Written by Pastor Richard Purchase

Our 2025 program for the Camp calls for a single “Coffee
House” on August 2 at 7 p.m. In our past, Coffee Houses could
be defined as Christian mini concerts with food! History,
however reveals something else.
What is a “Coffee House?” For 500 years or so, humankind has
recognized the drinking of coffee as a way of getting to know
other people, explore ideas and share experiences. It all began
in the middle East where coffee was first grown and someone
discovered that the beverage encouraged discussion, exchange
of ideas and viewpoints about important issues in life. Coffee
Houses spread to Europe with one in Venice by 1645.
When “Jesus People” movements grew rapidly in the 60’s and
70’s They were composed of people from many different
backgrounds and cultures needing to get to know and accept
one another as followers of Jesus. The Coffee House model
was quickly adopted as a way of attracting those not
comfortable in the established churches of that day.
150 years prior, it was the Camp Meeting that provided a
different, yet somewhat similar opportunity for those who
needed “time out” from overly formal expressions of Christian
faith (the ones which established Harvard, Yale, Brown, formal
degree granting seminaries and other evidences of upper class
culture.) In the early years camp meetings eschewed pipe
organs, grandiose buildings, fancy pulpits, stained glass,
classical music, overly educated clergy and much more. The
sawdust trail held an attraction reminding people of Jesus more
than the carpeted center aisle of a big city church. Eventually
Camp Meetings made peace with the established churches and
were an important component of the second great awakening
during the late 18th – 19th centuries.

On August 2 at 7 p.m. we will attempt to recreate the historic
style of a coffee house with music, dialogue, poetry and
discussion around the theme of Jesus words, “”Peace I leave
with you….” (John 14:27) Please plan to join us!