Monday, February 04, 2008

Openhouse



This probably the most ascetically pleasing commercial coffee maker in the world, it's a La Marzocco. Stevie and the guys at Northdown CFC are opening a coffee shop in Newtonards. They have called it openhouse. It's a fantastic venue, 1 Frances Street, Newtonards you need to visit, even if it is just to look at the coffee machine.

I love the concept of open house, it's very high quality not cheesy christian. The idea is that with all the profits they will offer community grants to projects and organisations in their local area and also use the profits to support overseas third world projects. You can't get better than that.




I've been helping out today, I sampled some of the crisps they will be selling, shopped for napkins, moved a few things around and did some unloading. They open on Thursday so it is exciting to be around. They have beautiful teak tables and reclaimed cherry wood counters with lovely leather chairs.




This is were it should be at for churches, out in the community making a difference. Doing things well, with dedication, commitment and a desire for quality. This is so much more important than how many turn up on a Sunday and the quality of our songs.....

Matthew 5 in The Message "Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

More of this please.

3 comments:

Globegirl said...

La Marzoccos are amazing. As a veteran barista (nearly four years!) I have to say they're beautiful machines.

Props to anyone that opens a coffee house because God put it on their heart, and doesn't name it something like "Higer Grounds" or "Holy Grounds". (yes, those are two that actually exist. I've seen them with my own eyes. Horrible, aren't they?)

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm. Think I'll go make some coffee (in my beat up little italian stove top job.)

I'm happy I will see you soon!

Sim said...

Opening a Coffee Shop here at Central Hall, Southampton here on 25th Feb (my second church coffee shop). Last machine was a Gaggia this time I have gone for an Iberital Expression, mainly cos it was £1000 cheaper! Coffee Shops are a great way to connect to the world - coming to a church meeting is a difficult if not sometimes weird thing to do, but having a coffee with a mate is every day stuff. Like your friends Coffee Shop we will be giving away the profit to local projects and developing world. In my last Coffee Shop we managed to give away £5000 in the first year! great we to connect and to resource - a winner all round!