“A Perspective on the Serious and the Sublime - Thoughts about Making Faith Fun"

Some of us in our town take our most of our meetings seriously, some of our meetings just for fun, and some are both. There’s a meeting coming up that mixes faith with fun, the serious with the sublime. Let me explain.

Do you remember the episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” (episode #89, 3/25/63, “Andy’s English Valet”) when Malcolm Merriweather from England (the one across the Atlantic Ocean, not the one across from the Arkansas River) stopped in Mayberry while on his bicycle tour of America? After causing a minor traffic accident, Malcolm agrees to work for Andy to pay off the damages on the other vehicle. Andy soon finds out that Malcolm is best suited for “inside” house work rather than “outside.” One night at dinner time, Barney Fife shows up unexpectedly. He’s dressed very casually while Andy and Opie have on coats and ties because of Malcolm’s insistence that they “dress for dinner.” Upon realizing that Andy and Opie are dressed up and that he is dressed very casually, Barney thinks that he must have the nights mixed up and it’s Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting at the church. Of course, it isn’t - so Andy invites Barney to stay for supper. Barney, realizing his unkempt appearance, awkwardly excuses himself. The “Message from Mayberry” for that episode is: Do you go to “Prayer Meeting?” How about Sunday School and Worship? Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, and Barney did. You and I should, too.

Speaking of church meetings, let me invite you to a special one this coming Sunday afternoon. Our local chapter of "The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club" ("TAGSRWC") will meet this coming Sunday, June 29, at 3:00 in the Fellowship Hall of our church (England First Baptist Church, 201 E. Haywood, two blocks east of the Post Office). (That’s the England just across from the Arkansas River, not the England across the Atlantic Ocean where Malcolm Merriweather lives.)

You're invited for some fellowship of fun and faith.

We'll begin the meeting by watching the pilot episode that has rarely been shown on TV since 1960 when it first aired as an episode of the old Danny Thomas comedy, “Make Room for Daddy.” It's a little different from the regular series - there's no Don Knotts and "Barney Fife" and Frances Bauvier doesn't play "Aunt Bee" but another character named "Henrietta." "Opie" is only five years old (he was seven when the show premiered). It's one of the funniest of the entire series. We'll enjoy free popcorn and "pop" (the Mayberry term for soda) during the afternoon.

After the episode, I'll share a brief devotion based on the episode followed by round twelve of our the ladies vs. the gentlemen "Andy" Trivia Game. It's a group game so no one person is put on the spot. The ladies currently lead in the competition by a score of six rounds to five with one tie. And, the ladies currently have possession of our "A Feud Is A Feud" Trophy (Episode #18, the Carters versus the Wakefields), complete with a Mayberry sheriff's badge crowing it at the top.

Hope to see you there. And, if you can't make the meeting, think of us when you come upon and "Andy" episode while flipping through the channels. Stop and sit a spell. Spend some time in Mayberry. Appreciate the good things in life.

This is just one pastor’s tongue-in-cheek perspective. Or, as Andy would say, “That’s g-o-o-o-d. I appreciate it!”