Oh, how the Church needs more days like today! Days when we turn our attention to the peculiar way that the Kingdom of God comes to this world—to be reminded how Jesus began his ministry on this earth ushering in the reign of God creating a new world where the poor are blessed, those who hunger and thirst for justice are filled, the lowly are lifted up, and the mighty are cast down from their thrones.
As the Lord and Savior of the world, the Son of the Most High, the Alpha and the Omega, the eternal Word who became flesh, the One through all things came into being, did Jesus do it all by himself?
I suppose an argument could be made that he certainly could have. But instead, Jesus gets the kingdom started by going out, finding, and calling people like me and you, people who were just minding their business one day, mending their nets or sitting in a tax booth, or on a camping trip with friends (I’ll talk more about that a little later), calling people who had very little idea of who Jesus was and where Jesus was taking them. Yet, this is how God works in our world. It is the way God has always worked. God works in the world by calling others to do the work.
In Genesis, we read that God creates the world: the mountains and the seas; the valleys and streams; every animal, every living thing in the water, in the air and on the land; the sun, moon, stars and all that lies beyond. Then, God creates human beings, gives them a garden that has enough to feed the world, and calls them, all of them, male and female, to look after it, protect it, tend to it, and share it.
It is as if God says: “You know, I have really enjoyed creating all the beauty and order in this world. Of course, I could take care of it all myself. I could work to make sure all are able not to just survive but to thrive from the bounty of this creation, but I want to see you do it.”
Likewise, Jesus comes into the world making all things new, creating, recreating, reordering, ushering in the Kingdom of God. He touches and heals, welcomes, includes, advocates, and forgives. He turns water into a whole lot of wine and a small basket of food into a great feast that feeds everyone with leftovers, all as a sign of that Kingdom of God is here and there is grace enough and mercy enough and nourishment enough for all. He redeems and restores the lives of the lost, the poor and the marginalized. He chastises judgmental religion, challenges systems of oppression, and exorcises demonic forces that exclude, devalue, and dehumanize.
And then it is as if he says: “You know, I’ve enjoyed doing the holy work of God, demonstrating the reality of God’s reign in this world, but now, it’s your turn. I am calling you to do my work in the world.”
Just as God called people like Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, Ruth and Jeremiah, Samuel and Deborah, Mary Magdalene and John the Baptizer, Paul and Pricilla, God called a young man living in Huntsville, Alabama who liked to blaze trails as a Boy Scout and as a member of the youth group of First Christian Church. On a camping trip with his friends, it was his friends who first told Ken Burger he should go into the ministry. Like Samuel who soon learned it was not Eli calling, but it was actually God calling him, Ken learned that it wasn’t just his friends calling that day, as he later announced to a surprised family that he was called by God to vocational ministry.
After graduating from the University of Alabama, Ken attended the Lexington Theological Seminary and was ordained into the ministry, 50 years ago this August.
After seminary, Ken says he was surprised when he was called to serve as a pastor of a church in Girard, Illinois. But that is how the call of God usually comes– as a surprise. We are awakened from sleep in the middle of the night like Samuel, or we’re busy at work like the Twelve, or we’re camping in the woods, sitting on the porch, or driving in our car, and out of nowhere, the call come. It’s inexplicable, yet real; incredulous, yet convincing. And no matter how hard we might try, there is no shaking it, and certainly no ignoring it.
After serving that church for 3 years, Ken accepted a call to serve as Associate Minister, 40 miles away in Jacksonville. Then 2 years later he resigned and returned to Girard to start a new ministry, one that lasted 8 years.
Ken says that he remained on the “mission field” of the Midwest for 12 years before moving to Virginia in 1986 where he accepted a call to serve with Bedford Christian Church, a ministry which lasted 8 ½ years.
During those years, he, Marilyn Taylor, and David Herrick sensed a call minister to Senior Adults. One day, they met on the campus of Lynchburg College to explore possibilities together. This is when Ken learned that when God calls, God often calls us to do some pretty big things.
I think we sometimes overlook Jesus’ call of the disciples. For what did he call them to do? Sit on a pew every Sunday? Sing, pray, listen to a sermon, try to be a good person? Maybe attend a ministry team meeting every now and again or join a book study?
No, they were called to do what Jesus did. Nothing too big mind you. Just your ordinary raising of the dead. Just your routine healing of a disease. Just your typical demon exorcism sort-of-thing. They were called by Jesus to do big things that change the world.
Ken understood this, that God calls us to dream and to dream big. And bringing big dreams to life takes time and a lot of patience, for that one meeting at the University of Lynchburg led to a task force that met for 7 years.
Then, in 1995, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Virginia called Ken to serve on the Regional staff as Project Director for the new ministry. Ken says: “Our own Herb Moore and my second-best friend Johnny Loughridge, were a big part of that call, but that’s a story for another time.”
In November 1996, Ken married his first-best friend, Linda. Her children April and Adam became what Ken calls his “bonus” daughter and son, along with 3 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Ken is also a proud Dad to two daughters, Melinda and Stephanie, with whom he enjoys regular Father-Daughter retreats. I believe Ken would say that his role as husband, father and grandfather is his highest calling.
His first Sunday in his new position was when he and Linda were called to joined the First Christian Church of Lynchburg. That was the day he told David Edwards, the senior minister at the time: “I’ve watched this congregation for over 8 years. I want to be part of this.”
Ken’s visionary work with the region led to establishing a joint venture project with Centra and the development of The Summit, where Ken served as Executive Director for 13 years, retiring 8 years ago.
But here’s the thing. Ken never retired from ministry, because Ken understands that the call of God upon people is never silenced. As member of this congregation, Ken continues to say “yes” to the call of God as he faithfully uses his gifts to serve this church, his family and community.
Ken writes: “I love what we are doing here at FCC, for which I am both humbled and proud to be a part.”
Ken Burger, we are grateful that God has called you here. And that you answered that call. And we trust, that wherever you are, even if it is not with us here, that you are there because you are still answering a divine call to love.
Last week, I quoted CS Lewis who described God: “not as a static thing, not even as a person, but as a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama.”
Perhaps one way to describe God is as “a call.” God is a prodding, pulling, provoking, universal force—a beckoning, compelling energy that transcends denominations, religions, and any human construct that tries to define or limit it– calling people to love.
God is a continual call to love in small and big ways that change the world!
The Call to Love is a call to affirm that every person is created in Love’s image to care for, tend to, and share in the diversity and extravagant bounty of creation.
Thus, the Call to Love is a call to favor democracy over dictatorship, a generosity over greed, truth over talking points, and love over fear.
The Call to Love bends the moral arc of the universe towards justice and brings wholeness and peace to a fragmented world.
The Call to Love leads churches to be Open and Affirming of all people, regarding and embracing the wondrous diversity of the human family as a portrait of divinity.
Ken says he “loves being a part of what we are doing here.” I believe Ken is saying that he loves the way he is witnessing people here answering The Call to Love.
Several of you answer The Call to Love every day in your jobs and through volunteerism in your community.
Many of you are answering The Call to Love as you care for members of your family who need you.
Ann Boynton is answering the call to vocational ministry. Several of you are answering the call to serve as elders, deacons, officers and on various ministry teams.
The One Home – One Future Team is answering the call to transform our grounds to model ecological justice.
The Outreach Team is answering a call to serve children, feed the hungry, fight for democracy, and provide equitable access to housing.
The Education Team led by Maria is answering the call to teach and train our children how to answer The Call to Love.
These are serious times. We are living in dangerous days. But the good news is that Love is calling. Love is calling people like you and me and Love is still calling Ken Burger, for the Call to Love can never be silenced. Love is calling us every day to do what we can to make this world more just, equitable and peaceful.
How is Love calling you today?
There is perhaps no more important question. For it is simply the way our God works in this world. Amen.
Just Love 