Broadway Christian Church · Columbia, Missouri

Morning Worship · May 31, 2009

Pentecost Sunday

Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry

Prayer of the Day

“O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise; the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace. Glory to God and praise and love be ever, ever given by saints below and saints above, the church in earth and heaven.” Amen.

Scripture

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.

Message

Sharing the Love of Christ

Jacob Thorne

I want to begin this morning by sharing with you a story about Desmond Tutu. Desmond Tutu, as many of you know, is a South African cleric and peace activist who rose to fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. In 1984, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu is vocal in his fight for human rights and uses his fame and popularity as a means of campaigning for rights of the oppressed.

Several years ago, Tutu was invited to spend a year on sabbatical at Emory University. Emory University is also where Candler School of Theology is located. As his year at Emory passed, the school administrators tried hard to get Desmond to teach a course. He really didn’t want to. Finally, he gave in. He said that he would teach a course in theology, but he had two requests: 1) He wanted the course to be for seniors only; and 2) The course would only be open for seniors in the seminary who planned to serve in the church. It was not designed from those pursuing a PhD. in academics. 

Finally, it was time for the first day of class. The seniors arrived early. They were eager to complete their course and graduate. A number of the students had their notebooks and agendas ready to go. They asked one another how difficult they thought the course would be. When Desmond walked in, he calmly looked around the room. Then, he said, “This semester all we’re going to talk about is God’s love.” Immediately, the students began murmuring to one another. One student raised his hand and asked about the syllabus. Desmond said, “There is no syllabus.” Another student raised his hand and asked how they would be graded. Desmond said, “Everyone will receive an A.” When the students heard this, they were upset. Candler is a tough school. The students were used to competing with one another. But Desmond told them that everyone would get an “A” because God has low standards. For a moment, the students really didn’t know what to think. 

Then Desmond asked each of them to begin sharing how they had become aware of God’s love. He said, “If you leave this school without knowing of God’s love in the marrow of your bones, you leave knowing nothing. If you don’t know of God’s love, how can you share it with others?” 

Imagine that, a semester of teaching, with one of the greatest prophets of our time, spent telling stories and talking about God’s love? 

Today, we are celebrating the ministry of Kim Gage Ryan. And for the past 20 years at Broadway Christian Church, Kim has helped people answer the question: “How have you become aware of God’s love?” 

Kim is a teacher, a preacher, a leader, a modern-day mystic, and a person of a deep and inward faith. Kim has helped us become aware that deep down we each share a longing for a deeper experience with God. Kim has helped us recognize that there is a place, sometimes beyond words, where the human soul reaches out to God and where we connect with the one who created us. 

Our text this morning is taken from Psalm 46. Psalm 46 reveals the Spirit of God moving among God’s people even within the midst of chaos. The purpose of Psalm 46 is to remind us that during the busy times of our lives, and during the hard times, the scary times, and the times full of doubt and even joy, we are called to slow down, admit that we cannot control it all, and rest in the Spirit of God. 

For the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work with Kim on almost a daily basis. I have seen Kim minister to others in times of crises.  I have eaten dinners with her family.  I have shared tears with her, and I have encountered her loving spirit and powerful prayers when she held my daughter for the first time in the hospital room – less than 24 hours after she was born. But perhaps most importantly, Kim has demonstrated to me, through her actions, what it means to find God in the midst of silence and solitude.

When I first came to Broadway, Kim invited me to join the Bethany Fellowship and experience what it was like to have 36 hours of silence while on retreat. Initially, I have to admit that I thought 36 hours of silence sounded ridiculous. In fact, for the first several retreats, I didn’t even last six hours without breaking the silence. But over the past four years, while watching Kim work and pray, through retreats and her days of prayer, I have learned what it means to encounter the Spirit of the living Christ in silence and solitude. 

Kim has introduced me to the great Christian spiritual writers Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen. Kim has introduced me to silence. And Kim has introduced me to ways in which it is possible to be centered entirely on the presence of God, God’s will, and God’s love. Kim approaches God’s love in this manner: “Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know. Be Still.  Be.” 

The Hebrew word for “be still” is raphah. The word raphah literally means to let go, surrender, and release. But how do you do this? How do you surrender? How do you just “be?” 

In order to answer questions such as these, I want to share with you some “snippets” of stories from others. Listen now to what some people have to say when asked two questions: 1) What has Kim’s ministry meant to you; and 2) How has Kim helped you become more aware of God’s love?

[Editor’s Note: At this point in the sermon, a video clip was shown. There are other places in the sermon where other clips were shown. Due to technical difficulties, the audio portion of these clips is not immediately available. It is hoped they can be recovered and inserted at a later date. If this can be done, an updated version of the sermon will be posted.]

Some of these interviews were pretty entertaining. But what became clear through the tapings is that Kim’s love of God radiates through her entire being and the marrow of her bones. When you become close to God, you affect those who surround you. [Another video clip was shown in this spot.]

When you are a tool of God’s love, people become aware that you care deeply about them. This past week, I came across the book Same Kind of Different As Me. It is a true story centered on the values of faith, fortitude, and friendship. And as I read the book, I felt myself being drawn to the characters. In Same Kind of Different as Me there is a sense of healing, of heart-breaking beauty, and of the power of God’s unconditional love. 

At one point in the story, Donna, a wealthy woman from Fort Worth, Texas, feels that she is called by God to devote her life to helping the homeless. As Donna begins to serve others, the homeless men and women recognize that there is something about her that distinguishes Donna from the other volunteers. Donna really cares about the people she is serving. Donna’s husband, reflecting on Donna’s work at the shelter, writes, “She wanted to know and truly serve these people, not merely feel good about herself. That first day, she fell in love with every one of them. At her urging, we memorized the names we learned that day and, that night, prayed for each one…” 

How many times have we each heard Kim say that she has prayed for us and that she loves us and this church? Kim cares for us so deeply; her actions and words touch the very core of who we are. [Another video clip was shown at this time.]

When you are aware of God’s love, rooted in the stillness of God, it doesn’t mean that you are inactive. To be still, means to become aware of things, perhaps as if for the very first time. To be still means to see life, and others, in new and transforming ways. [Another video clip was shown in this point.]           

I think it is particularly fitting that this morning we celebrate, with millions of others around the world, the day of Pentecost. Pentecost is one of the most prominent celebrations in the Christian liturgical year. The word Pentecost means 50, and the day of Pentecost occurs 50 days after Easter. It is a time of celebration, marking the beginning of the Church that is described in the book of Acts. It is also, as you can see from our decorations this morning, a time to celebrate the color red – displayed as a symbol of the fire that takes place during the day of Pentecost. 

And, it just so happens, that we also have a story about Kim and fire. Listen to what Terry says. [Another video clip was shown.] 

But beyond putting out the fires, Kim calls us out to do the ministry that God intends. [Another video clip was shown.]

Kim, like the early founders of the church, is passionate about sharing the message of Christ. When you are still, when you know the voice of God, when you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, you can’t help but feel called to share God’s love with others.   

This morning, as we continue our worship, we do so in a spirit of prayer. We are rooted in the love of God, the love of community, and the love that knows no bounds. We are still, and we hear the voice of God. We give thanks for Kim, for her ministry, for the lives that she has touched, and for helping each of us grow closer in our walk with God. 

Through Christ we say together… “Amen.” 

Blessing

God of Glory, Lord of Love, hear our hearts sing in deep gratitude for our joy in this place. Thank you for the many ministries Kim has nurtured. We ask that you continue to bless our journey and wrap us in your purpose and love. Thank you for these friendships that join our hearts in ancient and eternal ways. Amen.