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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Resources for Proper 13</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew 14:13-21 - "Our Lord’s Abundant Table"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew 14:13-21 - "Finger Food" by Leonard Sweet</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew 14 the<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">,</font></font> sermon title “Our Lord’s Abundant Table" </span>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Charles
Swindoll tells a funny story about a nine-year-old named Danny who came
bursting out of Sunday school like a wild stallion. His eyes were
darting in every direction as he tried to locate either mom or dad.
Finally, after a quick search, he grabbed his Daddy by the leg and
yelled, "Man, that story of Moses and all those people crossing the Red
Sea was great!" His father looked down, smiled, and asked the boy to
tell him about it.<br>
<br>
"Well, the Israelites got out of Egypt, but Pharaoh and his army chased
after them. So the Jews ran as fast as they could until they got to the
Red Sea. The Egyptian Army was gettin' closer and closer. So Moses got
on his walkie-talkie and told the Israeli Air Force to bomb the
Egyptians. While that was happening, the Israeli Navy built a pontoon
bridge so the people could cross over. They made it!<br>
<br>
By now old dad was shocked. "Is THAT the way they taught you the story?"<br>
<br>
Well, no, not exactly," Danny admitted, "but if I told you the way they told it to us, you'd never believe it, Dad."<br>
<br>
With childlike innocence the little guy put his finger on the pulse of
our sophisticated adult world where cool skepticism reigns supreme. It's
more popular to operate in the black-and-white world of facts…and, of
course, to leave no space for the miraculous.<br>
<br>
And so when we read the story of the feeding of the five thousand, we
tend to focus our attention on the question, "Did it really happen?"
There have been a number of attempts to "explain" the miracle. One
attempt says that the people were so moved by Jesus' generosity and the
generosity of the little boy that they brought forth the food they had
hidden under their clothes and in their traveling pouches. This way
everyone was satisfied. Another theory says that the story is not really
talking about physical hunger but spiritual hunger. When the small
amount of food was passed around everyone tore off a minuscule symbolic
fragment. In this Jesus is said to have satisfied the thirst of the soul
not the stomach.<br>
<br>
I think these questions say more about us than they do Jesus. If Jesus
is the Messiah, and I believe he is, then there is no question but that
he performed miracles, and on a regular basis. The point of the story of
feeding of the five thousand is not to prove that miracles happen. The
point of the story is to teach us three things:<br>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Word.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. We Are to Serve at the Table of the Lord.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. We Can Use Our Abilities in Service.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining <a target="_blank" __removedlink__91004704__href="http://www.esermons.com/signup"><font color="#0000ff">http://www.sermons.com/signup</font></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Matthew 14<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">,</font></font> the sermon titled "Finger Food" by Leonard Sweet </span>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sticks,
forks, fingers: the three ways people of the world eat their food. The
majority today still use fingers, as has been the case throughout
history. In fact, forks were unknown until the 10th century. Knives and
spoons only appear in 5th the century. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus ate with his fingers.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We
all still love to eat with our fingers. Ever notice that the first food
to disappear on a buffet table is always the “finger food?” The first
to go are those little bites and nibbles we can pick up, pop in, and
chow down, without having to mess around with a knife, fork, or spoon.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Every
culture has its own favorite finger foods— hors d’oeuvres, tapas,
dimsum, pupu. Whatever shape these morsels take they are as fast and
easy to eat as they are time-consuming and challenging to make.
Chopping, rolling, filling, and frying a table full of one-at-a-time
bite-sized creations takes a lot more hands-on time than throwing a big
turkey or pot roast in the oven to cook. But all the effort is worth it.
For the pleasure of eating a variety of perfect little one-bite goodies
with our fingers.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maybe
eating with our fingers recalls in us one of our first
“accomplishments” as toddlers. Watch any baby just learning how to use
that great gadget known as “the opposable thumb” to pick up Cheerios off
their high chair tray — or more likely, the floor — and you will see
their eyes light up with delight when they finally snag that little
round “O.” Getting the cereal off the tray and then actually into the
mouth is a moment of pure triumph and joy…<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br>
</font></font>_____________________</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hunger Crisis: North Africa 2011</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As
we read this lectionary this week, we are also learning of the terrible
famine and refuge crisis in East Africa. Drought has lead to some of
the worst hunger seen in 60 years. According to the UN, more than 10
million people are threatened by starvation in Somalia, Ethiopia, and
Kenya. Relief agencies are responding now and expect to see the
situation continue for at least the next few months. Here are links you
may wish to share with your community.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Samaritan’s Purse</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a target="_blank" __removedlink__91004704__href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/food_crisis_in_kenya/#"><font color="#0000ff">http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/food_crisis_in_kenya/#</font></a></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">UMCOR</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a target="_blank" __removedlink__91004704__href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives2011/hornofafrica/">http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives2011/hornofafrica/</a></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are praying for the people of these countries, as well as the missionaries and aid workers responding to the disaster. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Before We Taste Abundance</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How
often it is that we do not seek God from the fullness of our lives, but
from the dearth. We are regularly reminded that as Christians, we do
best when we live out of our ‘theology of abundance’ rather than
scarcity. However, the reality is we more clearly see our need for God
from our times and places of pain. Even Jesus took time to go “to a
deserted place by himself”. He knew he needed to clear his mind of all
the insults, false accusations and the conceit. Before we taste of the
abundance given to us from God through Christ, we are invited to the
deserted place apart. We are invited to come to a place of hunger. We
are called toward a time of separation so that we can more clearly focus
on who and what we have. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wanda Copeland, Reflection on Matthew 14: 13-21.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Loaves and Fishes Still Work <br>
<br>
Educator Parker J. Palmer was en route to a conference when the plane he
was on made an unexpectedly long layover at an airport. A truck that
was supposed to deliver the refreshments for the next leg of the journey
broke down. Finally the pilot decided that it was more important to get
his passengers on their way than to wait for the snacks to arrive, so
he took off.<br>
<br>
As soon as they were in the air the passengers started grumbling. “A
ticket is a contract,” one said loudly, “and snacks are part of the
contract.” “I ought to sue,” another muttered. A man stood up and said,
“I’m a lawyer. How many are willing to join in a class action suit?” A
minor mutiny was in the works.<br>
<br>
Then something interesting happened. A flight attendant came on the
public address system. She began with the familiar information on such
flights: “Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned off the seatbelt
lights. We have now attained a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet.” Then
she said something quite extraordinary: “Having served many of you on
the first leg of this flight, I know some of you still have your bags of
peanuts, which you stuffed in your pocket. How many do we have? Five?
Please open them and share them with the people around you. I’m sure
some of you have mints. Would you pass these around, also? Those of you
with newspapers, you can only read one section at a time. Spread the
other sections around for others to read. Some of you are parents or
grandparents. Take out the pictures of your children or grandchildren
and show them to others.” With that brief announcement she changed the
emotional climate of that flight.<br>
<br>
Later, when the flight attendant came near Parker Palmer’s seat he asked
her, “What’s your name? What’s the name of your supervisor? I want to
write a letter of commendation. That was the best example of group
leadership I’ve ever seen.”<br>
<br>
To which, she replied, “The loaves and fishes still work.”<br>
<br>
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, <a target="_blank" __removedlink__91004704__href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</a> <br>
_____________________________<br>
<br>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“You Feed Them.”</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tony
Campolo is a professor of sociology and a popular speaker. He was once
invited to a women's conference where he was to give a major address.
These women were being challenged to raise several thousand dollars for a
mission project goal. While Campolo was sitting on the dais, the
chairperson turned to him and asked him if he would pray for God's
blessing as they considered their individual responses to the goal.
Campolo stood and--to the utter amazement of everyone
present--graciously said "no." He approached the microphone and said,
"You already have all the resources necessary to complete this mission
project right here within this room. It would be inappropriate to ask
for God's blessing, when in fact God has already blessed you with the
abundance and the means to achieve this goal. The necessary gifts are in
your hands. As soon as we take the offering and underwrite this
mission project, we will thank God for freeing us to be the generous,
responsible and accountable stewards that we're called to be as
Christian disciples." And they did. <br>
<br>
Wow! Leave it to Tony Campolo to hit the nail right on the thumb! Jesus
says, "You feed them!" And we can! This is a rich world and we are rich
people!<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">King Duncan, “You Feed Them!”</span></div>
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