I’m sure one of our class members will want to volunteer to read and review one or more of these timely works for the class.

The following is the beginning text of a homily delivered by our class’s own Danny McKenzie, at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services at First United Methodist Church, Tupelo, on June 14, 2009. The full text is in a page that can be accessed in the left sidebar or at the bottom of this post.  A printable version suitable for presenting the homily is here.

Good Morning.

In the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the names of John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury, and Tobias Gibson, I welcome you to the First United Methodist Church of Tupelo.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned at choir practice that the title of my homily for today would be “What’s wrong with being a Methodist?”  Dr. Marion Winkler immediately wanted to know if I was making a statement or asking a question.  So after considering his comment, I decided to change the title.

If it were a statement, it would be more than a bit presumptuous of me to try and judge “what’s wrong with being a Methodist”  … and if it were a question “What’s wrong with being a Methodist?” one very obvious might be that our preachers sometimes call on lay speakers to fill the pulpits.

When Andy Ray asked me to fill in today, I thought he must be planning another of his infamous Holy Humor Sundays … but he assured me he wasn’t – that he wanted a certified lay speaker to speak today.  Yes, that’s right: I’m officially board certified as a United Methodist lay speaker.  I guess that means there are papers on me somewhere at conference headquarters in Jackson.  

So here we are: a former newspaperman who grew up in the Presbyterian church and now works at a Baptist college speaking to a Methodist congregation.  What hath God wrought? indeed.

Read the rest of the homily . . .

I’m not going to post the links here, and not because I want to silence anyone’s criticisms (let me know if you want the links, I’ll get them to you).  No, I’m not posting them because I think it will focus us on the problem instead of the solution.  Maybe in a future post we can discuss ways that we can do a better job of supporting those in ministry and those who are training to be in ministry.  For now, I can only say that I have renewed appreciation for Andy, Raigan, Jimmy and – especially – for Kevin.  We need to remember to lift them up in prayer always.  While we’re about praying, we can look to our East and pray on this subject as Bishop Willimon suggests.

In my previous post, I mentioned some thoughts about the use of blogging as part of promoting spiritual growth.  To that end, I’m taking a line (or two) from First Timothy:

6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness,
8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 These are the things you must insist on and teach. 1 Tim 4:6-11 (NRSV)

We’ll post about other issues from time to time, but the focus of this blog is the study of scripture and its application to our lives.

If you were to ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Methodist-less 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 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 add 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!”