This morning, Marie and I attended a 9:30 service at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing across from the Capitol. I’d only been inside this enormous church once but it was that experience that made them a definite for Church Tour. I was participating in a rally against the Second Gulf War on the Capitol lawn on a day that happened to be their usual day to feed lunch to the homeless. The church invited in the protestors and was very welcoming. They still host peaceful protest training and other social justice activities.
On that day so many years ago now I didn’t see much of the building but today we took a little time to poke around. They have the usual: a social area, a nursery, a library. But they also have a stage with double decker seating for performances. The Ten Pound Fiddle, a local folk music production company, holds contra dancing lessons there.
And the sanctuary was absolutely gorgeous. They had a two-story organ, soaring wooden beams, and stained glass put up in memorial to congregants. One window was installed (and engraved) 1869. The congregation has shrunk since then. There were fewer than 75 people at the morning service but they still reported an impressive list of service and social justice activities in the church bulletin. The building must be a bear to heat in the winter and there is no AC. I can only imagine how they manage to keep it all clean.
They were extremely welcoming. The minister came up and spoke to us before services as did multiple congregants. They even brought a little gift bag of information to our seats.
I enjoyed the hymns very much even though they were unfamiliar to me. They were upbeat and not difficult to sing. There was even a bit of clapping at one point. And! I could participate in the choruses (that is not a given). Score!
I’m really glad Marie and I got in a visit to this church.
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