Members of the Christ Lutheran Church in Monticello visit the Apple A Day Café at Kirby Medical Center every Wednesday and Friday for friendship, fellowship and a few laughs. Because they always look like they’re having so much fun, we decided to ask Pastor Micah Garnett what these groups are all about.
What do you do at your coffee groups?
Mostly, we (the guys) sit and talk about sports and current events, infused with a healthy dose of humor.
How did these groups begin? How long have you been getting together?
The group has been getting together for many years now - I don't even know how many, as they were already meeting regularly when I started as pastor of Christ Lutheran a little over four years ago. They began as a men's Bible study breakfast group that met two Wednesday mornings each month. For a time, the group met one of those Wednesdays at Bement Bowl and one at the Red Wheel in Monticello. Eventually, they enjoyed the fellowship so much that they went to another place after breakfast for coffee and conversation. The coffee group became a weekly gathering and expanded in the last couple years to two mornings per week.
Who usually attends?
The Bible study and coffee group is for men of any age, and it is usually attended by about 10 men from Christ Lutheran Church; however, it is open to anyone who wants to stop by! We like to say hello to friends and neighbors as they pass by. People from other congregations who had coffee groups in our previous locations will often come down to the café and give us a shout if they happen to be at Kirby Hospital for a medical procedure. The time of day is easiest for retired people, but sometimes guys will come if they have the day off from work.
There is also a separate women's group of about 8-10 from Christ Lutheran that meets at Apple A Day Café for breakfast each Wednesday. They had been meeting at other places around town but settled on Apple A Day Café when the men's group kept telling them how wonderful it is!
What do people like about the coffee groups?
The coffee group bounced around to several locations in Monticello before ending up at Apple A Day Café. We tried Apple A Day Café for our Bible study breakfast while the Red Wheel was under construction, and we enjoyed the location so much that we have stuck with it ever since! The space is quiet, which really helps folks who have trouble hearing. The layout of the cafe is also very convenient for large groups, much easier than the fixed booths and tables in the fast food places where we used to meet. The food is tasty yet inexpensive, there are a variety of coffees available and the staff are absolutely top-notch – they even bring the made-to-order food out to our table!
Who can join, and how do you go about joining?
The groups are open to anyone who would like to attend. The men's coffee group gets together each Wednesday and Friday morning around 8:30am, and we usually sit in the booth along the left wall as you enter the café – it's close to the restroom, which is a major plus for retired guys who drink a lot of coffee! We also have a simple Bible study before coffee group on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:45am.
The women's group meets for breakfast each Wednesday around 9:00am, and they either pull tables together near the food service area or sit outside around one of the patio tables.
Anyone interested in joining is invited to call Christ Lutheran Church at (217) 762-5826 or email them for more information.
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