Party Hats

We need to talk about the party hats.

25 years of 24-7 Prayer is something to celebrate. Over 1,000 people were gathered from 70 nations to remember God's faithfulness. A quarter century of building relationships, resourcing prayer, equipping the church, and following Jesus together.

But the hats.

They set them on each seat so that as you came in, you had to decide whether you moved your hat or put it on. And for reasons beyond me, nearly every person put it on.

I came in as the count down was nearing its close, and the worship team was coming up. I came in to hundreds of people, many over the age of 50, who chose the hat. The shiny pointy hat. They were eager to worship.

The band started up, our hearts prepared. Hands raised, voices lifted. The room was filled with His presence. Within minutes, I had to step back and take a seat by the wall because my eyes were flooded with tears. The nearness of God was palpable. His presence was overwhelming as we cried out, "Holy, holy holy," still in our hats.

Utterly ridiculous. Borderline sacrilegious. Definitely weird. That's how I know I'm in the right room. They chose the hats.

Who does that? I myself felt the hat was too much. Maybe meant for later, after worship, perhaps. It's very fun. Very cute... but trembling before God in a birthday hat felt too dichotomous to me.

But not to them. And that's why I love them.

That's why I need them. The hats.