For the Church

I grew up crawling under pews and running free
It was all my sanctuary
Knew my way into the kitchen
Where I know you can find
A little foretaste of communion

There was a man with a smile and stick of gum
For all the kids when church was done
He musta had his pockets full to be sure
He could share his gift with everyone
And in the end to celebrate his life
We all were given one last piece
And the people round the room were holding tight
Knowing now the precious thing it means

Thank you God for the church
For the ones who showed us what it is
To love like Jesus
For the beautiful saints
With a big enough faith to live as He would
To give out all the grace they had
To give away
Thank you God for the church

I remember sharing the hymnal
With my mother singing harmony beside me
And the faces of the gathered congregation
That seemed more like a family
And those few years we met together
Round the table to draw the circle wider
Though it didn't last forever
It was still a shining sight of Your desires

Thank you God for the church
For the ones who showed us what it is
To love like Jesus
For the beautiful saints
With a big enough faith to live as He would
To give out all the grace they had
To give away
Thank you God for the church

I sat to pray with a woman ready to say
Her goodbye to this world
And I stumbled for the words to give thanks
In the face of a faith like hers
As I held her hand and closed my eyes
I could feel it was her steady hand
Really holding mine

Thank you God for the church
For the ones who showed us what it is
To love like Jesus
For the beautiful saints
With a big enough faith to live as He would
To give out all the grace they had
To give away
Thank you God for the church