This Week in Worship – 8/11

August 11, 2023

Dear Grace Family,

Recently I came across Garrison Keillor’s description of “Methodists.” I have read it before, and I think some of the descriptions are truer than others, but I suspect that all of them are true in some Methodist churches. Here is a portion of what he said.

I do believe this:

People, these Methodists, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you can call up when you’re in deep distress.
*If you’re 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 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 the church.
*Methodists still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna 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 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,” you respond, “and also with you.”
And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good-bye!

What I really appreciate about Garrison Keillor’s observations is that “Methodists” are defined by what we do and how we live, not simply by what we believe or profess. This Sunday we will continue our worship series “What is So Amazing About Grace” by talking about how we live grace and what difference it makes. In Common Grace, Mitch will preach the third sermon in his series, “A Matter of Convenience.” Whether you worship in person or online, it will be a great Sunday to fill your spirit at Grace United Methodist Church.

See you in worship,
Barry

Each Tuesday Pastor Mitch publishes a devotion on his website Weeklydevotion.com. If you’d like to receive this in your inbox, drop him an email at [email protected] and just say “Sign me up!”