Last Saturday was a cold, clear day in downtown Atlanta. Just a few blocks from our church, St Paul’s Presbyterian, is an empty lot at the corner of Pine and Courtland. This area of Atlanta is known for a variety of crime and homelessness. Our church has been going Christmas Caroling in recent years, and as my schedule allowed, I was gathering a group to sing this Saturday. At first, it appeared as if I was going to be the only one there. As 1 o’clock came, Aaron, his three sons, and Daniel arrived. (This wasn’t the choir I expected.) So, putting my musical training and background aside, I swallowed my artistic sensibilities and grabbed the guitar. Like Three Wise Men (and three boys) we began our journey, walking a few blocks to our destination. We had arranged to carol at the Savannah Suites, a weekly, monthly hotel near our church where we have some connections. Being the rule follower, I approached the guard and told him our plan to carol. He looked at us with curiosity and said he would have to call his boss. I knew at that moment we might be walking back to the church without having sung a note.
Turned away from the Inn, and remembering that there lots of people giving away food and clothing at the empty lot up the street, we decided to walk over and sing there. Arriving, I saw people walking around with styrofoam food containers, blankets, clothing and other items. About 10 SUVs, Vans and two church mini buses were parked along the street.
So Aaron and I look at each other and find a good spot both visible and safe to stand out of traffic yet within earshot of everyone. I opened my guitar case like a street musician and passed out the booklets, with words to the boys and Aaron. Daniel decided not to sing but pass out a flyers about St. Paul’s service times and Sunday morning community breakfast. We began to sing – just Aaron and myself. I wondered how many songs we would sing and what the response would be. We sang Hark the Herald Angels and O Come All Ye Faithful and to my right another guy showed up with guitar in tow as we were singing. I’m thinking, “Cool, one of the church people is joining us.” We kept singing and then three teenage girls join in. As we continued to work through the book, we eventually had a youth choir and about two homeless men join in, not unlike angels and some shepherds. Aaron and I kept looking at one another in astonishment as our “flash mob” Christmas caroling turned into something special after all.
So the the Angel Chorus continued to sing as the Shepherds joined in. I looked around the crowd and others were mouthing the words from a safe distance. We sang, Go Tell It on the Mountain and I began to think that this is the very place that song should be sung. We sang, O Holy Night, Silent Night and Angels We Have Heard on High and people continued to join in.
We packed up our stuff as we ran out of carols having added Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (for Aaron’s son) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We walked home and I began to consider the ministry of songs to a street corner. I pondered on the Love and Sovereignty of God who works out all the details for us in His plan. Mary and Joseph didn’t plan to be in a stable. We didn’t plan to be on the corner. I learned that God has a way of working his plans out in such a remarkable way that Shepherds hear the good news, Angels get to sing, and the message of the Gospel is proclaimed. I’m glad that my heavenly father gave me an early Christmas present by allowing me to see him take our meager offering of three men, three boys and a guitar and create what at least in his eyes was beautiful music for the least of these!
If you want to know more about how to meet the needs and bring restoration and the message of the gospel to the homeless, consider learning more through Church on the Street and St. Paul’s Retreat from the Street.
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