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From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, May 12, 2018 4:43 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 7B, Sunday after the Ascension: “Up, Up, and AWAY!”<br>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Dear Friends,</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Up, Up, and AWAY!” and
deals with the Acts of the Apostles lesson (Acts 1: 1- 11).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here it is: </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Today is Ascension
Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What a perfect day to celebrate
Mothers’ Day!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The disciples had been
through a roller coaster ride, and so does every mother (and while we’re at it-
father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, or mentor of a child or
teen.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you look at our cross over the
altar, it’s an ascension Christ-figure.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>At first glance, it’s easy to see it as a crucifix, but there is
actually no cross.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We see Jesus, arms
outstretched as if on a cross, ascending to heaven to take his place of honor
and glory after his victorious triumph over death.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And in the first Bible lesson from Acts
(1:8-14) we heard the account of what happened.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Remember, the disciples had been through a roller-coaster ride of what
looked to them like huge tragedy (Good Friday and the crucifixion) to the
glorious high of the Christ’s amazing resurrection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here they were, just getting used to having
him back, when he took off again with a promise- he would send the Holy Spirit
to strengthen them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They knew from past
experience that Jesus expected them to stick together, so they went back to the
upper room to encourage each other, plan, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of
me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They
didn’t understand the significance of Jesus’ leaving them, but we do.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If he were still a person on this planet, how
would we access him?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Telephone?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Can you imagine the busy signals just when
we’re desperate?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Email?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Sorry, this box is full; please send your
message later.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To be accessible to all
of us all the time, Jesus had to return to heaven- thank God he did! </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">That’s what happened to
them- now what’s it to us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do the
ascension and the disciples’ roller-coaster experiences inform and strengthen
our own lives?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice the
thought for the week: “Tough times never last; tough people do (Robert
Schuller).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>True, but how do we outlast
the tough times? I’ve got five key words which I first heard from the Rev. Bob
Stump (Delville United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania) that to me really
answer this question.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They are: DREAM,
SCHEME, TEAM, LEAN, and BEAM.</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">DREAM!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This reminds me of the Collect for Purity-
our first prayer every Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It goes,
“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no
secrets are hid.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dare to dream!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A word of warning: parents- don’t dream for
your children if you don’t also dream for yourself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God doesn’t expect us to live through our
children.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God expects us to live a full
life for him, to search for God’s will for our own lives, and then to struggle
to achieve it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t just tell your
children what to do- show them in your own lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You set the example for your children and
then help them do what you did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Help
them search for God’s will for their lives and then struggle to achieve it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. said, “I have a dream!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So DREAM!</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">SCHEME- not in the
negative, manipulative sense; but in a positive planning way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You know the old gospel song, “Keep your eyes
on the prize, hold on.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s just
another way of saying what St. Paul said, “I press on!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t be surprised when you encounter obstacles
to your dreams.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you remember St.
Peter’s warning to his people (I Peter 4:12)- “Don’t be surprised or shocked
that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you’re never frustrated as you try to
focus and achieve your dreams, your goals- you really need to be sure you’ve
figured out God’s will for your life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You’ve heard the phrase, “No pain; no gain.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For the Christian walk, it’s really true.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s will involves struggle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If life is going too smoothly, you’d better
wonder why Satan isn’t testing you- why he’s just letting you go about your own
convenient, easy way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So plan, focus,
stick with it, SCHEME!</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">TEAM!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’re not intended to go this alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember, what did the disciples do right
after Jesus AGAIN left them alone this time by ascending to heaven?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did they each go to their own houses and
worry?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Actually, probably Thomas did
that, and he missed Jesus first resurrection appearance to the others and then
wasn’t sure he could believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What did they do?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They all went back to that upper room to
encourage each other, talk, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e.
receive Holy Communion.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two Sundays ago,
we heard Jesus proclaim that he is the vine and we are the branches.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice- not a single branch, but
branchES.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And St. Paul reminds us that
we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it (1</font><sup><font size="2">st</font></sup><font size="3"> Cor.
12).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So- don’t try to go it alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Be in church at least once a week and do what
Jesus said- TEAM!</font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">LEAN!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Lean on Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You know the song, “Learning to Lean.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Lean on him.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You know this stole that I must put on before doing any priestly
acts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you know what it
symbolizes?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A yoke.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You’ve seen videos of oxen yoked together to
share the load.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I wear this stole,
I represent all of us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you know who
we’re yoked with?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember when Jesus said, “My yoke is easy,
and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>So LEAN!</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Finally- BEAM!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Look at the ascending Christ figure over the
altar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Where is Christ looking?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Where are his eyes beaming?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sure- right on the altar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So beam in on God’s wisdom at the altar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Beam in on God’s power at the altar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Beam in on God’s love at the altar.</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Let us pray.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Lord, we thank you that the tough times only
seem to last forever.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We thank you that
tough times really do pass.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We ask you
to help us to live today and every day to dream, scheme, team, lean, and beam
in on you so we may be one of those tough people who really do last.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">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"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000"> .</font></font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Blessed preaching,</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Judy Boli</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Saginaw, Michigan</font></span></div>
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