Church offers up frosty beer for the faithful

Fox 23 | October 24, 2014

One Oklahoma church is offering up frosty beers this Sunday to those who would like to worship the old fashioned way through hymns.

East Side Christian Church in Tulsa posted on its marquee out front that it is offering Beer and Hymns Sunday night as part of a weekend-long discussion about the future of the Christian church around the world.

"I think it’s a little surprise for some people here in Oklahoma, but we like to rattle the cage a little bit," said Evan Taylor, outreach pastor at East Side Christian Church.

Though the event is turning heads of those who drive by, East Side Christian Church isn't alone in the festivities. The event is actually a part of a weekend of beer sipping and theological discussion.

"It’s a chance to reach a wide demographic of people to ask the questions of what’s happening in our Christian world, what’s happening in our churches, and what’s happening in our community," said Michael Riggs, senior pastor at First Christian Church of Downtown Tulsa.

First Christian Church of Downtown Tulsa, East Side Christian Church, Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Phillips Theological Seminary, and Oklahoma Disciples Foundation are hosting three events over the upcoming weekend with Portland-based religious author Christian Piatt.

Piatt will be discussing his book Post Christian with Green Country Christians. The book focuses on the future of the Christian church as a whole in the world.

They hope that with it being the weekend, more people will head out to talk about the future of the church, if they can catch a frosty brew or two.

"Everybody’s welcome. No questions are banned. No holds barred. Just come and respect each other’s opinions, and just have a good honest conversation about God while having a few beers at the same time," Riggs said.

But if you are worried about the Father's House becoming a frat house, East Side has put in place some measures to keep the event koshure. IDs will be checked for anyone wanting a beer. There will be a limit of three beers per person, and there are options for those who are either underaged or do not wish to partake.

"People are more curious than anything," Taylor said. "It’s not a big drunk fest. It’s just going to a nice time to have a beer and sing some old hymns at the same time."

Source: http://m.wpxi.com/news/news/national/church-offers-frosty-beer-faithful/nhq7F/?__federated=1