tonight our church is having "the coffee house"--otherwise known as the "lighthouse coffee house"---aptly named so for the wonderful mural on one wall of the room it is held in---it is a lovely scene of a lighthouse ----the room is the youth room---it's filled with old comfy sofas and decorations from my attic--but kinda groovy stuff ---no lava lamps or anything as drastic as that---but just a hint here and there of another style of decorating, i left behind--
this will be the 6th coffee house we have done------this is actually a revival of sorts---back in the 70's, our church held a coffee house in an old building on the church grounds, known as the annex---the youth operated it on friday and saturday nights----it was the place to be back then---
these days it is struggling a bit, but there are glimpses of success---
we have had several kids, and young adults come to play, and sing---some, their original music----at one time we had so many people wanting to perform---we were booked until fall!
our church does not have a large youth group, so we are still working on the attendance and hoping for better participation in the future-----a couple of the coffee houses have had a rather large turn-out---due to the performers, bringing in people they know--
i can't tell you how much i love to encourage young people, or anyone really, with their talents--and this revival is partly to get youth that love the Lord together and also to motivate them in their dreams and to give them a platform for their creativity---
back in the original days, i would sing sometimes at the coffee house, with a band----i wasn't there every weekend, but when i was, it was good to be there--
this revival was my daughter, robyn's, idea, as she loves bringing back things from the past and has made it her almost mission to gather the youth together, whether they want to or not!
we hope to be having a poetry reading night soon----but i think we will forgo the bongos---
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| here she is again-- sorry the video is so dark-- |
recording and producing company-- lots of local talent:)
When I sing it makes people want to clap their hands........over their ears :(
ReplyDeleteawwwww--well maybe you could perform at poetry night;)
DeleteDon't you like the people at poetry night?
DeleteWhat a fun idea. Good luck with the event!
ReplyDeletethanks danielle!
DeleteGood stuff, Lynn. I used to love those coffee houses. Did you sing folk music or another style? That's an interesting side to your personality.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. There are good things in the past which can be revived. Just choose carefully.
Have a good weekend.
i wrote music, that was probably considered mostly folk music--but when i performed at the coffee house--i usually did popular music at the time--such as "put a little love in your heart"---thanks d.g.--and yeah i hear ya!
DeleteWow what a great post, good luck with keeping it going!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom was one of the adult leaders of our church youth group way back and they are some of the best memories I have of her before she let the alcohol win, thanks for that.
One time we were at a retreat in the woods and the Son of Sam was heard to have been seen in the area, omg we were running around those dark woods at night scaring each other silly, I'll never forget that.
thanks rch--sorry about your mom-----i know---at our church youth lock-ins---i took all the youth on a creepy tour of our church basement---they were all screaming like crazy---i have worked with adults and kids but i think i enjoy working with the youth maybe the best--at least right now--and that may be because of robyn's age :)
DeleteWhat a great venue for people to showcase their talent. It sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteit really has been so far--thanks sherry!
DeleteI love that you have a heart for youth and want them to succeed. I worked w/ youth for 12 years and feel the same way. Kids need a safe place to be loved on. Your church sounds wonderful. :-)
ReplyDeletei started having a heart for them when my two oldest boys were teenagers---that's cool that you have worked with the youth so long---and yes kids really do need these kinds of places--thanks mare:)
DeleteIt sounds like a great time! I would have loved to participate in something like that when I was a teenager. I wish I could be there for your poetry night. :)
ReplyDeletei will let you know when it is---if you can't attend--maybe you could send me a poem to share--thanks dana:)
DeleteWhat a great idea to promote the kids and bring them closer to God! I think sometimes life takes over, and the talented kids have no one to push them abit, to encourage them. It's also a great think Robyn is doing. I'm wowed!
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
thanks cecilia---thanks for all the nice encouragement--we need it!
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea. Young people don't often get enough opportunities to showcase their talents. I think this is great! :)
ReplyDeletethey really don't--and then sometimes they just stop practicing their talents--thanks christine!
DeleteLynn, You have such a giving spirit. I think it's absolutely wonderful what you do to foster love and creativity in this world.
ReplyDeleteawwww thanks so much---what a sweet thing to say, susan!:)
DeleteI work with youth in our church Reformer's Unanimous (a Christian addictions program) meeting on Friday nights at our church (heading out a couple of hours). We are short on youth, but I love working with them and hope for more. Mostly we work on Challenges associated with the addictions program, but for a bit I was teaching the girls to use a sewing machine (and an iron!). We have sewn dresses for Easter Sunday and pillowcases for the Reformer's Unanimous residential program in Illinois. It's nice to get any group together that loves the Lord!
ReplyDeleteit really is, donna---your work sounds amazing!!
DeleteHow absolutely wonderful! I truly believe that people need places to perform and people who support them. Good for you!
ReplyDeletei so believe this too--i am praying we have a good turn-out tonight---thanks so much joy!
DeleteThat takes me back to the day when I played guitar and had a band. We played in church.
ReplyDeleteT
oh how cool--do you still play?!
DeleteI remember the "original" coffee houses from the 70s (gosh I can't be that old :) What a wonderful thing that Robyn wanted to revive; I think it is a neat thing to do, to have a place like this to go and hang out with friends and hear some good music or poetry. Hope the evening was a good one!
ReplyDeletebetty
i know i remember it well also!! and i am that old haha---yeah robyn is an old soul----it turned out really well last night--thanks betty :)
Deletethank you for sharing
ReplyDeletethanks for reading!
DeleteI remember that coffee house movement back in the 70s. Reviving the trend is a great idea. I think I'll suggest this to the youth leadership in our church. We essentially have lost our youth due to a series of leadership changes, etc. and we need something to bring the young people back. This just might be it. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
i think that would be great---let me know if your church goes with it, how it does----we are low on youth too and this was part of our thinking also--and you are very welcome---i am so glad you liked the idea and want to have a coffee house too!! thanks lee!
DeleteBack where I come from, coffee houses are still big-- lots of laughter, conversation, and yes, music!
ReplyDeleteoh good, how cool, they are still around!!
DeleteBest of luck with this project. It is great that you are providing a place for performers to share their talent.
ReplyDeletethanks so much!!
DeleteSounds like a fun night.
ReplyDeletehttp://joycelansky.blogspot.com
it was joyce!!
DeleteYou're amazing, Lynn. Excellent work.
ReplyDeletethanks so much peaches!!! it's great fun!
DeleteThis is such a great project! It must have been so much fun when you used to sing at coffee houses. Maybe you could join in again! Julie
ReplyDeleteit really was----haha maybe----thanks julie :)
DeleteI seem to be the only person who hasn't heard of 'coffee houses' - but I am intrigued as I would love to organise something like this. Hmmm. It is a wonderful thing you are doing but you are a very talented lady.
ReplyDeletethey started in the late fifites i think, kate---they were mainly where younger people gathered and read poetry and drank coffee---and "beatniks" were the "hippies" then---you can easily start one---thanks!!!
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