<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body ><div>Forwarded: </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:8px;color:#575757">From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.</div></div><br><br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: joeparrish <joeparrish@compuserve.com> <br>Date:05/21/2016 6:38 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: "Propertalk@StSams org" <Propertalk@stsams.org> <br>Cc: joeparrish@compuserve.com <br>Subject: Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Trinity Sunday <br><br><div>Forward: </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:8px;color:#575757">From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.</div></div><br><br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> <br>Date:05/21/2016 6:08 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Trinity Sunday <br><br><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Dear Friends,</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Trinity Sunday” or
“Take Care of My Stuff!” and deals with all the lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Here it is: </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Today is Trinity
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">As of next month, I will have
been a priest for 38 years and a deacon for two years before that.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Why am I telling you this?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Because in all that time, most Trinity
Sundays I’ve really worked very hard trying to explain what I barely understand
myself- the Holy Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">None of us humans get it for the simple
reason that our minds are too small to even begin to understand God.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">How many times have you heard men complain
how they don’t understand their wives or girlfriends?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">And ladies, you know we don’t understand the
men in our lives!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Well, if we can’t even
understand each other, how in the world can we even pretend to understand
God?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">So today, instead of trying to
explain the unexplainable, we are simply going to focus on GOD- our Love, our
Delight, our Joy, and how we can show our appreciation and gratitude for all
he’s done for us.</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Do you remember the true story of the
principal, the custodian, and the 12-year-old girls?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">According to a news report, a certain private
school in </font><font color="#000000">Washington</font><font color="#000000"> </font><font color="#000000">D.C.</font><font color="#000000"> recently was faced with a unique
problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would
put it on in the bathroom.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">That was
fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the
mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the custodian would
remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the
principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to
the bathroom and met them there with the custodian.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">She explained that all these lip prints were
causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every
night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked
the custodian to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a
long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with
it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Since then, there have been no lip
prints on the mirror (JokesWareHouse.com Joke of the Day).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Looking at his marvelous creation, God must
sometimes feel like that custodian.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Have you looked outside
recently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Everything is green and
growing; the flowers are lovely, even the weeds are thriving!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">God has placed everything he created under
our care to love and to nurture.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Now-
look closer.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Have you noticed the mess
we have made of this beautiful creation?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Trash and paper and old tires and global warming and polluted streams
and burned-out buildings and garbage, garbage, garbage!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I recall the rules I had in my
classroom.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I’m sure, Ebony and Reggie,
you have similar rules in your classroom:</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">“If you open it, close it.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you turn it on, turn it off.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you break it, fix it.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you can’t fix it, get someone who can.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you use it, take care of it.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If it belongs to someone else, get permission before
you use it.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you borrow it, return it.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you make a mess, clean it up.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If you move it, put it back.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">If it doesn’t concern you, don’t mess with it.”</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Remember when Jesus asked
Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font color="#000000">He asks us the same thing, and you’ve heard the old saying- “Actions
speak louder than words.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If we truly
love God, we’ll take care of his stuff.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">On this Trinity Sunday, when our focus is on the triune God and how much
we love him, here’s a test to check yourself out.</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">FIRST- How are you doing at
managing the small part of God’s earth placed under your care?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Here’s your test: Look at your yard.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Does it look like you care about it, or is it
full of junk, litter, overgrown grass, and bare spots where flowers or grass
should be growing?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I can just hear you
now- “It’s not my lawn!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It’s not my back
yard!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I rent, and I’m not doing anything
for that cheap landlord!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Or- if you own
your own home, it’s easy to say- “This land is mine.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I can do with it as I choose!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Do you remember the story of the scientists
who decided to challenge God to a “Make-a-Human” contest?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">As you recall, they reasoned their knowledge
level was so great that they could make a person at least as easily and
competently as God could.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">God, being the
loving Creator that he is, let them go first.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">The scientists got in a huddle, laughed, and then scooped up a handful
of dirt.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Wait a minute!” said God.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Get your hands off my dirt!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">God tells you the same thing.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Wait a minute.- that’s my dirt!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Did your landlord create that front
yard?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If you own your own home, did you
create your back yard?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I think not.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Your landlord doesn’t own that land; you
don’t own that land; God owns that land and we’re the managers taking care of
it for God.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Can people look at your
front yard, your back yard, the roads you travel- and tell you love God by how
carefully you care for his art work?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If
not, you’re flunking one of your spiritual tests- so far.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">What to do?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">When you get home, take a hard look at where you live, especially the
outside area.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">What’s ugly?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Fix it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Put some grass and flower seeds down, pick up the junk, teach our
children to care for God’s earth- starting with their own yard.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">And for those of us who still have a good
back and a little bit of time- look around at your neighbors’ property.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Are any of your neighbors too old or sickly
to keep up with the yard work?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Help
them.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Do you see junk on the sidewalk or
in the parking lot?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Pick it up.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I know you didn’t throw it down, I know
people will look at you as if you’re crazy- but love God enough to take care of
his stuff, his creation.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">SECOND- (to be continued)</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; tab-stops: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; 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 web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: </font><a 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></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Blessed preaching,</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Judy Boli</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Saginaw,MI</font></span></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"><br></font></span></p></div>
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