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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 <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Dec 12, 2015 10:38 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 3C<br>
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<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>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “John the Baptist” and deals with the Gospel (Luke
3: 7-18).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Here it is:</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">The last verse in today’s
gospel (Luke 3:20) said: “Finally, Herod put John (the Baptist) in jail, and
this was the worst thing he had done.” This morning let’s see what happened next
to this strange Bible characters- John the Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">He was the last of the Old Covenant prophets
and had the job of preparing the way for Jesus.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Even his beginnings were unusual.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were childless and way too old
to have children.</font><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elizabeth</font></font><font color="#000000" size="3"> was Mary’s cousin and Zechariah was
a priest in the temple.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">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" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Zechariah doubted the angel, so he was struck
dumb.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Shortly after this incident and
against all odds, </font><font color="#000000" size="3">Elizabeth</font><font color="#000000" size="3">
became pregnant.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">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" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Well, in due time the child promised to
Zechariah and </font><font color="#000000" size="3">Elizabeth</font><font color="#000000" size="3">
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" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It was the custom of the day to name children after a relative.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Zechariah still could not speak, so he communicated
by writing, “His name is John.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Immediately, Zechariah’s speech impediment vanished.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Those watching these happenings wondered what
kind of a man this “John” would turn out to be.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><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 </font><font color="#000000">Jordan River</font><font color="#000000">, 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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><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?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><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="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; 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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">1)</font><span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></font></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">John didn’t follow the crowd
and neither should we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Don’t worry what
everyone expects you to do to prepare for the holiday.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">In all your rushing around, don’t forget
Jesus.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; 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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">2)</font><span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></font></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">As busy as you are this
year, don’t miss Jesus when he comes to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font color="#000000">How is this possible?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">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.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Actually, we’d probably
wonder if we had a crazy man in here!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If
we didn’t take him seriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in
the Bible.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Remember, Jesus comes to us
in other people.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">(“Whatever you do to
the least of these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”)</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Don’t diminish anyone just because of how he
looks or talks or what she wears.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; 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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">3)</font><span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></font></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">If you meet people who
aren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,” be kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Remember, even John had his doubts when times
were hard and he was in prison.</font></font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.25in; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; 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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">4)</font><span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></font></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Last- remember who we’re
preparing for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Yes, I know that Jesus
was born a little baby in a manger, but he didn’t stay that way.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He grew up to be a wonderful, powerful man
who suffered, died, and rose for our sins.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">At ChristMass time, a church that will go nameless often has one of
those cute sayings on the sign in front.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">It says: “Xmas is Christmas without Christ.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Don’t “X” Him out!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I’m sure you’ve heard people talk like that-
saying it is unchristian to substitute the “X” for the “Christ” in
Christmas.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">My sisters and brothers,
they’re well-meaning, but very wrong.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">The “X” is the Greek letter Chi, for “Christ.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">That “X” is also the way you make a Roman
cross, so “X” stands for a cross.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“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.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">“XMass” or “CrossMass” reminds us, as we prepare for the birth of our
Savior, to take up our own cross and follow Him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Some years ago, a friend gave me this statue
of Santa kneeling at the manger.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">That’s
the Christian priority.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Remember that
this is Jesus’ birthday.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We’re preparing
for him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The Santa component is fun, but
the true ChristMass is Jesus and his birth.</font></font></span></div>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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