I had gotten to the movies early. So, as is my way, I snuck into another movie, “The Kids Are All Right.” The plot seemed layered, poignant, funny. Awesome actors — Julianne Moore, Annette Benning, Mark Ruffalo! Gotta love it. Great.

the trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgwjTy_cohg

I had gone to see “Get Low.” You can’t go wrong with Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, in the 1930s. Duvall, a hermit, plans a party for his own funeral to reveal his deep, dark secret. The story’s about church, forgiveness, ordinary kindness. Good.

the trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y17Me8uL6mA

After the movies, I was near Central Park and remembered a red door to a church somewhere nearby. I couldn’t find it. Then I saw this door.

The Society for Ethical Culture. I can’t remember what lecture, peace rally, performance I had seen there. It definitely feels like a church from the outside. Solid, old, massive. It seemed something was going on inside. A service?

A stooped woman entered through the oak doors and gestured for me to follow. I did.

Inside the auditorium, yes, not a sanctuary, but a performance space, there were middle-aged people in jeans setting up a film shoot, doing a sound check, talking into cell phones.

One of the guys on the stage was either Peter or Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary. I’m pretty sure it was Noel Paul Stookey. (Thank you, Google, for helping me verify this.)

I watched him sing for a minute. This was the guy — relaxed, nice guitar playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Rb7tjm-zA&feature=related

A production assistant told me they were getting ready to film for an upcoming PBS half-hour special. It looked good (but not as good as “Get Low” or “The Kids Are All Right.”)

I didn’t want to overstay my welcome. I snuck out the same way I snuck in. I didn’t really pray, just stood for minute, listening to music. That’s church too.

I don’t know what happened to the older woman who had motioned for me to follow.

Synchronicity happens in New York (more than any other place in the world, I think).

You follow someone; you lose them; you find something cool; you listen to a snatch of music; then you go back out into the night.

“There is Love” was not a labor of love, because love is not labor when given away. In fact, love is not love unless it is given away. – – Noel Paul Stookey’s liner notes