Hot Cocoa Outreach Begins Around Atlanta

The United Methodist Church is taking to the streets of Atlanta and Decatur this week to offer hot cocoa along with a warm invitation to visit a United Methodist church.

On Thursday, one of the coldest days of the season in Atlanta, Ambassadors of Cheer and North Georgia Conference volunteers were outside Peachtree Center Marta Station in downtown Atlanta. For six hours they greeted commuters, homeless, city workers, holiday shoppers and passers-by. 

It’s all part of a national Rethink Church Advent “creative outreach campaign” planned by United Methodist Communications for nine major cities this month, focused on high-pedestrian traffic areas. A marketing firm hired by UMCom is providing the cocoa and professionals to wear the heavy, red containers that look like jetpacks on their backs. 

Messaging on the cocoa dispensers and the cups invites people to visit a United Methodist church this Christmas, and to visit www.rethinkchurch.org/find-a-church so they can find a church in their community. 

Friday, Dec. 16, volunteers will be in midtown and Atlantic station from 8 am to 2 pm. They'll be in Buckhead near Lenox Square Mall on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, Dec. 18, they will be around the Decatur Square from 11 am to 5 pm -- proving church really can happen anywhere!