February 4, 2025
Hello church family and friends!
I was talking with my friend Pastor Becky Stockdale (shout out to Portola UMC!) the other day about all the Big Things happening around us, and how stressful it can feel. I don’t know where it came from, but I have long been burdened with a ridiculously overgrown sense of responsibility to do something world-changing. It has always been tempered with the awareness of how silly and unnecessary that is, but still…the urge has always been there to do some undefined more to fix what’s broken in the world.
Part of it, I think, is about parenting and grandparenting, and that compulsion to provide for and protect our little ones. Another part is having been raised, or maybe just being hardwired, to want to comfort people and alleviate suffering. I know that my own Christian upbringing made that a very high priority…which is why the language in some circles right now about empathy being a sin makes my head spin and my jaw hit the floor. (I mean, honestly, what on God’s green earth.)
Anyway. So there I was in the office this week, when a stranger walked in who isn't necessarily sure about church stuff but really wants to become part of doing something good, and wanted to hear about what we do at the Wolf Center. We had a wonderful, affirming, inspiring conversation, and she’s going to start volunteering at FDB next week. And when she left, it was like...the ways I've felt kind of overwhelmed with all that's broken in the world, and responsible to be part of fixing it somehow came together in my mind, and I felt God speaking to my heart saying: this is what to do. Just this, right now. You bring my love and comfort to the people right in front of you, however you can, and let Me do the rest.
And then I read this story, on Amy Betters-Midtvedt’s Facebook page. She is a wonderful author and teacher. She writes:
“Want change? Here it is.
Last year our fab priest told us a story about two women trying to grow a garden in the desert. On the wall of each garden was a wheel, and the landlord instructed them that if they turned the wheel every single day their garden would grow, even in the dry soil. Even if it never rained.
Each woman started out turning her wheel every day, but nothing changed. Nothing grew.
The first woman soon tired of turning the wheel, not seeing results she forgot to turn the wheel some days. Other days she just skipped it because it seemed like it didn’t matter.
The second woman trusted the landlord that told her about the wheel. She turned the wheel each and every afternoon without fail. She faithfully waited.
You can probably guess what happened.
The first woman never saw a plant in her garden. Not only that, she cursed the landlord for his bad advice. Clearly it was trickery, the wheel was there for no reason. She grew bitter and remained hungry.
The second woman witnessed what felt like a miracle. Despite no rain falling from the sky, her garden eventually sprang to life. Plants peeked up through the dry soil and soon her garden was full of life. She praised the landlord for his advice and enjoyed a bountiful harvest. Her faithfulness was rewarded.
You see they didn’t know that each turn of the wheel was watering the seeds beneath the ground, creating deep roots that would grow to a harvest.
I have not been able to stop thinking about this story.
God is always, always there for us, but we need to show up too. To trust him. I sometimes forget this part is my job to do.
And not just here and there. Each and every single day.
We need to let Him fill us up with His love so we can grow and flourish. To let his love water our roots. To let that love spill over into the world.
We need to do the things He’s asking…love our neighbors as ourselves. Yes even that one.
But gosh it's easy to be like the first woman to give up because it all feels like a dumpster fire anyway. We might not see the fruits of our wheel spinning right away. But every moment we choose love it’s one small turn of the wheel.
Where can you turn that wheel today?
Where can you show up in love for just a minute? For one person?
Just keep turning that wheel it will make all the difference.”
Yeah. Amen to that.
See you in church.
Pastor Dawn
Worship This Week
Abundant Life in Jesus, Part 2: Purpose
SIX STONE JARS |
This week we continue our worship series inspired by Marcia McFee’s “Six Stone Jars.” Symbolically, the series is rooted in Jesus’ first miracle, at the wedding in Cana where he turned six jars of water into wine; over these few weeks between Epiphany and Lent, we will talk together in worship about the ways Jesus turns our fears of scarcity into an abundance of hope, purpose, healing, and grace. This week, you might like to read and pray with Luke 4: 14-21, and consider God’s ultimate plans for the world…and what God’s plans might be for your own life. |
Worship begins at 9:00am every Sunday, in person. If you can’t be there, remember to find us on YouTube so that you can watch live from wherever you are, 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. We’d love to hear from you.
Wednesday Evening Prayer with Lectio Divina
Wednesday Evening Prayer is 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. We’ll meet next on February 5. Hope you’ll join us.
News and Fun Stuff
FREE CONCERT with Bobby Jo Valentine Sunday Feb 23 7pm in the Fireside Room
Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked and Godspell, calls Bobby’s music “catchy” with “thoughtful, intelligent lyrics in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.” From his bio: “Along with theatres, house concerts, and many other kinds of stages, Bobby is often invited to offer his stories and songs at faith communities around the nation. Among others, he has been invited to perform for The Wild Goose Festival, the international Emerge Conference, and the 2017 General Synod of the United Church of Christ. His music has won Song of the Year twice at West Coast Songwriter’s Association, and his work has appeared on radio, TV, and feature films. He has performed artist residencies, hosted songwriting workshops, and been involved in helping communities of all types use their spaces and voice in more creative and powerful ways.” You can hear music, watch performances, and get information on catching a show at www.bobbyjovalentine.com
Lent and Continuing Bible Studies
Lent begins in just a few weeks! Some of our classes will begin to study “The Message of Jesus” by Adam Hamilton the week of March 9. Books will be available in a week or two, or you can buy your own at Amazon or Cokesbury. Pastor Dawn will teach a class by Zoom on Tuesdays at 6pm beginning March 11. Meanwhile, our current Bible studies are listed below. To suggest new Bible studies or to find out more, please call Kelly Frost via the church office at 775-423-4714. Join any class, any time!
· “Invitation to the New Testament” a Disciple Bible Study by David da Silva and Emerson B Powery, Mondays at 10:30am in the Good News Room
· “The Parables of Jesus” Sundays after worship in the Good News Room
· The Book of Ephesians, Sundays after worship in the Wolf Center, led by the author Jeanette Strong.
