'If we want our visitors to return, I think we all need to wake up and smell the coffee!'
Bean feast: Robert Ashton wants a better cup
‘The best business begins with a shared pot of decent coffee.’
I suspect the early Quaker entrepreneurs were similarly picky about their hospitality. Creating good first impressions can shape a business relationship, and attention to detail is vital to the success of every transaction. Perhaps the obvious example would be the Quaker chocolate magnates, who, I suspect, rarely missed an opportunity to offer samples!
These days there are too few Quaker entrepreneurs, and the behaviour of some corporate behemoths leaves much to be desired. But the principle that the best business begins with a shared pot of decent coffee I think remains true.
You might disagree, but for me this also applies to Quaker Meetings, where the hesitant new attender, perhaps coming along for their first experience of our unique style of worship, should be viewed as our customer, and treated accordingly. Decent coffee, and perhaps even chocolate biscuits, will encourage our visitors to stay after Meeting, providing opportunity for their questions to be answered, concerns allayed, and enthusiasm cultivated.
All this came to mind when I attended an ecumenical service recently. It was our turn to lead, and so we gathered at a local denomination to worship. I’d not attended one of these services before, so I was unsure what to expect. We assembled in the church room, rather than the pews, and the chairs were arranged around a central table in true Quaker fashion. A Friend began with a brief introduction to our style of worship, and carefully-selected passages from Advices & queries and Quaker faith & practice were read out, conveniently breaking up the half hour of silence. This, I thought, made it easier for those more accustomed to programmed worship to get through without fidgeting.
I glanced round the room from time to time to see how people were handling perhaps their first Quaker experience. The vicar managed admirably, closed eyes and clearly comfortable. Another minister, however, found it more difficult, periodically checking his phone. He had my sympathy because I know that newcomers can sometimes find our silent worship difficult.
But the real difference between the groups emerged after the service, when we were invited to stay for coffee. What emerged were mugs of instant coffee and a plate of rich tea fingers. I’m sure this was partly the tradition there, and partly a matter of economy. But next time, I’ll politely turn down the brew. If we want our visitors to return, I think we all need to wake up and smell the coffee!
