Jesus Loves Me, and That's All I Need to Know

Good Saturday morning, beloved!

October is hands down my favorite time of year. If I were a better photographer, I would have a hundred pictures of the railroad bridge just as you come into Fallon from the west, with the trees all orange and yellow and gold. And of the view of the mountains and soft desert foliage at Camp Kelly (stopped out there for a bit to visit with Kay Knutson on Tuesday, on my way to Ely to officiate at their Charge Conference), and of the night sky between Fallon and Austin where I swear I have NEVER seen so many stars. 

I have heard it said that Hasidic Jews are taught to carry two pieces of paper in their pockets. One says "I am only dust and ashes." The other says, "All the universe was created for me." I find that to be a beautiful and powerfully important thing. It reminds me of how it feels for many of us when we see the ocean for the first time (or the thousandth time), or meet a newborn baby, or take in the vast expanse of the desert with the Ruby Mountains off in the distance, or turn the corner on Mt Rose Highway and see Lake Tahoe all lit up by the morning sun, or see the Milky Way stretching across the sky when the night is clear and so, so dark. We feel tiny. Small and overwhelmed and something like afraid. We have this urge to stop, to stop everything, to fall down on our knees, stunned. Overwhelmed by wonder, and gratitude, and humility, and this bone-deep understanding that we are a part of something absolutely incomprehensibly beautiful.

Awe. That's the feeling. Awe.

This week in worship we finish our series on Everything We Really Need to Know, the simple truths we learned long ago in the Sunday School classroom. Things like, share everything. Don't be afraid of the dark. Clean up your own mess. Say you're sorry when you hurt someone. Learn some, and think some, and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. Take time to rest, and worship. Milk and cookies are good for you. And this week, the most important one, the one that is the basis of everything else: LOOK around you, let wonder overwhelm you, and remember that Jesus loves you.

Take some time, when you can, and read Psalm 147. And John 3:16-17. And Romans 8. And Zephaniah 3:14-20. And so, so, so many more. And then look around you. Go outside, maybe, and let  wonder overtake you.

See you in worship. :-)

Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn

PS Sunday evening, October 28, is Singspiration! Join us and a bunch of our other area churches, just to sing together and enjoy each other's company. 6pm at Epworth UMC in Fallon.

PPS Our Church Charge Conference is on Wednesday, November 8, beginning with a pot luck supper at 6pm. Bring something to share if you can, and join us to celebrate our church, pray over our many leaders, and vote on important stuff.

PPPS Our annual pie auction is November 19 after worship! Call the church for details if you'd like to donate a pie of your own, and come to the auction to bid on DELICIOUS desserts made by our fantastic cooks to add to your Thanksgiving feast.

PPPPS (haha, all of these P's) Next week we begin a new sermon series called Methodist Pie! All about the history of our faith, the joy in our fellowship, and our LOVE of good food. :-)