Two of my visits were to cafe's. Both took place in the evening and advertised themselves as Cafe Church. They were very different from one another - and were different from the way I've heard others talk about cafe church - particularly those who use Sunday morning.

I'm not sure that Clitheroe’s was really cafe church, in the normally understood way of such things. It was more like a housegroup taking place in a cafe - and whilst amongst the aims of the group was a wish that people could drop in - the sign on the door said closed, and there were just enough seats for those who said they were coming. On the occasion of my visit, they were looking at the story of Jacob and Esau  (Genesis 27) - a new venture for them, they had previously worked on themes but having looked at Vision4Life  they had decided to concentrate on the bible. As we began to discuss themes of family tensions, the nature of blessing, the timeline of these events - the waitress came to take our order - the discussion stuttered to a restart and then everything stopped for tea. Some discussion carried on over food - but in little groups around the table but to my mind the exploration didn't really get anywhere. We finished with a brief act of worship, people paid for their meals and went home. Yet, despite my own reservations, this is a good brave thing these people are doing. It would be too easy to engage in such an activity locked away in the church, or in someone's home - but here they are in the shop window (literally), open to the possibility that God will speak ... At the moment they are encouraging one another, learning something of God's word, creating a space to which an inquisitive friend could be invited. perhaps in time it can grow into something that is missional in character as well as aspiration. However in re-checking the website I see that Cafe Church is no longer mentioned, although the morning prayers in the Cafe that I didn't manage to get along to, are still advertised - I hope that is a failure of communication rather than a ceasing of activity.

My second visit was far more experiential. Cafe Spirit  is place to explore God's creativity through crafts and image and chat and quiet. the location was the cafe part of a children's indoor play-area, it was a good space, although the organisers know it is in the wrong place (A trading estate tucked in behind the main road). This had a pick n' mix menu - cakes, soup and drink provided (donation if you want) and activity areas with suggested prayer/discussion/reflection. People came in groups and there was a good mix of ages as people took time to socialise and engage in the various activities. It could certainly be a good safe place to take someone on a spiritual journey who isn't comfortable with the inherited church experience. Inevitably, perhaps, most of the chat I heard was social chat - but then isn't that where faith chat so often starts. There was no act of corporate worship and no formal teaching - so whether it really fits into my exploration of worship I'm not sure - but for the people there it is clearly becoming a valuable space and I for one wish them well in the future (although an up to date website would help!)

September has been spent visiting a variety of churches to experience their worship. One of the things I was looking at was Midweek worship - who is it for? how is it shaped? what is it's purpose?

I was really hoping I would find somewhere that was serving younger folk with families for whom Sunday morning is a problem - but I didn't, these are all catering for people who available in the morning and so are largely the retired. Most are using this as their second service of the week - as they will also be found in church on a Sunday morning - "a top up" one person said, "quieter, more peaceful" said an office holder who spends Sunday morning busy organising. Two good reasons for midweek worship - but I am left wondering where those juggling work, family etc can find their worship space.

However, these services cater for the people who come and each one is well done and valued by those who come along. None are particularly different in style or content - "tame" one Minister described it as - but that suits the people who go and I must admit on each occasion suited me as well. Time is interesting - most were in the morning - 9.45am, 10am, 10.30am - one starts with coffee, another comes before the regular coffee morning (but meant that those setting up couldn't come in) another comes before a Bible Fellowship (although not on the week I visited) so those who want to are spending half a day involved in church activities. The alternative time was 12 noon - after a coffee morning; they had less people there than anywhere else and it was more of a meditation (which is how it was billed) than a service. But it's timing meant that it felt like an add on, and afterwards people were rushing away for buses and dinner. Our midweek communion at St. Andrew's follows the same pattern with the same result - perhaps we need to look at it again.

Nobody used their chapel. One used a foyer area - a good place just off the street for someone trying to find it. Others used community rooms with various issues about locked doors and how to find. One would have been impossible to find had I not been met by the Minister outside, as it was down a long winding corridor. In setting out the room, straight lines predominated - even when placed in a 3-sided horseshoe! Perhaps it's just me - but I do like circles and shape, it feels inclusive and welcoming. And it seems a terrible waste of space not to use the places designed as worship space - a result of course of them being hard to heat and inflexible - is it good stewardship to have big spaces used for an hour a week?

All of these services hoped that Mission would be part of what they are about. One service is used by a couple of people who don't use Sunday morning - this in effect has become their church and it was the establishment of this service that brought them back into church life. All of these would be good places to quietly invite someone to, gently re-introduce friends to worship life - but on the whole I didn't get the impression that was happening - in fact the service before coffee morning has to close it's door so that those arriving early for coffee morning don't disturb them and was set out in a way that would mean that quietly slipping in at the back was not possible. So are they too tame or are we just too embarrassed to invite people along?

So would anyone like to tell us about other forms of midweek worship? Is anyone trying to cater for working people? what else is going on? Anything in the Cambridge area that I could pay a visit to during October?

Next contributions will be on Cafe Church and Sunday morning - but will probably be written from Cambridge as I will be at Westminster College from tomorrow.

What a day

in the morning left our youngest at Chester University
- she looked a bit lost as we left her, but she seems to be mixing with folk and finding her way around - sure she will be alright. But without both chaps this place seems very strange - Max was searching her bedroom this morning wondering where she could be.

She's here Max .../