Naps. Naps are great.

Hello, church family!

It has been a good day off. I am so thankful for time to spend the day in comfy elastic-waist pants, cook and clean and winterize the garden, and stop WHENEVER I WANT to take a nap on the couch while watching a marathon of Bones. I probably haven't spoken more than 10 words in the last 10 hours. That may or may not sound like paradise to you, but for me it really recharges the batteries, and reminds me of how good life is. And it is very, very good.

Last week in worship, we talked together about the value of hard work and discipline, about taking responsibility for our mistakes, and about how responsible living honors God. We talked about how, when life gets messy, we can lose track of what is precious to us, and how so much of life consists of keeping the messiness under control so that the precious things remain precious. This week, we will talk about sabbath: about the importance of leaving the mess alone for awhile for the sake of rest, and family, and play, and the holiness in all of it.

Take a look at the first creation story in Genesis, if you can find the time, especially Genesis 1:26-2:3. You will see the balance there between work and rest that God has designed for us. It's spelled out in Exodus 23:12, and again in Deuteronomy 5, that God commands us to rest from our work one day in 7, in order to refresh our spirits. It is a good and holy thing to rest, even when -- especially when! -- the stresses of life and the drive to get things done feel overwhelming. It is good to stop awhile. To deliberately withdraw from all that consumes us in order to breathe slowly, and take a look around. When we do so, we remember that we are not just here to make a living, but to make a life. We keep things in perspective, being constantly reminded that the world really does keep turning without our help. And, we keep our priorities in order. To work is holy; to rest is holy, too. Remember the sabbath day, beloved, and keep it holy.

See you on Sunday!

Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn

Clean Up Your Own Mess

Good Saturday morning, church folk!

Did you know that Lattin Farms does a "Fall Festival" every Saturday in October?? Probably you knew that. I did not know that, til the other day. There's pumpkins and pie and kids' stuff and a corn maze...you can make your own scarecrow, you guys. And have you SEEN all of the cool stuff that the downtown theater is doing?! There are so many great opportunities to spend time with family and friends in this awesome town, I hope you are taking advantage of it. We will talk about the importance of taking time to play a little bit later in our sermon series about the life lessons we learned in kindergarten, but I hope you are doing it now! Time is fleeting, beloved...kids grow up so fast, all of us get older, life is short. Take time for happiness.

Of course, it's not ALWAYS time for play. And in order to really enjoy life, in order to feel good and strong and satisfied and fairly stress-free, we need to have our life reasonably well in order. King Solomon, in writing about where to find meaning and hope in life, writes a lot about wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 2:24 he says:

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his work. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.

Our scripture passage for this week is a piece of the story of Jonah. For those of you who may not be familiar with Jonah's story, he was commanded by God to go to Ninevah as a prophet, to tell them about God and convince them to turn their lives around. That is chapter 1 verse 1. In verse 3, Jonah responds by taking off on a boat, going in the exact opposite direction from Ninevah. Evidently, he had no interest in doing the work God had given him to do. What Jonah's plan was, exactly, we have no idea other than fleeing from God and this work, but the result of Jonah's irresponsibility is a mess that affects everyone around him. 

Now, Jonah is a very imperfect person. But he does see the mess he has created, and he takes responsibility for it: he admits his fault, and takes charge of doing his part to make things right. It isn't easy or pleasant, but he does it...and God meets him there, giving him the strength and protection to get through it. It's a great story, short and pretty hilarious really, and full of wisdom. I hope you're able to take some time to read it today, or sometime this week. Here's a link to Bible Gateway, if you like to read on your computer or tablet; you can choose from among a whole lot of different translations in the search bar:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+1&version=NRSV


Illuminating our scripture lesson this week is the story "Just a Mess" by Mercer Meyer. His books were some of my kids' favorites when they were little, sweet and funny and good. It will be a good day. Have a wonderful day today, and we will see you in the morning!

Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn

Oh, and PS! If you are a worship leader (like, if you do the Young at Heart moment sometimes, or if you read scripture and lead the welcome, or if you serve communion or light the candles) or if you would LIKE to do some of those things, then please stay after worship this week for a quick refresher course! We will talk about the meaning of all of the things we do in worship, and the joy we get in doing it. We will practice reading and leading, play with the microphones, and answer any of your questions. It will be fun! Hope to see you there.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

What a gorgeous autumn morning!

I am sitting here in prayer, in my office before a celebration of life begins for a friend from Fallon Daily Bread, Cathy Winans, and I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. In the other room country music is playing while the family sets out the decorations and talks together, Vince Gill and Reba and Tammy Wynette and Alan Jackson, and one of my all-time favorite country songs, "The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia." It is good to hear them laugh and cry and talk and remember Cathy. I am so thankful for being in ministry with you, in this beautiful place, among such kind, thoughtful, caring people. Your generous welcome, the way you share your time and your stories, the way you stand with and for each other, your passion for your church and for God...you have been a healing balm to my soul, and I am so glad to be here.

I am really enjoying our worship series on the simple Sunday School truths that we need go guide our lives. We are inspired by Robert Fulghum's book "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten", resonating with his words that wisdom is not found on the top of the graduate school mountain, but in the sandbox at Sunday School. Levia did such a FANTASTIC job of reading our first book, "The Sandwich Swap" last week, didn't she? And I loved the way that sweet little book, and her sweet little self, helped us hear the story of Jesus feeding the thousands in a whole new way as we explored our first truth: share everything. This week, we will hear a very silly little book called "Pout Pout Fish in the Big, Big Dark" and the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 as we talk together about our second bit of Sunday School wisdom: don't be afraid of the dark.

If you're able, I hope you can find a little time and take a look at the story of David and Goliath. And when you do, maybe take a little time to think about the Goliaths in your own life: the things that make you feel small, powerless, or afraid. Maybe think about the things in your past that have been overwhelming or terrifying, how you handled them, where you are now, and what you learned from them. And then, pray on this:

There are over 100 passages in the Bible that encourage us to not be afraid. Not as a command, as though being afraid is some sort of character flaw, but as an inspiration. A source of strength, and comfort. Listen:

"Do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will not be afraid, for you are with me." Psalm 23:4

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Isaiah 43:5

It is a good day, beloved. I pray that you see God everywhere in it. And then, rest well and we will see you in worship.

Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn

PS If you're not able to join us in worship, please join us on the radio or on Facebook Live on the church Facebook page, Epworth UMC Fallon!

PPS Please consider bringing items for our UMCOR flood buckets! You can pack a whole bucket yourself, or bring a little bit (or a lot!) of one thing or a few things. We will be packing them up this week and bringing them to South Reno UMC for pickup next weekend when the UMCOR truck comes through town. Here's a link to the list of stuff. Thank you!

http://www.umcor.org/ArticleDocuments/232/Cleaning%20Kit%20Assembly%20Instructions%20Sept.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y

Keep It Simple - Do the Next Thing

 Keep It Simple—Do The Next Thing

Anyone who knows me knows that I consider myself an introvert. Not because I don’t like being around people or that my lifelong dream is to be some kind of hermit, but because these Ashlee Batteries are charged in calm, quiet places (often involving some hot drink made from magical beans, but that’s neither here nor there...).

In Isaiah 30, God tells His “obstinate children” (you know, the Isrealites) that they’re looking for safety and identity in all the wrong places and in verse 15 (NIV) reminds them that “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength...”

In the quiet place it is easy to hear my own thoughts and worries, much easier than in the midst of weekday Mommy-Duty and church office bustle. I know I’m not the only one who experiences this thinking. Honestly, how many times have you asked yourself “is this where I am supposed to be?” or sometimes maybe you’ve had a little deeper and more personal thought like “I just want to know that my what I’m doing makes a difference.”

You know what else is easier to hear in the quiet place (at least as soon as I get my own self out of the way)? Yeah, you do know. I know you know. I know you know as well as I do that the stillness is where we find the voice of our Creator, our Guiding Light, the Ultimate Direction Giver (I made that last one up myself, and I kind of like it). The quiet place is where He knows you will hear.

Recently, a musical group called Disturbed has taken one of my all-time favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs, Sound of Silence, and gave it new life. The song itself has a pretty powerful message, but the remaster has made it relevant to a new generation and given it that much more power. We’re all guilty of “talking without speaking” and, maybe especially, of “hearing without listening.” I would encourage you all, if you haven’t already heard it, to find it on YouTube (here's the link: https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4) or from wherever you get your music and give it a listen. You can even stop me wherever we may run into each other and I will share it with you from my phone!

I have heard God many times (and even listened!) but often have been guilty of being more like Jonah instead of Jesus in that I’m afraid to leave what I know in order to do God’s work where I am called instead of being open to God’s will, regardless of what it looks like. For a long time now, God has been calling me to do His work in my home, with my family and I have foolishly rebelled, assuming that my family would better be served by me having a paycheck. I foolishly convinced myself that since that paycheck came from my church and my service was to Him and my church family that it was close enough to my calling. I was wrong on both accounts, and probably many more. This selfishness on my part also prevented Epworth from being served by whoever actually IS being called to serve here.

After listening (for real!) to the Ultimate Direction Giver (I still think it fits....) and my own personal desires to focus on my family, including the incoming Christmas(ish) baby girl, it is time I leave the part-time office chair for the full-time nursery rocker.

My last day in the office is October 18th. This DOES NOT mean that we will leave the church. On the contrary, this will allow for me to get involved in other ways to which I have been unable to commit. You all are our family and we love you.

Church, our Pastor and Staff Parish Relations Committee are working diligently to find the perfect fit for Epworth so that our office will run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Keep them and the process in your prayers!

(If you think that you might be a perfect fit, or maybe you know someone you think would be, then by all means turn in a resume!)

Everything I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Hello, beloved!

I hope you are enjoying life right now. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope that all of this God-created beauty around you -- in people, in furry friends, in the sight and smell and feel of autumn -- is bringing you a little joy. Or a lot!

Somewhere in the 1980s, a young minister named Robert Fulghum wrote a little something he called "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." It was something like a personal credo, a statement of his life's priorities; writing something like this was something he had done for years. But he published this one, along with a little book of sweet, funny, profound stories about life. It became an international best seller, and for good reason: just reading the list of kindergarten lessons -- which is only a tiny part of the book -- is a refreshing return to simplicity. In case you have never heard of it, here is the list:

"These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

1.   Share everything.
2.   Play fair.
3.   Don't hit people.
4.   Put things back where you found them.
5.   CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6.   Don't take things that aren't yours.
7.   Say you're SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8.   Wash your hands before you eat.
9.   Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK."

I think #10 is my favorite. Or maybe #11. Or #12.  Maybe #13.  Definitely #9.

This week in worship at Epworth UMC, with Robert Fulghum's list as our inspiration, we begin a new worship series on simple truths. We will spend October together remembering what we knew when we first learned about God and Jesus and life. We will immerse ourselves in beautiful, profound things in Scripture, and pair them with some of the best children's books from our childhood. The first one, this week, is "share everything." The scripture that will ground us this week (which is also World Communion Sunday, by the way) is John 6:1-14; the book is "The Sandwich Swap," a great story about friendship that we can ALL relate to. I found this book, and loved it, and didn't even realize it was written by Queen Rania of Jordan! Here is a link to the scripture passage:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+6&version=NRSV

It will be a beautiful weekend. See you in worship, 9am with Sunday School to follow. Oh, and we are live streaming the sermon on Facebook now, too!

In the name of the God of abundant life,
Pastor Dawn

PS I hope that you can join us for the celebration of life for Barbie Hertz's sister Frannie on Sunday at 1:00pm. She and Jim and their family will be so grateful for your love and support.

PPS We are collecting items for UMCOR flood buckets this Sunday, this week, and next Sunday! The week of October 9, we will have a packing party and get them ready for shipping. The list of what we need is online in the link below, or at church. You can bring a bunch of certain items, or pack your own bucket and bring it. Your generosity means SO MUCH to those who are struggling to recover from hurricanes and earthquakes.

http://www.umcor.org/ArticleDocuments/232/Cleaning%20Kit%20Assembly%20Instructions%20Sept.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y

EVERY SINGLE BLESSING: Life with a Purpose

Good Lord, it was freezing this morning! And I LOVE IT. Not a big fan of snow here, but Fall I love. Love, love, love. Wrapping up tight in the blankies, drinking something warm and watching the Cubbies. Life is good.

Anyhoo, hello church folk! So much good stuff happening around here. It was early Christmas this week in the office, as our bibles arrived! I am so excited to have bibles for all ages in our church, some of which will be in the pews for us to use during worship, others will be in the Sunday School classrooms, and others will be given as gifts to our preschoolers, 3rd graders, and confirmands to have at home as their very own. They are in a little Bible Mountain in the sanctuary right this minute, for us to pray over and bless tomorrow morning in worship. 

We are also putting together cleaning kits for United Methodist Committee on Relief! Here is a link to the specifications, and a lot of great information about UMCOR. Kathy Fraker will tell us more about it during worship. The UMCOR truck is coming through Reno in mid-October, so we want to have as many as possible ready to send with them. You are welcome to donate particular items, or build your own buckets yourself and bring them to church any time in the next couple of weeks. You are also welcome to donate money to UMCOR via their website; you can do so with confidence that every single penny goes directly to the relief effort you specify. 

http://www.umcor.org/umcor/relief-supplies/relief-supply-kits/cleaning

AND our District is putting together a district celebration and special event called "Unlocking the Spirit of Innovation" led by Marlon Hall that is getting RAVE reviews. It will be held on Saturday, October 7 at Loomis UMC. We are all strongly encouraged to go; let's get a carpool together and go together!

Tomorrow morning in worship we finish our series on the blessings of belonging to a church family. The first week, we celebrated our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the ways that he continues to save and heal us; last week we talked about the gift of belonging, and the ways to be in Christian community. This week, we will talk together about grace, and evangelism, and carrying that gift of community out into the world.

See, here's the thing: this may sound bizarre, but the gift of salvation is not primarily for us. God's work in us not only brings us fully to abundant life, through Jesus Christ it transforms US into a gift for the world. Take a look at chapter 3 of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, especially the last part. Heck, read the whole thing if you can, Ephesians is great. Check out God's words to Abraham in Genesis 12:,2 and Paul's to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9:8. If you don't have a bible handy, click the link below to Bible Gateway:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+3&version=NRSV

See you in worship! 9am, with Sunday School to follow. And! For those new-ish to the church, or for those who have been around awhile and want a refresher, or for anyone who just wants to sit and enjoy each other's company, join me after worship for a Methodism 101 class. Have a great Saturday, rest well, and see you in the morning. :-)

Love and blessings,

Pastor Dawn

Every Single Blessing: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Part 2

Good morning, church family!

This week has been full, and joyful. From singing and praying with folks at the 9/11 memorial ceremony on Monday to meeting the new chaplain out at the base, Chaplain Brown, to celebrating successful medical procedures and answered prayers, to spending a couple of hours with Marshall and Joanne Brown to tour their farm, to just spending time with good friends, I have felt surrounded by the love and power of God. I hope you have, too.

This month is Back to Church Month around the country, where we all mentally and physically return from our summer pursuits to the ministries and sacred rhythms of the year. We started with an AWESOME ice cream social -- huge thank you to everyone who brought and set up all of the goodies! It was so much fun -- and the beginning of a sermon series using the verses of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" to celebrate the blessings of God that we receive through our family of faith.

It's one of my favorite hymns, this one. I love the melody, I love the imagery of God "tuning" our hearts like an instrument toward perfect praise. I love the heartfelt sweetness expressed in thanks for God providing safety, help, sacrificing everything for us. I love the acknowledgement that God has been with us always, through every moment, bringing us safely through times of joy and struggle. And I love the very last verse, a beautiful one that isn't even in our hymnal! Don't want to give that one away just yet though...we will talk about it next week. :-) Last week, we focused on the first verse:

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount; I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of thy redeeming love.

And so we gave thanks for worship, and talked about how the people of God have sang of their love and thanks for God's mercy for thousands of years. We talked a bit about the legacy of worship and music given us by our forebears, and how new music is constantly being written as God's mercies touch the hearts and change the lives of more people every day. We talked about our identity as the beloved, forgiven children of God, empowered and set free. This week, we will talk together about belonging...and about how God's grace is not only given to us as individuals, but to us in community.

75 years ago or so, Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs...a pyramid of things that human beings need for survival and a fulfilling life. Obviously, the most basic ones are the need for food, shelter, and safety. The very next one is the need to belong. As God notices immediately in Genesis, after creating all that we see and calling it very, very good, "It is not good that the human being should be alone." We are, all of us, created for community. Love only exists in relationship, in community. The love of God is only made known in relationship. We will sing together the second verse of the hymn that begins "Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I'm come..." but my pastor friend Becky Stockdale (shout out to Portola UMC!) brought another song to mind that now I can't get out of my head:

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same.
You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

Aaaaand now it's stuck in your head, too. You're welcome. :-)

Seriously, though. To know, and be known. To be in a place and among people who are glad you are there. Who understand your struggles, and share their own. Who laugh and rejoice with you, and whose happiness is even more important to you than your own. Who love and care for you, and who you love and care for. That -- not a particular geographical location -- is what home is. Paradise.

Let's worship together tomorrow. You might like to read Isaiah 43:1-4a, and pray on it as you prepare your heart for worship. See you in the morning!

Love and blessings,
Pastor Dawn