Tucker First United Methodist Church

It’s Palm Sunday, the commencement of Holy Week, the most sacred week in the Christian calendar. I attended services here, as a visitor. I walk into the narthex, look around (I’m sure I looked extremely confused), and I try to make eye-​contact with all of the men in the lobby. No one acknowledged me, looked my way (even though they were clearly lay-​person church staff/​volunteers). I stood there for about 4 minutes, until I finally walked up to one of them and asked «Should I just go upstairs to the balcony?»
He nodded, and so I was banished to the balcony, with MANY seats left in the main sanctuary downstairs. I take the lonely walk up there, and sit in the back. Again, no one looks around, acknowledges me, and I ended up having to get up to find a program. I found my place on the program and followed along.
There was no preached word (sermon), only a dramatic reading of the scripture. At the end of the dramatization, Jesus was dead. Doesn’t Jesus die on Good Friday (not Palm Sunday?)?? Sorry, I didn’t think that Jesus died all of Holy Week… why was my Jesus Killed on Palm Sunday?! –offended–
Lastly, I ask this guy if this church doesn’t give out Palms. (You know, I love to make those corny Cross palms and hang them all over the house to ward off the evil spirits) He goes on to explain to me that there’s something called «ASH WEDNESDAY,» and that Palms are burned next year to make the ashes. Does that mean that they do or don’t give out palms? I didn’t ask for a lesson on ash wednesday, and yes I may have heard of it seeing that I’m in SEMINARY. rolls eyes
I get up after they killed my jesus for all of Holy Week, and I left. No greeting as I left (CLEARLY I don’t go to this church, as there was maybe one or two other brown people in the congregation???) I am sure that I not only stuck out like a sore thumb, but they knew that I was a visitor. No one greeted, acknowledged, helped, welcomed, ushered, just a sad sad church experience. SAD and depressing. Definitely not what I’d expect of a church, of a Christian place on palm sunday during holy week. Terrible experience, and will no longer support this ministry. What a slap in the face as a Methodist searching for a church to plant roots.