It is just that, a gathering for ol' cowboys and country folk and farming ma's and pa's who still live the old values and whose hearts are filled with simple gentleness and love. They gather every Tuesday night and sing and worship together, and it is the warmest, most darling gathering I have ever been honored to be a part of.
They have a band every week, they play the old gospel tunes which can really get the place clapping and singing. The hope and faith that go into those words and music are some of the most endearing I have heard.
The pastor is a big chap..a good ol' boy...with cowboy hat and belt buckle, in his late 50's I'd say, maybe early 60's. He believes no service should last a minute longer than an hour, and by gum it's true, but in that 60 minutes a lot of prayin', singin', and hopin' is done, and you can certainly feel the positive, warm energy flow coming out of that little place.
Last night was another potluck night, but we arrived late for that but in time for the service to begin. The pastor had invited the Clowns for Christ to come and do their little show, and it was this absolutely adorable retired husband and wife team; ancient little couple, all done up with their wigs and face paint and little 15 minute act. The kids gathered 'round on the floor and watched them perform a balloon popping stunt, then they did a neat little magic trick which incorporated a Bible lesson for the kids, then the "Ma" Clown did some ventriliquism with her rabbit puppet named, of course, Rebeccah. It was all so cute, and they sang one of the best childhood christian songs ever...Jesus Loves me This I Know. I could have cried at how sweet it was, watching my baby Sammy clap his hands, and Dusty and Izzy watching in delight.
We had a great time, and now that Izzy is no longer in karate we can finally attend regularly each week.
It's a small church, maybe 70 people tops, but it fills the place, and not just with "people". It is filled to the brim with the old values, faith, homecooked potlucks, old songs, gospel singing and clapping, warmth and charm, friendliness and togetherness, and is some of the most genuine downhome sweetness that you just can't get in those (no offense) big city "mega" churches with their attached coffee shops and book stores and half a dozen different age grouped Sunday school classes. I have been to one of those, and with 2,000 people crammed in a huge fancy theater-type auditorium...I still didn't feel the warmth, energy, glow, charm and prayin' like that which comes out of our little teeny tiny Cowboy Church.
The Cowboy Church, rounding up souls for Jesus...
And all in exactly 60 minutes.
:)
