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Sunday, April 20, 2008
I Have a Dream for St. Andrew
By Rev. Cindy Bates
Joel 2:28
28 I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Matthew 28:19-20,
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Dreams, we all have dreams, what we can be, what we can do. Lord with all we are, we pray that our dreams will lead us to you." Those words from the children's musical were a wonderful way to begin our worship and a great introduction to what I would like to share with you this morning. Two weeks ago when I chose the title for this sermon, I did not know the words to that song. (Don't you love it when a plan comes together and you didn't plan it?!!)
We as a congregation have been talking a lot lately about our dreams and visions for St. Andrew and asking the question "What is God's dream, God's vision for us?" I remember eight years ago when the Bishop called me to Colorado and had me come and talk to Harvey about being on the clergy staff. That day Harvey showed me an architectural drawing on the wall that was a "dream" that now has become this place and this congregation. Thank God for dreams. There were doubts and fears and tears about moving, but I do not know of anyone in the congregation today that would say we should have stayed in that space that could no longer accommodate the number of people that wanted to come and be apart of our church family. I know so many of you that have come in the last three years and I can't imagine this congregation without you. We have experienced phenomenal growth not just in numbers of people coming to St. Andrew, but in expanded ministries within and beyond these walls. We took a leap of faith and have been so blessed.
We have all heard stories of how the Church is struggling to stay alive and be vital in today's culture. A few weeks ago Jerry shared some statistics with us about our own denomination... an average of 1500 people a week are leaving The United Methodist Church and many of those are not leaving to attend another church. The Rocky Mountain News recently reported only 17.3% of this nation's population can be found attending a church on Sunday morning. So many people seem to be leaving the church or not becoming affiliated with the church in the first place, often because the Church is seen as being judgmental and hypocritical and not really being true, to the teachings of Jesus. Given that I have spent a good deal of my life wanting to minister to people and their spiritual needs thru the Church, my heart hurts when I hear how we are failing as a whole. Then I hear a story like that told by Scott Finger last week about the transformation that happened in his life because he came through our doors...or I look out and see the children from our Interfaith Hospitality Network safe and happy, playing on our playground...or I witness the healing that can come when people kneel together around the cross on a Good Friday evening... and I know why I can still have hope for the Church.
A week ago Saturday, some of us from the staff had an opportunity to talk with our youth who are going thru the current Confirmation Class. We were asked to share our "call" to ministry and asked why we are in ministry today? It was a wonderful opportunity for each of us to reflect on our spiritual journey and see how God works in each of our lives.
My story will always be about a congregation that supported me and loved me into ministry. When I was in High School I believe I was being called to the ordained ministry but I had no female role models for woman clergy and there was no one to encourage me in that direction. Frankly folks, this was so many years ago that women basically had three choices for a profession: you could be a teacher, a nurse or a secretary. All very worthy and wonderful professions but if you couldn't type or stand the sight of blood, your options were pretty limited. I became a teacher and taught school for three years. I loved my work but after three years I had an opportunity to go to graduate school to get a Master's degree in Theatre. My second career found me in the theatre in Indianapolis as a Managing Director, again loving my work, but still being very drawn to the church and not understanding how those two passions could come together.
At this point in my life, I really began to question if I could find the right path or if it would make a difference to anybody. About this time, my dad died at the age of 59. My youngest brother was still in high school and it was a terribly painful time for my family. I started attending a large United Methodist Church on the north side of Indianapolis to find some direction, some solace, and before I knew what was happening I was being encouraged to get involved and assume some leadership roles. I began volunteering several hours a week in their youth ministry. The staff and congregation were so affirming and supportive. But between that activity, and my full-time job in the theatre, with lots of rehearsals and performances added on, I knew I could not continue to do both. I found myself wanting to be at the church but needing to be at the theatre. Life was confusing and again I did not have a clear vision of what God desired for my life.
And then I got a call one morning that my very best friend in the whole world had a brain aneurism and was dying. Judy, who I had gone to high school and college with...Judy, who had asked me to be her Maid of Honor in her wedding and celebrated with me over the phone when her first child was born. Judy was the closest thing to being a sister that I ever had, and I could not believe she was dying. I got in my car and began the long drive to be with her and her family. She had a wonderful husband, a five year old, a three year old and an infant she was still nursing. She was an accomplished musician, had a Master's degree in Psychology and was one of the best mothers on the planet and she was dying. I, on the other hand, had no commitments, no one depending on me, and I really felt like I still had no idea what path I was on. I was at one of the lowest points in my life. I was angry and frightened and incredibly sad. I was such a mess I probably shouldn't have been driving my car.
On that long, lonely drive to Michigan that night I found myself praying and asking God a lot of questions. And then I said a prayer that surprised me because it didn't feel like it had come from me. It felt like it had come from a place so deep that it was beyond me, and I said, "God, I will do anything you want me to do with my life. I will do anything, if you will just show me what that is, even if it means being a minister." A sense of peace came over me and my life took a dramatic turn after praying that prayer. I made it home and was able to see Judy before she died. And then I returned to St. Luke's and that congregation of wonderful persons that had been laying the foundation for me by encouraging me and affirming some of my gifts for ministry. I do not think I could have ever gotten to the point of answering a call, praying that prayer, if I first had not been loved and encouraged and challenged to be someone I did not think I could be. For the next three years, the whole time I was in seminary the church hired me as a student pastor, and they gave me a home to live in and paid for my seminary education...rather extravagant generosity, don't you think? Upon graduation from seminary the bishop appointed me to that same congregation where I served for a total of 19 years. A couple of years ago, when they celebrated a particular milestone in their life as a congregation I got to go back and tell them how my life with them literally gave me life.
So, what does all that have to do with St. Andrew and our life together? I have been in ministry almost 30 years now, and that has given me a lot of opportunity to see the church at its worst and see the church at its best. I truly believe that we have been so blessed here at St. Andrew that over and over again we are seeing lives changed and we are seeing new life breathed into the meaning of Church. People come through our doors with such hunger for God, looking for meaning and purpose in their life, looking for spiritual guidance for their youth and children. People come because we have a reputation for being open and accepting. People come because they have seen us as a light shining in the community and they want to be a part of that light. People come because we are reshaping the concept of what the Church can be for the future. That is an incredible opportunity and an awesome responsibility. In size and worship attendance, in service and ministry, churches like St. Andrew represent 1% of the congregations in United Methodism. There are not that many other United Methodist churches, in scope, doing what we are doing. We have a lot to share.
We have started to become a "teaching church" not only for our congregation but a teaching church for our denomination. We co-hosted the Large Church Initiative for our denomination three years ago and many from our staff were asked to present workshops at this year's conference in Orlando, Florida. It really is happening, and here is something that is happening that we never planned or anticipated! This congregation is literally exploding with persons who want to be in ministry and who will be leaders in the future of our denomination because they were nurtured and encouraged and called into ministry in this place. In your bulletin is the beginning of a list of persons from St. Andrew who have recently felt called to a life of ministry and service within the Church. And this list is limited to those recently graduated or currently attending seminary or beginning seminary in the near future. There could be another list, of the Cindy Klicks and the Christy Boyles and Melanie Rowlisons and many others on our staff who were not necessarily called into ordained ministry but who have given their lives to the ministry for which they have been called, because of the care and nurture they have found in this congregation. There have been many before and I am certain there will be many others to follow. These words of witness on this sheet make me smile and give me tremendous encouragement for the church of tomorrow. When I get ready to pass the baton to those coming after me I will be so grateful that there is a congregation like St. Andrew playing such an important role in people's lives.
On that same insert you will see the sentence from our United Methodist Book of Discipline that says, "The Mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ" And, "Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs." I believe that is truly happening in this place.
As we look to St. Andrew's future, with God's grace the possibilities are endless. Not all of us are called for fulltime ministry in the Church, but all of us are called to a ministry of outreaching love to one another and the world. St. Andrew has proven to be a place that teaches us and nurtures us and sends us out to be the mind and heart of Christ and I pray that continues to happen long after I am gone.
Our current dream for St. Andrew is about additional space to do what I believe we do so well. Additional space for worship and education and music and the arts and office space and parking is so much more than bricks and mortar and concrete. It is the space to hold and nurture the lives of the leaders of the church of Jesus Christ for today and for tomorrow.
I want to ask Stacy Spehn to come and share with us and invite any others whose words are listed here to come and stand with her.
I first want to give you a bit of my background at St. Andrew. I have been an Associate Director of Music at St. Andrew for the past 12 years - having the privilege of working with youth and children. I was in my 20's when I came here. I was one of those people that would say, "I'm spiritual, not religious." I was a bit suspicious of organized religion. (And, at times, I still am.)
After 9 years of working at St. Andrew, I decided to become a member. I couldn't help but see peoples' lives changing around me. They would come alive by joining a Disciple class, singing in the choir or being challenged by a sermon. Mission trips, support groups, and fellowship groups were holy ground for the people who participated in them. This was (and is) truly a center for people to come and learn to be disciple of Christ - in their own way and in their own time. After reading Marcus Borg's Heart of Christianity" and being part of the church-wide study which involved over 400 people, I realized that I was not such a "misfit" here at St. Andrew. It was time to bloom where I was planted.
I started doing what I saw many of you doing - I took Disciple classes, centering prayer, a bunch of other wonderful things and then began to facilitate classes in spiritual growth. It has been a true joy to see people open up to a deeper relationship with God, themselves and those around them. I have been challenged and loved inside these walls of St. Andrew. This atmosphere seems to continually whisper "reach higher - come on - Love, as best you can - reach for the brightest light within - and share it with others." Actually, the whisper has gotten a lot louder for me lately. After a couple of years of toying around with the idea of going to seminary, I have decided to take the plunge and apply to Iliff School of Theology. It feels like a leap of faith. If I am accepted, I am planning on going part-time for the next several years, while still working at St. Andrew. My St. Andrew family has played a big part in helping me reach this decision.
As we prepare to expand these walls so that we can reach other with the love of Christ, I hope that we will continue to be a community where those hearing that whisper will receive encouragement and support. My prayer is that this can be a place where people can learn to listen, discern and find the courage to act upon God's call.
Many of us are hearing a call to go outside these walls and deepen our commitment to the church and our own faith development. This is happening in a relatively short time period. It is extraordinary! But, then again, I hardly think we can call St. Andrew "ordinary."
"Dreams, we all have dreams, what we can be, what we can do. Lord, with all we are, we pray that our dreams will lead us, will lead us to you."