<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><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> </div><div>Date: 6/3/17 8:12 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Pentecost- "Happy Holy Spirit Day" </div><div><br></div></div><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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Happy Holy Spirit Day” and deals with the Acts
lesson (Acts 2:1-11).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is: </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Happy Pentecost
Sunday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know, Pentecost is one of
the most misunderstood church holidays and also the last Sunday of Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the second most important church
holiday- just after Easter in importance, more important than ChristMass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just don’t think much about it because it
isn’t a huge money maker for the stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s called the birthday of the church and the feast of the Holy
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s look at what happened and
what it means in our lives today.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">This is what
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples were in the
Jerusalem upper room- probably the same upper room they had been using all
along to hide from the authorities, receive Holy Communion, and meet with their
risen Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time was different,
because Jesus had ascended, so he wasn’t going to make a resurrection
appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The timing for what was
about to happen was perfect. It was the Jewish holiday that was almost like our
Thanksgiving- a combination harvest festival and glorious remembering of the
giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, so the streets were packed with
Jews from all over (we heard the list) speaking many languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit filled the
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their mood changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were “on fire” for the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went from scared disciples-in-hiding to
charged-up apostles (witnesses- sent).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They burst out of that room onto the street below- proclaiming Jesus as
Lord; telling people their sins were forgiven; and inviting people to learn
about Jesus and follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
only one problem- do you know what it was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Take answers.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the
pilgrims did not speak Aramaic, the language of the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were God, what would you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could Jesus’ message be proclaimed to the
ends of the earth if the proclaimers only spoke one language?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then an amazing miracle occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the disciples’ mouths came the
language of the people who were listening (so they could understand).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the listeners joined the disciples in
their worship (Bible readings and Holy Communion), and the Church was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what happened.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Now, what’s it to
us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good question!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditating on what the Bible teaches us about
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, lets us check to see if we are growing in the
Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, it wasn’t just in
the old days that the Holy Spirit was active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Holy Spirit didn’t just fill those early Christians; the Holy Spirit
fills us today IF we let him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer
we walk with Jesus and follow in his ways, the more the Holy Spirit will fill
our lives- again- IF we let him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God doesn’t
force himself on anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So-how do you
know if you are growing in the Holy Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s the wrong answer: you sway, you shout, you speak in tongues, you
fall out- NO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these actions are
great, but they are not marks of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are simply signs of religious
excitement, often full of sincerity and devotion, but they do not show that
someone has the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
single religion has some people who do these things if that is how their
culture shows religious excitement- Moslems, Hindus, Jews, people who practice
witchcraft or voodoo, Satanists, and Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t show WHAT the person is excited
about- and it’s the WHAT that’s important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And how many of these same people- when they leave church or their place
of worship, turn right around and misuse other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These actions only show someone is
excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the story I’ve used
many times of the family driving home from church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the mother looked out of the car window,
she exclaimed, “Just look!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How disgusting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even two blocks away from church and
already lighting up a cigarette!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
next thing she heard was a childish voice from the back seat- you see, her son
had been listening to the sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just
listen!” he mimicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How
disgusting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even two blocks away
from church and already talking about her neighbor!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how DO you know- how does the Bible say
you can tell if you have the Holy Spirit, or more important- how do you know if
you are growing in the Holy Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is how you can tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all,
you’ve got fewer of the behaviors listed in Galatians 5: 19-21a (“People’s
desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful
deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They worship idols, practice
witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People become jealous, angry, and
selfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They not only argue and cause
trouble, but they are envious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get
drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, you’ve got fewer of those behaviors,
but you’re growing in the behaviors listed in Galatians 5: 22-23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See Pentecost banner: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.)</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Pentecost has another
basic spiritual lesson for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you
notice- the disciples didn’t pick and choose- just telling people like them
about the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told EVERYBODY
about Jesus and invited them to be part of the church. Jesus’ church is for
everyone - all races, all ages, male and female, fat and thin, college graduate
and people who never finished elementary school, rich and middle income and
poor- everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground is level at
the foot of the cross, the ground should be level in every Bible-believing
church, and the ground most certainly is level here at St. Paul’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mission statement says it all: “St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church, an inclusive thinking person’s church where everybody
is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord!”</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I’m going to conclude
with a story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve heard this one
before, but I’m using it again because it fits so well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best,
was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Sunday school. As
she ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please
don't let me be late!” As she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb
and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her pretty dress. She got up,
brushed herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again began
to pray, “Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don't push me either.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my question to you is: what is God pushing
you to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you doing that makes
you your own worst enemy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What changes
is the Holy Spirit inviting you to make- for your own sake and for the sake of
those whom you love and who love you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You heard the list of the self-destructive behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the banner listing the fruits of
the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know who you talk
to, invite to church, avoid, maybe talk about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where do you fit in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
important, though, is not where you’ve been but where you’re going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What life-affirming changes are you in
process of making this Pentecost 2017?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May God bless us as we claim the power of His Spirit in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></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;"><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 href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed
preaching,</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p 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></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></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></html>