dancing on the altar...

we're in the process of exploring some churches in our neighborhood. we've been attending a great church, with evoking messages. but we seek a space where we can encounter community, where we can be seen and known and where we can enter into the lives of others.

so we've visited this one church for a couple of weeks now...isn't searching for "community" so awkward at times? i don't know if this church will be this piece of connection for us, but already there is one thing that endears me to this place.


the children dance on the altar.

literally in the midst of worship, while the adults remained proper and in our rows, the children were rolling on the ground, prancing up and down the steps steps and one little babe was weaving in and out of the wooden altar table. i imagine they are too young to understand the "theological" meaning of the lyrics, and thank goodness. i admit i wanted to join them in their abandonment. i wanted a taste of their freedom and joy. i wanted to join the dance...