The premise of Church in a bar is you can worship God anywhere ... even in a Bar ... then go to the Beach and worship some more.
So we do.
We're much more comfortable in Benny's than in a multimillion dollar building with stained glass, padded pews, big ass steeples and large parking lots.
Apparently most people are.
Somewhere around 42% of Americans actually attend Church.
Lots of people question if 42% reflects reality as it includes those who only attend on Easter or Christmas ... which really shouldn't count ... because they went out of guilt ... and the actual number of people who faithfully attend Church in America is around 30% ... maybe.
Yet, 97% of Americans believe in God, a Higher Power, One Consciousness or the Power of Community!
They just don't attend regular Churches to fuel their faith.
Jesus never had a Church ... though he command St. Peter to build one ... on his back ... which was broken ... when he was crucified upside down ... which he asked for ... because he didn't feel worthy enough to be nailed to a cross like Jesus ... but this is according to Church people ... with the multimillion dollar buildings, stained glass, padded pews and large parking lots.
At Bar Church we don't get caught up in such things.
Hell half the time we can't even make the sound system work right ... only Davy Cahill can do that ... and he plays drums too.
But I digress.
Bar Church ends when Norm is called to the stage to conclude the service.
Laying his cigarette aside he takes his sweet time walking to the stage ... to address a crowd of really happy people ... because Church in a bar is freaking awesome.
Anyway Norm strolls up, sits on a Bar Stool and says, "Hello Tybee Church!"
"MORNING NORM," the rag tag groups yells.
"We need to pray for," he begins ... then he lists the most horrible things that happened in the world over the past seven days ... beheadings ... Mike Huckabee running for President ... deaths ... and such ... then he leads us in "The Lord's Prayer" ... which we all say out loud.
It's depressing as Hell.
Then the Bar Band ... do not confuse us with a Praise Band ... immediately launches into "Knocking on Heaven's Door" because a perfectly upbeat crowd has been brought immediately down ... or, my personal favorite ... "People pray just a little bit longer, stay just a little bit more."
We crack each other up at Bar Church.
The point being ... we know there's a lot of bad in the world ... and during a celebration of loving God and each other in a Bar ... we're reminded of them ... then we do the "Our Father" ... then we celebrate.
It's a funny Church and I'd swore I'd never do Church again but here I am ...doing Church ... kinda ... without an actual Church ... but a Bar ... and I'm finding it absolutely ... Heavenly.
