My Lord What a Morning

This picture is sure not what’s happening in MY church. We’re trying something new right now that involves a worship service so non-traditional you wouldn’t be surprised to see an elephant loping through the sanctuary. They’ve unbolted the first few rows of pews and made them face each other instead of facing front, thus creating a space where the little kids, no longer ushered off to little-kid classes, come and sit on the floor cooing like pigeons and spontaneously shaking all manner of rhythm band instruments. Unbidden yes, but also un-shushed.Also: Instead of the heavenly organ there are now  guitars and a simple piano to add to the kiddies' jingling and thudding;  and instead of prepared hymns, just these super-simple tunes we have the words for but not the music. We're taught the music on the spot the way they did in the old days. The two ministers running things do so without clerical garb, and the 30-voice choir has dissolved away entirely,  its members also in plainclothes as they sit with their friends or their families or alone as the spirit moves them.Finally, a phalanx of five- and six-year olds took up the collection today - and two of THEM decided the time to begin was several minute before church started. Suddenly a wee lad appeared at my elbow with the famous collection plate and what could I do but empty my pockets? And when he came around again at the right time what could I do but fork over  more? (He was later seen sprinting down the side aisle, dollar bills flying all around him.)At the start of the service we sang an odd little tune that really got my attention.  It went “Come, come, whoever you are. wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving…”   “Hold on, are they talking to ME?" was all I could think. Because how many times have I left? Stayed only for three-quarters of the service, then hurried off to do some darn errand I thought was so important? How many times have I done that in every part of my life?I felt great by the end all the same, maybe in part because we got to also sing the beautiful old spiritual whose name alone seemed to say it all. You know it as "My Lord What a Morning," and here it is now:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFZtWXfSa3c&feature=related]