<html><body>I've been having trouble trying to post my sermons over the past few week so I'm posting in segments today. Bob<br><br><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>THE DAY OF PENTECOST: WHITSUNDAY (B)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">ACTS
2:1-21<span style="mso-tab-count:7"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:4"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>24<sup>th</sup> MAY, 2015</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">ROMANS
8:22-27<span style="mso-tab-count:5"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>PSALM 104:25-35, 37</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">JOHN
15:26-27; 16:4b-15</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>At
the BAC meeting this past Tuesday evening we watched an ad produced by the
United Methodist Church. They’re starting a new series of these to try to offer
viewers and listeners a balanced view of Christianity, about what it can do,
about what it should be able to do. In other words, it’s about the effects of
Pentecost.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>What
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>ARE</u></b> the effects of Pentecost,
the gift of life in the Spirit? Are there any accidental effects? Are the
Spirit’s movements in the world, around us, within us, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><u>ALL</u></b> designed for the purpose of bringing us to life? Jesus’
preview of Pentecost as described in the Gospel this morning and the reading
from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles would say very strongly that, yes,
the Spirit’s presence and activity never fail to produce action and interaction.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The
ad I’m describing featured the actress Pauley Perette. She talked of her
educational upbringing, about the way that she was invited to become one of a
group of advertising models and, finally her becoming part of the cast of the
TV drama “NCIS”. <sup>1</sup></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>What
struck me most was the comment she made about dealing with a real estate agent
over a period of time. She noticed what she described as how happy he was. That
in itself, in the busy-ness of Hollywood and Los Angeles culture, was striking
enough, but it seemed to govern his entire behaviour, so much so that she had
to find out what made his life so fulfilling when it could easily be
frustrating and disappointing.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>That’s how the actress started
attending Hollywood United Methodist Church. That is how she became engaged
with the congregation there. That’s how she herself said she’s finding
fulfilment.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The
Holy Spirit does, indeed, have a wonderful sense of humour and a great way of
engaging us in the most surprising situations and encounters!</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Mechthild
of Magdeburg, a thirteenth century poet and mystic, wrote about her visions of
God and her experience of hearing God’s invitation to communicate this with the
world. The fact that she wrote in the low north German dialect, when anyone
else of note was writing in Latin, brings her mission into clearer focus. <sup>2</sup>
She was speaking directly to her neighbours in a way that they could
understand, or come to understand, just as happened at Pentecost.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Just
as Pauley Perrette’s realtor conveyed his experience of God through his
behaviour – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>NOT</u></b> directly his
words – so Mechthild took it upon herself to model her experience of God’s love
first in the way she faced enormous criticism from established religion, and
then through her writing.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>One
of her poems describes how she felt about God interacting with her and the
world.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Effortlessly,<br>
<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Love flows from
God into man,<br>
<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Like a bird<br>
<span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Who rivers the air<br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Without
moving her wings.</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Thus
we move in His world</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>One
in body and soul,</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Though
outwardly separate in form.</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>As
the Source strikes the note,</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Humanity
sings --</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>The
Holy Spirit is our harpist,</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>And
all strings</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Which
are touched in Love</span><br>
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="mso-tab-count:2"> </span>Must
sound.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><sup>3</sup><span class="textexposedshow"></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The
imagery of this is wonderful. The description of the Spirit in the Book of Acts
may to some seem quite frightening. Fire isn’t always the most pleasant of
elements. It has tremendous power, and it can be highly destructive – witness
what happened at South High School here, among other events. So fire can still
be scary. It’s among the first things of which we warn young toddlers when
they’re at the stage of being so inquisitive about life. “Be careful! Fire and
its heat can burn, can disfigure,” we say. Even we who’re more mature have to
be aware of potential danger.</span></p>
<br><br><p>-----------------------------------------</p><br> Robert P Morrison<br>St. Alban's Episcopal Church<br>PO Box 1556<br>Albany, OR 97321<br><br>541-921-1076</body></html>