The new internet café, STĀ, located across from Towers complex in Cape Girardeau, will be starting weekly worship services at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday nights. The first service on Oct. 2 will kick off with a picnic in the parking lot beginning at 5:15 p.m.

According to Julie Malone, owner of STĀ, the service will be open to all. Malone described the atmosphere as “very casual and come-as-you-are.” Similar to a church setting, the seating will be scattered between pews, folding chairs and long community-style tables.

“The whole premise of it [the service] is building community and relationship,” Malone said.The service will be led by Rev. John Dehne, the lead pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran church.

Closed on Sundays, STĀ’s kitchen will not be open during the service. Whether or not food will be provided is unclear.

Malone said the primary reason for opening STĀ was to “come together as a community and help people come closer to Christ.” While there are already numerous on-campus ministries at Southeast Missouri State University, Malone believes there are always room for more.

Malone said business for STĀ has picked up since the start of the fall semester. “I have been really impressed by the number of students who come in at 9 a.m. and open up their laptops or their bibles, for that matter,” Malone said. Malone is hopeful students will feel just as welcome for worship.