<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:07/09/2016 9:31 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 10C <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 face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Seven Killings” and deals with all our lessons. </font><font color="#000000">Here it is:</font></font></span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><br></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font size="3"><br></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
been a terrible week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font size="3">
<br></font></p><ul style="list-style-type: disc; direction: ltr;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tuesday morning (July 5, 2016), Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old father of
five, was shot in the chest and back by a Louisiana police officer outside a
convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sterling was selling CDs outside the Triple S Food Mart, the source
said, when the homeless man approached him and asked for money. The man was
persistent, and Sterling showed him his gun. “I told you to leave me alone,”
Sterling told the man, according to the source. The homeless man then used his
cell phone to call 911. We’ve heard the rest of the story.</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thursday morning (July 7, 2016), Philando Castile (a black man) was
shot and killed in his car by a police officer outside St. Paul, Minnesota. Much
of the incident was videoed by his girlfriend and shared on Facebook. This all
happened with her 4 year old daughter in the back seat of the car.</span> It
scares me that this could have been my grandson.</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="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;">Thursday evening after a peaceful march<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> protesting the deaths of the
above-mentioned black men killed by police this week in Louisiana and Minnesota,
five Dallas police officers were fatally shot and seven others wounded. The sniper,
identified as 25-year-old Micah Johnson, told authorities that he was upset
about the police shootings of two black men earlier this week and wanted to
exterminate whites, “especially white officers.” </span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
told you it’s been a terrible week!</span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
heard the story of the plumb line from Amos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You know what a plumb line is, don’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a builder is making a wall, he or she
holds a plumb line against that wall to see if it’s straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is- fine; if not- that wall needs to be
torn down so the building won’t fall down at a later date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why am I telling you about this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because in our Old Testament lesson, we heard
that God held a plumb line up to his people and found they didn’t measure
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what he saw? They didn’t
measure up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope God doesn’t hold a plumb line up to
us, because we aren’t doing too well either right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
really don’t have a sermon- just thoughts: </span></p></li></ul><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font size="3">
<br></font></p><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">America’s original sin-
racism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget reparations- we never
even apologized for slavery or Jim Crow laws and practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our white person’s way of handling it, in my
opinion, has just been to pretend it doesn’t happen and sweep instances of
injustice under the rug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With cell phone
cameras and police body cameras- that won’t work anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technology has the possibility of forcing
change- let’s pray it is positive.</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="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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What do we do in this
difficult time? Change what we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President
Obama’s task force has a training program of some sort for police
departments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the Saginaw Police
Department using it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What else are they
doing to prevent these types of incidents?</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="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; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What do we do personally in
this difficult time? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t let evil
defeat you, but defeat evil with good” (Romans 12:21).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t participate in gossip,
division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expect the best in people.</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="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do what Jesus said in
today’s Gospel- love (in other words- want what’s best for) your neighbor- even
your enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, Samaritans
considered Jews their absolute enemies- labeled them “half-breeds.” Remember-
Christian love is tough love.</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="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO REVENGE! “‘Vengeance is mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans
12:19-21).</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="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hold people acting in an
unjust way accountable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they will
treat you unfairly, they will treat others who aren’t as strong as you are in
an unfair way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s God’s business,
it’s your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Handle difficulties
peacefully.</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="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If dealing with an unjust
situation- document, document, document- and then use the documentation to stop
the unfairness.<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="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 level2 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Protect yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If stopped by the police- DO EXACTLY AS THEY
TELL YOU AND DON’T ARGUE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are in
a car, keep your hands on the wheel or where the officer can see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you document, you can deal with any
injustice at a safer, later time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ACLU has a phone app that is supposed to document negative police encounters (<a href="http://www.aclumich.org/MobileJusticeMI"><u><font color="#0000ff">http://www.aclumich.org/MobileJusticeMI</font></u></a>
). It might be worth checking out.</span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p style="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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
said, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and
love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s that plumb line again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God bless us with power and endurance as
we struggle to live what we believe in these difficult times, and may God bless
the United States of America.</span></p></li></ol></li></ol><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font size="3">
<br></font></p></font></span><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><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></p><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>
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