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FOOD Ministries
Purpose behind our ministry
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Our Church Ministries
Coffee and Kindnes
Driving with David: The Bar Room at Bethesda
Published on
April 24, 2025
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread John 21:9
During a recent visit with Bethesda and Olivet UMCs (located in the southeastern corner of our Gateway District), I was invited back to a gathering space created by Bethesda folks for use on Sunday mornings. A freshly painted room, with comfortable seats, your eyes are pulled to the corner where a newly built bar awaits you. Known as the “Coffee & Kindness Bar,” Benton Stubbs from Olivet UMC created this piece for the space. His craftsmanship is evident in the beauty of this bar, and the attached wheels enable it to be moved around for different occasions.
Bethesda folks informed me it has become a ‘go-to’ space on Sunday mornings, where friends can gather for a cup of coffee and enjoy fellowship prior to heading into the sanctuary for worship. It’s a space of radical hospitality, in which I could easily imagine folks gathering in comfy seats while sipping on a cup of coffee, catching up on the week, sharing joys and concerns, and greeting one another as folks entered the space.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples along the Sea of Tiberia (Galilee) in John 21, there is a scene involving a pretty sorry attempt at fishing by the disciples that night. At daybreak, Jesus calls out to them while they’re still in the boat, and they do not realize it’s Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered, “No.” “Throw the nets on the right side and you will find some.” There were so many fish that they could not pull the nets into the boat. Jumping ahead to verse 9, after the disciples had pulled the full nets of fish to the shore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Breakfast is served.
I don’t know about you, but when I smell a charcoal fire burning, my entire outlook changes. My stomach radar goes into high gear. Memories of camping with my family engage my thoughts. Images of burgers and hot dogs appear in my mind. My taste buds awaken. I wonder what the neighbor is cooking? That charcoal smell for me is a positive trigger for something good, and I wonder if that’s what the disciples may have been experiencing early that morning.
You know the disciples had to be hungry after fishing all night, defeated by the less-than-stellar outcome of their efforts, and then the adrenaline rush of hauling in all the fish that came after Jesus told them to try the right side. Jesus created a space of generosity and hospitality for the disciples by preparing breakfast for them as they came ashore. When Jesus invites them to come and have breakfast, the disciples realize it is the Lord.
Maybe a similar scene plays out on Sunday mornings at Bethesda. The smell of coffee brewing invites folks to the bar room, where generosity and hospitality await. Where folks come in with whatever happened the night before, or the week before, enjoying a cup of coffee and being able to land in a comfy seat to just be still for a moment.
To be still and know that God is God. Just as the disciples did along the Sea of Tiberias, consumed by the smell of charcoal. Just like the disciples at Bethesda’s bar room, consumed by the smell of coffee.
Blessings,
David
Photo Credit: David Blackman
Photo: Coffee & Kindness Bar @ Bethesda UMC – April 2025
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Our Outreaches
FOOD Ministries
We like to go out into our community and help with whatever projects we are aware of. This helps to build rapport in our community as well as give us gospel opportunities.
Straightway Ministries
Distributing tracts is a good way to get the gospel into someone's hands that wouldn't receive it any other way. We encourage our people to distribute tracts on their own as well as having specific times when we go out as groups.
Heifer Project
Providing food for those in our community who need it most is a practical way of showing what it means to be a Christian. We volunteer at a local homeless shelter as well as donate food.
Driving with David: The Bar Room at Bethesda
Published on
April 24, 2025
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread John 21:9
During a recent visit with Bethesda and Olivet UMCs (located in the southeastern corner of our Gateway District), I was invited back to a gathering space created by Bethesda folks for use on Sunday mornings. A freshly painted room, with comfortable seats, your eyes are pulled to the corner where a newly built bar awaits you. Known as the “Coffee & Kindness Bar,” Benton Stubbs from Olivet UMC created this piece for the space. His craftsmanship is evident in the beauty of this bar, and the attached wheels enable it to be moved around for different occasions.
Bethesda folks informed me it has become a ‘go-to’ space on Sunday mornings, where friends can gather for a cup of coffee and enjoy fellowship prior to heading into the sanctuary for worship. It’s a space of radical hospitality, in which I could easily imagine folks gathering in comfy seats while sipping on a cup of coffee, catching up on the week, sharing joys and concerns, and greeting one another as folks entered the space.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples along the Sea of Tiberia (Galilee) in John 21, there is a scene involving a pretty sorry attempt at fishing by the disciples that night. At daybreak, Jesus calls out to them while they’re still in the boat, and they do not realize it’s Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered, “No.” “Throw the nets on the right side and you will find some.” There were so many fish that they could not pull the nets into the boat. Jumping ahead to verse 9, after the disciples had pulled the full nets of fish to the shore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Breakfast is served.
I don’t know about you, but when I smell a charcoal fire burning, my entire outlook changes. My stomach radar goes into high gear. Memories of camping with my family engage my thoughts. Images of burgers and hot dogs appear in my mind. My taste buds awaken. I wonder what the neighbor is cooking? That charcoal smell for me is a positive trigger for something good, and I wonder if that’s what the disciples may have been experiencing early that morning.
You know the disciples had to be hungry after fishing all night, defeated by the less-than-stellar outcome of their efforts, and then the adrenaline rush of hauling in all the fish that came after Jesus told them to try the right side. Jesus created a space of generosity and hospitality for the disciples by preparing breakfast for them as they came ashore. When Jesus invites them to come and have breakfast, the disciples realize it is the Lord.
Maybe a similar scene plays out on Sunday mornings at Bethesda. The smell of coffee brewing invites folks to the bar room, where generosity and hospitality await. Where folks come in with whatever happened the night before, or the week before, enjoying a cup of coffee and being able to land in a comfy seat to just be still for a moment.
To be still and know that God is God. Just as the disciples did along the Sea of Tiberias, consumed by the smell of charcoal. Just like the disciples at Bethesda’s bar room, consumed by the smell of coffee.
Blessings,
David
Photo Credit: David Blackman
Photo: Coffee & Kindness Bar @ Bethesda UMC – April 2025
