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HAPPY HOUR JESUS
Jesus at the party made the party better — searching for something beyond Sunday morning Jesus
“Where ideas have sex.” It’s one of the myriad of edgy stickers on the window, but it grabs my attention as we step through the door. Just inches into this world, I’m breathing different air and wondering what Jesus is saying to me here.
Jay and I are visiting a co-working space in the heart of Belgrade where Darko is showing us around. Longish hair, smiling, perfect English with a slight Serbian accent — there’s welcome in him and in the environment. But, there’s something intimidating here too. He leans in, “Come by on a Friday afternoon — the Hub’s community gets together for drinks and socializing.” My heart skips a beat, then doubles its rhythms. We’ve just been invited to church. Sort of.
Darko isn’t preaching Jesus, but he is preaching community. By the time our tour ends, we’ve laughed together, he’s listened to our story, told us about the community’s shared moral code, and invited us to the Hub’s happy hour many times. It is the apex of their week — Sunday morning fellowship on a Friday afternoon. with alcohol. to unwind. without Jesus.
I’m going take a risk and say that this is where the church needs to consistently be present — right here at Friday afternoon happy hour…
