A View From the Yellow Chair: I Get It, and It's in the Basement

Just like we have our favored places to sit, we seem to be choosing—maybe by default—the duty we will perform each week to set up or break down activities in our basement. (By the way, Portico colors are Purple Heart, Deep Green & Mustard. Some of the paraments are a flame stitch incorporating those colors.)

Silvia makes sure there is nutrition in our snacks and we watch her unpack her cooler like breaking open a treasure chest. Everybody passes through the kitchen several times as we “settle in.” We have to, because the kitchen is in the middle of our space and therefore on the way to everywhere, especially the football machine Stuart got us for the Kid’s Porch. In his quiet way, tall, tall Daniel, our keyboard player, keeps track of all the arrivals. Judy makes coffee. ‘Though she passes off other activities, this is one she keeps. I got to light candles this week. Judy also runs the AV board during worship. Rodger drove his truck around the block to put out our new sandwich boards that proclaim our presence in green and mustard. Todd picked them up. The band set up and practiced. Somebody puts water in the prayer station that uses it. Somebody turns on lamps & air conditioner. “Somebody” is generally an alias for Rodger or Judy since they are always the first ones to arrive. We do all this in reverse, including dragging out the ladder to replace the lens covers on the projectors in the ceiling, when we shut everything down.

There are always a lot of little details to take care of, but it never requires so many of us that it keeps us from tending to one another and strengthening relationships and making new friendships with visitors. Our dress code is casual. Our not-so-overstuffed chairs and sofas encourage inertia and filial lounging. Our name may be The Portico, but we are an oasis where spirits find refreshment.