Your First Visit to Minnehaha
Minnehaha United Methodist Church is located at the corner of 37th Avenue South and 50th Street in South Minneapolis. It’s a big brick building with a steeple. You can’t miss it. You can locate it on MapQuest right here.
Find Parking
When you arrive, the first thing you’ll notice is there’s no church parking lot. None. If you’re on foot, no problem. If you’re driving, you’ll need to find street parking. At least it’s free and our neighbors are very nice.
Get to the Front Doors
The church entrance is on 37th Avenue. You can get to the front doors via a ramp or stairs. Both work perfectly well. Once you reach the doors, though, watch out. On Sunday mornings there’s usually a greeter at the door. Be pleasant. Smile. Shake her hand. Say, “How about that weather?” That’s a sign you’re from Minnesota.
Enter the Narthex, Turn Left
Okay, you’re inside. Feel free to take a few deep breaths. You’re almost there. At this point you’re standing in an area called the Narthex. Nobody knows exactly why it’s called the Narthex, but that’s neither here nor there. You just have to get into the Sanctuary for the church service. It’s a quick left turn.
Prepare for Another Greeter
There’s just one entrance to the Sanctuary, which means you’ll have to pass through another hurdle…someone else whose hand you need to shake. This is the second level of greeters. It’s their job to say “Hi.” Once you get past them, someone else will try to give you a bulletin. These are the ushers. They may attempt to greet you as well, but that’s not their job. Take a bulletin.
Find a Place to Sit
Okay, now you need to find a place to sit. Not too close. Toward the back so you can get out fast. Slide into the pew. You’ll notice that the seats have cushions for your comfort. Not bad, huh?
Read the Bulletin
Now it’s time to relax and look through the bulletin. This has the names of the minister, music directors, and more. It also tells you what’s going to happen during the service: Prelude, Welcome, Announcements, Music, Scripture, Sermon, Prayer, Offering, More Music, and Postlude. There’s probably a responsive reading at some point, too. Whatever you do, don’t lose the bulletin. It’s your lifeline.
Look for Three Books
After you check out the bulletin, look in front of you. You should see three different books. The red one is the hymnal, which includes traditional songs like “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” “We Three Kings” and “Amazing Grace.” The blue book is the Bible. The third book, a black paperback, contains modern songs that nobody really knows. During the service if there’s a song from that book, just mouth the words and bob your head. That’s what everybody else does.
Bring Your Kids
If you brought children with you, that’s good news. There are lots of children at Minnehaha. The church encourages you to bring your kids into the church service. There’s also childcare, if you’d prefer. (Just ask somebody for directions.) And Sunday School is between services. If your child cries during the church service, no big deal. It happens all the time. Kids make noise. Everybody knows that.
Listen to the Sermon
During the service the minister will stand up and talk about something. Amazingly, the topic changes every Sunday. There’s usually some message that goes along with that, too. Some of the sermons are actually interesting, so you may want to pay attention. Otherwise, just smile and nod.
Pass on the Plate
There’s always an offering, too. But since it’s your first time at Minnehaha, you’re exempt. As the offering plate comes by you can look at the people on either side of you and mouth the words, “First time.” They’ll understand. Of course, the church could use your spare change. It usually goes to an important cause like the neighborhood food shelf, a homeless shelter, or a camp for disadvantaged children. Okay, empty your pockets and purse or wallet. And your car keys. Just put it all in there. You’ll feel better.
Shake Hands with the Minister
When the service is over, the minister positions himself outside the Sanctuary doors to greet everyone. Long-time members use some sneaky tricks to get past the minister, but these are far too complex to describe here. So you’ll need to get in line and shake his hand. Relax. It’s almost painless. He will say something to you, so be prepared. Mention that you’re from Guam and his eyebrows will move up and down. It’s fun!
Outta There
After that, you can go downstairs for coffee and cookies and a chance to meet others. Or make your escape through the main doors. You made it! You survived Minnehaha! Now you just have to locate your car. Oh… and don’t forget your kids if you dropped them off at childcare.
Important Note: During the summer, everything is different. Service times are different. One service is inside the church and the second is outside. There’s no Sunday School. It’s usually warmer, too. Just go with the flow.
