It is a gorgeous early summer day in Fallon, Nevada, and a wild and crazy day at a wonderfully busy church. Our time today has been filled with guests for different reasons, and tastes and touches of different ministries. Sweet little curly-haired kids waiting for their adopted grandma (sorry, that's "Memaw", she says) to finish her (SO appreciated) volunteer work here in the office. Big, strong cowboys setting up for a celebration of life tomorrow afternoon. Volunteers taking inventory to see what we need grocery-wise for next week's community meals. Our long-lost wonderful church secretary, back after months away to get our office life back in order (PRAISE THE LORD). Folks coming in to tidy up inside and out. Folks just popping in to say hello. It has been loud, and a little bit chaotic, as you can probably imagine...and it reminds me what a joy it is to be in ministry here.
This Sunday in worship, we begin a new worship series using movies as modern-day parables. There are a whole lot of reasons why I personally love to do this.
- Jesus gave some of his most powerful lessons by telling stories. So did the prophets before him. It is a great way to broaden our understanding of God, and ourselves...a very effective way to inspire our spiritual imagination to see where God is alive and active in everyday life.
- CS Lewis wrote in his Chronicles of Narnia that he introduced children to Jesus via wonderful stories and magical lands so that they would learn to recognize Jesus when they met him in real life. In the same way, stories can open closed minds and hearts in powerful ways, allowing us to meet Jesus again for the first time.
- I absolutely love it when I am listening to music or watching a movie or reading a story and God speaks through it. Whether the original author intended it or not, I love when God makes God's way in unexpectedly. I love that kind of surprise.
- It's a great excuse to spend time with friends and family! And as a bonus, we get to support the Fallon Theatre, too.
But if you DO get a chance to watch it, pray first, and keep your eyes and ears open for a few things. Look for themes of power, and self-sacrifice. Success and failure. Destructive and lifegiving kinds of anger. Redemption. Parenthood, and mentoring, and being a student. Obedience and rebellion. Heritage and legacy. The light and darkness in all of us. And the spark that sets the world on fire.
This week is Father's Day, too! So spend some time thinking of the men in your life -- fathers, grandfathers, adoptive fathers, mentors, coaches, teachers of all kinds -- who have helped make you who you are today. Give thanks to God for them, and let their imperfect example inspire you to be the best human being you can be.
Our scripture this week is 1 John 2:7-11. Spend some time in prayer with this passage, if you're able. It will help prepare your heart for worship, and will open spiritual doors for the Holy Spirit to enter in. If you're a writing sort of person, you might like to write down how it feels to read it, or what thoughts or questions come up for you as you turn the words over in your mind. And then, come to worship in anticipation of the presence of God!
See you Sunday, friends.
Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn
Oh and PS. Don't forget our Emmaus gathering tomorrow (Saturday the 15th) at noon in the Fireside Room! Bring a pot luck dish to share if you can, but most of all just bring yourself. We will sing, and pray for the upcoming Walks in Reno, talk about Emmaus-y stuff, and have a great lunch together. Hope to see you there.
AND PPS. Next week's movie is "O Brother, Where Art Thou." It is really strange and wonderful, with an awesome old timey gospel soundtrack. It's PG-13 for comic criminality, and one suggestive scene. It is one of my all time favorite movies. Come see it with us on Wednesday at 6pm at the downtown Fallon Theatre! And feel free to bring friends and neighbors, the more the merrier. Any snacks you buy at the concession stand go to support the Save the Fallon Theatre project, too, so that's a bonus. :-)
