Caravaggio, "Supper at Emmaus" (Luke 24)

Matthew’s Table is re-imagining church life in a third place context by owning and operating Java Joe’s as a unique place that is the hub for the life of our community of faith.

Third places are characterized by the modern coffee shop.

They are neither home nor work, but somewhere in between.

Church as a third place is not about a cafe attached to a church, it’s about the transformation of whatever place is available.

No longer is a private, “sacred” place used only for services but is itself offered as a service to the whole community. Nor is a public place off-limits in the exploration of faith, worship and life.

When church is a third place, the services take place in a public environment among the sofas and tables – which is a challenge to what usually happens in worship.

If worship is adapted to this environment, could it happen elsewhere, in any place?

For some people this will be about engaging with the Christian faith in a new way; for others it will be about asking questions about the Christian faith in a new environment; for all it is about finding our role in God’s grand narrative.