to still his tapping foot. He wasn’t going to get caught up in the obvious emotion of the moment.
I’d be lying if I said I were comfortable with this, Lord, but so long as You don’t mind me just standing here worshipping You in my own way, everything will be fine.
After the service, Jo turned to him. Her eyes shone with joy and peace. “That was incredible. Don’t you think?”
John nodded. “It was certainly different.”
Her eyes clouded for an instant. “Different?”
“From what I’m used to.” John hurried to explain himself. He didn’t want to upset her. “I’m more used to the stiff upper lip, thou shalt not appear to enjoy thyself in church type of service. We don’t answer the pastor mid sermon, actually we don’t even respond to his good morning. There’s no clapping or hand raising or anything like this.”
“Wow. That sounds kind of boring.” Color filled her pretty face. “Did I really say that out loud?” She grimaced. “Sorry.”
John laughed. “Yeah, you did, but it’s OK. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.”
“Yeah. Anyway, come see the book and music stands and grab a drink. There’s about half an hour before the next service.”
“Next service?”
“We’re too big for one service, hence the three. I normally stay for two of them, but you don’t have to.”
“Is it the same sermon?”
“Yeah, but I always get something from it that I didn’t the first time.”
John let Jo lead him to the hall where several stalls were set up, selling CD’s of the church’s music, books and other things. This was alien to him as well. The verse about the den of robbers crept unbidden into his mind. Surely it’d be better to have a shop open Monday through Saturday, rather than this.
Different culture his mind repeated. You’re not in Berkshire anymore. And even the UK no longer closes on a Sunday—not since Sunday trading started.
Not wanting to appear rude, he glanced at some of the CD’s, committing the titles to memory. There must be somewhere he could get them during the week.
Jo reappeared with a cup of fruit juice. “Here.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded down at the table. “Most of those CD’s are live recordings. We learn the new songs over the course of a few weeks, and then we all turn up on a Saturday, and spend the day singing. Nigel preaches a couple of times during the day, but it’s mainly singing. Shame you won’t be here for the next one. It’d be something to remember us by.”
He nodded. “It would be. Have you been coming here long?”
“Since I became a Christian four years ago. I love the warmth and fellowship here. God is just so wonderful and gives us so much.”
John nodded. “Not quite all we want though, but yeah, stuff that matters.”
Jo shot him a curious look. “Like what? What do you want?”
He thought quickly. He wasn’t about to complain about being single, not to someone he hardly knew and especially not to Jo. “God knows what’s best for us, besides life would be boring if we got everything we asked for. We may well end up like spoilt children. Always whining and wanting more and throwing tantrums when we didn’t get it.”
“Very true.” She finished her drink. “We’d all end up doing time out on the naughty step. Are you coming back in?”
John held her gaze for a moment. “Sure.” He wasn’t convinced he was ready for another full on session, but he’d be with her, so he’d do it.
****
In the intense heat of the afternoon sun, Jo handed John a tall glass of juice. The ice chinked against the side of the glass, the sunlight sparkling off the cool liquid. Music played on the stereo, and the chicken sizzled on the grill. Rob’s deep laughter wafted over the verandah. Jo knew without looking he was skillfully managing the cooking with one hand, his other arm wrapped around Pip’s waist. Jo tried hard not to be jealous, but it wasn’t easy.
John took the glass. “Thank