Pastor Steve’s sermon perhaps touched too close to home for some people last week. I heard from many of you about the “coffee incident” he shared in the sermon. If they would have only trained me in seminary to understand the almost sacramental nature of coffee, I would have had a theological response all ready to go for the questions and comments asked of me this past Sunday morning about coffee. After all, Lutherans like their coffee! You can mess with the design of the bulletins, change up the songs, move the prayers of the church before the sermon, park our cars in the shuttle lots, but never mess with coffee! Sometimes it’s the little things that become BIG things, isn’t it?
However, in the defense of coffee, wonderful things happen when we gather together to eat or to just have a cup of coffee. Coffee usually brings with it not just cookies or donuts, but also conversation between at least two people. That’s a good thing! I have found that healing of relationships and deep conversations happen when we sit at the table and have coffee. I know that’s been true for myself! I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate those coffee conversations with folks here at Calvary on Sunday mornings.
I have also met plenty of people at Dunn Brothers or Caribou to talk about difficulties, problems, hurts, wonderings and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing how God can use a small table and a couple of cups of coffee to remove barriers and to enable ministry to occur. I use to laugh at my mom; she would always have the “gals” from the neighborhood over for coffee once a week to talk and to provide therapy for each other. Not until I was an adult did I realize how much those coffee gatherings with friends can do to lift your spirits and minister to you.
As many of you know, my mom passed away a few years ago, but God has generously placed in my life a few, special adopted moms who actually “claim me” – weird as I am – as their adopted daughter. I so appreciate their advice, support and love. We share a lot of time at kitchen tables drinking coffee or tea – at their home or mine. We laugh, we talk, we listen, we pray, we cry, and we work through the struggles in both their lives and in mine. It’s amazing! Coffee is a powerful vehicle to remove barriers and to bring spiritual, relational and overall newness of life and healing to those around the table.
Coffee, anyone? Why not invite a friend or person that has been put on your heart today for a cup of coffee (or tea)? Maybe coffee is the nudge God uses to bring two people together to minister to each other.
“May the God of hope FILL you with all joy and peace as you trust Him…”
Romans 15:13
Here is an amazing video that will leave you with a “fresh” look at coffee and at life. You will never look at a cup of coffee in quite the same way again.
Remember to savor the coffee, not the cup!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Carol
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