5/31/20 “Because Adolescence is Primed for Pentecost” by Bryan Lee

Acts 2:1-21

Graduate Recognition

This is that time of year where I try to shove my emotions down and not feel them. It’s the time of year when I look at a handful of teenagers that this church has loved well and I have come to call my own, and wish them well, give blessings, and challenge them in their futures. Like every class that moves beyond this youth ministry, they will be deeply missed. And, graduates, just in case you haven’t gotten the message over the last 3 years I’ve been here, I will always be there for you. This youth ministry will always be yours and this congregation will always be your loving and supportive home. 

As our graduates leave, we give two gifts. One, a pencil sketch of their senior photo that will also hang on the wall in the youth space. And Two, a copy of our scriptures. But we also send you with a blessing.

Skylar – Your resolve in the face of so much adversity is inspiring. May your quiet strength and deep thinking mind take you all the places you want to go in life. And may no one…ever…succeed in trying to bury the true, divine self that lies within. 

MerriAlice – Your warm hugs and bright smile can dissolve the hardest of emotions. May your outlook on life, honesty about who you are, and sense of compassion never fade away. And may no one…ever…succeed in trying to bury the true, divine self that lies within. 

Malcom – The joy that you bring to any room you enter is intoxicating and contagious. May your sense of humor, tender heart, and inquisitive mind continue to bring new life to those willing to soak it all in. And may no one…ever…succeed in trying to bury the true, divine self that lies within. 

Noelle – That sweet, gentle spirit combined with a tenacity and drive is stunning. May your contributions to this world continue to make it a better place for us all to live. And may no one…ever…succeed in trying to bury the true, divine self that lies within. 

Parents of these graduates, may you send your children into this next chapter of their life journey with all the confidence in the world that they know they are loved deeply by their parents and faith community. That they have everything they need to thrive. May you restrain yourself when you want to jump in and fix everything. May you hold them physically and emotionally when they need it and allow yourselves to be held every time you realize that the child with boo boos and a chocolate covered face is out there, without your protection. 

May all of you lean heavily on this community that has loved you and supported you through the years. We love you

And now a challenge for you and the rest of our youth.

Sermon

Because Adolescence is Primed for Pentecost

But let’s start at birth, shall we. 

Lisa Gungor writes in her book, The Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Seen, the story of her daughter, Lucy being defined at birth. You see, all the dreams and stories Lisa had written in her head about who her daughter would be and how she would act and relate to her older sister were promptly erased when the nurse looked at her in the delivery room and told her that her daughter displayed characteristics and symptoms of down syndrome. That two word definition of who her daughter was drastically changed. EVERYTHING. She panicked over what life would be like and what hardships she would face and the pain of being picked on. But it all seemed to fade when she held Lucy in her arms, skin to skin, nursing.

Lisa, like all parents, realizes that this little human is a miracle and is dependent on you. And as they grow, you get used to being there for them and them trusting you. Then, it starts. That two letter word. “NO”. They defy you. Question you. Then, they realize they are capable of decision making without you. Then, they start thinking their decisions are better decisions (and sometimes they are, and that scares you).

It’s during adolescence that these tiny chocolate cake covered humans begin to detach. They begin making a life for themselves. Socially, they are more defined by their friends than they are their families. time with friends fires the same signals in the brain that nursing did as an infant. Religiously, they question everything. As a church, we can nurture that or squash it.

Their identity is beginning to take shape. Neurons being rewired to accommodate new information in an ever expanding universe of ideas. This is why every wild idea about what could be should be heard by the people that love them. Every possibility of a new world, a new way of being, a new method of doing. Because the second we deny their reality and belittle their imagination, we stick a knife in the heart of the next generation.

Our teenagers are primed to be set on fire. 

Now, let me speak directly to our teenagers. We are in the midst of tremendous change. The swirling winds of change around us is not something to be afraid of. It’s not a storm raging, it is spirit moving and you have a choice. You can hunker down in your bed with the blanket pulled over your head. Wait for it all to end. And then emerge to the same world that you saw when you starting hiding. Or, you can allow spirit to breathe fresh life into you and this world around you. Rise to your feet. And proclaim the good news. 

Will you be the generation that rises to your feet and says:

No more racism and bigotry in the white house! Or the house chambers, or the senate chambers, or the nc general assembly, or the school board, or county commissioners, or in pulpits and principal’s offices. And certainly not on the police force. 

Will you be the generation that finally grows sick of watching your friends be called names because of the color of their skin, who they love, or their gender identity.

Will you be the generation that ends black and brown people dying in the streets at the hands of police officers who go largely unpunished.

Will you be the generation that demands clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a future for generations to come…for all people, not just rich white people. 

Will you start by calling out the classmate who says a racist or homophobic slur?

Will you start by standing up for the quiet kid who everyone picks on. 

Will you start by using the recycling and compost bins.

Will you take ownership in how your school treats minority classmates by relentlessly naming the injustices to those in authority.

Will you ask every gun owner if their right to bear arms is more precious than your life while trying to get an education.

Will you listen for the cry of the oppressed marching in the streets, and the moaning of mother earth.

Will you choose to be filled, stand and proclaim. Or will you sit down, in your bed, pull the blanket over your head, and ignore it all.

YOU. You are primed for pentecost. And may the fires of pentecost rising in you burn down the barriers to justice, equality, and freedom. 

You are not the future of the church, you are the church. You are not future leaders, you are leaders.

On the day of pentecost, the church was given new life and things drastically changed. It’s been a while since a generation of young people changed things. Right now, there seems to be more chaos than we’ve seen in a long time.

Will you listen? Will you rise, be filled, and speak? I know you can. And there are those of us old people who will be right there beside you, encouraging you;

Because I can relate to Lisa Gungor being deathly terrified of her daughter’s condition ending her sweet life. I was in the same place when my baby girl was born; deathly terrified she had the same condition that took the life of my 7 week old niece. What I cannot relate to or even begin to fathom, is looking at my sweet baby boy and wondering if the color of his skin will be the reason he suffers and possibly dies at the hands of a white man charged with protecting the public. Something has to give. 

May we seek Shalom.