I once visited a church that did its best to live up to its name: Scum of the Earth Church. Their drive was to be a place for anyone to feel welcome and at home. In the congregation, there were khakis and high tops, young and old, a professor and a single mom.
I loved it.
The guy next to me was dressed in all black, had long hair, make up and probably more piercings than I could actually see. While I sat in a chair, he perched confidently atop a ramp at the side of the room.
The leader finished our worship time by having us gather in a large circle. We held hands and recited The Lord's Prayer. Now, I've recited that prayer, probably, thousands of times. My impression was the guy next to me wasn't as used to it. But you could tell the words meant as much to him as anyone else. As usual, I finished the prayer with a hopeful, "Amen." He finished differently. Just as hopeful, mind you.
I've prayed before that these words would never escape my memory: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Right on! 
My amen and his right on said the same thing. We had both heard the gospel proclaimed. Together, he and I, each in our own way, longed for everything the preacher said about the love of God to become real right there among that small, scum-of-the-earth congregation. And in our hearts.
I don't know if anyone else heard my goth neighbor that day. But I think of his words quite often. We were two strangers with different words, different styles and different stories, perhaps. But God united us by the same desperate hope.
It's my prayer our congregations can make room for every "amen" and "right on." God's kingdom is full of unexpected neighbors, unfamiliar voices and even surprising prayers. And the church is closer to heaven because of it.Stay blessed...john | 
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