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Connect Cafe - ‘It does exactly what it says on the tin!’

Posted by Will
on 20th February 2024

“It does exactly what it says on the tin” was originally an advertising slogan in 1994 in the UK for Ronseal Quick Drying Woodstain and it has become a part of our everyday informal language. The phrase has come to represent a product or policy that is open, honest and delivers against its promise. Connect Café’s name describes what it does - it connects and it serves good straightforward food, lots of pastries and drinks.

It’s not just about serving good food though, it’s also serving God’s love, by offering a warm welcome, a warm safe space, great conversation, friendship and prayer where appropriate. We take connecting seriously, and as we reach out to our community, we want our connections to be authentic, open and loving, so that those who come into the Café will know they have value. Only last week, a lady on her first visit said “it’s just like a real café – but much friendlier.” Our aim is that people coming in, get support, a listening ear, and an opportunity to explore what faith is in a community setting. There are already those who will tell you that Connect Café has played a part in the beginning of their Christian journey.

We also connect with other connections, for example, Mums who first came to the Oak to Coffee and Chaos with their tots, now pop into Café on a Monday morning and it’s lovely to see them continuing their friendships. If there is a Café open during a school holiday week, then they bring in their older kids as well. Another example is that because of the Oak’s connection with local police at the Crime Prayer-vention meetings, we have now hosted meetings on a Monday morning and welcomed police colleagues and other visitors to stay on for Connect Café and enjoy food and a chat with everyone. Our local PCSOs have now got to know us and have called in for a brew and a chat.

Café time of 11.30 to 1pm is nicely sandwiched between an earlier time, usually around 10.30 to 11.15, when we have a time of informal worship, enjoy God’s presence and share faith stories, and a later time from 1 to 2pm when there is an open invitation for anyone who would like to join a group exploring together the Bible in an interactive style. As we are a designated Warm Space under the local authority scheme for the winter, we are open at the moment from 10am to 2pm, meaning that Café time is a little “elastic” at the edges with an endless supply of tea and coffee outside of food serving time.

As a team, we have learnt that Connect Café is very much a “wait and see” ministry. There isn’t a “sign up” to come on a Monday morning. There’s prayer preparation, practical preparation and invitation by word of mouth – and not forgetting social media, but then on the morning, the Holy Spirit’s presence is palpable……and faith levels rise.

A solid team has built up, offering different gifts and practical skills, from helping set up at the start and clearing away at the end, food preparation in the kitchen, taking orders and serving food and drinks, to welcoming and getting alongside people in the Café. If this is something you believe you can get involved in, then please talk to Will Munton. We’d really love to have you join us on team.

If you have a free Monday morning, come along and see and taste for yourself what Connect Café is all about. If you’re a mum/carer with little ones, then they can play, we have lots of toys, whilst you enjoy some adult conversation. If you are an older person and maybe on a Monday morning you are on your own, then come and enjoy the good company. If you work from home, then take your lunch break with us, bring along your laptop just in case you don’t want to leave the warmth and you want another mug of the delicious coffee, you can then pick up your work from where you paused ……….. we have WiFi connection too.

Written by Barbara.

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