The room is buzzing. People wander, talk with each other or relax on comfortable sofas. There's a smell of muffins and coffee in the air, while ambient café music plays in the background.

A typical café scene in Wellington? Yes, but for Wadestown Presbyterian Church, it has also become a way of worship.

The congregation started their monthly 'Café Church' services at the beginning of 2001 as a way of providing an alternative style of worship for churchgoers. The concept aims to relate church to everyday life and everyday life back to church. Themes such as designer living, probing thoughts on God's image in human life and Madonna's 'Material Girl' are brought together in a challenging context. Most of the services are held in the church hall converted into the café setting.

Worshippers walk into the venue from 10am onwards to the sight of coffee tables with newspapers, setting the tone for what follows. After about half an hour of mixing over coffee the children go to 'Sunday's Cool' and the worship part gets under way.

Worship leaders use visual images including video footage and data projected backdrops to illustrate their points. Team member Jacki Newell says contemporary music played during the services includes songs by Eurythymics and Robbie Williams.

Jacki says the secular music ties into the services and is part of the relaxed mood of the gatherings. "We always have an interactive time and it is an interesting part of the set-up as you feel the whole atmosphere change." Service-goer Ange Gregory, who has been involved with Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and non-denominational churches, says the concept is an "excellent idea". "It's a time to think in terms of where things are going in the world."

Ange says the group discussions help to loosen people up where they can talk candidly to one another. "There's quite a mix of people. It's nice and refreshing and a challenge."

Alan and Lyn Prentice, who joined the Church about the time the cafe church concept started, were intrigued. "We just went to see what this weird thing was going to be like and we really enjoyed it because it was really stimulating," Lyn says.

As a long-time Sunday School teacher, Lyn herself found the ethos of a café church appealing. "I found that the services were very, very focused on daily living."

The services attract about 50 adults and a "good smattering" of younger adults come along, says minister Rev Mark Johnston.

"People feel it's an event to bring their friends along to and it's non-threatening," he says.

Other Presbyterian and CV churches also run café style worship. For more information about Wadestown contact: Rev Mark Johnston, email , markjohn(at)xtra.co.nz