<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: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> <br>Date:06/04/2016 9:26 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 5C <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 “Death” or “The best
is yet to come.” (Frank Sinatra) and deals with the gospel (Luke 7: 11-17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Here it is: </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;"><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;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This morning, we heard the episode about Jesus restoring a widow’s son
from death (Luke 7: 11-17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">The weather
has warmed up, and we’re starting to experience more shootings! I’ve been
procrastinating re-sanctifying murder sites, but it’s unfortunately time to
start. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We did three funerals/memorial
services, and then came Memorial Day- a day of remembrance.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I’m probably “over”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">my husband’s death as much as I’ll ever get
over it- obviously a huge hole in my heard, but life goes on.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Death has been a constant in life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">I’d like to share some of my thinking this
morning.</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;"><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;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">First- to lighten things up a bit- a story: While a man was dying, his
wife was maintaining a candlelight vigil by his side. She held his fragile
hand, tears running down her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Her
praying woke him from his slumber. He looked up, and his pale lips began to
move slightly.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“My darling,” he whispered.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Hush, my love,” she said. “Rest, don't
talk.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He was insistent. “I have something
that I must confess,” he said in a tired voice.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">“There isn't anything to confess,” replied his weeping wife.
“Everything's ok. Go to sleep.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The man
blurted out: “No, no, I must die in peace. I...I slept with your sister, your
best friend, her best friend, and your mother!” “I know,” whispered his wife,
“that's why I poisoned you!” (Anonymous source)</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;"><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;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">We Christians need to do our homework about death before it comes as a
crisis to us, our families, or those we love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font color="#000000">Here are some short thoughts:</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;"><li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unless Jesus
comes back first (and remember- he’s tarried for 2,000+ years and he very well
might wait another 2,000 or even many more), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it’s going to happen to us and those we love</b>. It’s normal and
natural. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good friend used to tell me:
“Rev. Judy, IF I die…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not an
“if”- that’s a “when”!</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Life is limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has a beginning and an end. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Get
and stay ready for the end- medical power of attourney, life insurance, be sure
your loved ones know your wishes.</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Life is a
gift from God.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should use it wisely, because we will be
held accountable for it.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We need to
take care of and be good stewards of the bodies God gave us, so we don’t die
before our time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">God only gives us one body to use on this Earth, and
he expects us to love and care for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Life is made up of time, so don’t waste it.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever we
waste time, we waste a bit more of the precious gift of life God has given
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, being bored (in my
opinion), is an indication that we are wasting time, and therefore life.</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Being alive is terminal.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since life is
limited and dying is the normal, natural result of being alive, don’t be
surprised when you find you’re going to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, your reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Live in
such a way that you are ready to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Know Jesus and follow him as your Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keep your sins confessed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep
your life well lived for the Lord and yourself.</span></p></li></ol><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><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;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">A good reminder of the above truths is to consider what those you know
and love would place on your tombstone- how would they sum up your life in a
few words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">I don’t know, but my last
label might be something like: “She was a person of love and justice.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">What would people say about you?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Here are some not-so-serious tombstone
messages:</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;"><li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Here lies the
body of Jonathan Blake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stepped on the
gas instead of the brake.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">From a Georgia
cemetery: “I told you I was sick!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“To follow you
I'm not content until I know which way you went.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Born 1903-Died
1942: Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It
was.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“The best is yet
to come.” (Frank Sinatra)</span></p></li></ol><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, Michigan</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>
<p></p>
-- <br>
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Propertalk" group.<br>
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a href="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org</a>.<br>
</body>