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You’re at the bar, sauced up on a few IPAs, while your buddy tells an awesome story about their latest vacation. You hang on every word as the mild buzz coursing through your veins gives you a bit of added attention span that your rampant Twitter usage typically destroys. Now, imagine the same thing, but instead of a bar, you’re listening to a church sermon. Would you pay more attention? One California church is betting on it.
According to MyRecipes, Greater Purpose Community Church in Santa Cruz decided to bail on their traditional church setting for a pub instead where church-goers could indulge on beer and wine while getting their Sunday service. Even better: according to their pastor, Greater Purpose has plans to establish a brewpub.
Now, being a Catholic, I know that this type of movement would never fly in the typically rigid practices of my Catholic upbringings, but I kind of wish it did. There’s a lot of evidence that millennials are typically less faith-focused than Baby Boomers, so it actually makes sense to appeal to them in new ways, even if it might feel a bit outlandish or scandalous to some of the church’s old guard at first. The Bible is filled with numerous examples of Jesus preaching over a few drinks with his disciples and followers. The guy literally turned water into wine. So, having a church serve some of their own libations kind of seems like a great idea to me, as it might foster greater conversation, more openness and even better concentration and attendance among younger folks. Now, I would recommend avoiding pregaming mass or trying to house four beers before the sermon, but I think a bit of moderate drinking among parishioners might lead to greater attendance for most parishes.
The soon-to-open Greater Purpose Brewing Company brewpub (and church) will make their own beer and act like a typical taproom on Monday through Saturday, even serving traditional Southern food along with house-made brews. Their one Sunday sermon, which I’m sure will draw great interest from locals, will take place before the pub opens and will be open to everyone. Additionally, Greater Purpose will donate 30-60% of profits to charity. I think their pastor (and now bartender?), Chris VanHall, sums it up perfectly to MyRecipes: “There’s nothing in the bible that says you can’t drink alcohol in a responsible manner…They can have one or two, as a matter of fact if they have two my sermon’s always better.”
Cheers! .
[via MyRecipes]
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@TaylorLaabs
@taylor1laabs
As a traditional Catholic and probably 1 of like 3 people my age who thinks this, church is church. It’s a formal gathering at a historic or faith-centered building (a church) that has 1 purpose (outside of your cousin’s graduation party in the social hall.) Then again I’m probably just some snobby Catholic who’s too set in his ways.
I feel ya, DJ. That’s one of the reasons I really like attending my Catholic mass. I enjoy the traditional, formal atmosphere of church. On a sort of related note, I feel awkward attending modern Catholic Churches that have a full band belting out really unnecessarily upbeat songs, oftentimes where people are clapping. I like singing the slower, older songs.
Yeah I don’t get the whole upbeat thing. Some Catholic churches are starting to offer it in a separate mass but those non-denominational rock concerts with a “pastor” wearing a black polo, spiked hair and buckle jeans really don’t seem genuine. But then again as long as people are sticking to their faith I guess I don’t care. Just not my cup of tea.
Ever since my wife dragged me to the ‘burbs, finding a parish I like has been a struggle. I know the building shouldn’t matter, but the Vatican II architecture is not my style. Nor the praise bands.
I think the discord is due to rigid ceremony is typically tied to rigid (and unevolving) morals and beliefs. People associate ancient tradition with ancient beliefs like birth control is evil, and god hates gays.
Not saying that is the case, but it makes the traditional services much less approachable for the young generation.
Which is probably true. It’s just that nowadays it’s a lot easier to just repeat untrue 1-liners such as “God hates gays” instead of actually doing research and realizing the church (at least the Catholic church) has evolved quite a bit even in the last 10 years and the current Pope is pretty left-of-center actually.
The last time I refused a beer I didn’t understand the question.
I’m Catholic and belong to a very traditional church, consider myself traditional as well, but my church does know how to host a pretty great Fish fry on Fridays during Lent at our church’s gym with lots and lots of beer on tap…that could also just be a Wisconsin thing too though.
Catholics really know how to throw a party outside of mass. My friend’s church would host a pregame and shuttle people to the St. Paddy’s parade in downtown Cleveland.
We do the same in Northern Wisconsin! Also, Father always goes to the Cinderella (a very old bar in my hometown) after Saturday mass. He always invites parishioners to tag along with him. Great, great guy.
Gotta be a West Park parish I’m guessing? Nice.
Not entirely sure. I know she’s told me the name before but I don’t remember!
Us Jews have no problem drinking at synagogue on various holidays like Purim (it’s our version of Halloween and you’re commanded to get so drunk that you can’t tell your enemy from your friend). I think Catholics could take a few pointers.
Hey now, Jesus’ blood is a solid 20 proof. The dude knew how to party.
It was probably 20 proof from the four cups of wine he drank at Passover dinner (another commandment).
There is no circumstance in which I wouldn’t drink a beer if it were available.
Chris VanHall gets it.
I like upbeat modern elements in a church service but I think this is a little too far for me. I went to traditional lutheran churches as a kid and tried more modern non-denom churches during undergrad but the ceremony of traditional service can be unbeatable.
That’s one way to get a lot more people to commit to volunteer
The two hours of church I’m forced to endure a year for Christmas and Easter are consistently the worst of the year. No amount of alcohol is going to make that tolerable.
Cool story bro.
My dad’s Catholic and made me go to mass when I was visiting him…we shotgunned a couple beers in the camper my aunt drove from Buffalo to Georgia before going inside, and I’ve never felt more alive/trashy. Getting up to pee twice during the sermon wasn’t my best look tho.
We recently changed pastors from a vibrant but older female pastor to a dull traditionalist older female pastor. Yup, I’d consider it.