Tim Jones has spent the last decade with a dream of a mile-long table. That passion led him to become the founder of Longer Tables, a local nonprofit developing partnership in Denver, across Colorado, and now cities around the country to gather people together for shared meals at longer tables.

A coffee shop is a sacred place. It is a story of family and community, culture and care. Founded by brothers Hani and Zahi Yaafouri, Steam has created a special place of loyal business and natural beauty.

Jesus on Colfax is a sacred place. The organization, Jesus on Colfax (JOC), began with an unexpected invitation. Shawn Sikkema had been a pastor in southeast Aurora for 25 years. As he was riding his motorcycle down Colfax, he felt God inviting him to simply show up and love people. It was a present day invitation to the Biblical narrative of caring for the neighbor in need. To join Jesus on Colfax.

A fireplace is a sacred place. It is a place of ritual and reflection, providing warmth and light from its flickering flames. Fireplaces were historically used for heating and cooking, but also as a place of social connection and spiritual reflection. Almost every civilization has an association with a fireplace. 

The dining room table is the center of my home. It holds the constant reminder of the centrality of provision, welcome, and belonging nestled into the presence of God who is with me.

CAFE 180 is a sacred place. For fifteen years, this light‑filled corner cafe in Englewood has welcomed neighbors to share good food with gracious hospitality. The promise of the cafe is profound: the way a meal is served with dignity cultivates belonging. “We’ve been really careful to never change the way we serve people or the way we present food depending on how much someone’s paying for it,” says Sarah Lesyinski, Executive Director of One Good Turn, the parent organization of CAFE 180.

A mountain town is a sacred place. At the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park is the mountain town of Grand Lake. It sits on the banks of Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake, covering over 500 acres and reaching nearly 400 feet deep. It boasts the highest elevation yacht club in the world, and yet there is little polished about this mountain town. The one block of shops, called “The Boardwalk” by locals, is a collection of locally owned shops and diners without a single chain store or restaurant in sight.

Chick-fil-A may be best known for its chicken sandwiches and hospitality punctuated by “My pleasure,” but the foundation beneath the company serves as an intentional platform for leadership development. Daniel Andrews, a Chick-fil-A owner-operator in Denver, shared how his journey and the company’s culture intersect to create what he calls a “leadership factory.”

The local brewery is a place to share beer and share life. It is a place for people to gather and a place for people to be alone with others. The local brewery operates at a pace that provides a bit of respite from hectic and hurried life. People go to a local brewery for a variety of motivations: to unwind, to watch a game, to celebrate, to mourn. What they all have in common is an appreciation of the craft of good beer.

Nestled in the heart of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, the Welton Street Cafe is a sacred place, a cornerstone of culture and resilience, particularly in the Black community. It is a restaurant where stories are shared, and legacies are preserved. Its doors have been a gateway for over two decades, welcoming all who seek the warmth of community and the flavors of home.

The kitchen is a sacred place. It is a place of nourishment and creativity, provision and connection. It is where meals are made for family and friends, and where countless conversations occur that connect us to one another.

The small mountain mining town of Georgetown, Colorado, transforms into a winter wonderland for its annual Christmas Market. Georgetown during December feels like walking into a snow globe—Victorian buildings lined with twinkling lights, dusted with a soft layer of snow, and streets filled with the rich scent of roasting chestnuts. The Christmas Market isn’t just a festive event; it’s a gathering where the warmth of community and the spirit of tradition merge to create something magical.

Adrian points out Roaming Buffalo is like many Bar-B-Que restaurants that have limited seating space. Although small, it is conducive to beginning conversations with nearby tables of regulars, out-of-towners, home-sick Texans, and those enjoying “Colorado Craft BBQ”

The Table Urban Farm is a unique intersection where people are invited to “feed your body, feed your soul, and feed your community.” The urban farm is a sacred place.

Beyond providing affordable housing, a shared sense of home is what sets Clara Brown Commons apart. It is living and belonging to a place that feels welcoming, supportive, and connected. It is what Mile High Ministries calls “Housing That Heals.” Clara Brown Commons is a sacred place.

The ultimate goal of Kinship is to be a hotel of outrageous hospitality. A place where you encounter belonging, friendship, and trust. A hotel can be more than just a place to stay and sleep when visiting a city. Kinship Landing practices hospitality in a way that makes a hotel a sacred place.

A local pub is where meals are shared and glasses are raised to toast the end of the day or the end of the week. A pub, short for “public house” is where anyone is welcome, membership to a club or reservations weeks in advance are not required. The local pub’s warmth and charm is why it becomes the default location to meet for sharing a pint or sharing a meal. 

GraceFull is a community cafe, located in a beautiful sage green home in Littleton, where people of all backgrounds gather around tables to share meals and share stories. It is creative collaboration between a business and nonprofit operating at the intersection of some of the most challenging issues in our society. GraceFull Cafe is a sacred place.

Mango House is a sacred place. Mango House is the largest shared space for refugee services in Colorado. But the invitation is not to visit Mango House to make a donation. Mango House is not a nonprofit organization. The invitation is to visit the international food hall at Mango House with award winning cuisine and encounter families who are building a business.

Orchards lead us in a liturgy of presence. They beckon us to be fully awake to the seasons of life, to savor the fruits of our labor, to deepen our roots in times of stress, and to rest in God's grace. The orchard is a sacred place.