Believe Big

January 24, 2024

 

 Hello from Livermore, church family and friends!

Every January, clergy in our Conference are required to attend what is known as the Gathering of the Orders, usually somewhere on the coast. Sometimes it is restful, sometimes it’s packed with workshops, worship is always wonderful, and it is so nice to connect with peers and colleagues we only see twice a year. It’s often been at a retreat center, but this year it’s being held at Asbury UMC in Livermore, CA. It’s a gorgeous church, not humongous but with a beautiful pine ceiling and a pipe organ and a big community garden in the back. I don’t know much about the church itself, but I did notice that they offer free showers to their community, just like we do, which is awfully cool. Until today, I hadn’t known of another church besides us who did that, and it is such a tremendous gift to folks.

I am sitting here in my hotel room now, after a very full day of training and worship, and the sermon our guest preacher gave an hour ago was SO GOOD. Her name is Bishop Delores Williamston, from the Louisiana Conference, and she preached on the theme of this week, “Hope for the Future.” She quoted a friend of hers who told her in a time of struggle, “sister, hope lives in the dark.” 

Not in the light, where we can see and go about our business just fine. In the dark is where hope is needed, and where hope lives. Isn’t that so true? 

Then she quoted Howard Thurman:

 

“Howard Thurman says this about raising the ceiling of our hope, he said:
It is easier to believe little than to believe big!
He says…
Our immediate demand is often so urgent, the immediate problem is often so acute or so insoluble that the ceiling of hope is lowered, leaving little room even for breathing…. And at such a moment, life seems not only to close in around us, but it also seems to close down upon us.
He said: 

I will lift on high the ceiling of thy hopes!
In other words: I will lift on high the ceiling of my hope! Or, 

We are called to lift on high today the ceiling of our hope!”

 

As she was speaking, and rousing us to AMENs and GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIMEs, I was thinking of small, dark spaces where it’s hard to breathe. I thought of a story about a sweet little abandoned pup who had been hiding in a storm drain, trying to keep himself safe. But he wasn’t safe at all, he was lonely and cold and scared and starving. It wasn’t until hope entered that dark place in the form of kind human rescuers that he was able to see what real life could be like. I’m sure the sweet little thing was terrified at first, out in the light, in the wide open. But eventually, the love and care of his rescuers won him over, and life became much better than it could ever have been in that storm drain.

It is easier to believe little sometimes. Easier to close ourselves in, and survive (barely) on crumbs, too afraid to hope for something better. But God wants much better for us. Ours is the God who saves, who wants to take the whole roof off and bring us from dark and cold and empty places into the wide open air of new life. Believe big, church! GOD IS GOOD, all the time.

Pastor Dawn

Worship This Week

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

This week, we are beginning a worship series we have been looking forward to, on the Lord’s Prayer. We will take it a section at a time, and talk togther about prayer in general, the purpose and the benefit and the miracle of it. This week, we’ll begin with the very first part, that reminds us who it is we are praying to, and why: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You might like to read and pray with Jesus and his disciples in Matthew 6:5-14, and in Luke 11:1-4, as you prepare your heart for worship.

 

Remember to find us on YouTube so that you can watch live from home, or join us on KVLV radio on AM980 every Sunday beginning at 9:30am. If you have ideas or questions, or if we can be in prayer for you in any way, please call the church at 775-423-4714, or call Pastor Dawn directly at 775-671-5553. We’d love to hear from you.

 

Wednesday Night Prayer with Lectio Divina

Friday Evening Prayer has become Wednesday Evening Prayer, and will be held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm on YouTube Live. Lectio Divina is an ancient, special way of reading and praying with Scripture. Most people who try it find it deeply meaningful. Hope you’ll join us.

News and Fun Stuff

Ash Wednesday on February 14 @7:00pm

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Valentine’s Day this year. If you’ve never been to a service like this before, let this year be the first time. It is a sweet, prayerful, reflective, hopeful time of being wrapped in the amazing grace of God. And a day that celebrates love of one another is a great way to begin our 40 day period of introspection, and sacrifice, andhumility before the joy of Easter. 

 

Princess Bride on Sunday February 18 @1:00pm

It's that time of year again! Friends, there is a terrible lack of silliness in the world today, and ONLY YOU CAN HELP. Join us for a Very Silly Interactive Screening of "The Princess Bride" at the historic downtown Fallon Theatre on Sunday February 18 at 1pm! Feel free to dress in costume (or not), bring props (or not), invite everyone you know, and let's spend an afternoon being ridiculous together for no reason whatsoever. Admission is FREE!! Props including glow sticks, kazoos, marshmallows, and other assorted nonsense will be provided. As a bonus, any delicious snacks or lunch you buy at the snack bar supports the Theater!