Unreliable Idea # 15 Speaking Greek!!

Greece defeated hosts Portugal 1-0 in the Euro 2004 Final and reminded me of a brilliant missional activity at the local Orthodox Community.... Simone had a work night out there this weekend.
Basically the adults in the church have started using their impressively renovated and columned community hall in Hamilton, Newcastle as a restaurant. Its so popular that the whole place is packed out Friday and Saturday nights. The menu has options listed on a double sided A4 but includes some set banquets and is all traditional Greek fare... hearty meals with a bit of adventure!!

The meals are complimented by the hubub of noise, presence of kids and families and the serious entertainment from the singer and keyboardist belting out traditional tunes on the 'Hammond'.

I don't expect hordes of anglo's or even multi-cultural locals to flock to worship or be asking where they can sign up for this eclectic community... BUT I imagine its funding all the halls renovations, a raft of programs and activities for the community they do exist for AND perhaps are developing a reputation as a community full of life, happy to serve, rich in culture and open to making a quality contribution to the life of their local neighbourhood.

This may even be a short term project... successful restaurants reinvent themselves regularly to sustain interest.... or they close down. Perhaps the locals have a litmus test for knowing when to scale back and when to try something different BUT for now they have a huge winner on their hands...

What would it look like for a local UCA congregation to open its doors regularly in this way....
* Playgroups
* Coffee Shop
* Second Hand Clothes for Uni Students
* Data Projector showing hired movies on weekends
* 'Men and their Sheds' Handyperson sessions
* Reconciliation Group
* Old Fashioned baked meal dinners
* Drop In Meals for those in need
* Skate ramps
* Film Festival
* ???

What would you do?