front porch worship

we stood on our front porch 
our little bits of musical instruments at our hands,
we lugged the heavy keyboard, the stand for it to rest on, 
and nate's electric guitar, an amp, and some cords 
to plug everything in. 
nothing looked polished, but it was there- 
for us to try something we've 
never done before. 
Char and Fritz across the driveway, 
one house over, 
parked on their front porch as well, 
Char cradling her beautiful accordion, 
and Fritz with his classic guitar. 
Their grandson Jared was present too, 
seated at his own electric keyboard, 
hat covering half his face, but his 
white sparkling teeth 
were not to be missed. 
A few kind strangers pulled up in their vehicles, 
assembling rickety lawn chairs in the grass, 
well beyond the 6 ft rule, but close enough 
to see and hear. 
So, how do we do this? 
How do we worship on our street corner 
with other believers 
using what we have?
Char would shout out a hymn, asking us if we knew it, 
and she would start to sing on the accordion, 
the sound flowing in and out, 
smooth as silk and butter. 
We would join, me fumbling along to hear the chords by ear, 
Nate whispering to me, 
what key is she playing in?
And somehow, music would begin to merge 
and we all worshipped God. 
We would take turns,
Jared, me, Char, strangers,
shouting out song ideas 
and if we all knew it, 
we would play it, 
and sometimes passerbys  would stop in the middle of the road, 
let their car run idle,
listen to us play, and 
wave a thank you and be on their way. 
My mom, so pure and free, 
got out of the truck and began dancing 
in the driveway between all of us, 
her eyes nowhere but looking up in earnest worship to 
her Savior. 
We all kept going, 
song after song, 
inexperienced and fumbling, 
yet, 
I believe God was glorified in our weakness and inability, 
than in our smoothest praises. 
The couple in their lawn chairs asked if we could play 
I serve a Risen Savior 
and by God's grace i remembered that one 
because my mom would play it on our piano at home 
all the time growing up. 
So i drew from that memory and began to play. 
Char lifted her hands in worship, 
and we all worshipped with her. 
We may not be able to corporately meet 
in a church or a building, 
or stretch our hands in a praise service 
with other warm bodies 
but no one said we couldn't worship on 
our front porch 
with our neighbors 
with a joyful noise 
while following all the rules 
that we've been given in these present times. 
What a joyful honor 
to worship together 
in a wide open cathedral 
no ceiling 
no walls 
with the body of Christ 
even if it was small 
I pray it rose like a sweet fragrance to our King 
and He was lifted high.

covid19 series