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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, May 24, 2014 5:04 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 6A<br>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Dear Friends,</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “I Am the Vine.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">You Are the Branches.” and deals with the gospel
(John 15: 1-8).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Here it is:</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The section of the gospel we just heard is part of Jesus’
last instructions to his beloved disciples.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We just heard Jesus teach his disciples how important it is to stay
connected with Him, because Jesus knows they have huge trials, frustrations,
and difficulties to face.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He also knows
that the future of God’s Kingdom depends on them, so he’s trying to prepare
them for what comes next- his torture, execution, rising, ascending, and the
coming of the Holy Spirit.. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus knows
how important it is that they avoid getting disconnected from their source of
strength.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That wasn’t just true for the
disciples back then- it’s just as true for us today, and it’s the theme of our
Gospel reading today (John 15: 1-8).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In
it, we heard Jesus describe himself as the vine, with us as the branches.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In the altar area, you’ll see three kinds of
plants- some very dead dandelions, a flower from our meditation/healing garden-
it’s sitting in some water, and our beautiful altar plants. As you look at
these plants, I challenge you to ask yourself- which one represents you in your
life?</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We’ll start with the altar plants.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They are green, vibrant, and healthy.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Compare them to these dead dandelion
flowers.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What’s the basic difference
between them?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The lovely altar plants
are strongly connected to their root systems, so they’re flooded with
life-giving moisture and nutrients.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Their
green leaves are open to the bright sunlight, so the chlorophyll can easily
turn all the brilliant light into energy for food and growth.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Their stems are flexible, so they can
withstand wind and harsh weather (if we put them outside)- then bounce right
back up again.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The presence of these
plants on the altar is a lovely reminder of the beauty and power of God’s
creation.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">What about the dandelions?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They were really pretty when I picked them earlier, that is they were
pretty if you like dandelions.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What
happened between when I picked them and now? You know as well as I do- they
were disconnected from their root systems, so they have lost their source of
nutrients and moisture.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They’re
disconnected from their green leaves, so they can’t turn the bright sunlight
into energy.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Separated from the rest of
the plant, they were pretty for a while, but they soon withered and died.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Before long, they’ll be brittle and dried up-
like the palms just before Ash Wednesday last year.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">My friends, we are all at risk of this
happening to us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus says,
disconnected from him- we can do nothing, and that’s true.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The longer we stay disconnected- the more
self-centered, the more confused, the more attracted we are to the world.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The problem is- even the best of us can get
disconnected from Jesus.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Sometimes it
happens all at once (a new job, a new baby, a new relationship, depression or
hurt feelings by a former friend) and...snip!!!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus is put on the back burner- we’re too busy or involved or upset to
take time for church or prayers or Bible-reading or helping others.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Other times the process is slow.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We just gradually drift away with other cares
or concerns or worries or loves crowding Jesus out.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s like the frog in the stew.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If he had simply jumped into the hot pot, he
would have let his little toe touch that burning liquid and he would have
jumped right out again.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It didn’t happen
that way.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Instead, he sat in that cool,
pleasant water in the pot- not noticing that someone had turned on the fire
under the pan.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Because the water
temperature increased so slowly, he didn’t notice it until it was too late and
he was cooked frog’s legs!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">What are some other things that can crowd Jesus out of our
lives and disconnect us from the vine?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">One
of the biggest is television and radio.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">How can God’s still, small voice break into our hard-headed brain if
he’s got to get through constant noise?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Watch
what you choose to see, listen to what you choose to hear, then shut it off and
have some silence in your life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Don’t
miss church- it’s a holy habit, and when you miss- it’s so easy to slowly drift
away.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">I’m sure that’s why the
commandment says, “Honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The usual advice- say your prayers at least
five times a day and read your Bible or Bible-based literature daily still
holds.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">What else can disconnect us from Jesus?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">A three-letter-word: SIN!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">A sinful attitude (“I can’t,” “I won’t,”); selfish
greediness (“Me first!” and “Gimme!”), sinful relationships, prejudices, love
of things (money, substances, clothes, cars, etc.); an unforgiving spirit; a
“better-than-thou” or “I’m-no-good” attitude.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Let God prune them out of your life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They stand in the way of true happiness for you and those you love.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you notice- there’s one more flower?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s the flower from the garden- looking
healthy enough and sitting in a vase of water.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">How long is it going to last?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Not
long.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It can keep going for a while, but
there are not enough nutrients in the water.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s not connected to any leaves to produce energy.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s not rooted deeply in God’s earth.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s how we are when we depend on money,
jobs, alcohol, sports, friends to get us through.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They last for a while, but they’re not strong
enough in the tough times.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you hear the story of the man who ordered a new
computer?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He was so very excited when it
finally came!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He got it out of the box,
hooked up all the cables, found the perfect spot on his desk, stood back and
admired it, then turned it on.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Nothing
happened.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He flipped the switch back and
forth- NOTHING!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">His brand new computer
looked dead.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He was about to put it back
in the box and return it to the store when his little son walked in the room
and exclaimed: “Wow, Daddy!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What a great
computer!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Aren’t you going to plug it
in?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s what God is telling us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Wow!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What a potentially beautiful life- you have so much to enjoy and
accomplish!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Aren’t you going to plug
yourself in?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Think about it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Amen.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated
African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITE
under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> .</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Blessed preaching,</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Judy Boli</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Saginaw, Michigan</font></span></div>
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