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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, Dec 6, 2014 6:15 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 2B<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 “John the Baptist” and deals with the Gospel (Mark 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 0pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This morning we heard about one of the strangest characters in the Bible- John the Baptist.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He was the last of the Old Testament prophets and had the job of preparing the way for Jesus.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Even his beginnings were unusual.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were childless and way too old to have children.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and Zechariah was a priest in the temple.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">One day, Zechariah was doing his job in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that he and his wife would have a baby, who was to be named John.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Zechariah doubted the angel, so he was struck dumb.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Shortly after this incident and against all odds, Elizabeth became pregnant.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It’s obvious that Zechariah and Elizabeth were accepting, compassionate people because after the Virgin Mary became pregnant, she spent some time with them- probably to gain courage to face everyone when she began to “show.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Well, in due time the child promised to Zechariah and Elizabeth was born; and when he was circumcised and presented in the temple, everyone was about to name him “Zechariah” after his father.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It was the custom of the day to name children after a relative.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Zechariah still could not speak, so he communicated by writing, “His name is John.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Immediately, Zechariah’s speech impediment vanished.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Those watching these happenings wondered what kind of a man this “John” would turn out to be.</font></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"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">They were wise to wonder, because this “John”, actually “John the Baptist” was truly unusual- many must have wondered about his sanity.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">While others lived in comfortable houses, he lived in the desert.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">While others dressed fashionably (or at least comfortably), he wore an itchy camel skin.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">While others ate fish and bread and occasionally some meat, he ate what he could find- usually locusts and wild honey.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He spent his time baptizing people in the Jordan River, giving them a second chance to enter the Promised Land following God’s way.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">As you recall, Jesus (John’s second cousin) was baptized by John.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">When he wasn’t baptizing, he was preaching.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He encouraged the common people to repent and return to God, but he infuriated those in power by calling them “snakes”- not a very good way to get ahead.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">When King Herod married his sister-in-law, John condemned the whole affair.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Needless to say, he had many enemies in high places.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Herod was so angry with John’s meddling that he threw him in prison.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">While John was there he must have experienced a period of doubt, because he sent some of his followers to ask Jesus if he was really the Messiah, or was he going through all of this imprisonment for nothing.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Jesus sent them back with the message that the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, and the poor have the good news preached to them- in other words- the Jubilee message.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">One of John’s most dangerous enemies was Herodias, the sister-in-law whom King Herod married.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">One day, Herod threw a party.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">After all the men at the party were drunk, Salome (daughter of Herodias) really turned them on with her dancing.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Herod was so impressed that he promised her anything she wanted, even half of his kingdom.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Salome asked her mother what she should request, and the answer came back clearly: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Since Herod didn’t want to look like a fool in front of his friends by going back on his word, that’s just what happened.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Out of the strange life of one of God’s greatest prophets, what’s the message for us?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">How can this help us get ready for the birth of Jesus in a few weeks?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Here are four thoughts:</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">John didn’t follow the crowd and neither should we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry what everyone expects you to do to prepare for the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all your rushing around, don’t forget Jesus.</span></div>
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<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As busy as you are this year, don’t miss Jesus when he comes to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is this possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, if John the Baptist walked in here right now, I’m here to tell you that we’d probably get a little nervous because (to put it mildly) he’d look different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, we’d probably wonder if we had a crazy man in here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we didn’t take him seriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, Jesus comes to us in other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(“Whatever you do to the least of these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t diminish anyone just because of how he looks or talks or what she wears.</span></div>
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<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If you meet people who aren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,” be kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, even John had his doubts when times were hard and he was in prison.</span></div>
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<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Finally- remember who we’re preparing for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I know that Jesus was born a precious little baby in a manger made of hay; but he didn’t stay that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grew up to be a wonderful, powerful man who suffered, died, and rose for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Advent, a church that will go nameless had one of those cute sayings on the sign in front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says: “Xmas is Christmas without Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t “X” Him out!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you’ve heard people talk like that- saying it is unchristian to substitute the “X” for the “Christ” in Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sisters and brothers, they’re well-meaning, but very wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “X” is the Greek letter Chi, for “Christ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That “X” is also the way you make a Roman cross, so “X” stands for a cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Xmas” is a way of saying “Mass for the Holy One who died on the cross.” “Xmas” reminds us that the baby who was born at ChristMass grew up to be the man who died on the cross for our salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“XMass” or “CrossMass” reminds us, as we prepare for the birth of our Savior, to take up our own cross and follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some years ago, a friend gave me this statue of Santa kneeling at the manger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the Christian priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that this is Jesus’ birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re preparing for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Santa component is fun, but the true ChristMass is Jesus and his birth.</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">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: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u> .</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Blessed preaching,</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Judy Boli</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></div>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Saginaw, Michigan</span></div>
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