Create in me a great room
with open walls
and honey pews.
Creak the floors
in a well weathered way
and build a balcony
for Sunday school
and study.
Paint in a basketball hoop
and roll in a piano
next to signs of service
and tables of quilts.
Pull in a coat rack
with many hangers
and put out cake and coffee.
Provide discerning doors
and let in the light
through sturdy windows
so the whole space
is a place
of glad greeting.
Let mine be a merry, all-receiving heart,
But make it a whole, with light in every part.
– George MacDonald
Inspired by the fellowship of Olivet
Congregational Church, St. Paul MN.
image: http://fluffysheepquilting.blogspot.com/
SILVER PENNIES 
Oh my, how beautiful! And such a gift to Olivet as we are in the process of discerning how our building, our space, contributes to our life of faith.
I want my heart to be a great room too, as welcoming as this poem –
Just beautiful, Emily. This is an area of great gift for you and I love reading what you put here.
Do you know about TweetSpeakPoetry? It’s an online poetry website, now taking subscriptions for a daily poem in your inbox. They also write great articles and offer classes in different writing styles. And they have a small publishing arm, too. It was started by a woman I met at Laity Lodge in Texas and she is doing amazing things over there. Check it out – you would fit right in.
i especially like the “honey pews” 🙂
(hi, Diana! What a wonderful introduction you give to the woman 😉 )
BLOWN AWAY
xox
do you know the gift you are, emily?
p.s.
someday, i hope to hold this collection of silver pennies in my hands in the form of bound pages.