Weekly Greeting - July 18, 2025
Greetings, Friends!
Happy Fish Fry Week!
When my previous District Superintendent, Rev. Nancy Johnston-Varden, called to tell me that my projected appointment was Bethlehem United Methodist Church, my first question was, as you may have guessed, “Is that the Fish Fry church?”
Interestingly, I only knew of Bethlehem UMC because of my dad, who came to Fish Fry one year as the guest of his long-time friend and work colleague. This friend, while not a member of Bethlehem UMC, lives around the corner from the parsonage and became good friends with Ryan and Heather Bennett during Ryan’s tenure as the pastor here.
Isn’t it funny to think that for the last ten years (at least) I was only three degrees of separation from the Fish Fry, not by virtue of the United Methodist connection, but by the radical hospitality that this congregation offers to its community?
On Friday, April 11, my dad and I had a heart-to-heart about the potential for his recovery from the infection that had put him in the ICU only three days prior. News of my appointment to Bethlehem UMC had been made public, and he and I had already shared our giddiness that we would be together at Fish Fry this year. In that heart-to-heart, he told me that he was ready to go to Palliative Care and we began our conversation with the social worker about how we might make that transition.
“Ok, dad,” I said, “but you’re not going to be around for Fish Fry.”
“I know,” he said. “But that’s just the way it’s going to have to be.”
I have heard the sentiment that we want to be known for more than just being the Fish Fry church, and I completely understand. If that’s really all that we are known for then we have neglected something important in our identity as the Body of Christ in the world. But as a fresh set of eyes in this neighborhood and in this congregation, I can confidently say that this congregation is faithful in its witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ through its prayers, its presence, its gifts, and its service. And such a witness is often quiet, unassuming, and humble; but that doesn’t make it any less important or impactful in God’s Kingdom.
But I wanted to share my Fish Fry with you…when I told my dad I was projected to be appointed to Bethlehem United Methodist Church, he didn’t have to ask where it was or how to get there. He had already been here; he had already received this church’s hospitality; he had already met some of you and perhaps even walked through parts of this building that I only walked through several months ago.
So although he wasn’t here for my first Sunday, although he didn’t get to hear my first sermon in the sanctuary, he already knew who my new church family would be and he was so, so happy.
All because of Fish Fry.
With love and gratitude,
Mary Beth