Debra [New Jersey] has no idea what she is doing.
[12.08]

Hi, welcome to our virtual coffee shop. Pull up a chair, take the load of your feet. Let's chat.

So who are you, where you from, what do you do in life?
I’m Debra. Currently I live in Cape May County, New Jersey – but I was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, have lived in Decorah, Iowa; Boston, Massachusetts; Brookline, Massachusetts, Newton Center, Massachusetts; Elgin, Illinois; Lake Bluff, Illinois; Mount Prospect, Illinois; and Countryside, Illinois. I’m an Episcopal priest – serving as the Vicar of a small mission and the Assistant to the Rector of a medium-sized church.

Can I get you a drink? Cappucino, earl grey, dandelion and burdock, pale ale?
I’ll take a decaf, triple venti, non-fat, easy-on-the-mocha, mocha with lite whip cream (I call it a “why bother?” but it tastes good).

Would you like a doughnut or pastry to go with that?
Nah. . . trying to watch my sugars.

So, if you had to describe the church/project/experiment/thingy you are currently involved with in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
Just opened a store-front ministry center and am trying to figure out how to go out and ‘be church’ in the new neighbourhood.

Are you an instigator? / new recruit? / have absolutely no recollection of how you got involved?
Instigator!!! (and new recruit) <- work that out! :)

What do you value most about being part of it?
The creativity and openness of the project

What excites you most about it?
The opportunity to ‘be church’ in places where folks may have never experienced the Body of Christ before

Has anyone ever turned up out of the blue not knowing what to expect?
What did they say?
Not yet – we’ll get there a little bit further down the road

Three words that describe your attitude to 'being church' in the big wide world: Scary, Hope-filled, and Inspiring

Three words that DON'T:
Planned, Clear, Predictable

You have this weird dream - you meet Jesus face to face.
Where does it happen, what does he say to you?
I get in my car and Jesus is just sitting in the passenger seat and he says to me, “So, where are we going today?!”

What's the big secret you're itching to share with everyone?
I really have no idea what I’m doing, but I trust that God will get me where I’m supposed to be each day.

What would your 'emerging church survival kit' contain?
A book of metaphors, a pocket-full of poetry, and, of course, a Bible (maybe The Message)

Anything else you'd like to share with us before you have to rush off?
Thanks for opening up the Cafe to me today.

Thanks. Good to see you. Have a good day!