-- Mark Van Vessem

Many people who visit New St. Peter's Presbyterian Church have questions. Some have asked questions like: Where's Sunday School? Why do you meet in a theater? Why do you come to tables for the Lord's Supper? How is the church involved in missions? What is the philosophy of ministry at NsP? Why is there such an emphasis on Family Worship? And of course, what is up with the rooster?

Several months ago Rich and I were having a conversation about how we could best share the NsP story with those visiting our church. Did we simply need a beefy brochure or should there be more? How about offering classes, and if so, what should be covered? What is the best way to introduce NsP that genuinely represents who we are as a church?

Rich went on to tell me about something he witnessed while on a ski trip to Aspen. He said that while strolling through the town, he saw a sign advertising a cultural event to be hosted at the local opera house. The event was to be a lecture by a world renowned and Nobel Prize winning physicist. The presenters quickly recognized that this event could be intimidating to the masses and ultimately flop due to the obvious reality that most folks strolling through the streets of Aspen were not Sir Isaac Newton. So they decided upon a creative and preemptive approach. They would offer a Physic's Café. One hour before the event, tables were set up in the foyer, wine and cheese served, and the physicist would give a crash course in physics that would provide the audience with a lens to more clearly see the wonders of physics. The Physic's Café was a roaring success and the lecture was embraced by the crowds of recently trained Jr. Physicists.

That was it! What we required in order to tell the NsP story was a Visitor's Café--and like what happens to most great ideas--we ripped it off. The Visitor's Café would be a warm and inviting two-week crash course that would seek to share a little bit about who we are as a people of faith. So, we set up tables, put out the wine and cheese and the Café was launched.

The Café focuses on two primary areas of introduction: (1) The NsP Ministry Cycle: Here we share our vision for ministry centering on Deuteronomy 6 and Colossians 1. (2) A Week at NsP: This piece introduces visitors to the ministry life of NsP--such as corporate worship, The School of Life & Doctrine, Family Worship, and Home Groups.

The Visitor's Café is more than simply an opportunity to disseminate information. It is designed to be an interactive and relational venue that allows NsP to introduce to new comers why we do what we do (or don't do for that matter). Visitors are given tools to help navigate their way through NsP life, relationships are formed and membership can be safely investigated in light of the wonders and warts of NsP.

The Visitor's Café meets seasonally in member’s homes. Contact the church office for more information-214.438.0120.