Sermon preached by the Reverend John E

Part One of the Rector’s Annual Report by the Reverend John E. Kitagawa at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, 18 January 2009 (Second Sunday after the Epiphany, and Annual Meeting Sunday), St. Philip’s In The Hills Parish, Tucson, Arizona

COME & SEE, GROW WITH GOD, GO & DO

I Samuel 3: 1-20; I Corinthians 6: 11b-20; John 1: 43-51

Tomorrow, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Tuesday, Barack Obama’s inauguration gives the commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday greater poignancy, and reminds us of King’s lasting impact on this country. As a way to talk about ministry, I begin with a reflection on Dr. King, and another significant American religious figure, evangelist Billy Graham. They have much in common, both are sons of the South—one African-American, one white. Both have deep roots in Baptist tradition. Both grounded their ministries on the Gospel. Yet their proclamations of the Good News of God in Christ were profoundly different.

A friend of mine, Loren Mead[1], distinguishes King from Graham in this way. For Graham, “bad news” is an individual turning away from God, and following a self-centered life—an individualistic separation that begins as a person turns away from God’s eternal love. Graham’s “good news” addresses this condition, offering hope of salvation if the individual turns back to God, trusting in Jesus Christ. Graham calls people into religious communities and structures. He speaks of sin and salvation. Many who feel lost or alienated are transformed by Graham’s message.

For Dr. King, “bad news” was primarily corporate and political systems that subjugated one group, and destroyed the humanity of both the oppressor and the oppressed. His “good news” was of liberation not only of the soul, but of society; that through love, non-violence could overcome the fear, hate, and violence of society. King called people to act in social and political arenas. He spoke of freedom and equality. Those who experienced oppression or discrimination, were transformed by this “good news.”

To those who have been around this parish for a while, these two ways of proclaiming the Gospel ought to ring bells in your heads. Think about Martin Luther King Jr. in terms of the Great Commandment “to love one another as Christ loved us” (John 15: 12). And, think about Billy Graham in terms of the Great Commission “to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28: 19). I make these connections to remind many of you, and introduce to the rest to the theological and spiritual underpinning of St. Philip’s life and ministry for several years. We have been working on a call to focus on basics, to reclaim and act on our unique purposes to love one another as Christ loved us, and to make disciples of all nations, everyone contributing in his or her unique way.

Mead’s distinction between King and Graham is the basis of an Evangelism model that describes four legitimate gospel responses to the “bad news” of the world, as well as four ways to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ. In the language of St. Philip’s Mission Vision, these are different ways to do God’s work in the world[2].

Contemplatives are people who go deep into God. They are quiet, seeking God’s presence. They are at the heart of parish prayer life, and can be gifted spiritual directors. I heard a powerful witness to this way of ministry during last week’s Vestry Nominee Forum. One parishioner called for a more visible and intentional parish practice of Centering Prayer. I am happy more people seem to be engaged in Bible Study, and contemplative spirituality groups.

Anonymous Saints are people who go about their day with a sense of call. They operate out of faith, which may not be visible to others. They are often 7:45 am church goers. They tend to dislike groups and will not serve on the Vestry on a bet. Not long ago, I was listening to a parishioner tell his story, which included work with a program that offers at-risk youths a second chance without the blemish of a court record. If you listen to your fellow parishioners’ stories, you will hear countless ways in which our anonymous saints go about doing good faith-based work all the time.

Secular Saints are people aware of injustice and who feel people’s needs. They want to change things, to form task forces or committees to redress wrong. They are often impatient with those who do not sign up. or see things as they do. They are often involved in community action or ecumenical groups. At St. Philip’s, you can meet these people at gatherings of Pima County Interfaith Council, at Habitat for Humanity “builds”, or engaged in our many Outreach ministries.

Builders of the Household of God are those who understand how much people need each other. They care deeply about the structures of religious life. They help people find their place in community, and nurture the life of the parish. They work hard on commissions and committees. At St. Philip’s, there are increasing numbers of people engaged in leadership and decision-making; and, in carrying out our life-changing ministries. Later at the Annual Meeting, Part I, you will hear a small portion of them report on our ministries.

We can be justifiably proud of the many ways this parish responds to both Graham and King’s perceptions of bad news, and much in between. I am pleased that our coomunity and our proclamation of the Gospel are diverse, inclusive, interconnected, deeply spiritual and caring. I am pleased that our community encompasses, encourages and empowers people in the four areas just outlined; and, that they are spiritually fed and feel supported in their ministries. We take much about St. Philip’s for granted. Visitors often marvel at what we do—the quantity, quality and diversity of our offerings, and the variety of ways to participate. Long-time members are sometimes surprised to learn about recently developed responses to needs within the congregation or in the wider community. None of this would be possible without the movement of the Holy Spirit in our personal and collective lives. The Spirit has generously gifted us with diverse talents and resources to envision, plan, and carry out our ministries. I am thankful the Holy Spirit moves members to discover and offer their time, talent and treasure for the common good of our community, and to further God’s work in the world. I am pleased that St. Philip’s culture is upfront about our commitment to include all parts of the Body.

It would be easy to rest on our laurels, and to settle for incremental growth. However, a few years ago, having reflected on the principles of Reclaiming The Great Commission[3], parish leadership committed to transform our culture from a Maintenance model to a Mission model—to continuously listen and respond to what God calls us to be and do. This commitment led to the Mission Discernment Process, which began by asking you to respond to the question, “What is God calling us to do/be?” I attended yesterday’s Annual Meeting rehearsal. I was inspired by the perspectives and passions of the Commissioners, and so will you. I was struck by how many of your dreams have been put into action, and are already part of the fabric of our life and ministry. The fact that we will celebrate our 75^th Anniversary in 2011 gives us a reasonable time frame for the fruition of larger dreams and visions.

Our Bishop, Kirk Stevan Smith, is fond of using the term, BHAG—Big Holy Audacious Goal. One of his BHAGs is to develop ten new congregations in ten years. Not surprisingly, there has been resistance. Why should the diocese devote so many resources and so much attention to new churches when some existing ones are struggling to make it now? Viewed from the limited scope of perceived current needs, ten congregations in ten years does not seem to make a lot of sense. Viewed from the larger frame of demographic growth and gospel imperative, the Bishop’s BHAG makes perfect, though challenging, sense.

While St. Philip’s has implemented some dreams already, our Mission Discernment process has raised up a potentially very large project sometimes referred to as a multi-purpose building. I have received feedback that this is totally unnecessary and unaffordable, especially in hard economic times. Viewed from the perspective of current programs needs, it is a stretch to justify building an expensive new facility. However, I believe if we were to adopt at least two BHAGs, we could justify the time, energy, and expense of developing new ministry facilities.

Consider BHAG #1: St. Philip’s commits to offering the premier Children, Youth and Family Ministry among Tucson churches. Part of this BHAG is strengthening Christian Education—programs that help children, youth and families to know God in Christ, to connect faith to life, and to inculcate values such as justice and service. We can do more and become innovative in growing ways to help families cope with and meet the challenges of today’s world. I believe we can learn from and build on our “All Generation” liturgies to develop family-friendly and age-appropriate worship. We have an opportunity to incarnate the Gospel ministry of reconciliation by incorporating families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds. Our After School program may be the forerunner through its offerings, and has potential for incorporating students and their families. Unlike most parishes, we are blessed with a firm foundation, and thus a realistic opportunity to have a positive impact on future generations, and through them to respond with Good News to the many forms of “bad news” that will exist in their world.

BHAG #2: St Philip’s makes a parallel and explicit commitment to grow and develop ministry to the aging and their families—within the parish and in the wider community. We already do a lot, perhaps more than many of you realize. A statistical analysis of our pastoral care ministries would tell you what I know. The majority of the Pastoral Care time and energy of staff clergy, affiliated clergy, deacons and lay ministers goes to older members. Much of this is one on one, and in response to a crisis, usually health related. There is much yet that is possible. I have had intriguing conversations with a few people about the possibility of senior day care—programs that engage seniors in creative and stimulating activities, that assist them and their families to learn important things about how best to care for themselves or aging parents, and that offers ways to connect with needed resources. Many of us have concerns about aging parents, some in Tucson, some living far away. I believe the parish can be a place where we can come together to learn, and to give each other support and encouragement. Again, we do not start from scratch. We can build on successes like the Senior Exercise program, and the excellent “Creating a Caring Community” Fair last spring.

These BHAGs are opportunities to enhance our ministry with parishioners and to reach out to those who are not yet or may never be members. If you think back to Mead’s different evangelism styles, and to the reading from I Corinthians 12, it is the same Spirit inspiring and empowering all the ministries St. Philippians lead, work on, and engage in here or in the community.

Like many of you, Kathy and I have been following the amazing story of US Air flight 1549. We give thanks for the pilot’s skills and the lives saved. Kathy said something that I have reflected on since. “For once,” she said, “it’s good news, and for once, everything seemed to go right.” Kathy’s observation says a lot about our world. It is a world full of bad news that seems to wash over us wave after wave. It is great to feel uplifted and inspired. For some, Billy Graham embodied uplifting and inspiring Good News, and for others, Martin Luther King, Jr. As Christians, each of us is uniquely called and empowered with spiritual gifts to embody the Good News of God in Christ. Let us not be satisfied with the fruits of our labor to date. Let us recommit ourselves to growing and developing in ways that make it possible to touch and transform even more lives.

Let us pray.

Lest the Church neglect its mission and the Gospel go unheard,

help us witness to your purpose with renewed integrity;

with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry[4].

AMEN.