<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>Forwarded:<br>
<br>
<br>
<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 16, 2015 7:46 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 7B<br>
<br>
<div id="AOLMsgPart_1.2_70695e3f-d1f3-4efc-879c-e95c77782570">
<div dir="ltr">
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear Friends,</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Up, Up, and AWAY!” and deals with the Acts lesson (Acts 1: 1- 11).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Here it is:</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><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 see it as 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">And in the first Bible lesson from Acts (1:8-14) 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">Remember, the disciples had been through a roller-coaster ride of what looked to them like huge tragedy (Good Friday and the crucifixion) to the glorious high of the Christ’s amazing resurrection.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Here they were, just getting used to having him back, when he took off again with a promise- he would send the Holy Spirit to strengthen them.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They knew from past experience that Jesus expected them to stick together, so they went back to the upper room to encourage each other, plan, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They didn’t understand the significance of Jesus’ leaving them, but we do.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If he were still a person on this planet, how would we access him?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Telephone?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Can you imagine the busy signals just when we’re desperate?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Email?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">“Sorry, this box is full; please send your message later.”</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>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s what happened to them- now what’s it to us?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">How do the ascension and the disciples’ roller-coaster experiences inform and strengthen our own lives?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you notice the thought for the week: “Tough times never last; tough people do (Robert Schuller).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">True, but how do we outlast the tough times? I’ve got five key words which I first heard from the Rev. Bob Stump (Delville United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania) that to me really answer this question.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They are: DREAM, SCHEME, TEAM, LEAN, and BEAM.</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">DREAM! </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">This reminds me of the Collect for Purity- our first prayer every Sunday.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It goes, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Dare to dream!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">A word of warning: parents- don’t dream for your children if you don’t also dream for yourself.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">God doesn’t expect us to live through our children.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">God expects us to life a full life for him, to search for God’s will for our own lives, and then to struggle to achieve it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Don’t just tell your children what to do- show them in your own lives.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You set the example for your children and then help them do what you did.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Help them search for God’s will for their lives and then struggle to achieve it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Remember, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So DREAM!</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">SCHEME- not in the negative, manipulative sense; but in a positive planning way.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You know the old gospel song, “Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s just another way of saying what St. Paul said, “I press on!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Don’t be surprised when you encounter obstacles to your dreams.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Do you remember St. Peter’s warning to his people (I Peter 4:12)- “Don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If you’re never frustrated as you try to focus and achieve your dreams, your goals- you really need to be sure you’ve figured out God’s will for your life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You’ve heard the phrase, “No pain; no gain.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">For the Christian walk, it’s really true.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">God’s will involves struggle.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If life is going too smoothly, you’d better wonder why Satan isn’t testing you- why he’s just letting you go about your own convenient, easy way.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So plan, focus, stick with it, SCHEME!</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">TEAM!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We’re not intended to go this alone.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Remember, what did the disciples do right after Jesus AGAIN left them alone this time by ascending to heaven?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Did they each go to their own houses and worry?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Actually, probably Thomas did that, and he missed Jesus first resurrection appearance to the others and then wasn’t sure he could believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What did they do?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They all went back to that upper room to encourage each other, talk, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Two Sundays ago, we heard Jesus proclaim that he is the vine and we are the branches.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you notice- not a single branch, but branchES.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">And St. Paul reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it (1</font><sup><font color="#000000" size="2">st</font></sup><font color="#000000" size="3"> Cor. 12).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So- don’t try to go it alone.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Be in church at least once a week and do what Jesus said- TEAM!</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">LEAN!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Lean on Jesus.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You know the song, “Learning to Lean.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Lean on him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You know this stole that I must put on before doing any priestly acts.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Do you know what it symbolizes?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">A yoke.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You’ve seen videos of oxen yoked together to share the load.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">When I wear this stole, I represent all of us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Do you know who we’re yoked with?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Remember when Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So LEAN!</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Finally- BEAM!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Look at the ascending Christ figure over the altar.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Where is Christ looking?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Where are his eyes beaming?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Sure- right on the altar.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So beam in on God’s wisdom at the altar.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Beam in on God’s power at the altar.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Beam in on God’s love at the altar.</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Let us pray.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Lord, we thank you that the tough times only seem to last forever.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We thank you that tough times really do pass.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We ask you to help us to live today and every day to dream, scheme, team, lean, and beam in on you so we may be one of those tough people who really do last.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Amen.</font></font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; tab-stops: .25in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s 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" size="3"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> .</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed preaching,</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy Boli</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw, Michigan</font></div>
<font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font>
</div>
<div></div>
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org</a>.
<br>
</div>
</div>
</font>