Coffee Spot

Passing beneath the grand staircase that graces an expansive foyer at Southeast Community Church (SECC), youre greeted by smiling faces and friendly handshakes. You note the casualness of dress-blue jeans, shorts, even flip-flops here and there. A relaxing and calming ambience pervades the reception area and beckons you into the auditorium where you settle into a un-churchlike comfortable seat-no stiff wooden benches here. The doors close. The house lights go down. The stage lights come up. And suddenly youre plunged into a warm, embracing womb of energy that feels familiar, but perhaps doesnt really jive with your past experience of Sunday morning worship. The familiarity is born of comfort-the setting, the people, the music, the voices. Youre instantly immersed into an irresistible urge for celebration. The force is palpable. Stunningly talented musicians fill the theater with compelling sounds of praise. And you cannot resist the urge to stand and put your hands together, following their lead to unleash an adoration previously harnessed by six days of work and everyday life. It is in the unleashing that the experience becomes remarkable. Here onstage, belting out concert-quality sonatas, is SECCs answer to a traditional robe-garbed choir-a nine-member band of electrifying guitarists, heart-thumping percussionists, and stirring vocals. There is irrepressible joy and beatific smiles on the band members faces. You get a sense of an exultant force moving through the auditorium-and it is contagious. A five-year-old dances fervently at the foot of the stageand thats okay. Because this house of worship is a come as you are and a be as you are church. When asked how they felt when they attended SECC for the first time, most of the congregation will answer simply comfortable. According to Pastor Steve Curtis, this is totally by design. Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment for people to investigate Christianity, Pastor Steve said