The idea had already been ruminating in our minds for a while – a summer evening of praise and worship in our backyard. We shared the idea with friends over a countertop clustered with decanting bottles of wine. By the end of the night we had our musician. He was, to our surprise, a more enthusiastic planner than even I. Within a short texting string, we had a plan.

We lounged on rugs and chairs, gazing at the immensity of God’s creation. The summer sun warmed our faces and bathed the mountains in a soft glow. Jeff’s powerful voice led us through praise, accompanied by a solitary guitar. Songs such as God of Wonders, Gratitude and Oceans flowed down the little street. Between songs, we shared bible verses expressing God’s greatness, His goodness, our gratitude and His love. It was a simple evening, born of a desire to praise God and rest in fellowship.