The first impression

that a church visitor gets of a congregation is something that occurs before the visitor hears a sermon in that congregation.

I heard that lesson while attending an in-person UMC laity course.

That lesson was true for me in June of 2024 when I visited two UMC congregations. I was not a UMC member at the time.

The first congregation that I visited is more than 100 years old and has a "traditional" church building that the congregation owns. 

My first impression of that particular congregation wasn't great, but something said during the service piqued my interest in the UMC denomination.

The pastor mentioned that one of its members was a Certified Lay Servant who was acting as a guest speaker for another UMC congregation.

I was surprised to learn that the UMC trains its lay-members to serve the broad UMC community. That bit of news prompted me to go online to learn more about the UMC.

Later that month, I learned that a UMC church plant was in my community. So, I decided to visit that congregation.

Later that day, I turned my first impression of that second congregation into a song:

A Church With No Name

Based on the song A Horse With No Name by the 1970s band America.

On my contentious journey

I sought new direction for my life.

The troubles that did upset me

Felt like the cutting of a knife.

The first thing I saw was an open door.

Then a greeter showed me around.

I went to a class taught by Ronald Foore.

I wasn't sure what I had found.

I went to worship with a church with no name.

It felt good to be in a group that is new.

No one there will make you feel shame

'Cause the people there all be sinners like you.

La, laaa, la-la la-la la, la-la la, laaa, laaa.

La, laaa, la-la la-la la, la-la la, laaa, laaa.

I had a hunch it would be a lively bunch,

Both the women and the men.

As a first-time guest I was quite impressed

At how easy that I could fit in.

We got to talking about climate change

And about windows put into a cow.

If you're thinking that last subject is strange,

Then you should hear what we talk about now.

You see I went to worship with a church with no name.

It felt good to be in a group that is new.

No one there will make you feel shame

'Cause the people there all be sinners like you.

I returned to that second congregation the following Sunday.

In July of 2024, that congregation gained the name The Tapestry.

The congregation gained official legal status later in 2024, which is when it gained its first official members.

I am one of the first official members.