ENJOY BEING A UNITED METHODIST!

January 30, 2007

From Pastor John Ross Thompson

One of the joys I have in life is being a United Methodist. Our denomination is not perfect, but it is well balanced between faith and social action, between Biblical truth and personal experience of God, and between worship with dignity and worship with personal warmth.

I encourage you to continue offering the ministries of our church to others. Once again, I will be offering new member classes, on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the church conference room. They will be held on Febuary 18, February 25, March 4 and March 11. Even if you are not sure about joining our church, you are welcome if you would like to discuss the Christian faith, The United Methodist Church and the ministries of University United Methodist Church. Let me know, if you can, by contacting me at johnross@tds.net or 517-812-9679.

Garrison Keillor, best known for A Prairie Home Companion, comes from Lutheran-dominated Minnesota, but he has a warm spot in his heart for "Methodists." The following description of us from him has been circulating on the Internet. See if you can recognize us in his words:

We make fun of Methodists for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in New York City , a relatively Methodistless place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear . But if you do this among Methodists, they'd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!

Many Methodists are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Methodists to sing in harmony. We are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.

I do believe this:

People, these Methodists, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress. If you
are dying, they will comfort you. If you are lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you are hungry, they'll give you tuna salad!

Methodists believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud.

Methodists like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.

Methodists believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there.

Methodists usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins.

Methodists believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate.

Methodists feel that applauding for their children's choirs would not make the kids too proud and conceited.

Methodists think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace.

Methodists drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament.

Methodists feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall.

Methodists are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at church.

Methodists still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna noodle casserole adds too much color.

Methodists believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously.

And finally, you know you are a Methodist when:

-It's 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service.

-You hear something really funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can.

-Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee.

-When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," and you respond, "and also with you."

And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good-bye!