GSLC Coffeehouse
In 2011, GSLC Coffeehouse celebrates its 14th year of ministry to the community. Coffeehouse meets once a month at GSLC (usually on the 4th Friday of the month) and features an inclusive evening of entertainment, refreshments, social interaction and fellowship for adults of all abilities. Entertainment may include live music in a variety of formats from sing-alongs to karaoke, gospel to country, jazz to folk music. Guests are invited to participate in song or relax and enjoy. Refreshments are served and conversation is always the prime ingredient as people come to make new friends, see old ones, share experiences and be entertained.
More information about the Coffeehouse is available at The Serving Cup.
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GSLC Coffeehouse 2011 Calendar
Fridays, 7:00-9:00PM
- Jan 28
- Feb 25
- Mar 25
- Apr 29
- May 27
- June 24
- July 29
- Aug 26
- Sept 30
- Oct 28
- December 9 (Shared Feast
)
Why I Love Volunteering at Coffeehouse
- by Heather Vacek
Coffeehouse makes me think, but mostly, I’ve realized that I simply love participating in this ministry. One night after returning home I sat down to write a list to think through why I liked Coffeehouse so much. Attending fills me with joy, it makes my heart feel full. So, here’s my list of why I love Coffeehouse. What would you add?
- I love that church space is used as a place of welcome on a Friday night
- For people of all sizes and shapes and colors and abilities and backgrounds and abilities
- Something just seems right about the gathering. A noisy, chaotic room is what church should look and sound like!
- I love that the gym is full of 200 people who are glad to be there
- Attendees have fun
- Volunteers have fun
- The room is filled with love
- People LOVE the food
- And the music
- And that dancing seems to bring unbridled joy
- Couples can hang out together and be couples
- I love that Coffeehouse is a place to form friendships
- With volunteers and guests…
- It’s great to share smiles with participants – big smiles of recognition, on both of our parts after not seeing each other last month…
- There’s nothing better than a handshake or hug from guests you’ve seen month after month
- I love that it’s an event that’s important to people
- Did I mention that it’s fun?
- People travel from Garner and Apex to gather in North Raleigh
- Care givers (particularly hired ones) get a bit of a break as they are served and sit and eat
- Many of the same volunteers are there every month
- Many of the same guests have been attending for years
- Friends (attendees and volunteers) have a meeting place to see and be with each other
- I love that Christian hospitality is on display!
- Door to door service from home to Good Shepherd provided for many!
- Happy greeters at the door (sometimes cute 5 year olds)!
- Nametags
- Handshakes
- Table cloths
- Seasonal decorations
- And, also in help with carrying food and cleaning up messes
- I love that volunteers are stretched beyond their comfort zones
- Like me dancing for the first time (and the second and the third…)
- Like my son helping with drinks or the food service line
- Like those who start in the kitchen and end up dancing or talking with guests
- I love that Coffeehouse engages volunteers in quotidian tasks
- Taking time to cut vegetables and slice cheese to take with me
- Baking and shop with love to prepare food
- Getting to serve others in simple ways – by refilling popcorn, drinks, and simply sitting and talking…
- The simple act of getting asked to cut a meatball into smaller pieces
- Realizing that a Band-Aid can help with the skinned knee of a 30+ year old who got rug burn after falling while running to the music
- Dance and sing along with the music while serving meatballs and hotdogs! J
- Wiping table cloths, picking bits of hot dog off the floor, and vacuuming yields joy
- I love that Coffeehouse is a direct, and very real, witness to God’s love. It communicates God’s love to others, even if seemingly indirectly ways (without words)…
Finally, I love that each month the gym is so very clearly filled with a couple hundred of us, of God’s beloved children!
Past Events:
October Halloween Fun
October’s Coffeehouse at Good Shepherd in October was a smash hit! Lots of great costumes and Halloween fun to be had…we are very grateful for our favorite due Dwayne Patterson and Jack Frost for their smooth crooning and contemporary music that entertains us all! As always there was tons of food, coffee, and fellowship.
Click image for full size
July
Don Helmey and Friends rocked the evening with songs from current hit lists, contemporary Christian music and original songs. Don's band, "Turning Pointe", has grown larger and is better sounding than ever! Lots of crowd favorites were enjoyed with dancing and cool favorites of ice cream sundaes and latte's were served, all combined to create a great evening.
April
We are blessed to have singers and musicians Dwayne Patterson and Jack Frost that are dedicated supporters of Coffeehouse. Their fantastic current songs entertain us and are loved by all!
March
Coffeehouse in March proved to be a tremendous success. Thank you to Cotton for coming and serenading us all night - your beautiful voice and upbeat lyrics were so joyous and made for a great evening.
The focus of this evening was KAROKE as well creating a banner. The theme was gratitude and all our guests signed the banner and described either through words or drawings what they were grateful for in their lives. The banner decorated our fellowship hall all week.
Coffeehouse Gallery of Photos
“Lots of Dancing, Smiles, Good Friends, and Yummy Snacks are all a part of our Coffeehouse Traditions. Here are some miscellaneous photos from various nights throughout the last year “
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