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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 31, 2014 7:54 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 7A<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: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “The Ascension- What’s It to Us?” and
deals with the Acts lesson (Acts 1: 1-11).</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 6pt; line-height: 12pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Today is Ascension
Sunday.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If you look at our cross over
the altar, it’s an ascension Christ-figure.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">At first glance, it’s easy to think the Christ-figure is a crucifix, but
there is actually no cross.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We see Jesus,
arms outstretched as if on a cross, ascending to heaven to take his place of
honor and glory after his victorious triumph over death.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In the Acts Bible lesson (1:1-11), we heard
the account of what happened.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The
disciples had been living roller coaster lives.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They must have been extremely confused at the Last Supper.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">From there, in rapid succession, they lived
through the horror of the crucifixion; the empty tomb- with strange reports
from the women about a possible miracle; the fear of what Jesus would say to
them if, in fact, he were alive- considering the cowardly way they had behaved
in his time of trial; and finally the relief of a new and renewed relationship
with the risen Christ at Easter.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In
other words- they had him, they lost him, they had him again, and now here
comes the Ascension, and they were about to lose him permanently with a promise
that the Spirit would come and things would be even better.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">To make matters worse, we hear how the Jesus
tells them (just before he ascends) to get busy doing his work- going into all
the world to teach, heal, preach, baptize, bring about Jubilee- i.e.- give
everyone a fresh start in God’s kingdom.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; line-height: 12pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">True, it was a confusing mess
for them, but what a wonderful event for us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Why?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">For two reasons.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">While Jesus was on this planet, he was limited.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He could be in Jerusalem OR Nazareth.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Without the Ascension, bringing it to the
present time, he could be in Saginaw OR Detroit- but not both.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Can you imagine the lines to see him?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Can you imagine the telephone difficulties-
“If you would like to talk to Jesus, please press ‘1’ now?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It had to happen, but what a frightening
change for the disciples.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">To be
accessible to all of us all the time, Jesus had to return to heaven- thank God
he did!</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">There’s another reason the Ascension had to happen-
so we could grow up spiritually.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">As long
as Jesus was physically present on this planet, the disciples would remain just
that- disciples- learners.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">You know how
finally you’ve got to stop watching the expert and start doing for yourself?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If you want to learn to cook, you can watch
an experienced cook for a long time, you can stay hooked on all the TV cooking
channels, you can even spend your time reading cookbooks- but finally you’ve
got to get your hands in the flour or whatever and stop just watching and
listening- and start doing.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Before I
retired, I would frequently have student teachers in my classroom.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">At the beginning of the semester, they were
very happy to watch me teach- in fact, some would probably have been happy to
spend the entire semester that way; however- that’s not how you make good
teachers.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Pretty soon they had to stop
watching me and start teaching on their own.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">When Jesus left this planet, the disciples were forced to carry on his
work themselves, which is what the Father intended all along.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Remember, </font><font color="#000000">St. Paul</font><font color="#000000"> taught us that we- the church- are
the Body of Christ.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">What are the implications of the Ascension for us,
if we are going to be true to our Lord?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Now that Jesus is in heaven, WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Our hands, feet, mouths, bodies, lives do the
Jesus ministry.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It is entrusted to
us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If we don’t do it, it simply won’t
get done.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">What are we to do?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">The letters in the holy name of Jesus remind us of some of the basics:</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000">“J”</font></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000"> reminds us we are to continue Jesus’ work of
establishing Jubilee- in other words: justice, peace, and a second chance for
all God’s people.</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000">“E”</font></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000"> reminds us to evangelize- spread the Word, baptize,
and teach.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Remember, in Matthew 28 Jesus
reminded us to go to all nations baptizing and teaching.</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000">“S”</font></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000"> is for “strength”- the power, courage, and
endurance Jesus offers through daily reading of His Word, prayer, fellowship,
and weekly Holy Communion.</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000">“US”</font></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000"> reminds us that God expects us to be in this
together as a team.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The disciples knew
Jesus expected them to stick together, which is why they were all back in that
upper room at Pentecost.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">One person
can’t be the “Body of Christ.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Read 1</font><sup><font color="#000000">st</font></sup><font color="#000000">
Corinthians 12, and you’ll see we’re all expected to be the “Body of Christ”
together.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I’m going to close with a
story illustrating why we must stick together.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Did you hear the story about the mouse and the other animals?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Well- the mouse overheard the farmer tell his
wife that he was installing a brand new, foolproof mousetrap.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The mouse was so upset that he went running
to the barnyard to get help from the other animals.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">When he told the hen, he got no sympathy
whatsoever!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Don’t bother me, mouse-
that’s your problem; not mine” was the reply.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">So he told the pig and got the same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my
problem.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He even told the cow; again
with the same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my problem.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">That night as the mouse was sleeping, he
heard the mousetrap snap.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">A poisonous
snake had gotten his tail caught in the trap.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">When the farmer’s wife went to see what had happened, the snake drew
back and bit her.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Instantly, she started
to feel very sick, so she called her husband.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Now the husband didn’t know anything about medicine, but he knew that
chicken soup cures anything; so he went to the barn, killed the chicken
(remember- it wasn’t her problem), and made some chicken soup.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Problem- his wife got sicker.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He called the doctor who said he would come
if he could be paid in bacon, so he butchered the pig (remember- it wasn’t his
problem) and paid the doctor in bacon.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Finally, his wife died.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He needed
food for the many people who visited to comfort him, so he killed the cow
(remember- it wasn’t her problem) and started up the grill so everyone could
have steak.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The moral of this story-
we’re all in this together.</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">If it’s going to get done for Jesus and God’s
Kingdom, we’re going to do it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We are
the Body of Christ.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We’re all in this
together.</font></font></span></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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