Stone Soup is the CAF network's faith Community. We appear quite random and disorganised but we are more like a bunch of bridges who are both entry points to an authentic & creative community of grace and entry points to a diverse range of artistic worlds around Melbourne.

At the core of this community we share a love for Jesus and his way of being and living. At the edge we are inclusive, fluid, creative, broken and on a huge journey.

Cupawata: Second Sunday of the month, 4:30pm
The Avenue Church of Christ, 1 The Avenue, Surrey Hills

Cupawata is an art and prayer gathering where we share who we are and how we journey... It's a time of refreshing and connecting. (A cup of water is my name's sake.)

Sunday gatherings are in the hall @ The Avenue Church of Christ, 1 The Avenue, Surrey Hills

Cupasoup: Fourth Sunday of the month, 4:30pm
The Avenue Church of Christ, 1 The Avenue, Surrey Hills

Cupasoup is a deeper, heartier time of worship and reflection; time to rest in God and to deepen our spiritual walk by waiting on Him. (A cup of soup suggests a meal, something to digest.)

Sunday gatherings are in the hall @ The Avenue Church of Christ, 1 The Avenue, Surrey Hills

Rhythm Group: Sunday brekky once a month

Building stronger, deeper spiritual disciplines and practices into the core of this community of faith...

We meet for brekky one Sunday per month, in private homes.

Impartation Days: Saturdays over lunch

Intentional learning with respected teachers/practitioners. These are usually spaced every couple of months or so, and we are instructed and deepened in scripture and life. We then implement the learning into the life of the community, so it is integrated into our practices and disciplines, shaping us and affecting those we serve.

There is an old legend of a beggar travelling through Europe during the war. In his journey he came upon a village and stopped to ask for food. Each villager sent him away as the country was in famine and no-one had enough for themselves let alone a stranger. The hardships were great, each had to look after their own, they had responsibilities, shelter was scarce and any supplies were guarded and stored in secret. They had closed the door to their neighbors for fear. Fear and suspicion had taken the place of trust and friendship.

After he had been turned away time and again the beggar went to the town square in the centre of the village where he built a small fire. He heated some water in the one pot he carried on his journey and he placed a stone in it. As the fire burned the villagers watched from their portals and windows. They were frustrated with him, annoyed that he would not move on, didn't he understand they didn't have enough. But he did not leave instead the beggar boiled the water and made his soup, aware that all eyes were on him.

Slowly and eventually one by one the people came out from their hideaways. Some curious, but most frustrated or angered at the behavior of the stranger. "What are you doing?" they demanded. Quietly the beggar looked into the small flames and spoke gently, "I am making stone soup". "Stone Soup" one cried, "You have a rock in a pot of water, are you blind or mad?" shouted another, "You are a fool, an idiot", snarled an angry woman. "He is a madman, delusional!" whispered yet another.

One woman retreated to her house and grabbed an onion. Upon her return she handed it to the beggar... "Here you go" she grunted, "at least there will be flavour and you will be on your way!" Another woman took her lead and ran to toss a turnip into the watery pot. Yet another, keen not to get too close to the dirty beggar rolled a potato toward him. One by one each of the villagers not to be outdone by each other added their bit. Soon the pot was full of brewing meat and warm vegetables and the aroma that filled their nostrils was delicious.

The beggar felt a tap on his shoulder he looked up from his fire to see the face of the first woman. The face that was earlier contorted in anger and suspicion had become a comforting sight with a soft grin and a hopeful glint in her eye. She gently passed him a bowl to fill with the Stone soup. As he looked beyond her he saw the others, they were listening, laughing, and sharing the soup and the community.

As they gathered around the soup the beggar quietly moved to the edge of the circle. Knowing that they would now get through the winter each giving what they had. Only a couple of the people noticed the stranger's departure, as he withdrew they quietly thanked him for his gift to the village. He simply smiled and asked them to receive the stranger that next passes through.

(the story is retold by Dee Kaylock as remembered)