Recently a group of our parish sat outside the church building and held a meeting on the lawn. We made hotdogs and relaxed in our lawn chairs. As folks walked by we offered a cold drink or a hotdog. A few folks took us up on it but some people thought we were selling something.

One of the greatest moments came when a passerby in a car stopped at the red light and said, "What y'all doing?" "We're praying," someone said. "Alright!" the man said enthused. "God is good," he shouted. "All the time," we shouted back. Then the light turned green and he was gone. What a blessing. In the matter of a minute perhaps, we received good neighborly cheer and a profound praising of our God. In a time when neighbors rarely know one another, when the news is usually about death or crime in our town, we experienced a true gift of joy.

We've decided that churches would do well to try porch sitting too. Or lawn sitting, or rambling about on the lawn. It's hard to imagine what goes on inside an austere looking building such as ours, but you get a hint of it when you see people laughing and praying, eating and smiling. We are making this place called a "church" a true home. Perhaps what needs to happen is for folks to discover us on the outside so they can relish what happens on the inside!

The inside too is filled with that same warmth and welcome. This past Sunday we sang praises to God while we clapped, played drums and rain sticks. We offered our confessions to the haunting sound of the psaltery and brought our offerings to the sounds of smooth jazz of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee."

I'm glad to be part of a church family that longs to love neighbor as oneself. I'm thankful that members were brave and not afraid to pray and praise on the front lawn! I'm eager to meet all those people walking up and down our street. So if you happen to pass by St. Peter's and see us on the "porch", join us and let us be your neighbor!