"The Boardwalk Pavilion"

Summertime Worship

in Ocean Grove, New Jersey

Ocean Grove Beach Pavilion

THE BOARDWALK PAVILION

This glorious summer Sunday morning—

We’re drawn eastward

from north, south and west

by the magnetic pull

of God’s love-force

Drawn, to the old wooden pavilion

to the Atlantic, the Jersey shore

to the boards at God’s Square Mile—

Ocean Grove. Drawn

wearing khaki and denim

tees and tanks

sundresses, flip-flops

carrying water bottles

carrying Bibles

fanning ourselves

with song sheets

We fill the benches

then spill over

into the periphery

onto folding chairs, lawn chairs

beach blankets. Some stand

Some look for shade

It’s 80-plus and breezy

The sky, clear

The sea glistens

Waves slap the shore

merrily. We’re merry

Vacationers stroll past

Some peer; some stop

some smile; some don’t

Bikers pedal by

joggers jog

Hymnsong; guitar-strum

Son-smiles; praise dance

heart-moves; Kidz church

Gospel-preach

Agape flows outward

aboutward

Sea mist rises like incense

upward, Heavenward

toward the One

enthroned

We bask in the warmth

of His smile

of His warm, sunshiny love

Maude Carolan Pych