March 26, 2024
Happy almost-Easter, church friends and family!
A few times per month, I open a note from a member of our community, donating to Fallon Daily
Bread. The ones I opened today say “thank you for all you do for our community!” and “Just a little contribution to help you in all your wonderful service.” Sometimes it’s a substantial amount, but usually it’s a check for just a few dollars. It means so, so much.
I know that money is always a stressful topic in churches, this one included. Every pastor and church leader I have known has talked about it, in every denomination. I know Epworth has been through times of plenty and times where there has just not been nearly enough money to stretch as far as it needed to. (I mean, does it ever stretch far enough?) For pete’s sake, the older part of the building we worship in was built smack in the middle of the Great Depression! One of these days I need to go dig out some of the newspaper articles in the museum, about the fundraising the church did at the time (I know there was a big vaudeville-type show they put on), and the groundbreaking. I bet there are some pictures and documents around here in our history archives, too. Sounds like a project!
I’m rambling. But I’ve been thinking about that, about how there is always a gap, like the gap between the money we have and the money we need. A gap between where we’ve come from and where we’re going. A gap between our understanding, and God’s. A gap between heaven and earth. A gap between death and resurrection. And I’ve been thinking that the gaps are where we find our faith.
The ending of Mark’s gospel is crazy, kind of dropping off like a cliff and leaving us hanging with Mary and Mary and Salome when they see the “young man in white” in the empty tomb but are too afraid and bewildered to tell anyone. The ending does make a beautiful sort of sense, though, when you consider the title Mark has given the entire story: “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus the Messiah.” We the reader know the story doesn’t end with the women being afraid and saying nothing, after all. That’s just the beginning. The rest of the story is everything that happens next. But Mark doesn’t tell us about that. He leaves us in the gap. In the open space, where anything could happen.
Like the gap between the few loaves and fish Jesus’ apostles had, and the 10,452 who needed food.
Like the distance between the prodigal son, and his father’s home.
Like the space between the disciples’ devotion, and their courage.
Like the emptiness of the tomb.
Gaps can feel frightening and impossible. But gaps are where miracles happen. Empty tombs like these are what lead us to cry out to God in confusion and helplessness, until we realize that they aren’t empty at all but rather filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. In the gap, at the empty tomb, is where we are healed, transformed, forgiven, inspired, made entirely new. Where anything could happen, and God does the impossible.
The people of Epworth are standing in the gap, doing our human best to live into and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our community is dependent on it, finding new hope because of it, and joining us in it. And I think our forebears, who rallied around each other and built this church in the middle of the Great Depression, are loving it, too.
Happy almost-Easter, church! Anything can happen.
Worship This Week
And then it’s Easter Sunday!! CHRIST IS RISEN!
Early risers can join us here at church at 7am to pray and shout our HALLELUIAs, and sing for joy as the sun rises and we celebrate the risen Lord. Then at 8am, we’ll share a pot luck breakfast together. At 9am we’ll worship and celebrate together with our awesome choir, and join the kiddos for an Easter Egg hunt all over the church. Thank you once again to Scott and Cindy Tudehope for filling all the eggs!
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 Evening Prayer with Lectio Divina
News and Fun Stuff
We’ll have a bunch of games to choose from, and hot dogs and fixins for lunch. We’ll provide the hot dogs, buns, and basic condiments…you are welcome and encouraged to bring side dishes or alternative foods to share if you’re able. Invite friends and neighbors!
Cowboy Poetry at the Fallon Theatre on Saturday April 13
On Saturday April 13, the Fallon Theater will host its first Cowboy Poetry event. They are looking for historians and storytellers as well as poets. Dr Stu Richardson and others will be reading poetry by our own Newell Mills! If you or anyone you know might like to participate, call Jessica at Huck Salt, 423-2055 or 217-4142. And mark your calendar to attend!
Messy Church on April 21! “Church, but Not as You Know It.”
“Love Fallon” Community Service Day! April 27
A wonderful group of folks in town are part of a national nonprofit organization called “Love Our Cities”, which gathers volunteers from churches, businesses, and neighborhoods to work together to beautify their community. They are hard at work developing projects for folks to do, and they need our ideas! Please talk to your Trustees or Pastor Dawn about projects here at Epworth that a team of community volunteers could do. And let’s put a team together to do a project outside the church, too!
