“State of the Church 2010”:  Sermon Power Point (sans photos)                 January 10, 2010
Luke 3:  15–17; 21–22; Isaiah 43:  1–7; 18–19                                          The Rev. Dr. Beth Braxton

From its beginning our church logo has been – “Behold I am doing a new thing, do you not perceive it?” Sometimes we do perceive it and sometimes not. But this year God has definitely been doing new things through you! Visuals help us to see some things and other things we have to see with our hearts.

Winter, spring, summer, fall – much happens in the life of our church in one calendar year! And 2009 was no exception!

Today is baptism Sunday and we are reminded that in our baptism, we are named and claimed by God; we affirm that we are beloved children of God and have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, marked as Christ’s own forever, that indeed our first and primary vocation is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Burke Presbyterian Church is where we begin to learn of discipleship and to live out that discipleship. Our mission statement exemplifies the centrality of this primary vocation that, as we grow both in years and in depth, we are becoming more mature disciples of Jesus Christ, learners of his way of love, sacrifice, forgiveness and peace through Sabbath worship and quiet, through study of God’s word in classes, small groups, circles and through service, in giving of ourselves to meet the needs of the hurting and helpless.

We are a healthy, vibrant church which can be seen in the various on-going ministries:
-- Worship which invites us into the eternal purposes of God’s kingdom;
-- Youth musical – this year “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” where we all experience God’s story of provision;
-- IMPACT Choir Tour where we know our young people are learning to give of themselves as Jesus taught;
-- Rainbow where God’s love for children is manifest;
-- Snacks and backpacks where children can experience living room help with homework when their parents are not available;
-- Interfaith dialogue group, Peace by Piece with our Jewish friends from congregation Adat Reyim and Muslim friends of Rumi Forum;
-- Bethany Christmas stockings, a gift of grace for those without permanent places to rest.

And we took in 43 new members this year to be a part of this ministry and to bring new gifts and ideas!

But 2009 also brought some new events:
--19 small groups all studying Unbinding the Heart during Lent, to learn together how to tell our stories of God’s grace;
-- “A Little Night Music” E-vent Musical Celebration for community where the gift of music given by our accompanist and the youth choir inspired us all!
-- New Discipleship class of Bible study started Fall of 2009 – an opportunity to grow in knowledge about the BOOK that leads us in faith and life;
-- New Prayer Ministry Team providing prayer each Sunday after worship in the meditation room, to experience the care of God’s presence in all things;
-- New group started needle point kneelers for worship ordination and confirmation services;
-- An All-Church Picnic with outdoor worship;
-- VBS leadership team were invited to Virginia Theological Seminary to the Center for Education where our Director of Children's Ministry was panelist to speak about our homemade Vacation Bible School curriculum based on Godly Play principles;
-- 21-year Partnership with Kibwezi where the maturity of mission efforts has been miraculous and life giving;
- New One Laptop per Child computers being used in Snacks and Backpacks tutoring program;
-- First Communications Fair and a great Burke Fall Festival display;
-- New re-do of the main office and the Associate Pastor’s office to give a fresh welcoming space for our two fantastic office personnel and Pastoral Associate to work and minister to others;
-- New Class room Trailer installed and almost ready for ministry.

Notably growing and deepening ministries were:
-- The Godly Play Leadership
-- The College ministry, a group of 14 just returned from a Montreat Conference for college students
-- The chancel choir and other music groups

Truly it is strong lay leadership that sees the value of a spiritual home at this corner of Burke Centre Parkway and Oak Leather Drive makes it all happen at Burke:  snow removers, leaders, catalysts, beautifiers, doers, note takers, number crunchers, deacons and Stephen Ministers, and YOU (I just didn’t have a photo of each of you!)

As you are open to the gift given in baptism of God’s grace and Holy Spirit; God is going to do far more than we can think or imagine!

As Head-of-Staff I want to note significant staff changes this year. We were all delighted to welcome our new Office Administrator in January. Our sexton of many years, our sexton took a three month paternity leave to go back to Ghana; we received a resignation letter from him a couple of weeks before he was to return saying that he had decided to stay in Ghana. By the end of summer we contracted with Se-Len Janitorial Services and are grateful for the work of Leonard and Joe on a regular basis. Our treasurer resigned in early summer and her replacement began in the position in September. Our Director of Music Ministry went on a three-month maternity leave at the end of August and sadly our Associate Pastor of six years, Rev. MaryAnn Dana, put in her resignation effective the end of September (officially Oct.15).

When I returned from Kenya the first of August, and MaryAnn informed me that she was accepting a call – to be solo pastor of the Idylwood Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, I selfishly thought BUT we are just getting this three-pastor rhythm down. It was just one year and six months after the new half time arrangement had been set up at her request! But I knew that Rev. MaryAnn was definitely ready to take her own church. She is very competent and a good teacher and preacher.

At that point the session was faced with the situation where we have a half time Pastoral Associate whom the congregation loves and a half time vacant position. So, does the church now call a permanent half time Associate Pastor or call a full time Associate (then what about Deryl –can we afford him too? Don’t want to loose his pastoral skills!) The questions do not stop there. When is Beth going to retire? This was described in the Pastoral Review report last year, as well as by the Personnel Committee, as the “Elephant in the room!” Then what about Director of Children’s Ministries – and likewise the Director of Music Ministries – they are both excellent; and members of the church have been asking when we are going to bring them on full time. We want them to stay!

The issue of retirement has been weighing on my heart and mind. To early inquirers – (over the last three years) I always said that I wanted to get the third wing built on the building first and that I would not before age 67, which seemed far away. (Last month I turned 66!). Well the economic downturn has just about silenced talk of Phase III building. I wonder whether all of you are going to be up for a building campaign in the next couple of years? I definitely intend for us to get a Planning Team in place to begin doing some 20/20 visioning about the future ministry of the church. (Considering how long it took to get the trailer – it might take ten years if we started tomorrow!!!)

I want to retire at a good time for the church. I do not have another call at this time and I must admit I still feel called here at BPC, especially to lesser things than building a 3-6 million dollar addition on the church. There are things I would like to see finished: much of it infra-structure like a time and talent data computerized and volunteer coordinator in place, complete with booklet of all ministry offerings, elder handbook complete, website in tip top shape and inter-active, yes, and quality projection screens here in the sanctuary. Then there is an outdoor peace garden to be created, and the historic grave yard formalized in our landscape plan. I would like to lead another Retreat on Call. The major ministry I would like to see grow at BPC is the ChristCare small group program. I would like to see 60% of the congregation in small groups (maybe that is another S for our mission statement for the next couple of years is Becoming Disciples through Sabbath, Study Service and Small Groups).

I know I have really given my heart and soul and God has provided many fruits in the last 25 years. But it is time to think about other creative leadership to take Burke Presbyterian Church from here into the future. So Oprah Winfrey and I are retiring by the end of 2012. (Oprah up staged me with her announcement one day before I announced it to the session.)

So what to do about our Associate Pastor position? I went to our Presbytery executive, Wilson Gunn who is familiar with our church to discuss out staffing situation. His suggestion was to draw up some scenarios for the elders to ponder within the limits of the budget. Dr. Gunn came out to Burke on a Saturday to facilitate a process of decision making. I presented these three scenarios:

One proposal was to just replace the part-time Associate position;

A second proposal was to call a full time Associate;
A third proposal was to call a–co-pastor, which Dr. Gunn had suggested.

In that Saturday meeting I felt the movement of the Spirit as a fourth scenario was presented and began to bubble to the top – that was to leave the pastoral staff as is – with myself and Deryl – and to bring Julianne and Arlene on full time and BJ Postlewaite with four more hours, or three full days. After doing cost analysis of each of these scenarios, the fourth was chosen. This fourth scenario not only affirmed the quality staff that we have already with Arlene coordinating adult classes on Sunday, Julianne doing worship planning and administration and BJ doing communications, but this staff arrangement minimizes the number of transitions for head-of–staff and the congregation. This staff arrangement will be more fully explained at the Annual Meeting this afternoon.

Every new beginning begins with an ending. As we are still moving through the stages of grief with Rev. MaryAnn’s leaving; we know this ending has opened up a new beginning. “Behold I am doing a new thing, do you not perceive it?” says our God!

Each of us has been baptized and therefore each of us has a calling by God in this community of faith and beyond, to live out the way of Jesus Christ – who challenges us every step of the journey to be about building the kingdom of love and hope – nothing is more needed in the world today!

On Friday I saw two groups here quietly doing just that! A group gathered discussing children 6,000 miles away, two of whom are graduating from high school and who have no parental guidance, no trust fund to get them through college. But they do have the love and trust of the Tumaini ministry at the Kibwezi Educational Centre because this Orphan Care Committee keeps on keeping on when the journey seems awfully steep.

The Tree House Ministry fellowship dinner pictured here provides a place to belong and laugh and share together with other persons who are living with some difficult and trying emotional and physical challenges. Here they experience together a bit of God’s kingdom of love and hope!

What a privilege in 2010 to be about the work of discipleship to Jesus Christ, who can make a way out of no way in the mire of our selfishness, pain, and violence in this world! What a privilege in 2010 to be a part of the baptized community of Jesus Christ whose love and forgiveness makes us whole!

Thanks be to God!

Every new beginning begins with an ending.
Reading The Emergent Church by Phyllis Tickle