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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, Nov 26, 2016 7:08 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 1A<br>
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<div 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></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “The Start of our
Pilgrimage to Bethlehem” or “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” and deals with all
the lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is: </font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">I know you’re wondering if
I’ve lost my mind, wishing you a happy new year when it’s only November 27<sup>th</sup>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today IS New Year’s Day- for the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four Sundays before ChristMass begins the new
church year (Eucharistic Lectionary Cycle A).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The brand new season is Advent, with its color of purple or blue (we use
purple).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advent means coming, and this
is the time when we prepare for Jesus’ coming- his first and his second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advent lasts four weeks, and each Sunday has
a theme: the first Sunday- peace; the second Sunday- hope; the third Sunday-
joy; and the fourth Sunday- love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
got four weeks to get ready for Jesus’ coming- as a baby in Bethlehem and his second coming to judge the
world, i.e. us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so easy just think
about “Silent Night” and not to be concerned about the second coming- after
all, he’s waited 2,000 years- it’s easy to figure he’ll wait a few thousand
more, and who knows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is-
there are two aspects of the second coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One is as the angel prophesied- Jesus returning from the clouds in like
manner as he ascended (that’s the “someday” aspect).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other, however, is our own personal death
when we meet Jesus as our savior and judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, you see, it really doesn’t make any difference if we are alive when
Jesus returns or not, we will still experience our own personal second coming,
and, you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d better be
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know the song, “You’d better
watch out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d better not cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d better not pout- I’m telling you why-
Santa Claus is coming to town.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends,
forget about Santa Claus, because Jesus is coming- we don’t know when, but he
IS coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear the story about
Satan teaching three apprentice devils how to be successful at tempting humans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked each one his plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first devil said he would try to convince
people that God didn’t exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That
won’t work!” responded Satan, “because everyone really knows he does
exist.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,” said the second devil,
“I’ll tell them that hell isn’t real.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That won’t work either,” said Satan, since most humans have already
experienced it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will you do?” he
asked the third devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,” said the
third devil, “my plan is to tell them that there’s no hurry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go,” said Satan, “and you will ruin them by
the thousands!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when are you going
to die?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well then, listen to the gospel
and be ready.</font></span></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 color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Our focus this Sunday is
“Peace.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said, “Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called God’s children.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you ready?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you a peacemaker or a peacebreaker?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You heard today’s Old Testament lesson
(Isaiah 2: 4): “He will settle arguments between nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will pound their swords and their spears
into rakes and shovels; they will never make war or attack one another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t use swords and spears much these
days, but we surely do use our mouths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Be a peacemaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you quick-tempered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use the power of God to tame that evil
temper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you feel your temperature
rising, walk away, shut your mouth, put your fists into your pockets, and
wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go for a walk, dance, listen to
music, exercise, talk to someone- do anything to calm your spirit until the
adrenaline in your blood stream drains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then solve the problem. </font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Be a peacemaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you sharp-tongued?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about on Facebook, calling people “b’s”
and calling people the “f” word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give
that critical spirit to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your
tongue and your fingers to bless, not curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good rule of thumb that I learned (actually re-learned) from a friend
is “Criticize and discipline in private.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Praise in public.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a
reminder- Facebook is public.</font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Be a peacemaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have an unforgiving spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you always have to have the last
word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you give people the silent
treatment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give that person to God.</font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Be a peacemaker- don’t buy
war toys or violent games for your children or grandchildren, especially on the
birthday of the prince of peace.</font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Be a peacemaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stand up for justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard many of us concerned about school
violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often (not always, but
frequently) the cause of a tragic school episode is because of bullying that
has gone on for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The victim has had enough and
finally “snaps,” becoming the victimizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every time I hear about this, I wonder where all the Christians
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How in the world could Christians,
whether they’re students, teachers, the janitor, the principal, whoever…, how
could they allow such injustice around them and be silent, yet they say they
the Prince of Peace is their Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whenever you encounter injustice, speak up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stand up to injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace without justice is simply
repression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s deceptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like a pressure cooker- seems quiet
until the lid blows off.</font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">How do you go about being a
peacemaker?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing what Jesus said and
loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself- and this even includes your
enemy- he or she is your neighbor too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul’s definition of love from 1<sup>st</sup> Corinthians 13: 4-8 is the
best I’ve ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes: “Love is kind and patient, never
jealous, boastful, proud, or rude (that even counts when we’re driving).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love isn't selfish or quick tempered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that
others do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love rejoices in the truth,
but not in evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is always
supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love never fails!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do these
things, we will be peacemakers.</font></span></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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">I’m going to close with a
true story from one of my Internet friends who is a Roman Catholic priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heard it on the radio and shared it with
his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a woman who was
out Christmas shopping with her two children. After enduring rude, aggressive
drivers; after many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything
else imaginable and hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on
those many shelves; after watching people elbow others out of the way, she and
the kids finally made it to the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season-
overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the
holiday food and treats, buy that perfect gift for every single person on our
shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally the elevator doors opened and there
was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids
in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take
it anymore and stated, “Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be
found, strung up, and shot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the
back of the car, everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, “Don't worry, we already
crucified him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the rest of the trip
down the elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.</font></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">My prayer for us is that we
not crucify Jesus again with our choices this ChristMass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we not argue or complain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we not fight or say cruel things to
someone acting as if they’re our enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May we be peacemakers, not peacebreakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we not spend more than we can afford or
encourage our children to be greedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
we not get so frantically worried or rushed that we don’t take time for
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prayer for us is that we
remember ChristMass is Jesus’ birthday and Jesus is the reason for the
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</font></div>
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<div 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 target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> .</font></span></div>
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<div 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></div>
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<div 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></div>
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<div 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></div>
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<div 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></div>
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