Tin Tabernacle, Pembroke Comments

Hi Jacqui - This is a perfect 'Sitz in Leben' poem - a sanctuary from the vicissitudes of Life especially for 'Unafilliated Christians'! We have made religion far too complicated and I really like the line 'Nothing could be simpler than the Grace of God'. A living Church should be 'A home away from home' and you do get this feeling in 'Tin Tabernacles' - I love 'On cold days someone lights the stove'. V 3 - a gathering of ordinary folk - no ritual - no 'Sunday Best' - presence of the Lord 'His Spirit gathers everyone' - awesome. V 4 - the natural noises of worhip and its outcome 'An old woman finds secret joy' - amazing! . 'Breathing Jesus' and then 'Drinking Tea' a wonderful fusion of the Spiritual with the Natural - that is real Christianity - meeting people where and how they are. V 7 is mega 'Old friend around a table - catching up with God - and all of us PLAIN - folk go home easy' This describes a reall living and effective 'Communion Table' and after such an experience we do leave our problems at the CROSS and 'Go home easy'. A wonderful description of a lost simplicity of Fellowship and Worship. I score it TEN - well done Jacqui. Love in poetry - JOHN

I think you have found the place that many of us seek. A living picture of a poem.

The love of the place and its atmosphere comes out very clearly here. I particularly like the second 'verse' with its 3 longer lines of what happens on hot days, and the matter-of-fact 4th line on cold days.