A United Methodist in SLC
Recently I visited First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Reverend Brian Diggs preached one of his final [and may I say powerful] sermons as pastor of this congregation, and I am still processing my experience.
First, when I opened the ”bulletin”, I was so pleased to see “The Affirmation of Faith” and ”The Lord’s Prayer” as part of an order of worship that reflects who we are to be as a gathered body. The Passing of the Peace was an actual Passing of the Peace. People offered, “peace be with you” or “the peace of Christ be with you”. Sure, a little chatting followed, but they are practicing a sharing in God’s grace. And, speaking of grace, communion is offered every Sunday – not at the “communion service”, but at “Sunday worship”.
Second, I love walking into a church where children’s cries and loud whispers and laughs are heard. Yes, I have heard the arguments against children in the sanctuary, but community is not complete without children. Do you think that Jesus was bothered or distracted by children? He welcomed them to gather close to him and used them as an example for us all. The children of First UMC were noticeably present, and it was a delight which allowed a tiny boy to quite comfortably share with the congregation the impending arrival and the Ethiopian name of his new little sister.
What does this have to do with young children? EVERYTHING! What better place to raise a child than in a community where they are loved, respected, and given the opportunity to be a part of the lives of people from many walks of life! What better place to raise a child than in a place where they experience what is beautiful about our United Methodist liturgy? What better place to raise a child than in a place where they are striving for the ”Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness”?
I am not a member at First UMC in Salt Lake City, so I cannot speak to what happens in committee meetings. But, it seems that this is a congregation that might just “get it”.
RESOURCES:
Come! Come! Everybody Worship! by Carolyn Tanner
God’s Paintbrushby Sandy Sasso
Matthew 6.28-7.4
Galatians 3.23-4.4
Luke 18.11-21
July 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I just wanted to let you know that this was read in the latest 1st UMC church council meeting and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We all agree with everything you said! God bless.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
This account of what happens at First UMC in Salt Lake City is right on. That is exactly what happens there every Sunday. Thanks for sharing with others.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 am
Thanks, Melanie. A beautiful description of church as an environment of grace, “a place where all are welcome or else none of us are welcome”. And of how the way that children experience the faith community can become for us a barometer of the spiritual atmosphere, God’s presence to us and the quality of our presence to God. This being “in touch” is first and foremost in considering the life and vitality of congregations. And from Jessica’s response to your blog, we can see that bearing witness to what you saw, sharing the story with us, deepens our awarenesss and further opens our hearts to the gift of God’s presence there in the midst of that place. Thanks.