"Blessings in the Night" Genesis 32: 22-31 and Matthew 14: 13-21 Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA 13 Aug 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------- Genesis 32: 22-31 (NRSV) The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob?s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ?Let me go, for the day is breaking.? But Jacob said, ?I will not let you go, unless you bless me.? So he said to him, ?What is your name?? And he said, ?Jacob.? Then the man* said, ?You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,* for you have striven with God and with humans,* and have prevailed.? Then Jacob asked him, ?Please tell me your name.? But he said, ?Why is it that you ask my name?? And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel,* saying, ?For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.? The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. --------------------------------------------------------------- Matthew 14: 13-21(NRSV) Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ?This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.? Jesus said to them, ?They need not go away; you give them something to eat.? They replied, ?We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.? And he said, ?Bring them here to me.? Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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A very special episode. Katie's first sermon delivered on another continent! AFRICA.

SPECIAL EPISODE: The Wedding Ceremony of Katie's longtime friends, Meghann and Jaakan. Available only on iTunes by subscription

John 20:1-18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ?They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.? Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus? head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look* into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ?Woman, why are you weeping?? She said to them, ?They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.? When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ?Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ?Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.? Jesus said to her, ?Mary!? She turned and said to him in Hebrew,* ?Rabbouni!? (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ?Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ?I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.? ? Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ?I have seen the Lord?; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Welcome to another episode in the podcast of Rev. Katie Givens Kime. Again, I'm Katie's geeky, proud husband, and I keep this podcast organized and available for friends, family and anyone who's curious to hear... Today's episode features the recording of Katie's installation service at Trinity Presbyterian Church. This service was held in conjunction with Trinity's 11am worship service on March 12, 2006. At the risk of stating the obvious, an installation service is what takes place after the church has elected a new church leader. This, in itself is a multi-faceted process, but after this process has run its course, it is celebrated and confirmed by an installation service. The first voice you will hear on this episode is of Senior Pastor Scott Black Johnston, followed by Trinity Members Jim Stokes, and Jamie Brownlee. Then a prayer by Trinity's executive pastor David Burns and a charge to Katie by Rev. Dr. Margaret Towner. This episode is concluded by a charge to the congregation by the Rev Leah Horton Ok, let's get this started, here now is the installation service of Rev. Katie Givens Kime in Trinity Presbyterian Church of Atlanta GA on Sunday March 12, 2006

For those of you that are new to the ordination process a pastor goes through, I know I certainly was, years of seminary, chapin training, church internships, call discernment, and finally the accepting of a pastoral position, all end with an ordination ceremony. In the Presbyterian Church USA where Katie is ordained, the ceremonies usually, but not always, contain a sermon, a charge, a laying on of hands, and many prayers for the person being ordained. It also includes a number of vows to which the pastor will be held throughout their career. The ordination ceremony usually takes place at the home presbytery of the person to be ordained, in Katie's case this is the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ordination ceremony is then followed by an installation ceremony at the church of call. in Katie's case this is Trinity Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Georgia. There a re a few more things about this episode that may be of interest. First, this podcast is only available for playback in iTunes. This is because this podcast is enhanced with pictures, chapters and website links. To view this material, make sure you have the picture or "album art" window open in iTunes. you may also jump to any chapter by utilizing the chapter list found at the top of the iTunes interface to the right of the main title window. It's small but it's there. Here now is the ordination ceremony of Rev. Katie Givens Kime, taking place on Feb 5th 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo Michigan.

"Believing God" Jonah 3:1 - 4:4 Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA 29 Jan 2006 ----------------------------------------------------- Jonah 3:1 - 4:4 (NSRV) The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 ?Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.? 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days? walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day?s walk. And he cried out, ?Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!? 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ?By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. 8 Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.? 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2He prayed to the Lord and said, ?O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and aboundin in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. 3And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.? 4And the Lord said, ?Is it right for you to be angry??

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"Being Known" Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 John 1:43-45 First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, MI 15 Jan 2006 ----------------------------------------------------- Psalm 139 (NRSV) To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. 1O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. 5You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. ----------------------------------------------------- John 1:43-51 (NRSV) 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ?Follow me.? 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ?We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.? 46 Nathanael said to him, ?Can anything good come out of Nazareth?? Philip said to him, ?Come and see.? 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ?Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!? 48 Nathanael asked him, ?Where did you come to know me?? Jesus answered, ?I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.? 49 Nathanael replied, ?Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!? 50 Jesus answered, ?Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.? 51 And he said to him, ?Very truly, I tell you,* you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.?

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"What You Did to Deserve This" Matthew 22:1-10 Marble Collegiate Church, New York City, NY 12 Oct 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- Matthew 22:1-10 (NRSV) 22: 1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2?The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ?Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.? 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ?The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.? 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. ----------------------------------------------------- Context: I have loved getting to know the Marble community through my interim position coordinating young adult ministry at Marble Church, so preaching at the Wednesday Worship ("WeWo") evening service was a special pleasure. Truly the only one of its kind in New York City, the contemporary mid-week service at Marble Church combines the open and affirming Christian identity of the congregation with its spirit of innovation, projecting art and lyrics onto a 20-foot screen installed in the otherwise traditional sanctuary. A gospel-praise style band, led by Mark Miller, injects energy and inspiration into the service, and an unconventionally intimate and moving style of communion is included each week. My husband Haddon Givens Kime, employed as the WeWo Multimedia Director at Marble (also designer of this website!), projected images throughout the sermon. Rev. David Lewicki served as liturgist and presided over communion.

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"God's Buried Treasure" Matthew 13:44-46 The Bowery Mission, New York City, NY 25 July 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- Matthew 13:44-46 (NRSV) 44 ?The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 ?Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie is always honored to preach at The Bowery Mission, given its long history of outreach and action in helping ease and end poverty in New York City. (see context for 1/25/04 sermon)

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"Secrets, Parables, and What Jesus Didn't Say" Matthew 13:24-43 St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NY 17 July 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- Matthew 13:24-43 (NRSV) 24 He put before them another parable: ?The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ?Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?? 28He answered, ?An enemy has done this.? The slaves said to him, ?Then do you want us to go and gather them?? 29But he replied, ?No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.? ? 31 He put before them another parable: ?The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.? 33 He told them another parable: ?The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with* three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.? 34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:* ?I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.?* 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ?Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.? 37He answered, ?The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen! ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Rev. Dr. Eugene Callender and Katie's dear friend and colleague, Rev. Mieke Vandersall, graciously welcomed Katie to the pulpit of St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem. Despite the steamy mid-summer city heat, the Holy Spirit was alive and present as it always is at St. James, through tremendous gospel music and warm fellowship. St. James is the oldest African-American Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, founded in 1895. It has occupied its current building since 1927 when the original St. James Presbyterian Church joined the "flight of the white" out of Harlem and left the building vacant. Its membership peaked just before World War II with some 4,000 people attending. Following the War with the upward social mobility of educated Black and the increasing influx of immigrants from the South, St. James membership began a steady decline until finally in the year 2002 when its pastor, The Rev. Lenton Gunn died, membership dwindled to less than 100. Rev. Dr. Eugene Callender, the current Pastor, was asked to try to rebuild this historic congregation. His first service there had 50 people in attendance. The church now averages 175-225 people a Sunday. New members have joined with the rolls reading 180 and the choir is tremendous, performing frequently within the New York City Presbytery. It has also begun "Project St. James," a community outreach endeavor, which has brought new life to this fellowship of believers.

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Meditation for Good Friday 2005 Luke 23:46 Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, NY 29 Mar 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- Luke 23:46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit. ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie gratefully served at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church of New York City as a seminarian intern from Sep '03 to May '05, in a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. FAPC, considered by many a "flagship" of the PC-USA denomination, is a growing congregation with a surprisingly large percentage of young worshippers and members; the congregation is about 3,800 in membership. Dr. Tom Tewell, head pastor at FAPC, asked Katie to deliver one of the "Seven Words" at the Good Friday noon service, along with Dr. Tewell, Dr. Nora Tubbs Tisdale, Dr. Oscar McCloud, Rev. Jan Ammon, Rev. Randy Weber, and Rev. Paul Rock. A long tradition at FAPC, this service lasts three hours, with many hundreds of worshippers in attendance. Each "Word" delivered was about nine minutes.

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"Who Owns You?" Luke 15:11-32 The Bowery Mission, New York City, NY 23 Jan 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the Prodigal Son (NRSV) 11 Then Jesus* said, ?There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ?Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.? So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with* the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ?How many of my father?s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ?Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.? ? 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ?Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.?* 22 But the father said to his slaves, ?Quickly, bring out a robe?the best one?and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!? And they began to celebrate. 25 ?Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ?Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.? 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ?Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!? 31 Then the father* said to him, ?Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.? ? ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie is always honored to preach at The Bowery Mission, given its long history of outreach and action in helping ease and end poverty in New York City. (see context for 1/25/04 sermon) On this particular January evening, a large snowstorm was just finishing pounding many inches of snow onto New York City streets, but that didn?t seem to dampen the spirits of all the men who packed into the pews that cold night.The FAPC Confirmation Class led the liturgy and music in the service, to which the congregation responded with long and enthusiastic applause. Maybe it was the youthful energy in the chapel, or cabin fever, or the Holy Spirit! The main challenge of the sermon was finding new meaning in a well-known biblical story.

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"Kings, Empires, and How a Baby Changed Everything" Matthew 2:13-23 First Presbyterian Church, Richland, MI 26 Dec 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- Matthew 2:13-23 (NSRV) 13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ?Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.? 14 Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ?Out of Egypt I have called my son.? 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,* he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.* 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18? A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.? 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 ?Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child?s life are dead.? 21 Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ?He will be called a Nazorean.? ----------------------------------------------------- Context: On the snowy Sunday morning just after Christmas, Rev. Mark Jennings and Rev. Ericka Parkinson graciously welcomed Katie to the pulpit of First Presbyterian Church of Richland. A historic church (one of the first in Michigan), FPC sits in the center of the village of Richland (pop. 600) just outside the City of Kalamazoo. About 60 worshippers filled the sanctuary that morning. This was also the sermon on which Katie was formally examined by the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.

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"Finding False Prophets" Jeremiah 23:23-29 First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, MI 14 Aug 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- Jeremiah 23:23-29 (NRSV) 23 Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ?I have dreamed, I have dreamed!? 26 How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back?those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? 27 They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Kalamazoo (Katie's hometown) is a mid-sized Midwestern city with a marked university presence and pharmaceutical industry; this city of about 75,000 sits halfway between Chicago and Detroit. Kalamazoo currently faces some economic downturn common to American cities its size. FPC Kzoo is a congregation of about 1200 members, mostly affluent, white, well-educated, politically diverse (though with a progressive history), active in social justice initiatives, hosting a large and acclaimed health clinic for the uninsured of southwest Michigan. The specific temporal context for this sermon was near the end of summer. Many in the congregation know Katie well: she spent her middle and high school days in this congregation, she was ordained an elder here, her family plays an active role in the life of the church, and she is under care of this congregation and presbytery as a Candidate seeking ordination. Several members attending FPC on this August Sunday also knew Katie was returning from her travels to General Assembly (as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate) and to various interfaith projects in Europe (via her Ministry Fellowship from the Fund for Theological Education).

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Meditation for Good Friday 2004 John 19: 26-27 (Third Word) Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, NY 9 Apr 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- John 19: 26-27 (NRSV) 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ?Woman, here is your son.? 27 Then he said to the disciple, ?Here is your mother.? And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie gratefully served at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church of New York City as a seminarian intern from Sep '03 to May '05, in a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. FAPC, considered by many a "flagship" of the PC-USA denomination, is a growing congregation with a surprisingly large percentage of young worshippers and members; the congregation is about 3,800 in membership. Dr. Tom Tewell, head pastor at FAPC, asked Katie to deliver one of the "Seven Words" at the Good Friday noon service, along with Dr. Tewell, Dr. Nora Tubbs Tisdale, Dr. Oscar McCloud, Rev. Jan Ammon, Rev. Randy Weber, and Parish Associate Rev. Nancy Ledger. A long tradition at FAPC, this service lasts three hours, with many hundreds of worshippers in attendance. Each "Word" delivered was about nine minutes.

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Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession Fifth Ave Presbyterian Church, New York City, NY 15 Feb 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie served at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church of New York City as a seminarian intern since Sep 03, in a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. FAPC, considered by many a "flagship" of the PC-USA denomination, is a growing congregation with a surprisingly large percentage of young worshippers and members; the congregation is about 3,800 in membership. Much was happening at FAPC the day Katie offered this Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession. Dr. Tewell was preaching on 1 Samuel 1:1-20, the story of Hannah's barren womb. "Barren" seemed a good way to describe the mood of the congregation's life at that particular moment. Bitter, dismal, windy weather had bitten down on the city for weeks. Historically, pastoral care needs at FAPC hit high points during the month of February. For many months now, FAPC had been worshipping outside of its home during some major reconstruction, at Central Synagogue, and everyone felt the weariness of so much relocation. As if all that weren't enough, it was Valentine's Day weekend, and this is a congregation nearly 2/3 "single." In such a context, this lengthy prayer (though Thanksgiving prayers are usually long at FAPC) seemed fitting.

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"Fighting with God" Genesis 32: 22-31 The Bowery Mission, New York City, NY 25 Jan 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- Genesis 32: 22-31 (NRSV) 22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob?s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, ?Let me go, for the day is breaking.? But Jacob said, ?I will not let you go, unless you bless me.? 27 So he said to him, ?What is your name?? And he said, ?Jacob.? 28 Then the man* said, ?You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,* for you have striven with God and with humans,* and have prevailed.? 29 Then Jacob asked him, ?Please tell me your name.? But he said, ?Why is it that you ask my name?? And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,* saying, ?For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.? 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. ----------------------------------------------------- Context: Katie is always honored to preach at The Bowery Mission, given its long history of outreach and action in helping ease and end poverty in New York City. In January 2004, New York City suffered particularly punishing record temperature low's -- the local news was full of warnings about the dangers of exposure. This particular Sunday night was no exception. The pews and balcony were all packed beyond capacity for the weekly Sunday night worship service. Nearly all those at the Bowery Mission are men, largely African-American. Rhetorically, several difficult elements faced the preacher: many (most?) of the men would be turned outside following the worship service and dinner meal, since the bed capacity at the Bowery is very limited. Near the very pulpit where the sermon was preached, a list of names would be read of those who would and would not get a bed that night. Certain identifying marks of gender, class, and race stood as potential roadblocks to Katie's preaching as well: as a young, white, female face preaching in front of them, some sort of trust had to be established. Many of the men do not necessarily want to be in the worship service, but it is obligatory for receiving the meal. Given the grueling and extreme conditions of that cold January night, and the particular way the Holy Spirit moved through the body of Christ present in that cramped sanctuary, Katie stayed for quite awhile after the service, praying with many of the men individually. It was definitely a transformational evening for everyone -- including the preacher.

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"Saying Goodbye to Mana" Psalm 111:1-10 John 6:51-58 First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, MI 17 Aug 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL NOTE: This is a recording of Katie's first sermon spoken to any congregation on a Sunday morning. It took place at her home church, First Presbyterian in Kalamazoo. -Haddon Givens Kime ----------------------------------------------------- Psalm 111 (NRSV) 1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3Full of honour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever. 4He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. 6He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8They are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is his name. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practise it* have a good understanding. His praise endures for ever. ----------------------------------------------------- John 6:51-58 (NRSV) 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.? 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ?How can this man give us his flesh to eat?? 53 So Jesus said to them, ?Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.?

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