wfn.org | German Methodists plan 'Wesley Café' for Expo visitors

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Feb. 28, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
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By United Methodist News Service

Visitors to the upcoming Expo 2000 World Fair in Hanover, Germany, will find
refreshment at the Wesley Café.

The café will be open on the ground floor of St. John's United Methodist
Church (Johanneskirche) every evening from May 31 to the end of the Expo on
Oct. 31. Along with snacks and drinks, the café will offer music, drama, art
exhibitions, special speakers and a daily closing bilingual devotion.

All are invited, and the church particularly hopes to see Methodists from
around the world, said Alexandra Hupe, an organizer of the café.

International teams are being formed to walk through the city during the
day, inviting passers-by to the café. Team members also will chat with and
entertain guests in the café.

With the theme "Man, Nature and Technology," Expo 2000 will serve as a
platform for presentations by more than 200 countries and world
organizations. "Christians, too, will be making the most of this fantastic
opportunity to make themselves known, tell others about Jesus, and offer
answers to crucial questions about the future and meaning of life," café
organizers said.

Christians are sponsoring the "Pavilion of Hope" at Expo 2000, particularly
targeting the youth and young adults who are expected to make up half of the
number of international visitors. With an interactive exhibit, integrated TV
studio and worldwide networking via the Internet, the pavilion will be
designed is to foster an active discussion with youth on a variety of
issues.

At the Wesley Café, special discussions on the Expo's main theme are set for
June 14, July 12, Aug. 16, Sept. 13 and Oct. 11.

More information is available at the café's multilingual Internet site:
www.wesleycafe.de. Volunteers interested in spending at least a week during
the summer assisting at the café can send an e-mail message to
olafbogdan@wesleycafe.de.

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United Methodist News Service
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