i sat in the front row pew, stained-glass windows closing us in, candles lit, singing hymns and listening to the organ. i’m used to sitting in metal chairs, lifting my eyes and seeing basketball hoops, running my foot along the lines of the gym, and always wishing the sound was just a little bit louder.

i guess you could say that i haven’t been raised in what we might call, a traditional church. so yesterday was an experience. i played three songs for the people who attend the little white church down the street from me. two friends sang along. the congregation didn’t really know what to do; didn’t really know what to expect from us. but they smiled as they watched us, sang along for the one hymn we did, and afterwards thanked us over and over again and asked us to come back.

they are the sweetest people. most of them i recognized — i’ve grown up seeing them at community events and around town — and they all know who i am (one of rick’s kids). they welcomed me in, even though i said “amen” at the wrong time, couldn’t for the life of me remember the last few lines of the Lord’s Prayer, and probably made some other mistake that i’m not even aware of.

but it was lovely. and i’m ready to go back and do it again.