We can all use a little Prayers on the Porch
The coming spring season brings daylight longer in the day, warmer evenings for outdoor enjoyment, and the Prayers on the Porch hour that in the few short years it has been active in Atlantic Highlands has already become a tradition.
Tuesday night’s first of the season Prayers in the Porch was in a delightful front porch setting overlooking a starlit sky, deep woods and peaceful nighttime sounds. It was also filled with comfortable rocking chairs and close to two dozen men and women who simply enjoy praying together, sharing friendship and meeting new people.
It isn’t religion that makes Prayers on the Porch so successful; it’s faith. Those who attend come from all different religions, some sit quietly and listen to the prayers of others, others offer thoughts or ideas for all to dwell on. Some might ask for prayers for a particular personal need, an ill relative or a deceased friend. Some want to concentrate on a particular virtue that might be difficult to achieve, like forgiving a friend or loving an enemy.
There isn’t any leader elected to ‘conduct’ the prayer session; everyone can stand or sit and say whatever he wants, or simply sit quietly and listen to others. Some might want to tell a story of what brought them to Prayers on the Porch, others might wonder why they met some obstacles on the way to arriving, but all were grateful to be there.
It was former Mayor Loretta Gluckstein who started the monthly Prayers on the Porch on her own spacious porch overlooking Sandy Hook Bay, and since then, whether it is held in front of a church, on a lawn, or on Loretta’s or another comfortable porch, be it at a house on top of the hill or near the water, it is an evening of joy, peace, contentment and a friendly gathering of friends, neighbors, and strangers who soon became friends.
Prayers on the Porch is a wonderful idea for any town, it works beautifully in Atlantic Highlands. Each of those who attends is encouraged and invites others to join for the sheer pleasure of taking time from the stress and energy of the day to say thanks for the gifts of living in Atlantic Highlands, having friends, and having faith.
The next Prayers on the Porch will be April 9 at 6:30 p.m. With so many offers and invites to have it at their own porch, the April “Porch” location has not yet been decided. VeniVidiScripto will announce the location and the “Porch Prayers the first week of April.
