCC. I had some great conversations with Lee Messersmith, their facilities manager, on the role and function of the coffeehouse in a church context, the role of design and branding, and how environment impacts upon experience.
We talked about how people get behind something thats missional – it’s about so much more than the coffee, though great coffee is important. We talked about the concept of the ‘third place’ and what it is in our cultures. We talked about how form follows function, and the need to tell a story visually. We talked about facilitating a worship service in a coffeehouse. We talked about the duality of a coffeehouse and the need for both business and ministry plans.
Lee shared this quote with me, unfortunately I can’t remember which book it is from, but I’ll find out. Think it says it all…
“You are not who you say you are. You are who your community say you are.”
CCC have some excellent stuff going on, including a School for the Arts which caught my attention. I read Dave Ferguson’s (lead pastor) book yesterday while at the airport/on my flight. He has some great thoughts on the need for complete clarity and for simplicity in presenting one idea at a time. I’ll blog some from the book, The Big Idea, tomorrow.
by emma | Mar 5, 2008 | Travel
Reading Dave Ferguson’s book The Big Idea (lead pastor of CCC, where I was yesterday) and drinking a coffee frappuccino in O Hare airport waiting for my flight.
And catching my last glimpse of Chicago for however long – hopefully not that long.
by emma | Mar 1, 2008 | Travel
So, I flew up to Chicago on Tuesday morning, and this is the smallest plane I’ve ever been on! Literally 3 seats across, and about 30 rows, it was small (though surprisingly had good leg room!). It was a fun flight.
I’ve just been hanging out the last few days, spent some time in downtown Chicago with my friend Hannah, and now in Batavia with Bekah and her family. Blogging from the Orchard where I’m about to go to the Saturday evening service. On that note, better run…
by emma | Mar 1, 2008 | Travel
I’m in Chicago… well, I’m actually in Batavia now, but I’ve been in Chicago since Tuesday. Suprised my friend Bekah yesterday! More later…
by emma | Feb 25, 2008 | Travel
I’ve spent the last few days taking in lots of creativity here… from photography to sculpture to painting and everything in between.
On Friday I went to the Natural History Museum to see an exhibition titled Nature’s Best Photography. There were some really stunning images, although I must confess my favourite wasn’t a winner but a highly commended one. I can’t remember the photographers name, but here’s the image…
On Saturday after watching the game (did I mention, 34-13?!) I headed to the National Portrait Gallery / American Art Museum with the intention of seeing Let Your Motto Be Resistance again, which I did. I also however, managed to read lots of quotes which they have all over the walls (I love quotes!), and see an exhibition of art by John Alexander. I’d never heard of Alexander before, but apparently he is “internationally renowned for his paintings and drawings, which convey humor, rage and a robust appreciation of the human and natural world.” I really like his stuff. He has the most eclectic style, you would hardly guess from looking at one painting to the next that they were both his. The three images below are all from his work…
I also found this really interested painting by a guy called Howard Finster, titled “The Lord Will Deliver His People Across Jordan”. The Reverend Howard Finster (December 2, 1916- October 22, 2001) was a folk artist from Summerville, Georgia who claimed to be inspired by God to spread the gospel through the environment of Paradise Garden and over 46,000 pieces of art [via wikipedia].
[View large here to see more details.]
All in all quite an interesting few days of artistic experiences!
by emma | Feb 22, 2008 | Travel
One of the reasons I’m here in DC at the minute is to check out a coffee house called Ebenezers. Ebenezers is a coffehouse owned and operated by National Community Church here in DC, and sits in prime location just round the corner from Union Station. NCC view Ebz as a way to build relationships with the community around them, and it enables them to funnel any profits back into community outreach programs. At my church (GWV) we have been talking about the possibility of doing something similar. We want to be able to run a top class coffeehouse that would become a home-from-home, a hub for local creativity, and a way of giving back to the community.
So, I’m here spending several hours a day hanging out at Ebz, talking to lots of staff, watching how it all works, learning as much as I can. Doesn’t hurt that the coffee’s great to boot…!
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