September 2, 2008

Driving through neighborhoods and along city streets it seems one can easily notice the architectural shift from the 1930s, 40’s and 50’s to the 1970’s, 80’s 90’s and even today. Many of the older style homes had basements, detached single car garages, and lots of trees. The walkways, leading from the sidewalk in front of the house, brought visitors to steps leading up to the porch and main door into the house. Some of the much older homes have columns and railing around the front of the house creating a warm and inviting porch area for people to sit and visit. 

 

Contrast that with a more modern home design, you usually don’t have a basement (though one may have a storm shelter) and the garage is attached and provides space for two vehicles.  The walkways originate from the driveways (not the sidewalk), and the entrance to the home is decorated with flowerbeds and shrubs with a very small ground level entrance area at the front door.  If people come over, they typically drive to the house, walk from the driveway to the front door and then go inside for their fellowship. These are a few of the differences between the styles.

 

It reminded me that in today’s society, we spend little time visiting on the front porch with our neighbors and fellow citizens; instead, we go inside our homes to visit.  Historically the front porch has been an important place of fellowship, teaching, trade and commerce, along with a place of intercultural mingling for people of all ages and backgrounds. One place where the front porch was so prevalent in society was at the Lord’s Temple during Jesus’ life.

 

Solomon's Porch, as it was called, was a covered colonnade at the eastern part of the Temple in Jerusalem in the first century. It was an open place of spiritual wonder for Jews and gentiles alike to gather together, experience ministry, worship, spiritual conversation, while expressing a certain commonality of life. Solomon—King David's son, the second king of Israel and the builder of the original temple—means "peace" in Hebrew. This portico was also a place for people to come and experience God's peace.

 

For some reason we no longer seem to build porches on our houses for the expressed purpose of a peaceful and open environment so all can experience blessing from God. We would rather invite people to experience the interior of our homes, isolated from the busy streets outside. Many of us might not even be aware of just how much of a barrier we unintentionally, and some times deliberately, create with our lives by keeping people at a distance.

 

This coming week we will have several opportunities for extend the “front porch” of the church to a variety of people in our community. As you read this, we will have served several dozens of hamburgers to the high school students during their lunch break. On Sunday, we have the Round-Up at the parsonage; many of our own members look forward to this annual event. I hope that this year we can include as many guest and visitors as we have members in attendance. Then on Wednesday night, our Children’s Ministry will host a Block Party for the children of the church and the community to come and enjoy some games, eat some hot dogs, and hopefully those children and their families can start to make some connection with the church. All these are front porch activities designed to attract others to start their personal experience involving the love of Jesus Christ.  

 

I do hope you will invite, greet, and welcome all our guest as we open up the front porch of the church to our greater community.