Coffee gives you
a legal shot of
energy when your
eyelids are feeling
down.
Coffee kills time
when you’re washed
ashore on the streets
of London.
(Coffee can even
help rainstorms
disappear.)
Coffee is something
to dangle your lips
in when conversation
is scarce.
Coffee is a good
place to take a
new friend.
(Coffee is an excuse
to stay half an hour
longer.)
Acquaintanceships end
on the doorstep but
friendships begin
with a coffee.
Coffee can be
appreciated by all
generations.
Coffee is multilingual,
multi-racial, liquid esperanto.
Yes.
There’s something quite
religious about coffee.

a poem by Steve Turner
others here

I know, it has been a long time since I posted here. I have considered it many times, but never felt like i had the focus for putting anything meaningful … i know - that has never stopped me before…

Anyway noticing emma’s comment on the last post has given me a kick - the big cup little cup picture. So there it is: sublime to the ridiculous. Simon with his espresso, or was it a ristretto, and Adam with his large extra value Hot Chocolate. I think I took the photo cos it was kinda cute, or somthing…

Alpha in a cafe has been fantastic i reckon. I have loved the context and the atmosphere. It does seem natural to have a group there it seems to me. It was interesting last Sunday to not be doing the talk, Adrian did it this time. Gave me a different perspective ont he whole thing - and it jsut worked, even though it was pretty busy on Sunday. Definitely helped by the staff who have been very accommodating, if not the quickest coffee makers in the world! Anyway this Sunday is teh Alpha away day. Unfortunately we are only taking one of the Alpha courses away this weekend cos of a fefw sickness problems in that group delaying things. We are just praying God does his thing on Sunday.

I know, it has been a long time since I posted here. I have considered it many times, but never felt like i had the focus for putting anything meaningful … i know - that has never stopped me before…

Anyway noticing emma’s comment on the last post has given me a kick - the big cup little cup picture. So there it is: sublime to the ridiculous. Simon with his espresso, or was it a ristretto, and Adam with his large extra value Hot Chocolate. I think I took the photo cos it was kinda cute, or somthing…

Alpha in a cafe has been fantastic i reckon. I have loved the context and the atmosphere. It does seem natural to have a group there it seems to me. It was interesting last Sunday to not be doing the talk, Adrian did it this time. Gave me a different perspective ont he whole thing - and it jsut worked, even though it was pretty busy on Sunday. Definitely helped by the staff who have been very accommodating, if not the quickest coffee makers in the world! Anyway this Sunday is teh Alpha away day. Unfortunately we are only taking one of the Alpha courses away this weekend cos of a fefw sickness problems in that group delaying things. We are just praying God does his thing on Sunday.

This week we have taken two faltering stepes towards the start of two new alphas. Hopefully by next Sunday in Costa and next Monday at Tammy’s we will see things take off. I am so looking forward to it. It is so exciting to stand at the start of a journey not knowing what the end will bring. I have been pondering deeply on this verse both for myself and those seeking:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Above is a picture of the now legendary “alpha pie”. A work of art by the alpha hostess with the mostess, Tammy!!

Well it has felt like a busy weekend to me. Good but busy. It was great to be able to put on a “marriage vow renewal service for Mark and Dione, and their girls Eleanor and Bethany. It was a really special occasion i reckon. And didn’t rain at the wrong time!! thanks to all those who helped.

We also went up to an emcf celebration in Derby on Sunday. It was a fun event and great to go out for a meal afterwards together. We [the norridges] then took the opportunity to visit a good friends Adam and Karina. They are planting a church amongst the asylum seekers & refugees of Derby, as well as the ethnic minorities, called International Community Church. They do an amazing work, with incredible amounts of different types of people in, around and through [and living in] their home. It seems they have a significant group of Fasi speaking Iranians. It all blows my brian!! They also run the Beat Cafe in Derby’s Arboretum Park.

While on the subject of Cafe’s, we are getting set up for our very own Cafe Alpha. We are plannning to have a ‘welcome’ event next sunday at 4pm, and then kick off for real the week after that [at 4pm upstairs in the cafe in the centre of town that isn't nero's!]. We’re pretty excited by this ;o). More planning/training tonight at my place!