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Cheryl and Keith in Iceland 2025

We're back from Iceland. And speaking of travel, currently, my firstborn is in South Africa for a continuing education event -- what, South Africa? She was almost the victim of a crime before she could get to her hotel. Katherine is a veterinarian, and she likes to take her continuing education credits in exotic places. She spent a semester in Africa when she was in college, and she's a grown woman, so I must merely smile, wish her a good trip, and remind her to check her hotel room for bedbugs. 

In this transition time from pastor to retired pastor, from traveling to back home, I've been thinking a lot about churches. So far, I have visited two -- First UMC in Siler City, and today, Bynum UMC in Bynum. It takes 23 minutes to drive to Siler City, and 5 minutes to drive to Bynum, which is its own little community in Pittsboro near the Haw River. There was no church service offered aboard the Viking ship in Iceland, and Sunday I was confined to my cabin anyway. 

There are three things I would like to find in a church, and I probably never will find all three: a friendly, welcoming congregation, good music, and great preaching. Let me be more specific just about myself. The members should greet visitors warmly, the hymns should mostly be from the regular Hymnal and played well on the piano, and the preaching should be from a lectionary text, well exegeted, well delivered, and succinct. I enjoy good preaching -- if you are Adam Hamilton, I can happily listen for two hours, but please do not give me a 20-minute dull theological lecture.  

I realize I am critical. Keith says I will never find a church to my satisfaction, and I said, "Wrong! Blowing Rock Methodist Church hit all three criteria, bang on the nose!" Unfortunately, I cannot drive three hours to attend a church that meets only during the summer. 

I heard pretty good preaching today at Bynum from a student pastor. However, it took a whole week and practically an act of Congress to find out the worship time at that church. Then I was disappointed to be the first person in the sanctuary at 10:53 a.m., which meant I was not immediately greeted. However, it turned out half the church was in Sunday school, and things got better during the passing of the peace. 

For Communion, there was fresh fragrant bread, juice poured dramatically into the cup during the liturgy, and we received by intinction. I really hoped we would all kneel around the rail, but you can't have everything. At First Church, the juice was in those little thimbles, and the bread was... pita, I think. I can't remember because I was anxious about the thimbles. Nothing was explained (at either church, actually). Do I drink first or eat? What should I do with my empty thimble? Who has to clean all these glass thimbles?! Why do churches still use them?

At Bynum, the music was on the piano from the Hymnal; no choir. They started with, "Let There Be Peace on Earth," unannounced and not in the bulletin, which can only mean they sing it every Sunday. Isn't that lovely! There were perhaps 25 people present and they sang out, at least the women did. 

The piano playing was lacking, although I imagine the pianist is an unpaid volunteer. She seemed very sweet. 

The pastor at Bynum seemed baffled to meet me but pleased I was there. He's getting married Saturday and will be out for two Sundays. Several Div School folks are filling in, so maybe I will return for what I hope will be more good preaching.