Appendix E-J

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. Lucky no. 7 comes from the heart of Diana Sitzman- long-time EJ’s volunteer, coffee goddess, avid reader, world traveler, and a fantastic cook. We love her very much.

There’s some social theory about the importance of third places, I think the main point being that our contemporary society tends to lack somewhere to go other than work and home (first and second place).  We should all have a place where our social needs are met and we can be involved in our community.

Everyday Joe’s is my third place.

I remember on my very first day there, one of the other volunteers said I’d love it because it’s just like “Cheers,” and every day since then I’ve seen how much truth lies in that claim.  I do love it, that’s undeniable.  Why?  Because sometimes, I really do just want to go where everybody knows my name and is genuinely glad I came.

I’m a good example of how God knows us better than we know ourselves and will provide accordingly.  I’ve never been too socially needy and quite content being by myself, but I can’t deny that it’s nice to be known as a distinct person, not just another customer or co-worker.  It’s so encouraging for me to look back at the past 3 ½ years and realize that in one way or another, Everyday Joe’s has served as the answer to almost every prayer I’ve ever prayed, and I’d wager that approximately 90% of all the really great things in my life are as a result of my involvement there.

This building is alive because God is alive and moving in it.  It brings people together and fosters community in a way that no other church or coffee house in town does.  But it’s also an instrument of change within individuals, and has a pretty profound impact on who many people are becoming, not just myself.  It’s, a place to be challenged but also supported; a place of joy, of play, of rest; a place to love and be loved.

Every time I walk into the building (or even just think about it) I know God likes me, because I’m allowed to be a part of this phenomenon.

Further:

• Diana Being Hugged by The Moroccan Tom Cruise

Popularity: 22% [?]

So, here’s the deal.

The usual Monday post did not make it up yesterday. This was mainly due to the fact that the large refrigerator…the primary purpose of which is to keep the soda pop and milk cool and drinkable…was warm when I came down to open. Warmness is not conducive to dairy products.

Sounds like something that would take place on a  Monday…a major organ in the coffee house body taking a dive (if the espresso machine is the heart, I’d say the refrigerator is at least one of the kidneys). This Monday was the Monday after our 5th birthday party, which was a nice time. A nice time on Saturday and back to the art of maintenance on Monday. A very nice fellow we know recently spoke about maintenance. Listen to that below if you like.

[audio http://www.everydayjoes.org/images/songs for blog/June%2022%209am%20Darren.mp3]

Back to the refrigerator. A good guy came yesterday and battled with the machine for near 8 hours, only to have the machine claim victory with its foot on his chest. He told us what the fix would be and that it would cost $800. We told him we’d let him know.

Now, we’ll leave the story to Daryle Dickens, the executive director of Everyday Joe’s:

Let’s see, how many lessons can we learn from what happened over the past 24 hours with the large cooler?

That is all.

Popularity: 23% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. Number six is penned by Darren Fred, the pastor of TImberline Oldtown – the church that meets at 144 S. Mason and started Everyday Joe’s 5 years ago this month. Wow.

“It’s not about the building.” This is what they always told me. You know. Them. The thems were professors in Bible College and pastors speaking at conferences. “It’s not about the building,” they would say. “The church isn’t a building.” True. That. So, I went along for eight, nine years believing that statement and repeating it. It’s not about the building. Then I came to 144 S. Mason in April, 2006. It’s not about the building, except sometimes it is kind of about the building. What is it about this place? How did all these people that aren’t normally in a room together end up in the room together? There’s a homeless guy on the couch reading a book. There’s a lawyer sitting eating a breakfast burrito (they’re good by the way), while he waits for a jury to finish deliberating. There are three moms on the floor with their babies climbing on them and around them while they talk about life. There’s a group of mentally disabled people eating lunch. There’s a transvestite (oh yeah, we can tell) enjoying a cup of something delicious while he/she visits and laughs and catches up with a friend. And, there’s a pastor (me) who holds credentials with a traditional, conservative denomination sitting in a room which has become his office looking around trying to figure it out.

When Jesus showed up, people who weren’t normally together—people who were suspicious of each other—showed up. Go ahead; read the stories. Prostitutes, church leaders, beggars, rich people, kids, old fogeys. They had one thing in common. They liked Jesus. They showed up to see him and they bumped into each other. That’s what happened when this building opened its doors and started calling itself Everyday Joe’s five years ago. And that’s what I began to understand as I sat in the room…day after day. People who weren’t normally together showed up because they had this in common—they liked the building. Or was it the coffee? Or the music? Or the people? Or some elusive and delicate vibe which exists where the love of God is. We’re Jesus. It’s about the building. This building is alive.

Further:

• Timberline Oldtown official site

Popularity: 13% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. Number five has been written by Chris Hess, Everyday Joe’s assistant director and concert boooking man. He is also very loud.

Crema is something that is very important to us here at 144 S. Mason.

So is life.

Crema is that magnificent layer of flavor and goodness that sits on top of a well-drawn shot of espresso. It, however, is only the beginning. Below it are the heart and body of the shot…living in the thick dark mystery of the coffee extract. The crema is only the beginning.

Life is, well, life. It is made up of times of celebration followed by curveballs that seemed to be aimed at the center of your heart. When they hit, your lungs collapse and your eyes go wide and you wait for the air to return. Often, the community around you must perform CPR. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.

There is a man. His name is Frank. For 9 months, he sat on the couch in the foyer at 144 S. Mason. He sat, and he stared out the window. Sometimes he would sit outside. Mostly, he would sit on the couch. He ate more than several pouches of trail mix. Many of you came to know him and he came to know many of you. A curveball had hit him in the heart. His lungs had collapsed.

Frank dealt with severe depression. His days consisted of walking from where he slept to Everyday Joe’s and back to the place he slept. Outside of this he was paralyzed.The variations in his day consisted of the people who would walk in and out of 144 S. Mason. You loved him. In November of 2007, Frank entered a treatment program.

3 weeks ago, I was working behind the bar cleaning dishes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone walk up to the counter. I turned around to help, and there was Frank. He wore a purple polo shirt with a pen tucked between the buttons. He ordered a decaf Mocha. We sat and talked about the housing market, the election, renewable fuels, the price of gas in California in the 1980s, the History channel, and all of you. He asked about so many people. He has his own place where he is living. He wants to go see the Doobie Brothers. This past Wednesday, he began volunteering at Everyday Joe’s. You performed CPR. You saved a man’s life.

Frank’s tale is full of truth and life. It is a testament to family and community and true love. It is the crema. It is a celebration of more variables than we can imagine coming together in grace. What must be remembered, though, is that the crema is just the beginning. Below it is the mystery. When you dig deeper, when you pursue it into the darkness, you will find this everywhere. People with lungs collapsed. Needing breath. Needing wounds healed. It can begin here, but it must not end here. We are family. We must take care of each other.

Popularity: 16% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. The fourth installation of this series comes from Amy McKean, former volunteer, board member, and Everyday Joe’s accountant. She’s a generally happy lady, and we wish she didn’t move to Denver.

Popularity: 18% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. No. 3 comes from the mind and heart of TJ Southard, who was one of the 7 original folks to keep the doors open. He also pastored Joshua’s Crossing/Timberline Oldtown church from 2003-2006.

Joe’s,

Chris Hess has asked me to share some of my memories of Everyday Joe’s. Although I have many, many memories of that place, it is the memories of the opening days that I remember the most. Interestingly, as I am asked to give some memories of Joe’s I am confused by my inability to decide whether or not these memories are good ones or bad ones. I remember that the planning was great fun. After we had been open for a while it was great fun, but in middle of those memories are the opening days and months. This is where it hurts a bit. I will explain:

I have often stated that a good leader must find the place where faith and foolishness meet and stand firmly with one foot on each side. This was my stance as we prepared to open Everyday Joe’s. We had a solid business plan.

Here’s the outline:

• no health department license
• no staff training
• no storage
• no sign on the door
• no volunteer schedule past Wednesday
• no cash reserves
• no marketing plan
• no grand opening
• no ice
• no heater (it was May and we had months to fix that)
• no idea what the hell we were doing

But, we had all the faith and hope in the world. We also had a whole week’s worth of milk and coffee beans. We had $152 dollars in the bank and Suzanne was there and ready to open at 6am on the dot. I was certain that the whole of Ft. Collins would get out of bed and rush into Joe’s for a cup of coffee. Craig and Gretchen were our first customers (I think) and we sold almost $65 worth of coffee that first day. The next day was even worse because our opening crowd had come the day before. It hurt a bit.

Thinking back on it, my stance was all wrong. Having one foot in faith and the other in foolishness will get your ego sack kicked back up into your throat.

Suzanne, Paul, Daryle, Joyce, Tim, Bob and Jessica took up the slack of my bad planning and made Joe’s work. Then a few people dropped from Heaven – really – (Chris, Hannah , Diana) and the next thing I remember is the third anniversary.

Now that I am a long ways away I am re-writing those memories. Only in my new version I do everything right. Including the AC.

- TJ

Popularity: 13% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. Our second installment comes from Seth Daire, Everyday Joe’s volunteer webmaster & sound tech.

The train is going by. It does that, loudly announcing its presence near our entrance. It reminds us we’re downtown, a block off College Avenue. That’s enough to make us a destination, a place sought out. And they do, college students on bikes, business people in suits, and families with children.

And for those of us who long for community, it’s a place of rest for our weary souls. So we come, not always knowing why. We see the students, the business people, and the children…and slowly…over time, they become family we see every day. The kind of family I can expose my most embarrassing wounds to, and find healing. And why? Because I’m no longer alone in my pain. Because I’m known. And when there’s nothing left to protect, I can simply be.

Popularity: 15% [?]

As part of celebrating our 5th anniversary, someone who is part of Everyday Joe’s will write something about it each month. Anything from essays to sonnets to interpretive dance. How interpretive dance would translate to this blog, I’m not sure…but it’d be interesting.

Whatever is written, it will come from the life that is in this building. 144 S. Mason seems to be alive and breathing…and it is something you can’t ignore when you walk in. Our first installment comes from Suzanne Vigil, Everyday Joe’s original manager and visionary.

It was just a tiny cloud on a vast horizon. So simple, so vulnerable to any kind of wind.
That was 1998 when a small hand scribbled down on a fragile idea on a regular piece of lined note book paper.

It read: “Coffee House Ministry?”

That vast horizon was the heart where a dream was being conceived and that dream became a prayer of faith that withstood the winds of uncertainty for 5 years. Today, you are part of that dream…Everyday Joe’s Coffee House. Every time you come into 144 S. Mason you make the dream materialize from a thought to a living reality. Thank you.

2008 marks our 5 year anniversary, as with any locally owned business this is a milestone. As one of the co-founders, I thought it might be interesting to take a stroll down memory lane….

2002: a small congregation of faith named Joshua’s Crossing stepped into a permanent residence-144 S. Mason. Major renovations began on this 1920′s warehouse that had always been used as a garage until now. Two pastors worked day and night 6-7 days a week learning the skills of renovation. Skilled professionals began poking their
heads in and offering themselves in the processes of drywalling, electrical work and construction.

Coffee House Ministry was discussed and a hospitality counter area was built in the renovation. Coffee service began on Sunday nights before and after church.
The building’s inner beauty made us want to share it with more people, more often.
So, we started working towards an actual Business/Ministry model.

On June 16th, 2003 our doors opened without fanfare as Everyday Joe’s Coffee House.
I was 27 years old, and left my position as a floral manager to manage Everyday Joe’s. No paycheck. I lived with my parents to avoid rent and God took care of the rest. My financial obligations were paid every month in a different way.

Please don’t ever think you cannot do something because of money alone. I will testify to the incredibility of faith that bypasses personal income. And I believe that faith is very contagious. It is now 2008, and there are over 30 people who volunteer to serve coffee, run the sound for concerts, hang art, do bookkeeping, etc. Believe it or not, it started with two of us. Myself and our unsung hero-Tim Kuhlman.

Tim left his well paying computer job and did everything from making and folding church bulletins to serving coffee at Everyday Joe’s till midnight for 2 years. Thanks Tim. And thank you all who are willing to humble yourselves and work for free.

So here we are, 5 years old. As I look back, a consistent idea keeps appearing….Faith.
The ability to believe in a reality that is unseen. When all our logic and calculations based on what we know don’t seem to stretch as far as our imaginations can dream, we need this vital ingredient….Faith.

I have found it to be true here at Everyday Joe’s. People said we’d never make it downtown without a liquor license or by acknowledging we’re a church based ministry. But look at us now. Now you can see it with your own human eyes.

But what will the next 5 years bring into vein? Where is your faith? And where will it take us? How will God inspire our imaginations to dream towards 2013 and beyond?

“(God) creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, The good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2 (The message). “Jesus answered, ‘the work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:29 (NIV).

Popularity: 23% [?]