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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, Aug 4, 2018 6:49 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 13B: “Food for the Body vs. Food for the Soul”<br>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</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 face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Food for the Body vs. Food for the Soul” and deals
with all the lessons.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here it is: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></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 face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">This morning in our Old
Testament lesson (Exodus 16: 2-4, 5, 9-15) we heard how God provided the
Israelites with very badly needed food for their hungry bodies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you recall, God used Moses to work a
mighty miracle by leading them out of Egypt- the land of slavery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When the Egyptian army followed them to bring
them back, remember how God parted the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) when they were
trapped- so they could escape.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When the
Egyptian army tried to follow, God allowed the Sea to close in on them, and God’s
people were safe.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next he gave them the
Ten Commandments and made a covenant with them.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Then on they traveled walking to the Promised Land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There was one problem, however.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s pretty hard to find food in the desert,
and they got hungrier and hungrier.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
Exodus 16:2-3 we heard the people complaining about Moses, saying they were
better off in Egypt.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you hear the
story of the little boy whose mother had just come home from the hospital with
a new baby sister?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That baby cried and
cried- nobody in the family could get any sleep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Finally the little boy asked where they got
that new baby.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>His mother replied, “From
heaven.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Listen to her cry!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>he exclaimed.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“I’ll bet even God couldn’t shut her up!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No wonder they threw her out and she landed down
here!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s how the Israelites were-
loud, crying, and complaining, until God had pity on them and sent them food
(manna).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every morning when they woke
up, there was this bread-like substance on the ground- enough for one day’s
food for everyone (two days before the Sabbath so they wouldn’t break the
fourth commandment).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Manna, plus the
occasional quail that foolishly landed where they could be caught, made an
amazingly nutritious diet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Manna
provided food for the body- sustenance to keep them going mile after mile to
the Promised Land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></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 face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">In today’s Gospel (John
6:24-35) we heard Jesus describe how God provides food for the soul.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In verse 35 we hear Jesus say about himself:
“I am the Bread of Life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No one who comes
to me will ever be hungry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No one who
has faith in me will ever be thirsty.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Now we’re talking soul food.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Billy
D. Strayhorn, in Bread of Heaven, describes it this way: “Steven Morris was a
special needs child in Mrs. Bernaducci's class. Steven was a thin
African-American boy who was blind. His handicap negatively impacted his
self-esteem. However, over a period of time, the teacher realized that Steven
had exceptional hearing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One day she put
the class mascot, a mouse, into the trash can. The scratching noise created a
minor panic until Steven located the mouse. Mrs. Bernaducci exclaimed:
"Steven, you are truly a wonder." The nickname caught on. The next
year little Stevie Wonder, full of a sense of his own value, began playing the
piano. Stevie 'Wonder' would go on to influence and change American music all
because of Mrs. Bernaducci's faith and encouragement.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We all need that kind of encouragement.
Especially in times like this. Times that try our souls. Times that cause
stress and uncertainty. Times when we want of word of direction from God but
God seems to be silent. We need a word of encouragement. And that's what we get
when we come to this table. A little bit of bread and a little bit of wine
remind us that Christ died for us to prove God's love for us.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></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">Our problem comes when
we know we’re hungry, but we think we need strength for our body, but we really
need strength for our souls.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you
remember the story of the pastor who wanted to convince his children not to
smoke, drink, or eat too many sweets?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He
got four jars and four worms.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next he
filled one jar with cigarette smoke, one jar with cheap whisky, one jar with a
hot fudge sundae, and one jar with good moist soil.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Finally he placed a worm in each jar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Of course, you know what happened.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All the worms died except the one in the jar
with soil.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“There,” he said to the
children.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Look at all these dead worms-
only one lived.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What can you learn about
life from these worms?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“That’s easy!”
said Sally.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“If you smoke, drink whisky,
and eat hot fudge sundaes- you won’t get worms!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She surely missed the point!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The trouble is- we miss the point too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We misdiagnose our hunger- just like the
child misdiagnosed the purpose of the pastor’s experiment.</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 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">So- when you have a hunger that you think you
must fill, but you know it’s not good for you- try Jesus!</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When that cigarette cough is making you begin to
worry- try Jesus!</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When you need that drink to get you started in
the morning- try Jesus!</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When you need the TV on to be able to fall
asleep- try Jesus!</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When that sexual partner who’s not good for you
comes knocking- try Jesus!</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3">Ø</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span></font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">When you can’t shut the worries off in your
brain- try Jesus!</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">The Holy Bread He
offers you today at our altar will be in every cell in your body claiming life
and health and joy for you.</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 face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><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><font color="#000000" size="3">
.</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">Blessed
preaching,</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></div>
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