A New Kind of Coffe Hour

8/12/2019 A New Kind of Coffe Hour

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The N.R.S.V. Coffee HourNourishing Renewable Sustainable Vermont

Living In to Our Baptismal Vows


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INTRODUCTION:

RETHINKING COFFEE HOUR

This short brochure is grounded in the Baptismal Covenant and

focuses on the practicalities of using our weekly coffee hour to teach

and model earth-friendly behaviors. Hopefully the suggestions in this

brochure will stir deeper thought and community discernment about

expanding the mission of the local congregations into the community.

Perhaps coffee hour will become an opportunity to invite the

wider community in for a meal, as a forum for discussions, or a way to

foster partnerships other community groups especially those that use

the building and grounds. But most of all the Earth Stewards hope and

pray for adoption of some of the green suggestions offered here.

Gods Creation is worth preserving; and what better place to model and

teach some practical applications for that kind of stewardship than at

church?


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Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Coffee hour is an opportunity to practice hospital-

ity to those who are in need, neighbors, people who

need a community, children and families to cre-ate a space for genuine connection. It does not

have to be lavish but it does have to be genuinely

Say grace before the refreshments are served or post a

prayer of thanksgiving on the table where the food is

served

Schedule a host/ess specifically for children as well as

adults

Try conversation cue cards to help lead conversations

beyond the typical small talk

Try thematic coffee hours periodically that will in-

spire conversations about things important in your con-

gregationmaybe even invite guest speakers

INTRODUCTION:



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INTRODUCTION:


Will you continue in the apostles teaching and

fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the

prayers?

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and when-

ever you fall into sin, repent and return to the

Lord?

Will you proclaim by word and example the

Good News of God in Christ?

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons

loving your neighbor as yourself?

Living in to our Baptismal Vows


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Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever

you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it

and keep it.

The earth has suffered too long from human abuse and neglect.

God created humans to care for the earth and all that is in it.Coffee hour is an opportunity to become more aware of how

daily life can abuse the earth. It is also an opportunity to demon-

strate commitment to care for creation

Use reduce.reuse, recycle practicesclearly mark your recepta-

cles.

Set a goal for your parish of zero waste coffee hours and take

steps to achieve that goal.

Consider using compostable materials when you choose to use

disposables. Here are some suggestions for purchasing composta-

ble goods (see addendum for sources):

Products made using plants like soy, corn and potatoes

and can be composted in private composts

Products made from CPLA (Crystalized Polylactic

Acid) that can be composted but best in municipal or

commercial composts

Products made from recycled wood or bamboo are or-

ganic and compost easily


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Will you proclaim by word and example the

Good News of

Matthew 15:33 - The disciples said to him, Where are we to get enough

bread in the desert to feedso great a crowd?

Christians are known by how they live and by the choices they

make in daily life. Communities of faith can support a local

economy, honor each other, the earth, and the economic well

being of all people in the choices of food served as coffee hour.

Feature local food providers each week; contact them about

posting coupons or promotional materials.

When fellowship hosts provide food that comes from localproducers or local shops, name those shops and begin to build

relationships with themthey may do future partnering with

your congregation!

Petition for donations for food an supplies; when you receive

any such gifts, remember to thank them publicly and privately.


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Will you strive for justice and peace among all

people and respect the dignity of every human be-

Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for the abundance of life

does not consist in the abundance of possessions.

Buying fair trade honors the dignity of people around the globe.

Yes, fair trade costs us a little more but it fair trade ensures that

more people will enjoy Gods abundance.

Learn more about fair trade at fairtradeusa.orgwhere you can finda list of fair trade companies and partners.


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INGREDIENTS for a new kind of coffee hour

A. Tableware and CUPS Declare your building STYROFOAM FREE

Practice REUSING by washing plates, utensils and cups; or

Practice RECYCLING;

use compostable or recyclable plates, utensils, and tableware.

Compost paper napkins,

Gather scraps of material to make cloth napkins and reuse

weekly

B. Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, bananas, etc. Buy Fair Trade coffee and tea. Visibly display the FairTrade

sign

Buy Fair Trade ingredients such as chocolate and bananas

Use fair trade ingredients in baked goods and appetizers

C. Local Foods Support local economy: buy local cheese, milk, breads, flour,

fruits, vegetables

Negotiate a CSA that contains items especially appropriate for

coffee hour

Use only local eggs!

D. Organic and Healthy Foods

Support healthy eating by buying either certified organic or farm-ers using organic techniques but not yet certified

Be intentional about promoting healthy eating with few

sweets and more healthy food.

Buy local honey or other natural sweeteners.


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INGREDIENTS for a new kind of coffee hour

E. 3 Rs for 3 Cs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for

Committed Creation Care) Compost soiled napkins, food scraps, tea bags, and coffee grounds

Buy sweeteners, creamer and sugar in bulk rather than individual

packages

If you use a Keurig machine buy the reusable filter or a biodegrad-able cup. (Do you know how much more expensive it is to serve

coffee this way? ) http://www.motherjones.com/blue-

marble/2014/03/coffee-k-cups-green-mountain-polystyrene-plastic

Make a pot of tea with a mesh ball or buy tea bags without strings

and staples

Use unbleached filters for coffee and compostable muffin paper

F. Hospitality Make coffee hour an opportunity to expand the circle of fellow-

ship. Invite:

neighbors,

people/groups who use the facilities,

other groups in the community with whom you would like to part-

ner.

Groups your would like to thank or recognize for good work

G. Serving Suggestions Offer gluten free snacks

Label foods with nuts

Groups like foods together so people who are avoiding sweets and

cluster around the cheese and crackers Cut everything in to small portions so people can sample without

wasting.


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CALL FOR RECIPES AND IDEAS!

We need your helpfor the next edition of this

publication, wed like to include recipe and

serving ideas that have worked for YOUR

N.R.S.V coffee hour.

We hope this will be a first edition of an ever-

expanding resource. Please let us know if weve

missed something, if you have any additions, or

suggestions.

Also, send along PHOTOS of your successful

N.R.S.V coffee hour

Send any ideas along to:

[email protected]

A New Kind of Coffe Hour

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