From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  1 15:21:01 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2011 15:21:01 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Good News for 2011--sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Message-ID: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=277

A sermon draft on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 for Sunday, January 2, 2011, "Good News for 2011"
Peace and New Years blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
and
i-church.org
Oxford, UK
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:01:25 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:01:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] [propertalk.topic] Good News for 2011--sermon on
	Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
In-Reply-To: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>
References: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>
Message-ID: <8CD78944C279F69-BD4-2FE2@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


And here is a shorter/tiny version of the URL for the Jan. 2 sermon:

http://tiny.cc/4i9dk

Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church
Elizabeth, NJ






-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Parrish <JoeParrish at compuserve.com>
To: Propertalk <Propertalk at stsams.org>
Cc: PROPERTALK.topic <PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:21 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Good News for 2011--sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23


http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=277
 
A sermon draft on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 for Sunday, January 2, 2011, "Good News for 2011"
Peace and New Years blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
and
i-church.org
Oxford, UK
 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:24:58 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:24:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 2A
In-Reply-To: <df3a2ffb-1cbd-4073-9a6a-16feecf5f3c1@s4g2000yql.googlegroups.com>
References: <df3a2ffb-1cbd-4073-9a6a-16feecf5f3c1@s4g2000yql.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <8CD7897962BB95B-BD4-3013@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 9:35 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 2A


Dear Friends,
Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?The Wise Men? or ?Rocks, Mud, and
hristMass Living in 2011? and deals with the gospel (Matthew
:1-12).  Here it is:
Happy New Year!  Has anyone already messed up a check writing 2010
nstead of 2011?  I haven?t yet, but there is something I hope we do
arry over into 2011.  Carrying ChristMass into the entire new year
as huge potential for us.  I?m going to be right ?out-front? with my
oal today.  This is my last chance to impress on you the peace,
ower, and fulfillment available for you in this new year of 2011 if
ou will live ChristMass all year through.  In today?s gospel, we
eard the story of the Wise Men and their visit to Jesus.  This
pisode in the lives of the Holy Family provides a perfect summary of
hristMass principles for us.  As you recall, here?s what happened.
here were some (remember, the Bible doesn?t tell how many)
strologers from the East (probably Persia, actually probably Baghdad)
ho saw an unusual star (or comet) that signified to them the birth of
 new king.  They dropped everything they were doing, left home and
omeland, endured the rigors of travel for more-or-less two years, and
ecause of that star- went to Jerusalem, where they had a conference
ith King Herod.  The king had his Bible scholars study the scriptures
i.e. the Old Testament- the New Testament hadn?t been written yet) to
ee where this new king would be born.  When the scholars said
Bethlehem,? Herod told the Wise Men to go search for the new-child-
ing, and come back so he could worship this new king also.  As the
ise Men approached Bethlehem, the star stopped over the house where
he child was.  They saw Mary and Jesus in the house.  They knelt down
nd worshipped Jesus, then gave him three gifts- gold (Jesus is King),
rankincense (Jesus is Lord), and myrrh (Jesus is Savior).   Then they
ere warned in a dream to avoid King Herod, but go home another way.
hen Herod figured out he had been tricked by the Wise Men, he was
urious.  At that point, it became obvious Herod considered King Jesus
 threat to his throne and had intended, not to worship him, but to do
way with him.  To be sure Jesus did not survive, Herod ordered his
oldiers to kill all Jewish boys two years and younger- which, he
ssumed would automatically get rid of the ?Jesus threat.?  Herod
hould have known there?s no point in fighting against God, because
is plan didn?t work.  Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus and
ary and flee to Egypt.  Now that?s what really happened.  Now my
uestion to you is- how is this story a wonderful summary of the
hristMass principles?
FIRST, LET?S LOOK AT TIME.  Remember the innkeeper who had no room for
he Holy Family in their time of crisis?  He is the person NOT to
mitate.  Instead, be like the Wise Men in today?s episode.  What?s
he basic difference between the two?  The innkeeper made no room for
esus in his life.  The Wise Men did.  It took a long time to follow
hat star and travel by foot or camel or some other animal from
aghdad to Bethlehem.  Yet, if we?re not careful, we can find
urselves admiring the Wise Men, but living like the Innkeeper.  We
et so busy, busy, busy- that we squeeze God out of our lives.  We
on?t intend to- we just do.  How is it possible to read Forward Day
y Day and the accompanying Bible passages, pray each morning and
vening and before meals, and reach out to others?  I?ll tell you how-
iscipline yourself to give God his time first.  A father was trying
o convince his high school son that he had time for his homework.
he father got a gallon jar and filled it with large rocks, then asked
is son if it was full.  ?Sure is!? said the son- that?s how my life
s before I have my homework done.  So the father took some medium
ized rocks and added them.  ?Full now?? asked the father?  ?Now it?s
ull,? answered his son.  You know what happened next, the father
dded small rocks, then gravel, and finally water.  ?That?s how you
rganize your life, son,? said the father.  You put the big important
hings in first.  Good advice!  Take care of your responsibilities to
od first: church, Bible reading, prayer, and let the other things fit
s they may.  Your life will have power like you wouldn?t believe
ossible.  It was Martin Luther who said that the busier his day, the
ore important it was that he start it with prayer- true.  So don?t be
ike the Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men who made time in their busy
ives for Jesus.
SECOND, DON?T BE STINGY.  Again be like the Wise Men who traveled all
hat way to worship Jesus and give him gifts.  Be like them- give
uality gifts- like yourself, your time, your talent, your treasure-
.e. you.  Stop and think- when?s the last time you helped someone you
on?t even know- a stranger, a neighbor, even an enemy?  If you can?t
hink of the last time- what?s wrong here?  Remember, the only way we
an really give a gift to Jesus anyway is to help someone in need.  Do
ou recall his words from Matthew 25: ?Whatever you do for the least
f these, my sisters or brothers, you do for me?.  And when you give,
on?t just give the leftovers.  That poem I told you about ages ago
hat I learned as a little girl applies here.  As you remember, it
oes: ?What can I give Him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I
ould give him a lamb.  If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part.
hat can I give him?  I?ll give him my heart?  (Christina Rosetti).
ave you given Jesus your heart, your whole self?  Now?s a good time
o start the year giving your whole self to Jesus.
THIRD, NOTHING CAN STOP GOD?S PLAN!  Do you believe this?  Today?s
ible episode provides one more example of this truth.  Notice how
othing could kill Jesus or turn him around until he had finished his
ission of dying and rising for us?  Not the power of King Herod nor
he strength of his soldiers; not even Herod?s lying mouth and
cheming plans - because no one can defeat God?s purposes.  Justice
ill prevail.  Remember Dr. Tony Evan?s statement, ?It?s worth waiting
n God, because when He moves, He moves well!?  Here?s a story by an
nonymous author that illustrates this principle.  One day a farmer's
onkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for
ours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he
ecided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up
nyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the
onkey.  He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.  They
ach grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
ealizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed
orribly. Then, a few shovels full later, he quieted down completely.
he farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he
aw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was
oing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on
he new layer of dirt.  This continued until the donkey stepped  up
ver the edge of the well and trotted off, to  the shock and
stonishment of all the neighbors!  Look friends, life is going to
hrow dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.  The smarter you are, the higher
our goals, the more committed your are to the Lord- just be ready-
he more dirt you can expect.  The trick is- don?t let the devil?s
irt bury you in depression or frustration or just giving up.  God is
n charge and you can do it!  Just shake off that dirt every time it
its and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a potential stepping-
tone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never
iving up.  As with the Holy Family, so it is with us- nothing can
top God?s plan but ourselves.  Justice wins every time- you can
utsmart evil just like the wise old donkey did; just like the Wise
en did.
FINALLY, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.  Did you notice how God provided
or the Holy Family?  Maybe toddler Jesus would have preferred toys or
lothes, but how do you think Joseph provided for his family in the
nknown land of Egypt?  Probably with the fabulously expensive gold
nd frankincense and myrrh from the Wise Men.
So, don?t be like the Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men.  Put the large
tones, the important things- i.e. God in your jar of life first.  The
ible promises you, everything else will fall into place perfectly.
gain- be like the Wise Men- don?t be stingy.  Share the highest
uality of gift possible- yourself.  Next, remember the donkey and
ever give up.  Do right and trust God.  Justice will prevail.
inally, remember God?s care of the Holy Family.  If you are on God?s
ide, nothing can defeat you.  You do your part and God will provide.
appy New Year!  Let?s live 2011 for Jesus, justice, and compassion.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:28:23 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:28:23 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Following the Star
In-Reply-To: <001501cba9f1$c4d3d2e0$4e7b78a0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <001501cba9f1$c4d3d2e0$4e7b78a0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD78981025A1D9-BD4-301D@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Frank R. Fisher. Obl OSB <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: midrash <midrash at joinhands.com>; 'Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary' <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>; propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>; SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic <SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic at ecunet.org>; 'St. Benedict's Abbey' <sba at sbabbey.com>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:23 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Following the Star


We're celebrating Epiphany on the 9th, not quite proper I know but the
hurches will have a lay supply in the pulpit on the 2nd. This is my draft
or that day. It's in the form of a letter from Judea written by a Roman
oldier.
PAX
__________________________
Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
ww.ffisher.net
nterim Pastor
irst Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
ww.fpckewanee.org
lmira United Presbyterian Church of Toulon, IL
ww.elmiraunited.org
aka
Brother Oscar Romero
blate of St. Benedict's Abbey
artonville, Illinois, USA
ww.SBAbbey.com
"I pray not that you walk in my shoes - nor I yours - but that together we
alk so close to Rabbi Jesus that we are covered with dust from his
andals." - Neal Rylaarsdam

ail Marcus!
reetings to you 
ost favored one
ho enjoys 
he gentle sun
f our mother Roma,
hile I bake
n this accursed 
nd dirty place!
There my brother,
ou have your answer 
efore you ask.
 haven't gotten used
o the infernal sun,
or the constant dirt,
f this insignificant corner
f Rome's great empire.
or have I gotten used
o the way 
eople treat us here;
ogs,
hey call us.
hat's the 
ltimate 
nsult to them.
I can't get used to it 
arcus.
ou know
ow I've always thought
here should be no difference
etween those who were rich
r poor,
nd no difference
etween anyone
rom any land.
nd if that wasn't enough
f my complaints,
 have to tell you that
until recently,
 thought I'd expire
nder the sword
f constant boredom.
ut finally,
fter being stationed here,
n Jerusalem's fortress Antonious,
or more than a year,
omething 
nteresting
as actually happened.
Of course you know
y century 
as drawn guard duty
t the fortress gates.
ormally
that job's pretty horrible.
ou have to stay alert enough
o be sure  a zealot
on't decide to use your guts
o sheath his sword.
nd there really 
sn't enough going on
o keep your mind occupied.
ately
we've even taken to betting
n the expected life span
f Herod's sons.
aesar
as so right
hen he remarked
t was safer 
o be Herod's pig
han Herod's child.
Well anyway,
'd drawn the morning watch
t the fortress gates.
othing much
eemed to be happening
hen an unscheduled caravan 
ppeared
out of the twists and turns
f the city streets.
t first I thought
t was the usual 
roup of merchants
ho'd banded together
o ward off the bandits.
r maybe,
 thought,
t was yet another 
roup of pilgrims
ere 
or some obscure 
eligious holiday.
But this caravan
as nothing of the usual sort.
or in its midst
ere three old men
hose clothes literally shimmered
ith golden thread
nd precious stones.
ow normally
omeone dressed like that
ouldn't ever bother
ith an ordinary legionary like me.
ut they stopped 
ight in front of the gates,
opped off their horses,
nd came over to say hello.
All three of them
seemed quite excited
bout something or another.
t was quite awhile
efore I could make out 
heir story.
Finally,
 got them to slow down
nd stop talking 
ll at once.
hen,
hen they'd taken a deep breath,
hey began to tell  me,
he strangest tale
've ever heard.
They were all astrologers,
hey said,
earned,
nd important men
n the courts 
f their kings.
t had taken them
any years of study
o earn 
heir current positions.
nd for quite some time
hey were content
o simply bask 
n their king's 
eflected glory.
ll the while,
f course,
hey made sure
hey provided 
ll the proper celestial readings;
eadings
hich reinforced
heir king's power and might.
Then,
he day came
hen they each recognized
something different 
n the sky.
t was a star,
rightly shining
here no star
ad ever been before.
ach of them 
ug into their scrolls.
t first,
hey discovered nothing.
ut finally,
n their oldest
and most brittle scrolls,
hey found 
he new star's message;
 message
hey worriedly brought
o their masters.
 new king
as arising,
he star proclaimed;
 king
ho would rule
ver the nation of Judea.
Quickly,
ach king,
rdered their astrologers
o gather rich gifts;
ifts to offer
n hope of alliance,
ith the new king.
hen,
he three set out,
irst separately
nd then together,
o offer their gifts
to this star foretold king.
nd where else,
hey thought,
ould one come 
o offer gifts
o the new born king 
f Judea,
han here,
t the Jerusalem palace.
Now Marcus,
f course you know
ow I responded
to this idea.
You're going to talk 
o Herod,
bout a king
ho if he exists
ill replace him 
n the throne?"
 asked in bewilderment.
Oh,
ow that's 
 good idea.
hy don't I simply
show you the way 
o prison 
ow?
hat way at least
ou'll save some time."
ut the three astrologers
ere adamant.
hey were going to see 
erod.
fter all,
hey said,
ne must 
o through the proper channels
bout these things.
I was sure
'd never see them again.
nd I left my post 
hat evening
ith a disappointed feeling.
ut I didn't have to stay 
isappointed
or too long.
or as soon 
s I reached 
he barracks,
y centurion 
alled me over
o give me 
ome new orders.
erod wanted someone
o go with the astrologers
s their honor guard.
nd since 
'd spoken to them 
lready,
 was elected.
 was to travel with them,
ind out the identity 
f the new king
nd then return 
o report.
erod,
he centurion said,
anted to deliver 
is own gift
o the new born king.
I wasn't too certain
 wanted
to be any part
f the type of gift Herod
ould want to offer.
ut orders are orders.
o the next morning,
way I went
n the company 
f my new companions.
nd companions 
hey were Marcus.
or instead of ignoring me,
hey spent the trip
elling me 
ll about 
heir mission.
hey showed me 
he star
uiding them 
n their way.
nd they showed me
he gifts 
hey were to bring.
You see Marcus,
hey weren't simply coming
o offer gifts 
o a new king
n the hope 
f an alliance.
hey were coming
o offer their homage.
hey intended
o offer themselves,
ll they had
nd all they were
o this new king.
"But how can you 
o that,"
 asked?
You're pledged 
o other kings already.
nd what makes you 
hink
 Judean king,
ould accept gentile vassals?
fter all,
udeans consider everyone else
o be unclean
nd lower 
han camel spit!"
The gifts they were bringing
uzzled me too,
Marcus.
ne of the carried gold.
hat
I could understand.
ot only 
as it worth something,
ut it was also 
 good symbol
f a king's power.
ut the other two,
arried gifts
I couldn't understand;
rankincense
and myrrh.
Finally,
ust as our journey
as nearing its end,
he astrologers 
eemed to understand 
y puzzlement.
nd as we sat down
n the last oasis
hey began to explain.
"This king,
ill be 
 different type 
f king,"
hey told me.
This is a king
ho will draw 
ll peoples together.
nder this king's rule
heir will be no clean
r unclean.
nd their will be 
nly one people;
he people of God."
"What's this 
bout a god,"
 asked?
nd what's 
ith your gifts?
rankincense and myrrh
re pretty strange gifts
o offer a baby;
ven when the baby's 
 king.
"As we said,"
hey replied,
this will be no ordinary king.
e bring frankincense,
ecause it is a sweet offering
o the one God;
he God 
ho created all.
his child
s the only begotten child
f God.
nd we come 
ot only to offer homage.
e also come,
o offer our worship."
At first
 thought
they were joking.
ut they were 
eally serious
Marcus.
 was pretty much 
n shock 
rom all this,
ut it didn't keep me
rom asking 
ne last question.
"And the Myrrh,
 asked,
hy do you bring it?
hy bring 
 thing 
f pain and death
o this place of new life?"
"Because,"
hey said quietly,
this child of God,
as been born
o die;
o die 
s a sin offering for us
o that we
ight live."
Even I
ad no questions 
fter that
arcus.
he next morning
e arose early.
nd by that evening
e'd finished 
ur journey.
he star led us
o a little village
alled Bethlehem.
nd in the stable
f a house there,
e found 
his new born king.
None of the villagers
eemed too surprised
o see us Marcus.
hen I asked them why,
hey just laughed.
hen they finally 
topped
hey said
ngels  danced and sung
bove them
n the night time sky
n the night 
his child was born
fter seeing that,
 guess
he visit of three men,
ven important men 
uch as these,
sn't much 
f a surprise.
This will be the last letter
ou get from me 
or quite awhile Marcus.
he astrologers
ere warned in a dream
bout the gift
erod
anted to bring 
o this child.
hey said
hey are going on
y another way.
I'm going on
nother way too.
oseph,
he child's 
arthly father,
as asked me 
o help them all
ead off to Egypt
o escape Herod.
o I'm traveling on
ith 
y 
ew king.
Oh,
 guess I forgot to tell you 
bout that.
hen I finally understood
hat the astrologers 
old me;
ow in this
God/king
here would be no one 
nclean,
o one outside,
o one shut away,
here was only 
ne thing
 could do.
I offered this king
y homage too.
Peace to you 
nd yours Marcus.
o not miss me 
oo much,
or I'm sure 
t some point
y king 
ill lead me back 
o Roma.
nd in the meantime,
'll be off
ollowing 
y shining Star.
To God alone be glory.
Amen.


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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  2 20:45:33 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 20:45:33 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FEAST of the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <A05E38B3F791454484627B464685BA5A@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.


OLD TESTAMENT:  Isaiah 60: 1 - 6   (RCL, Roman Catholic)

Isai 60:1 (NRSV) Arise, shine; for your light has come, 
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 
2 For darkness shall cover the earth, 
and thick darkness the peoples; 
but the LORD will arise upon you, 
and his glory will appear over you. 
3 Nations shall come to your light, 
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 
4 Lift up your eyes and look around; 
they all gather together, they come to you; 
your sons shall come from far away, 
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. 
5 Then you shall see and be radiant; 
your heart shall thrill and rejoice, 
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, 
the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, 
the young camels of Mid'ian and E'phah; 
all those from She'ba shall come. 
They shall bring gold and frankincense, 
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. 


PSALM 72: 1 - 7, 10 - 14   (RCL)
Psalm 72: 1 - 14   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 72: 1 - 2, 7 - 8, 10 - 13   (Roman Catholic)
Psalm 72: (1 - 9) 10 - 15   (C of E)

Psal 72:1 (NRSV) Give the king your justice, O God, 
and your righteousness to a king's son. 
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, 
and your poor with justice. 
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, 
and the hills, in righteousness. 
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, 
give deliverance to the needy, 
and crush the oppressor. 
5 May he live while the sun endures, 
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, 
like showers that water the earth. 
7 In his days may righteousness flourish 
and peace abound, until the moon is no more. 
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, 
and from the River to the ends of the earth. 
9 May his foes bow down before him, 
and his enemies lick the dust. 
10 May the kings of Tar'shish and of the isles 
render him tribute, 
may the kings of She'ba and Se'ba 
bring gifts. 
11 May all kings fall down before him, 
all nations give him service. 
12 For he delivers the needy when they call, 
the poor and those who have no helper. 
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, 
and saves the lives of the needy. 
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; 
and precious is their blood in his sight. 
15 Long may he live! 
May gold of She'ba be given to him. 
May prayer be made for him continually, 
and blessings invoked for him all day long. 
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; 
may it wave on the tops of the mountains; 
may its fruit be like Lebanon; 
and may people blossom in the cities 
like the grass of the field. 
17 May his name endure forever, 
his fame continue as long as the sun. 
May all nations be blessed in him; 
may they pronounce him happy. 
18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, 
who alone does wondrous things. 
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; 
may his glory fill the whole earth. 
Amen and Amen. 


NEW TESTAMENT:  Ephesians 3: 1 - 12   (RCL)
                               Ephesians 3: 2 - 3a, 5 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 3:1 (NRSV) This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.  


GOSPEL:  Matthew 2: 1 - 12   (all)

Matt 2:1 (NRSV) In the time of King Her'od, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Her'od heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 
6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 
for from you shall come a ruler 
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 
7 Then Her'od secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Her'od, they left for their own country by another road.
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  2 20:55:23 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 20:55:23 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIRST SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <827C8449D9564B1F8F426542D8FFDB43@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the First Sunday after the Epiphany (Baptism of Our Lord), Jan. 9, 2011, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, Canadian (ACC) variant of the RCL, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Common Worship and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Isaiah 42: 1 - 9   (RCL)
                               Isaiah 42: 1 - 4, 6 - 7   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 42:1 (NRSV) Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 
my chosen, in whom my soul delights; 
I have put my spirit upon him; 
he will bring forth justice to the nations. 
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, 
or make it heard in the street; 
3 a bruised reed he will not break, 
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; 
he will faithfully bring forth justice. 
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed 
until he has established justice in the earth; 
and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 
5 Thus says God, the LORD, 
who created the heavens and stretched them out, 
who spread out the earth and what comes from it, 
who gives breath to the people upon it 
and spirit to those who walk in it: 
6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, 
I have taken you by the hand and kept you; 
I have given you as a covenant to the people, 
a light to the nations, 
7 to open the eyes that are blind, 
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, 
from the prison those who sit in darkness. 
8 I am the LORD, that is my name; 
my glory I give to no other, 
nor my praise to idols. 
9 See, the former things have come to pass, 
and new things I now declare; 
before they spring forth, 
I tell you of them. 


PSALM 29   (RCL)
Psalm 29: 1 - 4, 3b+9b-10   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 29:1 (NRSV) Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; 
worship the LORD in holy splendor. 
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; 
the God of glory thunders, 
the LORD, over mighty waters. 
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; 
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; 
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, 
and Sir'ion like a young wild ox. 
7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; 
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Ka'desh. 
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, 
and strips the forest bare; 
and in his temple all say, "Glory!" 
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; 
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. 
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! 
May the LORD bless his people with peace! 


NEW TESTAMENT:  Acts 10: 34 - 43   (RCL)
                                Acts 10: 34 - 38   (Roman Catholic)

Acts 10:34 (NRSV) Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 


GOSPEL:   Matthew 3: 13 - 17   (all)

Matt 3:13 (NRSV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From annfontaine at mac.com  Wed Jan  5 09:32:08 2011
From: annfontaine at mac.com (Ann Fontaine)
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Epiphany 1
Message-ID: <03B8055E-B339-4CB7-BDB8-33502F271A7D@mac.com>

For the Baptism of Christ I am thinking of the scene in The Dawn  
Treader where Aslan and Eustace rid Eustace of the dragon skin Dawn  
Treader is out in the theaters now.

http://www.victorianweb.org/courses/fiction/65/lewis/miller3.html
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, third book in the Narnian series (or  
fifth, depending on the publisher) begins much like the first: the  
Pevensie children visit a strange house and are suddenly transported  
to another world. Whereas the first book, The Lion, the Witch and the  
Wardrobe, has many parallels to the Bible, this book is more of an  
adventure book, with moral instruction to be gleaned from the various  
adventures. However, the book contains some blatantly religious  
imagery as well. One example is the scene in which Aslan Himself  
baptizes Eustace. Aslan tells Eustace that he must undress himself  
before bathing in the well, and Eustace understands that he must shed  
his dragon skin. He rips off the first three layers of dragon skin  
himself, but keeps finding more layers underneath.

"I looked up and saw the very last thing I expected: a huge lion  
coming slowly toward me. And one queer thing was that there was no  
moon last night, but there was moonlight where the lion was. So it  
came nearer and nearer. I was terribly afraid of it. You may think  
that, being a dragon, I could have knocked any lion out easily enough.  
But it wasn't that kind of fear. I wasn't afraid of it eating me, I  
was just afraid of it -- if you can understand. Well, it came close up  
to me and looked straight into my eyes. And I shut my eyes tight. But  
that wasn't any good because it told me to follow it."

"You mean it spoke?"

"I don't know. Now that you mention it, I don't think it did. But it  
told me all the same. And I knew I'd have to do what it told me, so I  
got up and followed it. And it led me a long way into the mountains.  
And there was always this moonlight over and round the lion wherever  
we went. So at last when we came to the top of a mountain I'd never  
seen before and on the top of this mountain there was a garden - trees  
and fruit and everything. In the middle of it there was a well. . . .

"Then the lion said -- but I don't know if it spoke -- 'You will have  
to let me undress you.' I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but  
I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back  
to let him do it.

"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone  
right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt  
worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able  
to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You  
know -- if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like  
billy -- oh but it is such fun to see it coming away."

"I know exactly what you mean," said Edmund.

"Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off -- just as I thought I'd  
done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt -- and  
there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and  
darker, and more knobly-looking than the others had been. And there  
was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had  
been. Then he caught hold of me -- I didn't like that much for I was  
very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on -- and threw me into  
the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that  
it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and  
splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I  
saw why. I'd turned into a boy again." [115-116]




The Rev. Ann K Fontaine
Wyoming









From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Thu Jan  6 12:00:22 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 12:00:22 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] OT Epiphany Mediation/Blog Post
In-Reply-To: <005e01cbadc1$3e8d6ba0$bba842e0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <005e01cbadc1$3e8d6ba0$bba842e0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD7BDA5734C09D-BC8-2C58@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Fisher <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: PROPERTALK.topic PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org; 
Sent: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 11:46 am
Subject: [propertalk.topic] OT Epiphany Mediation/Blog Post




or any still focusing on Epiphany there is an interesting meditation on it
t http://tinyurl.com/383oauh .
There is also a new entry on my blog about praying the hours,
ttp://www.ffisher.net. 
__
Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
ww.ffisher.net
nterim Pastor
irst Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
ww.fpckewanee.org
lmira United Presbyterian Church
ww.elmiraunited.org
aka
Brother Oscar Romero
blate of St. Benedict's Abbey
artonville, IL
ww.SBAbbey.com

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
hat when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:12:29 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:12:29 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] The First Step: Matthew 3:13-17 - from GoodPreacher.com
Message-ID: <1C3F26CAF828477BA4C59F68155B76D8@YOUR264F1833C5>

from GoodPreacher.com


      The First Step: Matthew 3:13-17


      We do not think about it much, but for most of us, one of the things that brings us here today is that we were baptized. Some were baptized because you turned seven years old and decided that you were sick and tired of not getting to drink the grape juice. A few were baptized because your little sister got baptized and your mother kept pointing out that she was your little sister. Some went to a worship service where the minister made you cry. You felt God calling you to walk the aisle, and if you walk the aisle you get baptized. Some of you are grateful that you were baptized as an infant. Some of you were baptized as an infant, and do not think about it much. Some of you have never been baptized because you have never seen any reason why you should. Some of you have not been baptized and do not know why you have not. Some of you have not been baptized, but you have had to work hard to avoid seriously considering it. 

      I was baptized when I was eight years old, in part, because my best friend and next-door neighbor, Craig, who was nine years old, had decided to be baptized. I did not think people should think that he was more Christian than I was. The Sunday after I walked the aisle, my third grade nemesis, Terri, who was always Lucy to my Charlie Brown, decided that she would be baptized, too. Terri bragged that she would be baptized before I was because they always baptize girls first. She sneered at me just before she went under the water. 

      The first person I baptized was Keith. He was a third grader. I was a college sophomore-about ten years too young to be the pastor of any church no matter how small. Keith and I talked about his baptism at least a half dozen times. I went over it with Keith's parents. We discussed every imaginable possibility, or so I thought. They all somehow managed to forget to mention Keith's fear of water. I did not find out about this fear until I saw it in his eyes as he stood at the edge of the baptistery. I reached out and led him down the steps slowly. I spoke the words of baptism, put my hand on his back, and waited for him to lean back. He did not move. I pulled on his shirt. He still did not move. He had no plans to move. I finally put my left hand on his shoulder to ever so gently push him under. He showed his first sign of life. He did not want to be pushed ever so gently under. There is a small spot on the top of Keith's head that never got wet. I am sure there are Baptist churches that pride themselves on being one hundred percent immersed and where Keith's baptism would be at least five percent unacceptable. 

      It is good that we learn the meaning of our baptisms after the fact. Most of us did not fully know what we were doing on the day we were baptized. It is years later, as we make our way slowly into faith that the purpose begins to unfold. We discover what our baptisms mean after the event rather than before. That is how it was for Jesus, too. 

      In Matthew's Gospel the story skips from Jesus as an infant to Jesus as a thirty-year-old without a clue as to what happened in between. One day Jesus puts down his hammer, takes off his tool belt, hangs a "closed" sign on the door of the carpenter's shop and asks, "What does God want of me?" He heads south and finds his cousin John, smelling of locust and honey, standing in the muddy Jordan in his camel hair baptismal robe. Jesus gets in line and waits his turn. He wades out into the water, right next to real live sinners like you and me. 

      While three gospels tell the story of Jesus' baptism, only Matthew records the curious conversation prior to the baptism. Jesus is eager to be baptized, but John hesitates. They stand hip-deep in the river and engage in a fervent, theological debate as to who should baptize whom. The first time that Jesus speaks in Matthew's Gospel, it is to say that he needs to be baptized, because baptism will help him learn who he is meant to be. Jesus leans back into the water because he believes that God is calling him to a different kind of life. 

      When Jesus rises, the waters of the Jordan dripping into his face, he sees the Spirit descending like a dove to rest upon his soggy head. The Spirit comes not as an all-consuming fire of judgment, but with the flutter of hopeful wings. A voice says: "You are my child. I love you. I'm delighted with you." 

      Then Jesus goes into the desert for forty days to think about what it means to be God's child. Jesus spends all the days and years that follow that afternoon in the Jordan discovering the meaning of his baptism. 

      Paul Tillich said that Jesus is the only one who has been completely true to the voice he heard at his baptism. Jesus gave everything-his dreams and deeds, his labors and his life itself. Jesus gave himself to God's people, took his place with hurting people. Baptism was Jesus' commissioning to ministry. 

      During the week before his death, the leaders of the temple challenged Jesus: "By what authority do you do these things?" Jesus answered with a reference to his baptism: "Was the baptism of John from heaven or not? I was baptized. That's why I do the things I do." In the waters of baptism, Jesus heard the Spirit calling him to speak the truth and live with grace. 

      So Jesus does not die of old age. He dies because he takes his baptism seriously. When Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished" it was his baptism that was complete.

      Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism was first read in a church where some of the people had been baptized years earlier, but did not think about it very much. There were many who had never been baptized, and as they listened to the story, they thought about what being baptized would say about who they wanted to be. There were a few who had been baptized, but at the time it did not mean much. Now as they looked back they could see that it was the beginning of everything. 

      Baptisms, like most beginnings, find their meaning long after the event. Starting, by itself, is often of little consequence. Beginning is usually easy. Finishing is often hard. Bobby Knight, the retired basketball coach, and not a person most preachers quote in sermons, was asked about a player who was doing a great job coming off the bench, "When will he get to start?" Coach Knight responded: "You don't understand the game. It doesn't matter who starts. It matters who finishes." 

      A month before the wedding, glassy-eyed couples tell the minister that they are the perfect pair. One of the joys of ministry is getting to tell them: "You get no points for getting this far. On your wedding day almost every couple is capable of creating a life together filled with faith, hope and joy, and almost every couple is capable of creating something more horrifying than your worst nightmare." Marriages cannot be judged on the wedding day. In ten years you just start to see what they have done with it. What does it mean to get married? Sometimes the meaning is found in pictures of strangely attired bridesmaids and ill at ease groomsmen. More often it is discovered as you sit together at the dinner table.

      Beginning is usually easier than finishing. Any husband can stand in the delivery room, give his wife ice chips and say, "You're doing great, honey." Every father looks good holding a newborn. You cannot judge fathers in the maternity ward. In twenty years you start to see how hard they have worked at it. What does it mean when a child is born? Sometimes the importance is glimpsed by looking at a baby book. More often it is discovered in conversations that take place in the car on the way to school. 

      Beginning is easier than finishing. Depending on which study you read, the average tenure for a pastor in the United States is three to four years. That is embarrassing for churches and ministers. In many of those situations, the congregation and/or the pastor too quickly decide that they need a new start when they have never lived out the promise of the old start.

      The significance of any decision takes a while. It does not take nearly as much to decide to be a friend as it takes to actually be a friend. Moments of initiation are meaningless until we are true to the promise of that beginning.

      We too quickly think that what we need is a new start. Our culture has an insatiable appetite for new things, but we can add a thousand new things without it meaning anything. "What's new?" is not a bad question, but if we constantly pursue only what is new the result is an endless parade of trivia. We ought to be consumed with the question, "What's best?" We spend too much of our lives looking for the new without really exploring the old. We do not need new beginnings nearly so much as we need to make sense of the old beginnings.

      Some of the people who think they need a new job need to fulfill the promise of their old job. What did it mean when you took your job? The job description they handed you before your first day may not mean much. The real significance is found every Monday morning. We may not need new starts. We may need to fulfill the old ones.

      Baptism is a beginning, the prologue to a book waiting to be written. Introductions are not enough by themselves.

      Every once in a while someone will ask to be re-baptized. They say something like: "I was sincere when I was baptized, but then I drifted away. I want to start again." Most of the time the best response is: "The problem is not with your baptism. Your beginning was fine. You need to live out what you've already started."

      We are handed a map, but then we have to take the trip. It takes our whole life to finish the journey we begin when we're baptized. When Martin Luther was tempted to give up on following Christ, he would sit in his study and recite, almost as a mantra: "I am baptized. I am baptized. I am baptized." 

      What does it mean to us to live out our baptisms? If we are true to our baptisms, we cannot make ourselves comfortable, cannot do only what will be appreciated, and cannot be satisfied with the way things are. Our baptisms demand that we struggle with what's right and what's wrong, what's important and what's not. 

      The children of God tell the truth in a world that lies, give in a world that takes, love in a world that lusts, make peace in a world that fights, serve in a world that wants to be served, pray in a world that waits to be entertained, and take chances in a world that worships safety. The baptized are citizens of an eccentric community where financial success is not the goal, security is not the highest good, and sacrifice is a daily event.

      Baptism is our ordination to ministry, our vow to live with more concern for the hurting than for our own comfort, and our promise to take issue with ideas with which everyone else agrees. Baptism is the commitment to share our time with the poor and listen to the lonely. 

      What did it mean when we were baptized? For those of us who were baptized as older children or adults, it might be helpful to remember what we thought, felt, and did on that day. However, the meaning of our baptism is seen more clearly in what we think, feel, and do this day. "Is there anything we should do differently today since we are baptized?" We are forever answering the question, "Why am I baptized?"

      Brett Younger

      McAfee School of Theology

      Atlanta, GA


      www.GoodPreacher.com


     
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:19:14 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:19:14 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 sermon - Matthew 3:13-17
Message-ID: <B9BF88C72C714BD79C177EFB55672EC1@YOUR264F1833C5>

The Rev. Dr. Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, NC, and professor of church history and religion. He is an ordained Baptist minister. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The River
Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism of the Lord - Year A
January 09, 2011
http://day1.org/2540-the_river
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:23:52 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:23:52 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon Resources for January 9 - Part 1
Message-ID: <095E37A1D7624ED6B6354DD072D35592@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
Sermons for the Baptism of Our Lord



Matthew 3:13-17 - "Water that Brings a New Beginning"

Matthew 3:13-17 - "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet



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[Members: Please see Matthew 3 the sermon titled "The Water that Brings a New Beginning"] 



Water has been in the news a lot over the last decade, with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Tsunami in Southeast Asia, and the ongoing cycles of drought and floods.  The Western United States witnessed massive flooding over the holidays.  Australia has seen historic flooding even just this week. Even the less dramatic storms and snowstorms that disrupt our daily lives make the news.  Water is part of the drama of our life.  It brings life, but not enough or too much can bring destruction.  Let us focus on the life giving power of clean, fresh water. 

There are two very different ways to think about baptism. The first approach recognizes the time of baptism as a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. The person then considers herself "saved." She may grow in the faith through the years, but nothing which she will experience after her baptism will be as important as her baptism. She always will be able to recall her baptism as the time when her life changed.

The second approach wouldn't disagree with any of that, but would add to it significantly. This idea affirms baptism as the time when God's love and forgiveness are experienced. It also recognizes baptism as a time of change. However, where the first approach isolates the act of baptism as the most important moment, the second approach understands baptism more as a beginning. While it is true that in the waters of baptism God laid claim on our lives, it is also true that we spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what that means. The first understanding often overlooks the journey which follows baptism.

Baptism too frequently carries the connotation of having arrived. Sometimes people say to their ministers, "I want to be baptized and join the church as soon as I get my life in order." Of course, if that is what any of us are waiting on, we will never be baptized. None of us will ever have our lives sufficiently in order to be baptized. Baptism is not something we earn, nor is it a sign that we have found all the answers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Baptism is a beginning. It is the desire to see the world differently, to see each other differently, and even to see ourselves differently. Baptism is a fresh start, not a destination. Baptism calls into question our previous lives, it does not bless them. Baptism is not a trial-free membership, but a rite of initiation into a way of life in which Jesus promised there would be trials.

Jesus' baptism serves as a model for our baptism. For Jesus, baptism represents the beginning of his ministry. While some ultimate questions may have been answered when he was with John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus continued to deal with questions and temptations throughout his life. The baptism of Jesus is one of our favorite stories. We love to hear how the heavens opened, to imagine the dove descending, and to hear God's blessing on the Son. We would like to think something like that happens when we are baptized. What we should be prepared for is that our journey of faith, much like Jesus' journey, continues to unfold long after our baptism as we try to discern what our baptism means in our daily living.

We can begin to understand more about our baptism by thinking of it in three ways.



1. First, baptism is about beginning anew.

2. The second part of baptism is the good news that we have been included.

3. The third part of baptism is ordination. With baptism comes the Spirit, and with the Spirit come gifts to be used in the service of God.



The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 

_______________________



The full text of the following sermon is available at www.Sermons.com.



Sign up today at: http://www.sermons.com/signup 

Or call: 1-800-777-7731.



[Members: Please see Matthew 3:13-17 the sermon titled "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet] 



How many of your New Year's Resolutions have made it intact through the first full week of 2011? Have you missed a day of exercise yet? Have you stuck to your diet? Are you texting less, talking more, always telling the truth? 



Most "resolutions" we make are self-directed: get thinner, work smarter, be stronger, take control of your life. We want to make changes that will help us, improve us, and bring us good feelings about ourselves.



Jesus said to be "in" the world but not to be "of" the world. So let's start with being "in" a world that begins each year making resolutions: let's make a New Year's Resolution. But what if we weren't "of" this world of resolutions we're "in"? Instead of resolutions to live 2011 in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves, that brings ourselves pleasure, what if we resolve to live a life that brings pleasure to God. 



What if we were to forget the little resolutions and resolve something big (did you catch it? another in-not-of alteration since the world is filled with lots of resolutions but little resolve)? What if we were to resolve to so live in 2011 that in January of 2012 God can look back at our year of living and declare - "Your life brings me great pleasure. Well-done, good and faithful friend."



Could there be any greater joy than hearing those words? 



Remember how as a little child you lived and loved to get the approval of your Mom and Dad? Piano recitals, school plays, science projects, Christmas and Easter pageants - all were at the same time fearful and fun. But for you to feel like you'd really accomplished something, it took a parent, one of your grands or that "special someone," watching and cheering, applauding and effusing--"great job," "well done," "bravo," "I'm so proud and pleased." Or even just an "I love you."



If the praise of our imperfect human parents could bring such a sense of satisfaction to our childish hearts, think how much more the affirmation of our perfect, all powerful, heavenly parent would mean to our life. 



The absolute best thing we can ever know in life is that we have lived in such a way that it brings God great pleasure. 



But there is always a flip side... 



The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:24:22 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:24:22 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon Resources for January 9 - Part 2
Message-ID: <ACD840BB175D450C915812B4AC61A82A@YOUR264F1833C5>

Reasons for Jesus submitting to Baptism



1. To fulfill all Righteousness: To be consecrated to God and approved by God.



2. The public announcement of the arrival of the Messiah and the inception of His ministry.



3. Identification with human sin and identification of himself with the people's movement toward God.



4. To be an example to his followers.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com 



______________________



Welcome To a Journey



The story is told of a pastor's words to a baby shortly after he had baptized her. No doubt, the minister was speaking as much to the congregation as to the infant. "Little sister, by this act of baptism, we welcome you to a journey that will take your whole life. This isn't the end. It's the beginning of God's experiment with your life. What God will make of you, we know not. Where God will take you, surprise you, we cannot say. This we do know and this we say -- God is with you."



And God will be with us as we live out our baptism. 



William B. Kincaid, III,  And then Came the Angel, CSS Publishing Company 



_____________________



Unconditional Love



I don't remember the first time I walked, but I imagine it went something like this: I stood at one end of the room with my mother and my father was a full three steps away. Before that day I could probably do the kind of creative dangling that almost looks like walking, when somebody held me by the hands and shifted me from side to side as my feet barely touched the floor. But this is the day when I will try a real honest walk on my own - all holds barred - with just two eager parents, miles apart, there to cheer me on. So I set out, wobbling at first, stumbling at second, but unmistakably making it on my own from one set of arms to the other. And then I imagine that my father lifted me high in the air with an exultant shout as if no one in human history had ever walked before. Then, after numerous kisses and exclamations, I probably felt like the most loved, most marvelous boy in all the world.

After a time I could walk with more assurance but, for some reason, I didn't receive so much praise. In fact, I can't remember the last time that anyone praised me for walking across a room. So I had to do other things. Simply walking just wasn't good enough anymore. I had to strive to make a splash in other ways, just to get back to that feeling, that feeling of being noticed, of being picked up with a shout of delight, of being valued.

For the most part, we don't have much experience with unconditional love, so we try to create conditions in which we will feel worthy of love. We do not entirely trust love without reasons, so we strive to create reasons for the love received.

And in all that striving, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that my parents did not praise me because of my accomplishments. Rather, they praised my accomplishments because they loved me, and would have loved me if there were no accomplishments to praise.

If parents sometimes have something like unconditional love, a love without reasons, for their children, how much more so does God love God's children? All of our striving to try to win something that is ours already. God values you, not because you have distinguished yourself in some way, but because you are God's beloved.

Martin Copenhaver, Whispered in Your Ear 
___________________________________



Jesus' Consecration



Some years ago, a Scottish minister told his congregation about dreaming he had died. When he came to the pearly gates, to his dismay, he would be denied entrance until he presented his credentials. Proudly the Pastor articulated the number of sermons preached and the prominent pulpits occupied. But Saint Peter said no one had heard them in heaven. The discouraged servant enumerated his community involvement. He was told they were not recorded. Sorrowfully, the pastor turned to leave, when Peter said, "Stay a moment, and tell me, are you the man who fed the sparrows?"



"Yes," the Scotsman replied, "but what does that have to do with it?"



"Come in," said Saint Peter, "the Master of the sparrows wants to thank you."



Here is the pertinent, though often overlooked, point: great and prominent positions indicate skill and capacity, but small services suggest the depth of one's consecration.



And so it is with Jesus' Baptism. He submits to John's baptism of repentance even though he himself was perfect and had no need to repent. Jesus identified with our sins by being baptized. He joined in the popular movement of his day. It was a grass roots movement started by a desert monk named John the Baptist. John was calling for the repentance of Israel. Jesus chose to be baptized because he wanted to participate with the people in their desires to be close to God.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com. Adapted from G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching, Nashville: Broadman, p. 241.



_____________________



Meaning of Baptism



Those who are baptized in Jesus do not need to strive after a new life. They have already attained new life through dying with Christ. But they do need to nurture that new life so it can grow and mature. That's what church is for. That's what Bible study is for. That's what prayer is for. It is like the Parable of the Sower. Many of those seeds sprouted up, but only a few grew into maturity. The rest withered and died.



A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.



"Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the businessman.



"Because I caught enough fish for one day," replied the fisherman.



"Why don't you catch some more?"



"What would I do with them?"



"You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me."



"Then what would I do?" asked the fisherman.



"Then," said the businessman, "you could really enjoy life."



The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I am doing now?"



The baptism of Jesus is dying to our self-centered endeavors and being resurrected into a life marked by grace and love. When we live in the baptism of Jesus, we touch the hearts of others and help open them to the Holy Spirit and new life in Christ. Are you living and growing in the new life you have been given?



Paul Peterson, The Waters of Death 



_____________________



We Draw the Circle Too Small



Roy Lloyd, a Lutheran minister, once interviewed Mother Teresa. He said that one of his questions and one of her answers stands out in his mind as "a bright sun burning in my mind." He asked her, "What's the biggest problem in the world today?" And she answered, without hesitation, "The biggest problem in the world today is that we draw the circle of our family too small. We need to draw it larger every day."



With all that is evil and wrong in this world today it would be easy to answer that question with a hundred different events. That's what makes Mother Teresa's response so jilting. She is saying that the problem is not so much with the world as it is with us. We need to see more people as our neighbor than we are currently doing.



I see Jesus doing this in his baptism. In his baptism he included us in his righteousness. He identified with humanity, with our need to be cleansed, and our need to be made pure. If you have been baptized you have been drawn, by Jesus' baptism, into the circle of God's family.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com.



____________________



What Will You Do with Your Gift?



There is a folk tale from India that summarizes our thoughts this morning. It seems that there was a good king who ruled wisely and who ruled well. One day the king called his three daughters together and told them he was leaving on a long journey. "I wish to learn about God, so I will need to go away and spend a long time in prayer. In my absence I will leave the three of you in charge. Before I leave I would like to leave each of you with a gift; a gift I pray will help you learn how to wisely use your power to rule." Then he placed in each of their hands a single grain of rice.

The first daughter tied a long golden thread around her grain of rice and placed it in a beautiful crystal box. Every day she looked at it and reminded herself that she was powerful. The second daughter took one look at the common grain of rice, and threw it away, thus squandering her father's mysterious gift. The third daughter just looked at her grain of rice for a long, long time - until she finally understood what to do with it...



The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for the Baptism of Our Lord can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 




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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:28:35 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:28:35 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter materials for January 9 (Baptism A),
	Matthew 3:13-17, 
Message-ID: <A52FAE275C954A4588405085C7E4F3CB@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 9 (Baptism A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, Matthew 3:13-17, the story of Jesus' baptism "to fulfill all righteousness."





To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.wpd




A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

     http://www.lectionary.org/ 


Dick Donovan



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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:31:46 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:31:46 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter:  Jan. 9 (Baptism) Isaiah 42 & Acts 10
Message-ID: <41748C448D494FA9BCD715190B6C15D6@YOUR264F1833C5>

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 42:1-9 and ACTS 10:34-43:

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 42:1-9

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.wpd


ACTS 10:34-43

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.
That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

www.lectionary.org

Dick Donovan

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 20:06:04 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 20:06:04 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 1
Message-ID: <9552EF2B797A46579B9600CA77988872@YOUR264F1833C5>

My wife worked at a hospital where the medical and administrative departments threw a huge Christmas party for the staff every year. "It was kind of nice," she said, "To have the chief of medicine pouring your coffee and the president of the hospital serving desert." She also confessed that she felt some discomfort when her waiter (who happened to be the chief of neurosurgery) asked, "Ma'am, would you like the chicken or the steak?" 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/jan10ser99.html

John Jewell, 1999
- - - - -

I would like to tell you a little story about our community. There is one of my friends there who is quite handicapped but a wonderful, wonderful lady. She said to me, "Henri, can you bless me?" I remember walking up to her and giving her a little cross on her forehead. She said, "Henri, it doesn't work. No, that is not what I mean." I was embarrassed and said, "I gave you a blessing." She said, "No, I want to be blessed." I kept thinking, "What does she mean?"
We had a little service and all these people were sitting there. After the service I said, "Janet wants a blessing." I had an alb on and a long robe with long sleeves. Janet walked up to me and said, "I want to be blessed." She put her head against my chest and I spontaneously put my arms around her, held her, and looked right into her eyes and said, "Blessed are you, Janet. You know how much we love you. You know how important you are. You know what a good woman you are."
She looked at me and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I know. I suddenly saw all sorts of energy coming back to her. She seemed to be relieved from the feeling of depression because suddenly she realized again that she was blessed. She went back to her place and immediately other people said, "I want that kind of blessing, too."
The people kept walking up to me and I suddenly found myself embracing people. I remember that after that, one of the people in our community who assists the handicapped, a strong guy, a football player, said, "Henri, can I have a blessing, too?" I remember our standing there in front of each other and I said, "John," and I put my hand on his shoulder, "you are blessed. You are a good person. God loves you. We love you. You are important." Can you claim that and live as the blessed one?

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/nouwen_3502.htm

Henri Nouwen, 1991  
- - - - -

...the story about a pastor who was at a downtown city mission on skid row. In order for these transients and homeless people to sleep at this mission, they had to endure a worship service and a sermon. It was part of the bargain in order to get food and shelter. The preacher that night felt he was a gifted orator and had memorized Kipling's poem, 'If" for a high school thespian contest. The pastor recited the poem with great gusto. 
"If you men can keep your heads when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you.  . If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, and make allowances for their doubting too. . If you men can wait and not be tired of waiting. .Or being lied about, not deal in lies..  Or being hated and not give way to hating. Yet don't look too good nor talk too wise. . If you men can dream and not make dreams your master..  If you can think but not make thoughts your aim. . If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and meet those two imposters just the same. . If you men can fulfill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds left of distant run. .Yours is the earth and everything in it. And what is more, you will be a man, my son." 
As the pastor recited this poem, the "thespian" in him choked with emotion. He was on the edge of tears and filled with deep feelings. There was a long silent pause. During that pause and silence, a voice from the back of the room piped up, "What if you can't?" 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_what_do_we_teach.htm

Edward Markquart
- - - - -

...a book entitled The Art of Pastoring, Contemplative Reflections written by William C. Martin. Admittedly, the book was written as a source of spiritual refreshment, primarily for pastors who believe in Jesus Christ and who seek to be his disciples and show his love. But isn't that who we all are as followers of Jesus Christ? And thus I share with you that which I received:
Thought #11 in Martin's series of daily meditations is entitled Emptying. Please hear it for yourself:

"It is the invisible center where the spokes of the wheel meet that allows the wheel to move. The pastor becomes invisible, so that the parish may move freely. It is the empty space within that makes the bowl useful. The pastor empties himself of agenda and expectation so that the spirit of God may fill her. It is the space within the walls of the house that gives a family room to live. The pastor creates a space uncluttered by oughts or shoulds where her people may safely live. It is the invisible, empty, spacious pastor who serves the Word. Don't be misled by much ado. Emptying is difficult for the Western pastor," Martin states, "for it is likely that you have become convinced that your work lies in the fullness of your mind, your schedule, and your congregation's programs. Yet if you do not become empty, you will never be whole."

http://day1.org/1077-baptism_made_real

Randy Calvo, 2008 
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 20:55:15 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 20:55:15 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 2
Message-ID: <8494841B193548C7B9A201374A584C5B@YOUR264F1833C5>

It would sound very different if it were said only after Jesus had healed the sick, embraced the outcast, and preached good news to the poor. It would be very different because then we might conclude that God's favor was upon him because of all he had done, that in some way Jesus had earned the blessing. Instead, Jesus was immersed in God's favor before he had an opportunity to say anything or do anything. The very first words that Jesus heard as he emerged from the womb of baptism were like words whispered in a baby's ear: "You are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you."

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/copenhaver_5214.htm

Martin Copenhaver, 2009 
- - - - -

Our daughter, Stephanie, is a person with special needs, learning and motor skill disabilities.  Concepts do not come easily for her.  Because of that I supposed that she might never receive baptism since she cannot meet all the conceptual pre-requisites demanded by many Baptists.  You see, she does not understand the substitutionary theory of the atonement or the historical critical method of biblical studies the way the rest of us do.  But on the third Sunday in December, 1991, on the way home from church, Stephanie, age 16, announced to her mother and me, "I think its time for me to be baptized."  We talked about it and she was resolved, so we went to see our pastor, and he was everything a pastor should be for such a moment.  He did not speak to her of what she had to KNOW, but what she wished to BE.  "If you receive baptism, Stephanie," he said, "you are saying that you want to be a follower of Jesus.  Do you want that?"  She said yes and we prayed together.
And on Christmas Eve, Stephanie entered the baptistery of the Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, the same baptistery where her father had taken the spill years before.  "Profess your faith," the pastor said.  "Jesus is Lord," Stephanie replied.  And under she went in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the presence of a congregation that had nurtured her to faith throughout her 16 years. 
We are all special needs persons, you and I.  In some of us, it is just more public than in others. Not one of us can ever conceptualize enough to make us worthy of God's grace.

http://day1.org/2540-the_river

Bill J. Leonard, 2011
- - - - - 

...Jesus' understanding of his mission and the meaning of his own discipleship to God unfolded to him as he lived his life. Rather than viewing Jesus as a static divine being who had it all "worked out" from the womb or from early days, I argued that Jesus' understanding of his ministry and identity emerged for him through his teaching, healing and suffering. Therefore we can look at the Gospels as descriptions of Jesus' own struggle to define and clarify the meaning of faithful discipleship to God. The first opportunity he had to do so was in his baptism by John. 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Matt3.html

Bill Long, 2007
- - - - -

3:13 The verb "arrived" indicated a final point. That point was not the Jordan, but the person of John the Baptist. In Matthew, Jesus made the journey with the sole intent of being baptized by John.
3:14 "John kept trying to dissuade him" is literally "John was preventing him." The verb "prevent" was in the "imperfect" which indicated continual action (hence, "kept trying..."). In context, John's protestations were fruitless.

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/Seasonal/Baptism/A-Baptism-a.html

Larry Broding 
- - - - -

Jesus' reply, that we should "let it be for the time being," in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:15) is not exactly a model of a crystal-clear explanation. I think, however, that we are safe in understanding these words as suggesting that it is only in complete solidarity with all humans that Jesus can "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus cannot fulfill all righteousness if he assumes a position superior to us, but can do so only if he submits to the same ministration as everybody else. 

http://andrewmarr.homestead.com/files/girard/mybelovedson.htm

Andrew Marr
- - - - -

God blesses Jesus twice during our Lord's earthly life, once here at the Jordan and then again during the Transfiguration. The blessing is the same both times: "You are my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased."
<>
Baptized (from the root word, bapto [911, (bap'-to)], is a simple word used for someone who needs to wash. The word can be used for being submerged, sprinkled, or just splashing your face. 

http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/Matthew/mt_03_13-17.html

Jerry Goebel: 2005 ? http://onefamilyoutreach.com.
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 21:28:33 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 21:28:33 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 3
Message-ID: <A4752AD6F1DF4EA0B2692CBE23541A81@YOUR264F1833C5>

It is possible to argue that Jesus' willingness to be baptized by John was an example of the first type of compromise. Jesus certainly didn't need a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That's why John initially refused. Nor did his baptism preempt the forgiveness that is ours in the baptism of his death. Still, for our sake, passing through the waters in fulfillment of Exodus typology is a very powerful image of the dawning of the new age. If an image, rather than substance, then we could say it was an example of "all things to all men." Jesus payment of the temple tax in Matthew 17:24-27, is a perfect example of this type of compromise.

http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday1ag.html

Bryan Findlayson
- - - - -

The church would look different if we lived out the revolutionary implications of baptism. The next time I baptize someone, I will ask that person, "Are you really ready for this revolution? It may just cost you your life!"

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2252

Brad Ronnell Braxton, 2002
- - - - -

The baptism of Jesus the sinless one stands him in solidarity with the repentant ones,
those who came "confessing their sins" to be baptized by John "with water for repentance." The
sinless one stands with them but he will effect their salvation ("he will save his people from their
sins," Matt 1:21). But Jesus also stands in solidarity with the Baptizer himself. "For John came to
you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and harlots
believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe" (Matt 21:32).

http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/9-4_Ministry/9-4_Mork.pdf

Carol Mork, 1989
- - - - -

With his baptism Jesus openly and decisively declared that he stands shoulder to shoulder with me in my fears and anxieties. He intentionally takes sides with people in their neediness, and declares that God is biased in their favor: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV).

http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20080107JJ.shtml

Dan Clendenin, 2008 
- - - - -

-"With you I am well pleased." God is well pleased with Jesus. One of the most important realities of life is to know that God is well pleased not only with Jesus, but with us as well. God delights in Jesus and also delights in us. God delights in our God given uniqueness, even though we are sinful by nature. To know that God is pleased with us transforms our lives. We are pleased when someone declares that they are pleased with us, and we assume that Jesus was pleased when he heard that God was pleased with him.

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_baptism_of_jesus.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

By stepping into the Jordan River with John, Jesus signs his own death certificate. The church would look so different if we truly lived out the revolutionary implications of baptism. Unfortunately, throughout Christian history, believers often have spent more time fighting over the mode of baptism (e.g., immersion, sprinkling, in the name of the Trinity, or in Jesus' name only) than fathoming the depths of its meaning. The next time I baptize someone, I will be sure to ask that person, "Are you really ready for this revolution? It may just cost you your life!" 

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=6

Brad R. Braxton, 2008
- - - - -

When we say that Jesus is God's son, going about the family business, we are saying not only that Jesus is like God; we are saying that God is like Jesus 

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/first_sunday_af.html

Sarah Dylan Breuer 
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 22:35:31 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 22:35:31 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas, Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 4
Message-ID: <244D696798B24EF9B4AF09525B26A783@YOUR264F1833C5>

It is unclear whether the voice from Heaven would have been heard by all those present, but such an affirmation of status and honour would make no sense unless it were heard publicly. Indeed, in some ways, it is possible to read the rest of the account of Jesus' life as being public confirmation of what is announced at Jesus' baptism.

http://www.holytextures.com/2010/12/matthew-3-13-17-year-a-epiphany-1-baptism-of-the-lord-jesus-sermon.html

David Ewart
- - - - -
The baptism of Jesus was a important feast in the early church, more important than Christmas.  

http://www.georgehermanson.com/2008/01/being-bathed-in.html

George Hermanson
- - - - -

I think that John's "temptation" of Jesus presents a struggle for us and our churches -- especially concerning "meeting needs" vs. "doing all that God requires". There are churches whose motto is: "Find a need and fill it." I don't think that Jesus came simply to "meet needs." I don't think that God created churches simply to "meet needs," but "to do all that God requires." 

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt3x13.htm

Brian Stoffregen
- - - - -

Matthew's account depicts a Jesus who explicitly consents to baptism with saying "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (3:15b)-which are Jesus' first words in Gospel of Matthew. 

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28

Francisco Lozada, Jr.
- - - - -

In his version of the Lord's Prayer, Luke has "debts," and he means money.
<>
Matthew uses idou to announce something important.  "Behold!  The heavens were opened."  This is a moment of special revelation.  The abyss between heaven and earth is traversed.  "And the spirit of God descended like a dove on him." 
Said the prophet Isaiah, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down" (64:1)  In continuity with the vision of Isaiah, God does come down, all the way down into the muck and mire of human existence.  Moreover, God comes down not with John's fire, but as a dove, with peace.

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/01/l.html

John Petty, 2011
- - - - -

Let it be so now. John's sense of propriety, of the way things should be or would be has been turned upside down-he is perplexed and grasping for the order he had hoped to impose.  But Jesus' response is, Let it Be So Now.  For it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness. Righteousness is fulfilled when the order is turned upside down and one does not move to right it, but breathes in, breathes out and prays, Let it Be So Now.

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/baptismgospel/

Russell Rathbun
- - - - -

Coming onto the scene and asking for baptism, Jesus is announcing himself as the one promised by God through the prophet long ago. And John's response clearly indicates his awareness of himself not as the One promised but as the one who prepares the way for that One. Jesus "announces himself," F. Dean Lueking writes, "as the fulfiller of the grace which gives sinners who have no standing before God a place to stand in a new relationship to God. 

http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/january-09-2011-i-the.html

Kate Huey, 2011
- - - - -

So imagine for a moment, Working Preacher, if during your sermon you took a moment to invite people to remember some of the more difficult names they have been called during their lives, the names that no matter how long ago they were uttered endure in their memories, dogging them through the day and haunting them at night. Names like "Stupid" or "Egghead," "Fatso" or "Ugly." Names like "Loser" or "Priss," "Know-it-all" or "Victim". Ask them to call to mind these names for one painful moment so that they can then hear God say to each of them, "No! That is not your name. For you are my beloved child, and with you I am well pleased."

http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=443

David J. Lose, 2011 
- - - - -

In all the gospels the baptism has a mythical quality as portraying a point where the heavenly world and earthly reality meet. It is a kind of Chalcedonian confession set in narrative. Like the story of the star, the opening of the heavens is a symbolic narrative making a statement about the breakthrough which is to come. 

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtBaptismJesus.htm

William Loader
- - - - -

Dean McIntyre tells a story about the greatest Christmas gift he received this year. It was a card from the singer and songwriter Ken Medema that contained a $10 bill in it along with the instructions to use the money as Dean saw fit. He writes, "I had Ken's $10 bill in my wallet when I stopped at the grocery store on my way to work one morning. In the checkout lane next to mine was an older couple who spoke in a thick east European accent of some kind. They did not have enough money to pay for their purchases, which appeared to me to be all staples-no frills or extras. They were having to decide which of their purchases to send back to the shelves. I gave Ken's $10 to my own checker and asked her to give it anonymously to the young woman checking out the older couple. It covered their deficit and allowed them to keep a few dollars in their pocket. They were gratefully confused as I watched them head for the door." 
Isn't that the way our baptism works? It is a gift that contains within it the generosity of God, a gift that through us keeps on giving. 

http://christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2008-01/baptized-submission

Erin Martin, 2008
- - - - -

Verse 16: "the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him": Has not Jesus possessed the Spirit before? 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr01l.shtml

Chris Haslam 
- - - - -

In submitting himself to John, Jesus combines great power and acquiescence. Jesus is not a king who won't deign to tread the humble paths of his servants. Jesus' hold on his power is not so tenuous that he must zealously hold on to it at all times. For Jesus, power and humility, authority and submission, power and relationship are not at odds.

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/9/2011

Eric Barreto, 2011
- - - - -
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  9 00:38:18 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 00:38:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Draft for Epiphany 1A Sermon
In-Reply-To: <71bc7eec-127f-4c67-b34e-c92842be5684@s5g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>
References: <71bc7eec-127f-4c67-b34e-c92842be5684@s5g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <8CD7DD68C36487D-BD4-4881@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Dear Friends,
Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Who?s Unclean in Your World?? or ?Who?s
n Your Sheet?? and deals with all the lessons, but especially the
cts lesson (Acts 10:34-38).  Here it is:
In today?s gospel, we heard the episode of Jesus? baptism by his
ousin John.  This was the start of our Lord?s public ministry.  Then
n the Old Testament lesson from Isaiah (which parallels Jesus? first
ermon- Luke 4:16-21), we heard what this ministry was: Jubilee.  You
ecall how in ancient Israel, every seventh day was a Sabbath- a day
f spiritual refreshment.  Every seventh year was also a Sabbath year,
hen the land was to rest.  Seven Sabbath years would be every fifty
ears. (They counted from ?one?, not ?zero? as we do.)  This Sabbath
f Sabbaths was the Jubilee year as described in Leviticus 25.
veryone had a fresh start- slaves were freed, land and belongings
everted back to the original owners, in other words- the basic
oncept of Jubilee was the great equalizer.  Isaiah reminds us that
he messiah would institute the Jubilee.  Finally, in the Bible
eading from the book of Acts, we heard a portion of the encounter
etween Peter and the Roman (Gentile) officer, Cornelius.  It?s this
tory that points out exactly what Jubilee meant when Peter tried to
ive it in his life in the first century and when we try to live it
oday.  The modern day saint and hero who best typifies Jubilee was
he Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is this coming
aturday.  Let?s look at the Acts story.
To understand the significance of Peter?s experience, you need to
ecall how Jews felt about Gentiles.  Do you remember the extremely
ruel childhood game of the so-and-so touch?  It begins by a popular
hild touching a tormented, picked-on child, let?s call her ?Judy?- I
eel better using myself.  The popular child then runs to catch
nother child and touches him or her, as in tag.  However, here?s the
ifference- once you are tagged, you have the ?Judy touch.?  That?s
ow Jews felt about Gentiles.  If even the shadow of a Gentile fell on
 Jew, he or she was unclean and had to wash to cleanse himself or
erself from the defilement of the ?Gentile touch.?  It goes without
aying that Jews never ate with Gentiles or even considered inviting
entiles into their homes.  That?s the cultural background of the
tory.  You see how their 1st century culture brainwashed them?  We
ust be very careful that we don?t allow 21st century culture to
rainwash us today.  Well, the story from the book of Acts starts with
eter, who is visiting Simon, the tanner, asleep on the roof.  In his
ream- unless you want to call it a nightmare, Peter is famished.  All
f a sudden a huge sheet descends from heaven with many kinds of
nclean animals on it.  Peter hears a voice saying, ?Arise, Peter,
ill and eat.?  Peter answers, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten
nything unclean in my life.?  The sheet goes back to heaven.  Peter
emains hungry.  You know what happens- down comes the sheet again
ith the same words: ?Arise, Peter, kill and eat.?  Once again, Peter
nswers, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten anything unclean in my
ife.?  Back goes the sheet up to heaven.  Obviously, Peter is still
ery hungry, when- you know what happened- down comes the sheet again
ith the same words: ?Arise, Peter, kill and eat.?  Again Peter
nswered, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten anything unclean in my
ife.?  This time, God responds: ?Peter, don?t you ever call something
nclean that I?ve created.?  At once, Peter awakens to find two
ervants and one soldier of the Gentile, Cornelius, at his door.
ornelius was sending for Peter.  Peter invited the Gentile guests to
pend the night, then went with them to instruct and subsequently
aptize Cornelius.  That?s the substance of the Acts lesson when Peter
roclaimed everyone equal- amazing insight for a first century Jewish
an!
So, what?s the significance of this story in our own lives today as we
ry to live as faithful Christians?  We are citizens of a Kingdom in
hich everyone is equal; a Kingdom in which every day is a fresh
tart.  Let?s be more specific.  Who is your Cornelius?  What kind of
erson is it that you just don?t like?  Remember the sheet- everybody
ets a fresh start- no one is unclean whom God has created.  Here?s
nother possibility.  To whom are you a Cornelius?  Who treats you as
f you aren?t quite as good as they are?  Maybe it?s your color, maybe
t?s your sex, maybe it?s your age, maybe it?s your educational level
too high or too low), maybe it?s how much money you have or don?t
ave (too rich or too poor), maybe it?s how you speak (too proper or
ot proper enough), maybe it?s your weight (too fat or too thin),
tc.  Remember the sheet- in God?s eyes there aren?t any ?too
nythings.?  The ground is always level at the foot of the cross.
elieve in your Creator, believe in yourself, and speak up.  Maybe you
on?t have any Cornelius?s and maybe you?ve never been a Cornelius to
nyone else, but you can?t live long in this society without seeing
omeone treated like a Cornelius.  That?s when your loyalty to Jesus
nd his mission comes in.  No matter the cost, speak up.  It?s not
ust Jesus who was called to institute Jubilee and justice, he does it
hrough his followers- us.
May God bless us as we attempt to consider no one ?unclean? as we live
ut this 2011.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sun Jan  9 00:46:24 2011
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 00:46:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] revised 1 Epiphany sermon
Message-ID: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>


I think this is the fourth revision, taking the violence in Arizona into 
account -

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY  	       	            THE 
FIRST SUNDAY IN EPIPHANY A
ISAIAH 42:1-9	                          		    	    	 
9th JANUARY, 2011
ACTS 10:34-43				                                                PSALM 
29
MATTHEW 3:13-17			  	

	The mental image I have of Jesus and John on the banks of the Jordan 
is somewhat vague ? and it?s coloured by countless stories, and sermons, 
and illustrations ? from children?s Bibles to something like Chagall?s 
whirling depictions.
	Maybe this is as it should be. Had either a Matthew Brady set up his 
tripod and camera, or a photographer embedded with the disciples been 
able to come up with anything to which we?ve been accustomed, then we?d 
view Jesus completely differently ? pun intended!
	As it is, though, we have to be content with the biased writings of 
people whose goal was to have us accept that this was, indeed, the Son 
of God walking on earth.
	I find this exciting ? because every time I hear a story about Jesus ? 
biblical or not ? it forces me to come to terms with what I understand 
about God. It opens up my imagination. I find that each new story, or 
each repetition of one heard many times, thrills me by leading me on and 
on into newer and greater possibilities of coming face to face with 
Jesus Himself. It compels me to ask myself how much I accept on trust, 
how much I say, ?I believe this, even if I don?t understand it.?
	When I hear once again the story of these two cousins wrestling with 
how God is acting in their lives; of John and Jesus debating with wonder 
about who should draw the other into a closer relationship with God 
through the act of pouring water on the other ? when I hear once again 
the story of John and Jesus, I?m reminded of the way in which God gives 
us revelation after revelation about what may be accomplished in my life 
? and what may be accomplished in your lives.
	 T.S. Eliot has a marvellous line which illuminates for me what Jesus? 
and John?s meeting means for us who?re caught up in so many different 
issues today.
	?For last year?s words belong to last year?s language and next year?s 
words await another voice.? 1
	Eliot wrote about his experience of spending quiet time in the village 
and Church of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire near Cambridge. He 
experienced a sense of the history of the place where there was a 
religious community established in 1626. Deacon Nicolas Ferrar had 
opened up the community to anyone who needed help. King Charles I 
visited the community. He returned thirteen years later seeking refuge 
after he?d been defeated in battle by Parliamentary troops.
	Shortly afterwards these same forces returned, this time to break up 
the community, whose hospitality to the King proved to betheir undoing.
  	A new voice indeed ? one not altogether free from distress and 
foreboding!
	Just as the conversation between John and Jesus.
	They were talking, for the most part, to each other. Both had groups of 
disciples, who were undoubtedly present. But in Matthew?s account of the 
event it?s fairly clear that John and Jesus were the ones whom God was 
nourishing by the encounter. John was being given the first sign that 
Jesus was, indeed, the one for whose coming he and the nation had been 
hoping. Jesus was being given the first recorded affirmation that He had 
a unique role to play in the whole history of creation.
	In Eliot?s ?Little Gidding?, I find comments strangely reminiscent of 
what was going on down by the Jordan, and strangely reminiscent of what 
happens when we walk past the baptismal font filled with water today, 
and every day.
	?In concord at this intersection time
	     Of meeting nowhere, no before and after,
	     We trod the pavement in a dead patrol.
	I said: 'The wonder that I feel is easy,
	     Yet ease is cause of wonder. Therefore speak:
	     I may not comprehend, may not remember.'
	And he: 'I am not eager to rehearse
	My thoughts and theory which you have forgotten.
	     These things have served their purpose: let them be.
	So with your own, and pray they be forgiven
	     By others, as I pray you to forgive
	     Both bad and good. Last season's fruit is eaten
	And the fullfed beast shall kick the empty pail.
	     For last year's words belong to last year's language
	     And next year's words await another voice.
	But, as the passage now presents no hindrance
	     To the spirit unappeased and peregrine
	     Between two worlds become much like each other,
	So I find words I never thought to speak
	     In streets I never thought I should revisit
	     When I left my body on a distant shore.
	Since our concern was speech, and speech impelled us
	     To purify the dialect of the tribe
	     And urge the mind to aftersight and foresight,
	Let me disclose the gifts reserved for age
	     To set a crown upon your lifetime's effort.

	There?s so much going on in those few sentences and few glances 
exchanged between John and Jesus. John is looking at the beginning of 
time and finding meaning not only for himself, but for creation and all 
within it. John looks into Jesus? eyes, then he feels the water 
cascading off Jesus ? and he himself is splashed by those waters of 
baptism.
	Similarly, when someone comes to this font here, not only is that 
individual baptised, revealed as a member of God?s family, but 
metaphorically, at least, all the rest of us are touched and reminded of 
the community of which we?re all a part.
	The Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia wrote an article the other week in which 
she reminded her readers that ?The Miracle doesn?t end at the manger.? 2 
The miracle continues on through Jesus? life, and on further into our 
own lives whenever we encounter Jesus, whether recognize Him or not.
	The miracle occurs when we respond to God?s invitation to engage in our 
own daily chores, and in our relationships with others, as if we were in 
Jesus? company, indeed, as if we ourselves WERE Jesus.
	Our lives are intersecting with the life of Jesus continually. Each 
day, we?re invited to discover new words and new actions which will 
demonstrate that we?ve kept company with Jesus in the water. Each day ? 
for our own benefit as much as anyone else?s ? we?re invited by God to 
accept what God offers us by way of encouragement and support through 
the ministry of someone else. Each day we?re asked to take on some task, 
some project ? a phone call, a written letter, a volunteer-hour spent 
with someone, a monetary offering ? to this Church, or to someone else ? 
each day we?re invited to participate in life with God. We?re asked to 
?Wade in the Water? alongside Jesus, to wade all the way into life in 
all its swirling eddies ? because more often than not, THAT?S where the 
heavens open, and the dove tends to frequent, and the pleasure of God is 
almost tangibly felt.
	So where are our lives intersecting with Jesus this morning?  Where do 
we expect to find our lives and Jesus? life criss-crossing? On the 
internet? In a grocery store? In the middle of a conversation? 
Yesterday, just after lunch, Diana Butler Bass, the author and 
researcher on religious life in this country, wrote in shock, ?PLEASE 
PRAY FOR MY FRIEND, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a Democrat from 
Arizona who was SHOT in the last hour in Tucson as she was hosting a 
?Congress on Your Corner? event. Gabby supported Pres Obama and narrowly 
won reelection. She's the mother of two children.? 3
	Over the very public internet ? Facebook, actually ? Diana?s words were 
about an incident outside the same Safeway where Jane Hogan?s daughter 
shops.
	Information is still coming in, at least it was when I was writing 
this. People will have all sorts of comments, I?m sure.
	We may think that we?re relatively comfortable being this far away in 
Albany. But we?re not. The internet reaches into our homes. TV and radio 
run night and day, sometimes inanely, sometimes profoundly, sometimes 
toxically. We?re encouraged to make instant decisions, often based on 
nothing more than what someone unknown may say in jest, or anger, or 
illness.
	No matter what our age, what our background, what our education, if 
we?re not careful, we can find ourselves being swept along in 
uncontrolled floods of incivility which well up until they burst through 
in explosions. And I use that metaphor of water deliberately. Water can 
give life ? without it we?ll die. Yet water can also destroy ? I?ve seen 
that on the coast too often.
	Substitute ?words? for ?water? and the image holds.
	Where DO our lives and Jesus? life intersect? What do we do with our 
words? What do we MEAN to do with our words? What about our actions? Do 
they contradict or illuminate our words? Do they build up the human 
family?s relationship with God and with one another? Or do they try to 
score points off one another, to belittle, to ignore, to squash? Either 
option is ours to take. All the way through life, God gives us choices.
	A picture sent to me this past week gave me some more insight into what 
John and Jesus may have experienced that day. 4 Both men are standing 
waist deep in water. Both men have their hands extended high, forming a 
?V?-shape over their heads. My first thought was that I was observing 
some joyous sort of greeting, each recognising the commitment to God 
that existed in the other. But then my eyes rose to look at the 
depiction of a Dove over both the men. The dove?s wings formed the exact 
same ?V?. John, Jesus and Spirit were in exact sync with one another. 
They were all caught up in the joy of creation and of each other?s 
company. And that is the model for us ? to work to make sure that we are 
in sync with both God and with one another. Perhaps not exact duplicates 
of one another, but in another sense we ARE to be mirror images, 
reflecting God in and to the world. We reach out to God; we reflect on 
our acceptance and our vocation; and we reach out to everyone else who 
comes anywhere near us or the water.
	This takes me back to the first line of that part of Eliot?s poem. In 
one way or another we seem to be standing at the intersection of time. 
We?re drawn into concord with one another through the action of God. In 
the spirit of baptism, we?re to forgive, to set aside memory of both 
good and bad. Each moment is completely new. Each moment which God gives 
us is an opportunity to be accepted, to be affirmed, to be encouraged, 
to find out who we are ? right now. Not who we were yesterday. Not who 
we may be tomorrow ? but who we are right now, today. That?s enough with 
which to be concerned ? because other people have needs which we may be 
able to address today.
	What WILL we do with our lives now? Take a look at the water on your 
way to Communion. Does it talk to you of Love, and Dignity, and Justice, 
and Compassion, and Hope? See what it says to you.

NOTES:	

1 	Canto II, ?LITTLE GIDDING? (No. 4 of 'Four Quartets') T.S. Eliot 
http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/gidding.html

2	?The miracle doesn't end at the manger? By Sylvia Miller-Mutia 
Episcopal Caf? 27th December, 2010 
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/family/the_miracle_doesnt_end_at_the.php

3		http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/  See also 
http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9KKCF400%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1018

4	See  www.thechurchatnatchez.com click on ?Baptism?. ?Yellow? picture 
under the word ?Baptism?

Robert P Morrison
Interim Vicar
The Episcopal Church of St Alban
PO Box 1556
Albany OR  97321   541-921-1076 (cell)
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  9 03:50:44 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 03:50:44 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's love for us", Mt. 3:13-17
Message-ID: <9F1FBB5D739248AFB90D1C9441219C76@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=281 is my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  9 20:52:16 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 20:52:16 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the SECOND SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <00D4A9B89429464E835B5FE736AF2330@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 16, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.
The readings may also be found on our website: http://satucket.com/lectionary in RTF format, which can be read by just about all word processors




OLD TESTAMENT:   Isaiah 49: 1 - 7   (RCL)
                                     Isaiah 49: 3, 5 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 49:1 (NRSV) Listen to me, O coastlands, 
pay attention, you peoples from far away! 
The LORD called me before I was born, 
while I was in my mother's womb he named me. 
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, 
in the shadow of his hand he hid me; 
he made me a polished arrow, 
in his quiver he hid me away. 
3 And he said to me, "You are my servant, 
Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 
4 But I said, "I have labored in vain, 
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; 
yet surely my cause is with the LORD, 
and my reward with my God." 
5 And now the LORD says, 
who formed me in the womb to be his servant, 
to bring Jacob back to him, 
and that Israel might be gathered to him, 
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, 
and my God has become my strength-- 
6 he says, 
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant 
to raise up the tribes of Jacob 
and to restore the survivors of Israel; 
I will give you as a light to the nations, 
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." 
7 Thus says the LORD, 
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, 
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, 
the slave of rulers, 
"Kings shall see and stand up, 
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, 
because of the LORD, who is faithful, 
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." 


PSALM 40: 1 - 11   (RCL)
Psalm 40: 1 - 10   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 40: 1, 3, 6 - 9   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 40:1 (NRSV) I waited patiently for the LORD; 
he inclined to me and heard my cry. 
2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, 
out of the miry bog, 
and set my feet upon a rock, 
making my steps secure. 
3 He put a new song in my mouth, 
a song of praise to our God. 
Many will see and fear, 
and put their trust in the LORD. 
4 Happy are those who make 
the LORD their trust, 
who do not turn to the proud, 
to those who go astray after false gods. 
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, 
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; 
none can compare with you. 
Were I to proclaim and tell of them, 
they would be more than can be counted. 
6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, 
but you have given me an open ear. 
Burnt offering and sin offering 
you have not required. 
7 Then I said, "Here I am; 
in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; 
your law is within my heart." 
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance 
in the great congregation; 
see, I have not restrained my lips, 
as you know, O LORD. 
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, 
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; 
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness 
from the great congregation. 
11 Do not, O LORD, withhold 
your mercy from me; 
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness 
keep me safe forever. 

Note: Verse numbering in your psalter may be different from the above.


40  Expectans, expectavi    (ECUSA BCP)
 
1   I waited patiently upon the Lord; *
  he stooped to me and heard my cry.
 
2   He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
  he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
 
3   He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
  many shall see, and stand in awe,
  and put their trust in the Lord.
 
4   Happy are they who trust in the Lord! *
  they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
 
5   Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
  there is none who can be compared with you.
 
6   Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
  but they are more than I can count.
 
7   In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
  (you have given me ears to hear you);
 
8   Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
  and so I said, ?Behold, I come.
 
9   In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
  ?I love to do your will, O my God;
  your law is deep in my heart.??
 
10   I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
  behold, I did not restrain my lips;
  and that, O Lord, you know.
 
11   Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
  I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
  great congregation.
12   You are the Lord;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
  let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,


NEW TESTAMENT:   1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 9   (RCL)
                                       1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 3   (Roman Catholic)

1Cor 1:1 (NRSV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sos'thenes, 
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 


GOSPEL:   John 1: 29 - 42   (RCL)
                    John 1: 29 - 34   (Can. BAS, Roman Catholic)

John 1:29 (NRSV) The next day he [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." 
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Ce'phas" (which is translated Peter).


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 10 11:15:01 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:15:01 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Epiphany 2 - NT reading
In-Reply-To: <D4CA5430A5FC4F088F479E68A41E54DA@StudyLaptop>
References: <D4CA5430A5FC4F088F479E68A41E54DA@StudyLaptop>
Message-ID: <8CD7EF8AAFB0D10-BC8-67F@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Hi friends,
 was away on a week's vacation last week.  Back again now.  Here are a few 
houghts from Down Under on the New Testament Reading for Epiphany 2.  Use 
nd develop as you like.
Howard
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* There's quite a lot of stuff in our first reading about what great gifts 
od gives to people. But because we only have a short time together I want 
o just think about one of them,
 one that was mentioned at the beginning and at the end of
he passage we read from the letter to the Christians in the
ity of Corinth, in Greece.
 Paul tells them that God has chosen them to be his very own
eople, and also to be partners with Jesus.
 The important thing for us is that the same is true today for all
eople who are followers of Jesus, as it was for those people in
hat Church in Greece in the 1st century.
 So if you are trying to be a follower of Jesus, it doesn't matter
hether you're very good at it, or if you're pretty weak at it,
 if you're trying, then you can be sure that as far as God is
oncerned you are one of his very own people, you are a
artner with Jesus, and with all the rest of Jesus' followers.
* Just think about that a little: if you are one of God's very own people, 
hen you can be real sure that God is looking after you, that God will not 
et you fall away into hell, that God is not out to punish you, or to get 
ou into trouble.
 Instead, as Paul tells us today, God intends to give you all the
lessings that are available in Jesus;
 and amongst them Paul specially mentions 'peace'.
 Being one of God's people doesn't necessarily mean that you
ill protected against the kind of disaster like we hear about in
he media:
bushfires, earthquakes, droughts, floods, wars or other
iolence.
 But it does mean that God will always be near you,
 and you can be conscious of the fact the God is with you;
 and that you will always have the rest of God's people to
upport you too, they'll help you to find and eat the food;
 it means that even if you die, you won't be allowed to enter
ell.
 Some of us may feel that life here on earth is pretty hellish,
 but if you are trying to be a follower of Jesus, you will never
e allowed to descend into a real hell.
+ If you can hang on to such ideas, especially when times are
ough, then you will be able to get through anything, and still
ind peace - God's peace.
 That's one of the things we always say at the end of our
ervice of worship, so try to remember when you leave here to
go in peace".
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
he Rev'd Dr H.C. Smith
Retired Anglican Priest
Orange NSW
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 10 11:44:54 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:44:54 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's
	love for us", Mt. 3:13-17
References: <9F1FBB5D739248AFB90D1C9441219C76@YOUR264F1833C5>
Message-ID: <5592B943EDDA439291058C8AFFCFBD7B@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://tiny.cc/h1qke is the tiny url for my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe Parrish 
  To: Propertalk 
  Cc: PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 3:50 AM
  Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's love for us", Mt. 3:13-17


  http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=281 is my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
  Peace and blessings,
  Joe
  St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 11 10:39:57 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:39:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon Resources for January 16 - Part 1
In-Reply-To: <1104223086828.1103889869952.45429.12.780100B1@scheduler>
References: <1104223086828.1103889869952.45429.12.780100B1@scheduler>
Message-ID: <8CD7FBCEECD9A36-BC8-153E@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Sermons for Epiphany 2
 
John 1:29-42 - "I've Got a Strong Case of the Can't Help Its'"
John 1:29-42 - "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet
________________________________________
 
John 1, the sermon titled "I've Got a Strong Case of the ''Can't Help Its"  
 
One of the great celebrative anthems that comes to us from the African-American culture is the powerful spiritual "Ain't Got Time To Die." It was written by Hall Johnson and it has these joyfully dramatic words:
 
"Been so busy praising my Jesus,
Been so busy working for the Kingdom,
Been so busy serving my Master
Ain't got time to die.
If I don't praise him,
If I don't serve him,
The rocks gonna cry out
Glory and honor, glory and honor
Ain't got time to die."
 
In this inspiring and wonderful spiritual, the composer is underscoring and celebrating the joy and excitement of being a Christian, the joy and excitement of serving our Lord in gratitude for what he has done for us. The point that this spiritual is trying to drive home to us with great enthusiasm is that when we really become Christians, when we really commit our lives to Christ; then, we can't sit still. We become so excited, so thrilled, so grateful for our new life in Christ that we can't help but love Him, praise Him, serve Him, and share Him with others.
 
This is precisely what happened to Andrew. He found the Messiah, he encountered Jesus - and he was so excited he couldn't sit still. Immediately, gratefully, excitedly, he ran to share the good news with his brother Simon. It reads like this in the first chapter of John's Gospel:
 
"(Andrew) first found his brother, Simon and said to him: 'We have found the Messiah'" Then Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus. This was the greatness of Andrew. He was the man who was always introducing others to Jesus. Three different times in the Bible, Andrew comes to center stage and each time he is bringing someone to meet Jesus. 
 
Here in John 1, he brings his brother Simon Peter. In John 6, Andrew brings to Jesus the boy with the five loaves and two fish. And in John 12, we find Andrew bringing to Jesus the enquiring Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus and visit with Him. Andrew's greatest joy was sharing the good news of Christ and bringing others into the presence of Christ. Having found Jesus, he could not sit still, he could not help it. He had to share Christ with others.
 
A minister friend of mine tells about a woman in his church who is so excited to be a Christian. She has a shady past and had pretty much hit bottom when a friend reached out to her and brought her to church. The church member welcomed her warmly and loved her into the circle of their love and God's love. She started going to church faithfully. She joined a wonderful Sunday School class. She began studying the Bible daily. She started praying regularly and in the process was converted. She realized for the very first time in her life that God loved her, even her! She came to understand that even though she had done all those sordid things in her earlier life, that God still loved her, forgave her, accepted her, valued her, treasured her. She was absolutely bowled over by that "Amazing Grace" and she committed herself to Christ heart and soul. Recently she said to her minister, "I'm so excited to be a Christian, that I've got a strong case of the "can't help its." 
 
This is also true of Andrew. He, too, had a strong case of the "can't help its." He was so grateful, so thrilled, so excited about Christ that he just could not sit still. He could not keep Jesus to himself. You know, as I think about this and as I think about my own personal life and spiritual pilgrimage, I can tell you that I also have a strong case of the "can't help its." It goes with being a Christian. Let me show you what I mean by speaking out of my own personal life with three thoughts. Try these on for size with me and I'm sure that you will think of others out of your own personal and spiritual life, but for now, let me share these three with you.  Because we are Christians...

 
1. We Can't Help But Be Grateful.
2. We Can't Help But Be Confident.
3. We Can't Help But Be Loving.
 
The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 
_______________________
 
John 1:29-42, the sermon titled "St. Andrew Christians" by Leonard Sweet  
 
Even in the most barren desert you can find an oasis or two. 
 
In the wasteland of television you can find an oasis of decency and compassion. Take the commercials sponsored by the "Foundation for a Better Life." Here is lifted up such radically righteous behavior as, oh, some young kid giving up his bus seat to an elderly woman, or, more shockingly, a taller man kindly reaching up to grab an out-of-reach package for someone who is vertically challenged.
 
How sad that such ordinary human activities now rate their own TV commercial because they are perceived as so uncommon and extraordinary. Even more telling and tragic is that such images move our hearts and souls, as though they were truly exceptional events.
 
We parade the pedestrian. We applaud what should be ordinary. We are so acclimated to badness that to entertain an expectation of decency and the occasion of excellence is almost beyond our belief. It is far easier to believe that everyone lies, that everyone is evil, than to open ourselves to the possibility that someone might genuinely be offering us something good. 
 
And what if that "something" was more than simple politeness or momentary care? What if the "something" being offered to us was a whole new truth, a whole new life, a whole new possibility of being? What if offering that kind of message was our definition of the "right" thing to do?
 
In today's gospel text we are faced with two examples of someone doing a crazy "right" thing...
 
The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 
__________________
 
A Change in Posture
 
In a cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark there is a magnificent statue of Jesus by the noted sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. When Thorvaldsen first completed the sculpture he gazed upon the finished product with great satisfaction. It was a sculpture of Christ with face looking upward and arms extended upward. It was a statue of a majestic, conquering Christ.
 
Later that night, however, after the sculptor had left his fine new work in clay to dry and harden, something unexpected occurred. Sea mist seeped into the studio in the night. The clay did not harden as quickly as anticipated. The upraised arms and head of the sculpture began to drop. The majestic Christ with arms lifted up and head thrown back was transformed into a Christ with head bent forward and arms stretched downward as if in a pose of gentle invitation. At first Thorvaldsen was bitterly disappointed. As he studied the transformed sculpture, however, he came to see a dimension of Christ that had not been real to him before. It was the Christ who is a gently, merciful Savior. Thorvaldsen inscribed on the base of the completed statue, "Come Unto Me," and that picture of the Lamb of God in his mercy has inspired millions.
 
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com
 
_____________________________________
 
The Many Ways to Come and See
 
William Muehl is on the faculty of Yale Divinity School, and he has spent many years teaching people who are about to become ministers and those who are already ministers. "The roads to Christian faith are as varied as the people who profess it," says Professor Muehl. "There in the congregation is the man who would rather be sitting in the car in the church parking lot reading the sports page of the Sunday paper were it not for the fact that his wife has insisted that he put on a suit and tie and accompany her into the sanctuary. There also is the teenager in the balcony with one ear on the pastoral prayer and the other focused on the whispers of her boyfriend. There is the couple who have come because they were invited by the family across the street and they had no handy excuse not to say yes.  There is the young woman who is there because of the music and who reads the hymnbook during the sermon."
 
The point of all this is that the calling to follow Christ is a pathway which is marked "come and see." It is a pathway which is far more important because of where it leads than because of where it begins. It may begin, as it did for Muehl, as a pain in the body, or, as it has for others, as a longing in the heart, a struggle in the soul, or a wondering in the mind. It is a path which some people enter alone, which others enter by tagging along with friends or family, and down which yet others are dragged, at first reluctantly, by parents or teachers. No matter how we begin, we see as we travel that the pathway has been cleared for us by the Christ who goes before us, making of our many beginnings a common journey. "Come and see," we are told, though the voice which calls us sometimes seems faint, filtered through the voices of the ordinary folk around us. And, for whatever reason, we do go, and, then, we do see. What we see is that, no matter who we were when we started, we end up with a new name, a new identity, given by Christ. What we see is that, no matter how we began our travel, we end the journey resting in the Christ who is all in all.
 
Thomas G. Long, Shepherds and Bathrobes, CSS Publishing, Inc.
 
_______________________________________
 
Martin Luther King, Jr. - Captured by the Spirit of Christ
 
Two months before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to his congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta about his death in what would oddly enough become his eulogy. 

"Every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral," Dr. King told his congregation. "If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important. I'd like someone to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like someone to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to be able to say that I did try to visit those in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." Dr. King concluded with these words: "I won't have any money left behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind." 

Did Martin King have that level of commitment when he first began his ministry? It's doubtful. He had youthful enthusiasm to be sure. He had strong convictions. He was well brought up, with an outstanding Baptist preacher as a father. But people who are truly captured by the spirit of Christ do so generally after years of walking in Christ's footsteps. Our faith is validated and grows as we "come and see." 

King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com
 
______________________________
 
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 11 10:40:20 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:40:20 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon Resources for January 16 - Part 2
Message-ID: <8CD7FBCFCD3399A-BC8-1542@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Jesus Calls the Common Man
 
In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the deacons of the church in
Boston. He had been raised in a Unitarian church, in almost total ignorance of the gospel, but when he had moved to Boston to make his fortune, he began to attend a Bible-preaching church. Then, in April of 1855, his Sunday school teacher had come into the store where he was working and simply and persuasively shared the Gospel and urged the young man to trust in the Lord Jesus. He did, and now he was applying to join the church. One fact quickly became obvious. This young man was almost totally ignorant of biblical truth. One of the deacons asked him, "Son, what has Christ done for us all - for you -which entitles him to our love?" His response was, "I don't know. I think Christ has done a great deal for us, but I don't think of anything in particular that I know of."
 
Hardly an impressive start. Years later his Sunday school teacher said of him: "I can truly say that I have seen few persons whose minds were spiritually darker than was his when he came into my Sunday school class. I think the committee of the church seldom met an applicant for membership who seemed more unlikely ever to become a Christian of clear and decided views of gospel truth, still less to fill any space of public or extended usefulness." Nothing happened very quickly to change their minds. The deacons decided to put him on a year-long instruction program to teach him basic Christian truths. Perhaps they wanted to work on some of his other rough spots as well. Not only was he ignorant of spiritual truths, he was only barely literate, and his spoken grammar was atrocious. The year-long probation did not help very much. At his second interview, there was only a minimal improvement in the quality of his answers, but since it was obvious that he was a sincere and committed (if ignorant) Christian, they accepted him as a church member.
 
Over the next years, many people looked at that young man and were convinced that God would never use a person like that. And in doing so they wrote off Dwight L. Moody. But God did not. By God's infinite grace and persevering love, Moody was transformed into one of the most effective servants of God in church history, a man whose impact is still with us today.
 
Gary Inrig, Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay
 
___________________
 
Party Tonight! 
 
I was once staying in a motel in a large city and was surprised to find, posted to the elevator door, a small, handwritten notice which read, "Party tonight! Room 210. Eight o'clock p.m. Everyone invited!" I could hardly picture who would throw such a party, or for what reason, but I imagined that at 8:00, room 210 would be filled by an unlikely assortment of people - sales representatives seeking a little relief from the tedium of the road; a vacationing couple tired of sightseeing; a man stopping overnight in the middle of a long journey, looking for a bit of festivity; a few inquisitive and wary motel employees, there because of professional responsibility; perhaps some young people who had slipped out of their parents' rooms, anxiously curious about what was happening in room 210.
 
Alas, the sign by the elevator soon came down, replaced by a typewritten statement from the motel staff explaining that the original notice was a hoax, a practical joke. That made sense, of course, but in a way it was too bad. For a brief moment, those of us staying at the motel were tantalized by the possibility that there just might be a party going on somewhere to which we were all invited - a party where it didn't make much difference who we were when we walked in the door, or what motivated us to come; a party we could come to out of boredom, loneliness, curiosity, responsibility, eagerness to be in fellowship, or simply out of a desire to come and see what was happening; a party where it didn't matter nearly as much what got us in the door, as what would happen to us after we arrived.
 
Perhaps if there is to be such a party, the church is going to have to throw it.
 
Thomas G. Long, Shepherds and Bathrobes, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.
_______________________________________
 
Dance the Offering Forward
 
A missionary in Africa was preaching his first sermon in a mission church. When time came for the offering, the people danced their offerings forward. They danced and sang praise to God as they brought their offerings to the altar. It was a beautiful moment. What do you think? Should we get our ushers to do that?
 
After the service, he asked one of the people, "Why do you dance and sing when you bring your offering forward on Sunday morning?" Back came the answer: "How could we not dance? We are so grateful to God for what He has done for us in sending Jesus Christ to save us that we have to dance and sing our thanksgiving and besides it says in the Bible, God loves a cheerful giver."
 
Let me ask you something. Do you feel gratitude to God that strongly? Do you have a strong case of the "can't help its" when it come to gratitude? When you are Christians, gratitude is the spirit of your lifestyle. When you are a Christian, you can't help but be grateful!
 
James W. Moore, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

__________________ 
 
Word of Mouth Evangelism
 
Everyone knows that the best form of advertising ever invented and the one that is still most successful is word-of-mouth - people telling other people. About forty years ago there used to be an automobile named the Packard. Packard was the last car manufacturer to get into advertising. It didn't happen until old man Packard died, because whenever he was approached to buy some advertising for his cars he always said, "Don't need any; just ask the man who owns one." After his death, "Ask the man who owns one" became the Packard slogan.
 
Our Lord Jesus Christ is also known through word-of-mouth advertising. That's how the word about him gets out. Only the Shepherds at the first Christmas heard the good news from angels. Only the Wise Men were led by a Star. Just a comparative few were touched by miracles. Almost everybody came to know Jesus Christ.
 
Daniel G. Mueller, Just Follow the Signs, CSS Publishing Company
 
_____________
 
Jesus the Sin Stealer
 
The primary emphasis of John's declaration is to say who Jesus is (the Lamb of God) and also to say what Jesus does (takes away the sin of the world). This is all well and good, but the old Adam in me gets nervous when I have an encounter with a "sin stealer." I want to be as graphic and as plain as I can be about this Jesus is the ultimate sin stealer, and that troubles me. You can certainly use language that describes this reality in different terms, like "Jesus removes our sins," or "Jesus washed my sins away," but Jesus "rips us off" as far as our corporate and personal sins are concerned. I am a witness to this, because I was reared by a sin stealer my mother. Now Daddy was a "sin reactor and responder," and I was the not always grateful recipient of his reactions and responses, but Mama was the sin stealer, the one who had the spiritual discernment and psychology to see that I would live in the benefits of John's declaration and Jesus' action.
 
This sin stealing was shown most clearly on an early spring day long ago, when my mother had made my favorite lunch for school. It was a small container of chocolate milk, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. I went off to Public School 129, but a block and a half away, eager for the morning to pass so I could sink my teeth into one of those delicious cookies, but as I turned from Stuyvesant Ave on to Quincy Street I was face to face with Junebug, the bully of the block.
 
"Gimmie that lunch, punk!" he said.
 
"But, Junebug, that's my lunch."
 
"You better gimmie that lunch!"
 
"But it's mine. My Mom made it for me, and she made me my favorite--."
 
Junebug's right uppercut sent me and the lunch to the ground. He picked up the lunch and said, "That's what you get for not listening to me!" and went off to school. I also went off to school with no lunch and lots of anger.
 
At home that late afternoon I was very silent. Mama, knowing something was up, said, "What happened at school today?"
 
"I'm gonna kill him!"
 
"What?"
 
"I'm gonna kill him!"
 
"And who do you plan to kill?"
 
"Junebug. He beat me up, he stole my lunch, and I'm gonna kill him!"
 
Mama thought for awhile and then said, "Here, have some food. Don't start your homework right away--there is something we need to do together, but you must do it as I say...
 
The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for Epiphany 2 can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 



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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:06:24 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:06:24 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter: Jan. 16 (Epiphany 2A) John 1:29-42
Message-ID: <FCEE27C5B1E241399BE8A1A0D0134164@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 16 (Epiphany 2A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, John 1:29-42, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and says, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"





To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.wpd





A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.


     http://www.lectionary.org/ 

Dick Donovan
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:07:53 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:07:53 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter: Jan. 16 (Epiphany 2A) Isaiah 49 & 1
	Cor. 1
Message-ID: <688604E8131241908EB77E63D4EA77D7@YOUR264F1833C5>

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 49:1-7 and 1 CORINTHIANS 
1:1-9

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the 
address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 49:1-7

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.wpd


1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and 
see what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or 
save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.


POSTED AT www.lectionary.org.

Dick Donovan




From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:11:26 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:11:26 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 Sermon for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany - John
	1:29-42
Message-ID: <2DF671DB8C094309B6F4E2A909088852@YOUR264F1833C5>

The Rev. Dr. Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, NC, and professor of church history and religion. He is an ordained Baptist minister. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pursuing the Prophetic
John 1:29-42
2nd Sunday after Epiphany - Year A
January 16, 2011
http://day1.org/2541-pursuing_the_prophetic
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From deaconsil at comcast.net  Fri Jan 14 15:52:49 2011
From: deaconsil at comcast.net (Sil Galvan)
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:52:49 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Go Light Your World
In-Reply-To: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>
References: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>
Message-ID: <4D30B7A1.2040808@comcast.net>

Friends,
       I have not been writing regularly for quite a while now but felt 
compelled to address the shootings in Arizona last weekend. I have 
attached my effort below (whoever posted that link to Go Light Your 
World on whichever list it was back in December, many thanks!). Any 
comments would be appreciated. I may not even be preaching it this 
weekend but have added it to my website. FWIW!!
Sil Galvan

Go Light Your World

(Begin with Youtube video of Go Light Your World at 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqBz_qvqBL4 )

In our first reading from Isaiah, we heard the verse ?I will make you a 
light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the 
earth?. The principal refrain in the song we just heard is ?take your 
candle and go light your world?.
Light is an image that has always fascinated me. Back in my high school 
physics class, we studied how light has properties that we can?t explain 
like how it can go around corners defying other laws of nature.
We should note that light is an image that is central to the gospel of 
John. In the very first few verses, he says that Jesus ?was life and the 
life was the light of the world? (John 1:4). Later in his gospel, he 
records that when our Lord heard of the death of John the Baptist at the 
hands of Herod, he says that John was a ?light, consuming and revealing, 
but you wished to rejoice exceedingly for a while in his presence? (John 
5:35). I remember meditating on that verse for days on end while I was 
in the Jesuit seminary and how I wanted to do my best to be a light in 
the lives of others.
Just a few weeks ago, we held our Longest Night service in the mausoleum 
for those who might be grieving the loss of a loved one which is 
especially difficult during the normally joyous holiday season. At the 
beginning of that service, I played this same video. I did that because 
later in the service, all those in attendance would be invited to come 
up and light a candle for their departed loved ones. I pointed out that, 
like the song and Scripture says, we all have a light within us. Perhaps 
we could call it the light of life and it radiates to others through the 
good works that we do in life. But once we have passed on, our personal 
light is extinguished unless it is carried on by those who survive and 
remember us. Then they must carry not only their own lights, but ours as 
well, especially in the good works they do in our name.
This past week, we were all stunned by the senseless shootings in 
Arizona. We struggle to make sense out of these tragedies but there are 
no easy answers to the questions we always ask in these circumstances: 
?why did it have to happen??, ?why couldn?t God have stopped it??, ?why 
do bad things always seem to happen to good people??. The answers 
probably won?t be there until we ask our Maker directly in the next 
life. For now, we have to settle on knowing that God is there, not in 
the tragedies themselves, which he is powerless to prevent since he gave 
us free will to do either good or evil, but in our responses to the evil 
deeds.
That good is already evident in some of the stories that have emerged 
from the shootings.
?    Dorwan Stoddard, 76, was a retired construction worker and an 
active church member who loved helping people in need. He took care of 
physical maintenance at Mountain Avenue Church of Christ in Tucson. He 
and his wife, Mavy, were ministry heads in the benevolence committee, 
working with people who had lost their jobs or homes. They were waiting 
in line to speak with the congresswoman when the shooting broke out. Mr. 
Stoddard pulled his wife to the ground and lay on top of her, shielding 
her from gunfire. He died several minutes later, with his wife wounded 
at his side.
?    John M. Roll was the chief federal judge in Arizona and was fatally 
wounded in the attack. Alex Kozinski, the chief judge of the United 
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, described Judge Roll as a 
tireless advocate for his district: ?Of all the chief judges of the 
circuit, I must say he was always the hardest working ? always looking 
out for his district. He?ll be a great loss to his family, but he?ll 
also be a great loss to the federal judiciary.? On Dec. 21, Judge Roll 
sent an e-mail to Judge Kozinski with an attached letter from Ms. 
Giffords and another member of Congress from Arizona, Ed Pastor, a 
Democrat. The two members of Congress encouraged the Ninth Circuit to 
?declare a judicial emergency? to help cope with the increased workload 
by extending deadlines under the speedy trial act. In the e-mail, Judge 
Roll wrote that the Congressional letter was ?unsolicited but very much 
appreciated.? Judge Kozinski speculated - ?just a guess,? he said ? that 
Judge Roll might have gone to the event on Saturday to thank Ms. 
Giffords for the letter.
?    Phyllis Schneck, 79, was New Jersey native and a great-grandmother 
who liked to sew New York Giants and Jets aprons for church fund-raisers.
?    Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, was director of community outreach for 
Gabrielle Giffords. He was described as hard-working with an easy smile 
and a passion for helping people. Mr. Zimmerman, who had a master's 
degree in social work, was known as a peacemaker who handled difficult 
or angry people with care and skill. He spent nights and weekends 
helping to resolve the variety of constituent problems that arrive at 
the doorstep of a Congressional office. Mr. Zimmerman was engaged to be 
married.
?    Christina Green, 9, was on the student council of her elementary 
school, so on Saturday her mother?s friend and neighbor Susan Hileman 
thought she might enjoy seeing government in action: the local 
congresswoman meeting with constituents outside a supermarket near 
Christina?s home. Christina loved animals and volunteered at a 
children?s charity. She was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and she was proud of 
it, her mother said, because it lent a grace note of hope to that 
terrible day. Christina, who was born when the family was living in West 
Grove, PA, was one of the 50 ?Faces of Hope? representing children from 
50 states who were born on Sept. 11. Their images were printed in a 
book, with some of the proceeds going to a Sept. 11 charity. Her father, 
John Green, is a supervising scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Her 
grandfather, Dallas Green, managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 
World Series championship and also managed the Yankees and the Mets. Her 
father John Green told The Arizona Star that Christina was such a good 
speaker that he ?could have easily seen her as a politician.? But she 
also seems to have inherited her family?s baseball genes. She was the 
only girl on her Little League baseball team, and had told her father 
that she wanted to be the first woman to play in the major leagues. Her 
mother said she belonged to Kids Helping Kids charity and tried to help 
children less fortunate. Christina, a slender girl with brownish-blond 
hair, brown eyes and a gentle smile, also sang in the choir at St. 
Odilia Roman Catholic Church. In his homily at her funeral on Thursday, 
Bishop Gerald Kicanas noted that she wanted to make a difference in the 
world with her life. She had told her parents that she wanted to attend 
Penn State University and ultimately have a career that involved helping 
those less fortunate.
As you can see, all of these people had done good things with their 
lives. But all of their lives have been cut short. Monday is our 
remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr., another person whose life was 
cut short by a senseless murder. It is now up to us to carry on their 
memory, or the memory of any of our loved ones. It is up to us to light 
a candle in their name, to remember the light that they brought into our 
lives. It has been said that no one is truly dead until their memory is 
gone from the hearts of all those who survive them. Let us all go light 
the world, not only with our own light while we live, but the lights of 
those who have preceded us into the next life but who showed us how to live.



From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 14:43:07 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:43:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon: Come and See
In-Reply-To: <002701cbb4ec$07d3e580$177bb080$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <002701cbb4ec$07d3e580$177bb080$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD8303914ED6F6-BD4-4C99@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:

This is my sermon for tomorrow using the John pericope.


__

Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
www.ffisher.net
Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
www.fpckewanee.org
Elmira United Presbyterian Church
www.elmiraunited.org

aka

Brother Oscar Romero
Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey
Bartonville, IL
www.SBAbbey.com


"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb


________________________________

It was a beautiful 
spring day.
At first glance,
everything, 
 seemed to be at peace,
in Lambston;
everything that is
with the exception
of the monthly meeting
of the ministerial association.

For the past few months
the association meeting
had become a bit boisterous.
The normally 
 tranquil discussions
of prayer and scripture
had given way
to a subject
near to everyone's heart.
And each of the three pastors present
felt their own congregation
had come up with
the best method
for doing evangelism.

Pastor Pyre E. Brimstone
led off the discussion
by showing his colleagues
his congregation's
 flashy new tracts.
"The multicolor printing
was really expensive,
and I had to really sell
my design
to the church board,"
he said proudly.
"But I think
it was worth every penny."

Pastor Brimstone,
or P.B. as his congregation
was wont to call him,
proceeded to show off
the tract's detailed graphics.
Each page
was filled with graphics
of people being thrown into flames
by pitchfork wielding devils.

He seemed especially proud
of the cover
which was emblazoned
with what he described
as his congregation's new motto;
"Come to our church
 or burn forever.
The choice is yours."

"That certainly is, 
ah, 
interesting,"
the other two pastors replied.
But even though 
they were a bit hesitant,
P.B. convinced them
to give his evangelism method 
a try.
So armed with
 cases
of the new tracts
all three pastors
returned to their congregations.
And  congregants
spread out all over the city
to hand out the tracts
to everyone they met.

When the three pastors
gathered
 at their next association meeting,
P.B. seemed a bit distressed.
In fact,
all three of them seemed upset
about the results
of P.B.'s evangelism campaign.
"I can't understand it,"
P.B. moaned.
"The tracts are stacked up 
in waste cans
all over the city.
No one's reading them.
Well,
no one,
that is,
except for the fellow
who told me 
if he was going to hell
he'd be sure 
to save me
a seat by the fire."

"Yes,"
answered Pastor Netta Prophet.
"It seems
fear hasn't been really useful
as an evangelism tool.
It's even driven 
some of our members
away.
They said,
they'd be back
when we stopped threatening people
and tried doing things 
their way."


"And what way
is that,"
P.B enquired?  
"After the drop in attendance last month,
I'll try anything!"

So Pastor Prophet
described the evangelism campaign
developed by her board.
It was all about
how wonderful it was
to live as a Christian,
and about 
all the wonderful things
God returned to us
when we give money
to the church.
"We firmly believe,"
Pastor Prophet concluded,
"if we give ten percent
to God,
we'll be made rich
in all kinds 
of blessings.
And we want to share
that good news
with all of Lambston.

"I'm not sure
this is gonna work either,"
moaned P.B.
as he looked out the window
at Pastor Prophet's 
new advertising truck.
But he did go on to say
 the logo,
displayed prominently 
on the truck's billboard
was . . .
striking! 
"I don't think
I've ever seen
a picture of angels
feeding slot machines,"
he muttered.

Pastor Prophet
convinced the association
to go along
with her board's evangelism campaign 
for the next month.
But all three of them
were discouraged
when their association next gathered.
"How can the State's Attorney say
we're running a Ponzi scheme,"
Pastor Prophet wailed.
"You can't believe
how much the bail money
bit into our budget."

"It didn't help my budget either,"
P.B. chimed in.
"Not to mention
 attendance has dropped again
and we certainly
aren't attracting any new members.
What's your congregation's plan
Pastor Servant?"
Our ideas certainly
don't seem to be working!"

"I'm afraid our board,
didn't go along
with either 
of your evangelism campaigns,"
Pastor Servant replied.
"They felt
we should simply go on doing
what we've been doing."

"Just what
have you
been doing,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet
asked in unison.
"We see
you've had to add 
another Sunday worship time.
That make's four services
each week
doesn't it?"

"Actually,
with the new worship time,
we're gathering six times a week,"
Pastor Servant said.
"And I can't say
we're doing anything special.
Oh,
we certainly advertise
with signs and direct mail.
But it's the congregants
who bring other people in."

"You see,
a couple years ago
we decided to go 
back to the basics.
We've formed all sorts
of small groups.
These groups
all get together to pray
to study
and to serve others.
At first
it seemed nothing much 
was happening.
But over time
we all found
our lives
were being changed.
We found 
we were getting 
closer and closer 
to God.
The closer we got to God
the more we changed
and the more we wanted to serve
God's people."

"But how is that
 evangelism,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet called out?
"What gets the people
in the door?"

"We think
God 
gets them in the door,"
Pastor Servant calmly replied.
"You see,
when we go out
to serve someone else,
or when someone
sees a change
in one of our members,
people ask us why.
Why are we caring for someone
with no attempt
to get something
in return?
Why are we different people
than we were before?"

"When we're asked 'why'
 questions,
we just say 
what Jesus said
when he was calling the disciples.
'Come 
and see.'"

"That's all we say,
'Come and see.'
And many do come,
they see,
and they stay,
for they've found
a life with the Lamb of God:
the One
who takes away
the world's sins;
the One
for whom they've been
searching
without even knowing
whom they sought."

"Hmmm,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet quietly said.
"Perhaps
you're on to something."

And all three pastors
returned to their congregations
to continue,
or to begin,
 a way of changing lives
into something
entirely new
and spreading 
the Gospel message
of God's incredible love.
As they did
more and more people
asked questions
like "why" and how, 
"what," and "where."

And more and more people
simply answered 
with a gentle smile,
"come and see."

To God alone be glory.
Amen.






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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 16:36:03 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:36:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Textweek for MLKJr and for Epiphany 2
Message-ID: <8CD831357FEFD3D-BD4-4D30@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


http://www.textweek.com/festivals/mlk.htm


http://www.textweek.com/yeara/epipha2.htm


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 18:02:44 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:02:44 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 1
Message-ID: <D9D507313DE246A181A605E929E3DF8B@YOUR264F1833C5>

John Woolman, the colonial Quaker, traveled throughout the South urging the Society of Friends to free their slaves a century before emancipation, warning that a refusal to do so would result in a broken nation.  He was right.  
<>
Wasn't Rosa Parks acting prophetically when she refused to move to the back of the Cleveland Avenue bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on that December day over half century ago?  Her quiet, determined response to one of the great signs of American racism was a prophetic indictment of Jim Crow culture.  We're clearly not yet home yet where racism is concerned in America, but we are a long, long way from Montgomery, Alabama, 1955.  
<>
...John.  He seemed lean and mean, direct and outspoken, like most of the Texas evangelists I grew up hearing, a revival preacher in camel skin.  My grandmother told me we had to like John.  He was a Baptist, after all.  There is that great story of the two frontier preachers arguing over whose church was the most biblically correct.  The Baptist preacher, feeling himself bested, finally exclaimed: "Well, they didn't call him John the Presbyterian, did they?"

http://day1.org/2541-pursuing_the_prophetic

Bill J. Leonard, 2011
- - - - - 

In 1957 , he was elected president of the newly formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the vanguard of the nonviolent struggle for justice in the South.  This contemporary "lamb of God" was spit upon, ridiculed, jailed, fire-bombed, yet he kept on moving -- across the South, then on to Washington for his famous "I Have a Dream" in August of 1963, and then to Oslo, Norway, where he was hailed by the world as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient for 1964, somewhat as Jesus was hailed as he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey on that last fateful journey.  The more threatening Jesus became to those in power in Jerusalem, the more they plotted to end his life.  So too for Dr. King.  

http://www.ipj-ppj.org/Reflections%20-%20Advocacy%20Suggestions%20-%20Lesson%20Plans/A%20Call%20to%20Discipleship%20--%20MLK%20Liturgies.htm

Institute for Peace and Justice
- - - - -

Could this story be telling us something the disciples don't know yet themselves? What people are looking for is not information, answers to questions such as "Who is Jesus?" or "Is this the one?" Or "Am I right about this church business?" Not even the answer to the question of why stories of meeting this man have captured the human heart for generations.

What we are all looking for without even knowing it is a place to stay, a place to remain always. Jesus is that place, a person who is himself a home, a place to belong, a whole way of life. Jesus knows that what the disciples really want is a place to belong.

http://day1.org/1078-what_are_you_looking_for

Catherine Taylor, 2008
- - - - -

Jesus answered, "Come and see." And the word, "see," is meaningful. The Greek word is not "blepo" which means come and physically see. Bu the Greek word is "orapo" which is not physical sight but spiritual insight.

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_andrew.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

...when Jesus looks at Simon and says, "You are..." Jesus gets personal. It's almost as if he's saying, "I know you, I know you." What do you have when you have Jesus? You have a friend who confronts you with the reality of yourself today.
When Jesus says, "You are," he emphasizes the crucial need for self-knowledge.

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/reaves_4209.htm

Benjamin Reaves
- - - - -

Another thing about children's drawings is that they can be very powerful statements about a child's identity. I discovered just how powerful some years ago as a part of a team that worked with families in an alcoholism treatment center. A social worker asked a little boy  to draw a picture of his family. The boy's father was half way through a 30 day residential treatment program. In the lad's picture, it was raining.  Mom was taller than the house and dad was shorter than both mom and the house.  A sister was holding mom's hand.  There were no smiles on the faces.  And it seemed the boy was missing from the picture.
The social worker said, "This is a very nice picture Eric.  I see mom and dad and sister, but I don't see you.  Why isn't Eric in the picture?"
The boy pointed to a small black scribble in the corner of the drawing and said, "There I am!"
All of us (the social worker, the psychologist and myself) became misty eyed when Eric spoke those words. The issue of identity for this child will be a life long struggle. Can you imagine feeling like a small black scribble in the wider picture of your life?
<>
Wouldn't it be wonderful if young children like Eric could have a deep sense within that says, "I am a child of God."   Instead of, "I'm a little black scribble."  There is value and hope and comfort in knowing who I am in relationship to Christ.  When I see myself in light of my relationship of love with the One who made the universe, I gain courage to disregard the identity other people want to hang on me
<>
The only information we have about Andrew comes from John's gospel where all three instances that mention him have to do with Andrew bringing someone to Jesus. 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/jan17ser99.html

John Jewell, 1999
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 21:48:09 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:48:09 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 2
Message-ID: <2C153765130C4446AD3C1007D007A114@YOUR264F1833C5>

I believe we make a theological mistake when we preach that he will take our burdens away; life would be void of meaning and dignity if he did it all for us. Oh, but the joy that comes from the accomplishments of service rendered in his name and the rest that comes when he cuts our burdens in half. I have a beautiful poster that shows a blue-jay with a huge worm dangling from its beak and the words on the poster say, "The early bird gets the worm but God doesn't throw it into the nest."

http://day1.org/699-in_the_right_place_at_the_right_time

Rosemary Brown, 2000 
- - - - -

...as Christians we don't hide from the world but rather engage ourselves in it. I further learned from him that Christianity cannot be reduced to the ways and means of a particular philosophy or political agenda, but rather, God's grace sets us free to fully participate in the creation of a new world order reflecting God's character of peace, love and justice. As Christians we are free to engage in dialogue with others, motivated by our love for God and our love for our neighbor, yet without having to compromise our Christian faith.

http://day1.org/917-do_i_have_a_witness

Ruben Duran
- - - - -

Patently the first Pope and the first bishops (if we want to use that analogy) were not sacred persons, but inept, often stupid human beings? Why do have to pretend that their successors are any better? Why should they be immune from criticism? Have we missed the point somewhere along the line that the leaders of the church and the followers in the church are fragile, imperfect human beings and that Jesus chose them precisely because he wanted a human church. If he wanted something better, he should have turned it over not to the philosophers in Rome but to the Seraphim.

http://www.agreeley.com/hom05/jan16.html

Andrew M. Greeley, 2000
- - - - -

Why is self-giving so unusual? Have you ever been impressed by others who give their time and talent to others? Have they ever asked you to join them? What happened? Did their invitation change you?
A simple invitation can be life-changing. Come and see . . . That invitation can come in different ways, from a letter or a look to a simple act of unselfish love. 

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/b/2-b/A-2-b.html

Larry Broding 
- - - - -

 I recently heard that by 2040 all known sources of fossil fuels in the earth will be depleted. Now is the time to make sacrifices to our God that are substantive, that come from the heart, that will impact the future of all life forms on our earth.

http://www.env-steward.com/lectionary/lecta/a-ep2-go.htm

Wanda Copeland
- - - - -

The four scenes in 1:19-51 climax in the remarkable statement from Jesus that he is the ladder bridging heaven and earth. Scene one (1:19-28) directs our attention from the last prophet of the former era to the eschatological prophet of the era in which heaven is semi-eschatologically present on earth. Scene two (1:29-34) declares baptism of the eschatological era to surpass every previous water ritual. Scene three (1:35-42) displays the eschatological Israel forming in the protological disciples.

http://www.kerux.com/documents/KeruxV9N2A2.asp

James T. Dennison, Jr.
- - - - -

John the Baptist is a man who boldly proclaims the truth of the Gospel. John is marked by humility, but this does not prevent him from preaching with boldness. John's message is not watered down to please his audience. He speaks against sin, whether it be that of tax-gatherers or soldiers or even Herod himself. He clearly identifies sin, condemns it, and calls for repentance. This boldness is not a contradiction to his humility, but a manifestation of it. He is inferior and subordinate to his Lord, the Messiah. He was called of God to proclaim the message he was given. He would do no less than proclaim that message with boldness and clarity. 

http://bible.org/seriespage/witness-john-john-119-37

Robert Deffinbaugh 
- - - - -

I think that it is possible to live a life of what you might call "hyper-spiritual awareness." John's experience, though unique to him, is a lesson for those of us who would like to make enhanced spiritual awareness a part of our daily routine. 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Jn1.html

William R. Long 
- - - - -

...the story of John all the more remarkable. For, in fact, he was "working himself out of a job" when he pointed out Jesus to his disciples. And, to be sure, his job ended shortly thereafter. He was like a pace-setter in a race, who runs the first 800 meters ahead of the pack but then drops out so that the better runners may have a chance at the "record." 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Jn1II.html

William R. Long 
- - - - -

The simplicity of Jesus' manner reinforces His willingness to receive people "where they are" - but also to see their potential. He does not offer lengthy explanations or list His credentials but takes people to His home and lets them see for themselves.

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/weekly_wellsprings/year_b/sunday_02.htm

Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, 2006
- - - - -

There's an old joke among religious educators. When a teacher broaches the subject of humility, he or she begins by stating a simple, but self-defeating command: "Raise you hand if you are humble!"
<>
John lived his life in deference to the One God would point out. He lived most of that life in ignorance of the final outcome, but in hope God would make that outcome plain. His life gives us a primary example of Christian humility, living in deference to God's will. John was truly the humble witness.

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/a/2-a/A-2-a.html

Larry Broding
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 22:32:55 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:32:55 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 3
Message-ID: <777A9F4F7AA04B19A04E030DD763141E@YOUR264F1833C5>

...the Savior of humanity doesn't descend upon Rome, the world capitol, and is unheralded in Jerusalem, his religion's capitol.  Instead, a bony finger points out from the wasteland and says; "There stands the reason for creation."
Are we adept enough to see the bony fingers in our wastelands?  Are our lives so attuned that we could recognize the salvation of the world in the calloused hands of a backwoods carpenter?  Would I recognize the world's Savior-and if I did-would I move aside for him?  Or is my life too fettered by comfort and sin to be attuned to the improbable or influenced by the preposterous.

http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_01_29-42.htm

Jerry Goebel: 2005 ? http://onefamilyoutreach.com
- - - - -

The messiah, as God's sacrificial lamb, will take away sin; he will remove it by vicariously bearing it himself. The text is not quite clear as to whether the messiah takes sin up and carries it, or carries it off. The theologian J. Jeremias said the verb "takes away" can mean "take up and carry" or "carry off." He says "in both cases it is a matter of setting aside the guilt of others. In the former, however, the means of doing this is by a substitutionary bearing of penalty; in the latter, sin is removed by means of expiation." 

http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday2ag.html

Bryan Findlayson
- - - - -

...we need to make a clear distinction between a God who however 'lovingly' we may talk about it sacrifices his Son; & a Son who lovingly offers himself as sacrifice not to the Father's love, but to exemplify it. There's a world of difference. I can no longer live with the former interpretation. The imagery & outworking of the old Hebrew sacrificial system is not a useful tool in our armoury as we proclaim God in Christ today. God is maligned when we turn him into a Son Sacrificer - even for our sins! 

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/matthew0/MIMJN12942EP2.html

Brian McGowan
- - - - -

It is only in this passage in the New Testament that Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God (twice) and perhaps a sermon could focus on this particular quality/characteristic of Jesus. 

It seems that when Jesus was described as the Lamb of God, John the Baptist may have been thinking of the scapegoat in the Old Testament who carried the sins of the world out into the wilderness. On the annual Day of Atonement, the most sacred day for the Jews of old, the high priest would dedicate a goat to symbolically carry out the sins of the whole world from the camp into the desert. (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26.)  Nowadays, we continue to think of Jesus as carrying away the sin of the whole world on his back, out into the wilderness. 
<>

Effective evangelists speak of what we personally have seen or experienced with our own eyes, ears, and heart. That was true of the Apostle John; it was also true of John the Baptist and Andrew in our gospel story for today. 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_two_witnesses_john_the_baptist_and_andrew_GA.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

...when John the Baptizer says, "Look -- the Lamb of God," he is articulating a hope that spanned multiple cultures in the ancient world.  He was saying that in Jesus there was power, power that would rise above the other powers in the sky, power present in the beginning, power to make all things new. 

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/second_sunday_a.html

Sarah Dylan Breuer
- - - - -

...forgiveness is accomplished through Jesus' identity as the Lamb of God. Forgiveness is no longer a means of preparation for the coming of the Messiah; it is instead the Messiah's chief work.

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28

Timothy B. Cargal
- - - - -

They followed Jesus. When he turns around and asks, "What are you looking for?" he is asking them to identify themselves. To say something like: "We are two people looking for meaning and purpose in our lives and we think you may be it." I think the reason they don't say that is because they are not sure who they are or even that they are looking for something. So instead of answering, they counter Jesus' question with another question: "Where are you staying?"

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Introducing-Jesus-Reflections-on-John-Alyce-McKenzie-01-11-2011.html

Alyce McKenzie, 2011
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 23:12:34 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:12:34 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 4
Message-ID: <84C71F1BF9C54083B50EF299A37DDCCB@YOUR264F1833C5>

One thing you have to admire about Jesus' apostles. They get who the finger points to. They drop John like a hot potato and go to see what Jesus is about. The four o'clock mention suggests these men likely stayed the night with Jesus, and that time motivates Andrew to become the pointer as he finds his brother Simon and tells him about (points him to) Jesus. Both Andrew and Simon become Jesus' followers.

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/epiphany2gospel/

Jennifer Johnson, 2011
- - - - -

Jesus' invitation to "come" (a location changing verb connected to the theme of staying, remaining, and abiding) and "see" (an insight changing verb connected to the theme of seeing, light, and revealing) is precisely the invitation to which the rest of John's Gospel is the response.
And, in my humble opinion, these two questions and the invitation are still at the heart of our being Jesus' followers today.

  a.. What am I looking for when I come to church?
  b.. Where is what I am looking for staying? Where might I find what I am looking for?
  c.. Come - leave where you are
  d.. See - open yourself to new insights, new ways of being in the world.
http://www.holytextures.com/2011/01/john-1-29-42-year-a-epiphany-2-january-14-january-20-sermon.html

David Ewart
- - - - -

The stronger association would be the "paschal lamb," the sacrifice mandated by Torah at passover.  The fourth gospel likes passover themes.  Later in the fourth gospel, Jesus will be condemned to death at noon on the day before passover, the precise time when passover lambs were slain in the Temple.  (Ray Brown says that the hyssop Jesus was offered on the cross (19:29) is also the hyssop that was smeared with the blood of the paschal lamb which was then applied to the doorposts of the Israelites (Ex 12:22).)

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/01/lectionary-blogging-john-1-29-42.html

John Petty, 2011
- - - - -

...our Christian understanding of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Note that "sin" is singular. As Brown suggests, the plural "sins" refers to sinful acts, while the singular refers to a sinful condition. 

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/john1x29.htm

Brian Stoffregen
- - - - -

The Mandaeans, some of whom have come to Australia as asylum seekers from Iraq (and have doubtless also gone elsewhere), have traditions which include a higher regard for John than for Jesus. 

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtEpiphany2.htm

William Loader
- - - - -

This story has a tone of deep friendship between John and his disciples and then between Jesus and his first disciples. It needs to be told in that spirit.

http://gotell.org/pdf/commentary/John/Jn01_29-42_commentary.pdf

Thomas E. Boomershine
- - - - -

In vv. 35-42, two of John's disciples begin to follow Jesus. First, they are curious about Jesus when John tells them who he is. They follow him, recognizing that he is an authority ("Teacher", v. 38). Jesus invites them to "Come and see" (v. 39), to investigate what he teaches. "Staying" and "remained" are technical terms in this gospel: the two begin to understand the way of life Jesus offers and expects. V. 40 tells us that one of the two is "Andrew"; the other is unnamed. 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr02m.shtml?

Chris Haslam
- - - - -

Verse 29: "'the Lamb of God'": Meaning the Lamb provided by God. See also Exodus 12:3-5 (the sacrificial lamb in Egypt); Jeremiah 11:19 ("I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter"); Isaiah 42:1-9; 52:13-53:12 (both are Servant Songs). John the Baptist probably thinks of Isaiah 53:4, 7. By the time John wrote his gospel, the death of Jesus was seen as being like that of the Passover lamb: see John 19:36. 1 Corinthians 5:7 shows that the interpretation of Jesus' death as that of the Passover lamb is early. [NJBC] In Revelation, "the Lamb" is both a sacrifice ("a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered", Revelation 5:6) and the leader of God's people, the Messiah ("the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd", Revelation 7:17). 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr02l.shtml?

Chris Haslam
- - - - -

When the disciples respond to Jesus' query with their own question, they are not asking Jesus for the location of his tent, or the address of the guest house at which he is visiting; they want to know about the enduring, permanent, eternal, undying dwelling place of this Lamb of God. Where are you staying? Where can we find you? Where shall we go to be with you, to receive what you have to offer? Where can we be in the very presence of God?

Jesus' question is one the preacher might ask of the congregation: What are you seeking? 

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/20/2008&tab=4

Audrey West, 2008
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 16 04:18:40 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:18:40 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for January 16 on John 1:29-42,
	"Making love real".
Message-ID: <CFC81434FCD249DE9C77F32B5432D5DD@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://tiny.cc/ter9i is our sermon for January 16 on John 1:29-42, "Making love real".
Peace and Epiphany blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan 16 21:53:13 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:53:13 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the THIRD SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <1D3025376B274F7E9B2DFC2B53DF25C3@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 23, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E, and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.



OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 9: 1 - 4 (RCL, Roman Catholic) 

Isai 9:1 (NRSV) But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 
2 The people who walked in darkness 
have seen a great light; 
those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- 
on them light has shined. 
3 You have multiplied the nation, 
you have increased its joy; 
they rejoice before you 
as with joy at the harvest, 
as people exult when dividing plunder. 
4 For the yoke of their burden, 
and the bar across their shoulders, 
the rod of their oppressor, 
you have broken as on the day of Mid'ian. 

Note: Verses are numbered differently in Roman Catholic bibles; this is 8:23a, 9:1-3. By the above translation, the Roman Catholic Lectionary omits the second sentence of 9:1.


PSALM 27: 1, 4 - 9   (RCL) 
Psalm 27: 1 - 4   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 27: 1,  4, 13 - 14   (Roman Catholic) 

Psal 27:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; 
whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; 
of whom shall I be afraid? 
4 One thing I asked of the LORD, 
that will I seek after: 
to live in the house of the LORD 
all the days of my life, 
to behold the beauty of the LORD, 
and to inquire in his temple. 
5 For he will hide me in his shelter 
in the day of trouble; 
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; 
he will set me high on a rock. 
6 Now my head is lifted up 
above my enemies all around me, 
and I will offer in his tent 
sacrifices with shouts of joy; 
I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, 
be gracious to me and answer me! 
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" 
Your face, LORD, do I seek. 
9 Do not hide your face from me. 
Do not turn your servant away in anger, 
you who have been my help. 
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, 
O God of my salvation! 
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
14 Wait for the LORD; 
be strong, and let your heart take courage; 
wait for the LORD! 

Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may be different from the above. 


NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 18 (RCL) 
                                    1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 17 (Can. BAS) 
                                    1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 13, 17 (Roman Catholic) 

1Cor 1:10 (NRSV) Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apol'los," or "I belong to Ce'phas," or "I belong to Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Cris'pus and Ga'ius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 


GOSPEL: Matthew 4: 12 - 23   (all)

Matt 4:12 (NRSV) Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Caper'naum by the sea, in the territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isai'ah might be fulfilled: 
15 "Land of Zeb'ulun, land of Naph'tali, 
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 
16 the people who sat in darkness 
have seen a great light, 
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death 
light has dawned." 
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zeb'edee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zeb'edee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 

Note: Vs. 18-23 are optional for Roman Catholics



Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 18 07:10:07 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:10:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Epiphany 3 - Gospel
In-Reply-To: <56D08779A3824D53B7BFBBE2C3F9593B@StudyLaptop>
References: <56D08779A3824D53B7BFBBE2C3F9593B@StudyLaptop>
Message-ID: <8CD851FC7AF7B67-C58-193@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Hi friends,
ere are some thoughts towards a sermon on the Gospel from Australia for the 
oming weekend.  You need to know that we celebrate our national day on Jan 
6 - the Wednesday after Sunday.  You may like to adapt some part or other 
f these thoughts.
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This week we celebrate our national day with Auzzie BBQs, with 
aturalisation ceremonies, with presentations for good citizenship, with 
estivals, singing and speechmaking,
 all helping us to remember with thanks that we are part of
he Commonwealth of Australia.
 Now for those of us who are also disciples of Jesus, today's
ospel is spot on to this situation.
 How do I get to that point?
 Well let me firstly draw your attention to the fact that last
eek the Church had us read a different version of the call of
esus' early disciples, today Matthew, last week John;
 and the 2 stories are rather different.
 In John's story the disciples-to-be took their time to make up
heir minds;
 they went off and had a chat with Jesus, and asked a lot of
uestions.
 But in Matthew's version the emphasis is quite different: Jesus calls
hem - they follow.
 It's almost as if John fits the story into the pattern he adopts
hroughout his gospel: think, meditate, reflect, search for
eaning.
 Whereas Matthew, today's story teller, is not so much interested in
he process, but in the outcome, so he tells the story as though
t was fast action: they simply walked off the job and left their
amilies behind;
 and when I think about that, it seems as though this version doesn't
old out much hope for ordinary folk;
 because, if being a Christian means just throwing everything
side and doing nothing but wander all over the country with
esus on a teaching, healing, preaching mission, then that's
ot everybody's cup of tea!
 So perhaps there's another way we can understand Matthew's story.
 Maybe what Matthew wants us to know is that becoming a follower of
esus does something to our order of priorities.
 He wants us to see that living God's way, living as a member of
he "kingdom of heaven" as he calls it, will encourage us to see
he whole of life from a different perspective;
 he wants us to realise that attitudes like compassion,
orgiveness, mercy and understanding are much more
orthwhile than things like just making money, getting to
he top or owning the latest piece of technology, things
hich many of our fellow Australians are keen on, good
hough such things may be in themselves.
* This brings me back to Australia Day: Matthew is telling us that Jesus 
nvites us to live for the Kingdom of heaven whilst we still live in the 
ommonwealth of Australia.
 Jesus invites us to work to overcome the evil, the distress, the
njustice, the prejudices, the hatreds, the wars in our country
nd in our world.
 He calls his disciples to leave behind false values, unhealthy
ehaviour, and instead to allow ourselves to be transformed by
he grace of God, setting an example for the rest of our fellow
ustralians, showing that it can be done.
 Jesus called people to follow him, to live the life of God's New
orld in the midst of this world, helping to transform our
onderful Commonwealth of Australia to be more like the
ingdom of Heaven;
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
he Rev'd Dr H.C. Smith
Retired Anglican Priest
Orange NSW
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:15:26 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:15:26 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 (3 Epiphany) - 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, 3
Message-ID: <EB77D92E13D2484D90B97154DAB5A216@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://day1.org/2542-what_are_we_doing_here

The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ, South Holland, IL. He is also a trustee of the Alliance for Christian Media.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What Are We Doing Here?
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
3rd Sunday after Epiphany - Year A
January 23, 2011

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:16:52 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:16:52 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Textweek sermon resources for 3 Epiphany
Message-ID: <14295D27A2F6488086B8261E550C9E73@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.textweek.com/yeara/epipha3.htm
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:22:37 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:22:37 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon resources for Epiphany 3 - Part 1
Message-ID: <1B7C4A923DEE441A825DAEDDF6CBB2C4@YOUR264F1833C5>

Sermons for Epiphany 3



Matthew 4:12-23 - "The Powerful Moments That Change Your Life Forever"

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 - "Carbon Pure and Perfect" by Leonard Sweet



Matthew 4, the sermon titled "The Powerful Moments That Change Your Life Forever"  



I am a collector of lists. I want to share with you this morning my favorite list of all time. It's a list of answers given by English school children on their religion exams.

Noah's wife was called Joan of the Ark.
A myth is a female moth.
Sometimes it is difficult to hear in church because the agnostics are so terrible.
The Pope lives in a vacuum.
The Fifth Commandment is "Humor your father and mother."

This is my favorite of all:

Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.

The point is: right answers are important, but have you thought about this - so are right questions! So the right question I want to raise with you today is this: How long has it been since you had a powerful moment that changed your life forever?

The New Testament was written originally in common Greek and the Greeks had several different words for our one word love.

Agape = unconditional love

Eros = erotic... bargaining love (I'll do this for you if you do that for me, which, if you think about it, is not really love at all)

Phileo = philanthropic, brotherly, sisterly, or humanitarian love

Storge = family love.

New Testament Greek also had two words for time - chronos and kairos. Chronos, which give us our word chronology, is tick-tock time. Each second is exactly like the one that preceded and the one that follows it. It is boring time, humdrum time, drudgery time, meaningless time, empty time. Let me paint the picture of chronos time.

Imagine a convict in a prison cell; a lawyer with insomnia, who hears the unrelenting incessant ticking of a clock; an office worker who hates his job and can't wait for 5:00 to come so he can get out of there; a college student in a 3-hour biology lab (right after lunch) all experience chronos time. Chronos time is empty time; it is a void that must be filled. It is time we must "put in" or endure. It's what we are talking about when, of all things, we talk about "killing" time. So, chronos equals tick-tock time, humdrum time, boring time, and routine time.

Thank God, there is another kind of time. It's called kairos. Kairos time is full time, vital time, crucial time, decisive time, God's time. Kairos moments are those powerful, extra-special moments that are packed with meaning. While chronos is tick-tock time, kairos is when time stands still.

How long has it been since you a moment so powerful that time stood still? Kairos is when God breaks into the routine and speaks loud and clear and you are touched so powerfully deep in your soul that you can never be the same again. A cartoonist depicts an idea with a light bulb flashing. It is a Voila! moment, an "ah ha" experience. Theologians call it the moment of revelation.

Kairos is a key word in the New Testament. When Jesus started his ministry he came into Galilee preaching and saying, "The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." And the word for "time" there in Mark 1 was not chronos, it was kairos. This was crucial time, decisive time, God's time.

Jesus' life was packed with kairos moments:

Zacchaeus - he saw him in that sycamore tree. They connected and that was a kairos moment.

Blind Bartimaeus - nobody else was paying attention to him but Jesus heard his cries, connected with him, and it was a kairos moment.

The hemorrhaging woman came up behind Jesus, touched his robe, and he connected with her, and it was a kairos moment.

Jesus had so many of those moments. We read one this morning. Matthew writes: "The kairos is fulfilled." And what did Jesus do right at that kairos moment? He called his disciples. It was a meaningful moment for them. It wasn't just another tick of the clock. How long has it been since you had a powerful moment like that, that changed your life forever? How long has it been since you had a kairos moment in a chronos world? Kairos moments are all around us if we have the eyes to see them, the ears to hear them, and the hearts to feel them. Now, this morning I want to share with you three kairos moments that I have experienced that changed my life. I am going to be very personal because kairos moments are very personal.

1. The Kairos Moment of Encouragement

2. The Kairos Moment of Love

3. The Kairos Moment of Inspiration





The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 

_______________________



1 Corinthians 1, the sermon titled "Carbon Pure and Perfect" by Leonard Sweet 

Jesus is our diamond. 



Jesus is the carbon based incarnation of the divine transformed by the steady pressure of God's endless love into the brightest Morning Star Diamond ever created. 



Jesus is our diamond. 



Jesus is Carbon Pure and Perfect, the pure and perfect way to the Father, our only eternal security. But there are many ways to look at Jesus, just as there are many ways to look at a diamond. 



This is what Paul was getting at in our epistle reading for this morning. Paul is urging the Corinthian Christians to stop their puny, petty squabbles over perceived differences and instead to embrace the greater unity that bound them together. These Corinthian Christians had benefitted from different teachers, hailed from different backgrounds, were of different generations, and drew from different social classes. They had genuinely unique histories and lives. But they all had one thing in common: they had ultimately been led to the same place of wood and water, the wood of the cross and the water of baptism. 



Paul doesn't ask for Jesus' followers to give up their unique identities. Later in this letter Paul emphasizes the matchless role each member of Christ's body plays in making it strong and whole. The existence and experience of the eye is different from that of the hand or the ear or the foot. Each body part or "member" has a different perspective on the whole. Each has a different function within the body. But the body is still one whole. It is not at war against itself. When a body does begin to take on parts of itself as an enemy, for example, cancer, HIV, food allergies, the result is first disease, then ultimately death. In fact, disease is nothing more than a body turned against itself. 



For the body of Christ to be healthy today, it is in desperate need of rehearing Paul's message to the Corinthians this morning...



The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 

______________________


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:23:00 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:23:00 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon resources for Epiphany 3 - Part 2
Message-ID: <C0487D0A3E60415581C0819A7BEFAF58@YOUR264F1833C5>

Trying Something New



After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr, who helped him find a new balance between his sport and his life. He also helped Jansen learn to focus on the mental aspects of skating Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that Dan has since described as the "toughest I have ever known." By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a five-hundred-meter world record just two months earlier. The Olympic title in that event seemed to belong to him.

Unfortunately, Jansen fell during the five-hundred-meter race. He was disappointed and shaken. But, Dr. Loeher immediately advised him to start preparing for the one-thousand-meter race. He said, the five-hundred-meter race is gone. Put it behind you." However the thousand-meter race was Jansen's weakest event. But, there was no other chance for him to receive a medal. Jansen won the one-thousand-meter race and did it in record time. Since Jansen had followed the wisdom of his coach, he had put his failure behind him and tried something new.

We can play it safe and remain secure in what we know. Like the fishermen, our lives will remain in the darkness until we are willing to follow and move in a new direction. Jesus called the disciples to something that would not only give purpose and meaning to their lives, he called them to a vocation that would change the world. They followed, and from then on their lives would never be the same.

Keith Wagner, Ice Fishing, Anyone?
__________________________________



Working for Christ



Christianity began as a working man's religion. No, that is not the gospel according to Marx; it is the Gospel According to Matthew. Matthew tells us that immediately after Jesus began a public preaching ministry, he took four fishermen as his apprentices. He was walking by the Sea of Galilee and spied Andrew and Peter casting their nets. He called them to follow him, promising to make them fishers of men. In Matthew's Gospel, then, linked tightly together are Jesus' ringing pronouncement, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and his invitation to the fishermen, "Follow me."



You and I, who believe in Jesus Christ and count ourselves his disciples, are not to follow a trade or profession as though it were the Holy Grail. We are to follow Jesus. Work is to take a secondary role in our lives. If Christ is truly our Master, then work cannot be equally important. We may be engaged in work, but never married to it. And whenever we are pressed or tempted to make work supreme, we are to recall the story of the four fishermen. We are to remember how they left their nets and their boats to go and be with Jesus, to do what he would have them do.



John C. Purdy, The Call to Adventure



______________________________



Follow Me...



"Follow me, and I will make you fishers," said Jesus. Fishing takes practice, preparation, discipline. One must learn how to best throw the net, how to make the mouth of the net come open too. I can throw the actual cast net a long way, but I can't always make the net come open so that it will actually form a circle around the fish. One must learn how to cast the line on a rod. Again, some folks can cast a long way, but their accuracy is awful. There may be fish on the right, but they know only how to cast the line to the left. There may be fish on the left, but they keep casting to the right. Casting, like discipleship, is an acquired habit. It rewards practice. 

 

Fishing is noticing the weather, watching the wind and the clouds. Fishing, like the gospel, dear friends, like the gospel, fishing is always practiced in context. It does no good to sit at one lake and wish I was on some other lake. It does no good to stand at the ocean and wish the weather were different. On that day, in that place, I fish in context according to what the conditions are. 

So it is with the proclamation and the living out of the Christian gospel. It does little good wishing that we were somewhere else, in a different time or in a different country perhaps. Our context is this time and this place. Know where the wind blows. Watch the clouds. 

 

Samuel G. Candler, Follow Me and I Will Make You Go Fishing



________________________



A Job vs. A Ministry



Someone has said there is a huge difference between having a job at church
and having a ministry at church.
... If you are doing it because no one else will, it's a job.  If you are
doing it to serve the Lord, it's a ministry.
... If you're doing it just well enough to get by, it's a job.  If you're
doing it to the best of your ability, it's a ministry.
... If you'll do it only so long as it doesn't interfere with other
activities, it's a job.  If you're committed to staying with it even when
it means letting go of other things, it's a ministry.
... It's hard to get excited about a job.  It's almost impossible not to
get excited about a ministry.
An average church is filled with people doing jobs.  A great church is
filled with people involved in ministry.

Mickey Anders, The Beginning of Ministry
__________________________________

 

Bridge Building Belongs to You and Me



There were two unmarried sisters who had such a bitter fight that they stopped speaking to each other. Unable or unwilling to leave their small home, they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the same bedroom. A chalk line divided the sleeping area into two halves. The chalk divided rooms so that both sisters could come and go and get her own meals without trespassing on their sister's space. In the black of night, each could hear the breathing and snoring of the foe. For years they coexisted in grinding silence. Neither was willing to take the first step to reconciliation.



Then one night one sister got up to go to the bathroom and fell, breaking her hip. The other sister awakened by the fall and the scream of pain jumped out of bed crossed the chalk line and came to her sister's side. After a few typical sister jabs at why she would do such a foolish thing as trip on her own feet, the sister held her foe of the past few years until the paramedics came and carried her to the hospital with her sister at her side. In those moments of darkness came the truth and power of love and light. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall told this story with these words. "The legal system can force open doors, and sometimes even knock down walls, but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and me."



Source Unknown



_______________________



Fishers of Men (Witnessing)



Most of our witnessing is likely to happen in passing moments of conversation--those occasions when we show, in relatively minor ways, who we are and to whom we belong. I think of a suburban woman who was playing tennis with her good but quite secular friends. In a conversation break between sets she began referring to something she had read that morning. It would have been easy to say, "I read something this morning." Instead, with no attempt at piosity, she simply introduced one word: "In my devotional reading this morning." It was not a major soul-winning engagement. It was, however, a true sowing of seed. By a word, she had opened the door for some further conversation.



Perhaps our greatest problem in becoming Christ's fishermen is that we are not enough in earnest to grasp the opportunities that come to us; or we are so possessed of the idea that we must say something dramatic and far-reaching that we fail to say the small, immediate and potentially significant thing. To put it in the language of our lesson for the day, most of us really don't act as if we even have a call to "fish." We're out in the waters of human need every day, but we don't seem to know it.



The issue is not that we should become more aggressive about sharing our faith. It is that we should be more sensitive to the needs of the world around us, and more sensitive to the subtle prodding of the Holy Spirit. The two sensitivities are wonderfully intertwined. To be sensitive to the Holy Spirit must mean that we will be more sensitive to people and their pain; to be more sensitive to people ought to make us more open to God and his purposes.



J. Ellsworth Kalas, Reading the Signs, From Empty Nets to Full Lives, CSS Publishing Company 

______________________



Essential Personnel



Even if we live where it rarely snows, the phrase is a familiar one. When budget talks collapse and the government shuts down, this is the phrase that is trotted out. When the earth suddenly moves under the people of California, often a certain group of people are called out while the rest are told to stay at home. When tornadoes blow through the Southwest and disrupt everything in their course, only certain people should risk the dangers involved. These are maintenance people, road crews, ambulance drivers, fire fighters, electric and gas company workers, truck drivers, and a whole host of service people who are taken for granted when things are running smoothly. We call them "essential personnel."



Think about that phrase. Think about what it means to be essential personnel. Then, if you want to be humbled, think about what it is like to be non-essential personnel. Consider the fact that the world can go on without some of us. The good news is that in the church we are all, or at least all can be, essential personnel. We are called to be a special group of people and to do some important things.



William B. Kincaid, III, And Then Came The Angel, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.



______________________



Turning Toward the Light



A little boy named Bobby entered his first science fair in second grade. Because his Mom has a green thumb, they decided to experiment with the growth of plants. He took two small green plants and placed one on a sunny windowsill and the other in a cardboard box. After a couple of weeks, Bobby checked on the two plants. The one on the windowsill had grown a couple of inches and had vibrant green leaves. The one in the box had actually grown a bit, but it had lost all of its green color, becoming almost white and its leaves drooping. Thinking that the plant might die, Bobby cut a hole in one side of the box, like this, and set the box, with the plant inside, by the windowsill...with the hole facing toward the incoming light. Well you know what happened...



The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for Epiphany 3 can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:29:04 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:29:04 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter materials for January 23 (Epiphany 3A),
	all lessons
Message-ID: <BBE9A5DEDE3C45A9A565AED929E017C6@YOUR264F1833C5>

All 3 lessons:
1.) THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 23 (Epiphany 3A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, Matthew 4:12-23, where Jesus calls his first disciples.



To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 9:1-4 and 1 COR. 1:10-18

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

2.) ISAIAH 9:1-4

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.wpd


3.) 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18

These materials include the exegesis + a link to sermons + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

     http://www.lectionary.org/ 

Dick Donovan
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan 23 20:34:05 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:34:05 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <283AD6C1C50349CEBF7920ADA4E0B5B2@ThinkpadT60CCW>

 
The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 30, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.


OLD TESTAMENT:  Micah 6: 1 - 8   (RCL)

Mica 6:1 (NRSV) Hear what the LORD says: 
Rise, plead your case before the mountains, 
and let the hills hear your voice. 
2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, 
and you enduring foundations of the earth; 
for the LORD has a controversy with his people, 
and he will contend with Israel. 
3 "O my people, what have I done to you? 
In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, 
and redeemed you from the house of slavery; 
and I sent before you Moses, 
Aaron, and Miriam. 
5 O my people, remember now what King Ba'lak of Mo'ab devised, 
what Ba'laam son of Be'or answered him, 
and what happened from Shit'tim to Gil'gal, 
that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." 
6 "With what shall I come before the LORD, 
and bow myself before God on high? 
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, 
with calves a year old? 
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, 
with ten thousands of rivers of oil? 
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, 
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; 
and what does the LORD require of you 
but to do justice, and to love kindness, 
and to walk humbly with your God? 


1 Kings 17: 8 - 16   (C of E)

1Kin 17:8 (NRSV) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. 


Zephaniah 2: 3, 3: 12 - 13  (Roman Catholic)

Zeph 2:3 (NRSV) Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, 
who do his commands; 
seek righteousness, seek humility; 
perhaps you may be hidden 
on the day of the LORD's wrath. 

12 For I will leave in the midst of you 
a people humble and lowly. 
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD-- 
13 the remnant of Israel; 
they shall do no wrong 
and utter no lies, 
nor shall a deceitful tongue 
be found in their mouths. 
Then they will pasture and lie down, 
and no one shall make them afraid. 


PSALM 15   (RCL)

Psal 15:1 (NRSV) O LORD, who may abide in your tent? 
Who may dwell on your holy hill? 
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, 
and speak the truth from their heart; 
3 who do not slander with their tongue, 
and do no evil to their friends, 
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, 
but who honor those who fear the LORD; 
who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 
5 who do not lend money at interest, 
and do not take a bribe against the innocent. 
Those who do these things shall never be moved. 


Psalm 37: 1 - 12   (Can. BAS)

37   (ECUSA Psalter)
 
Part I   Noli aemulari
 
1   Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; *
  do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
 
2   For they shall soon wither like the grass, *
  and like the green grass fade away.
 
3   Put your trust in the Lord and do good; *
  dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
 
4   Take delight in the Lord, *
  and he shall give you your heart's desire.
 
5   Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, *
  and he will bring it to pass.
 
6   He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
  and your just dealing as the noonday.
 
7   Be still before the Lord *
  and wait patiently for him.
 
8   Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, *
  the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
 
9   Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; *
  do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil. 

10   For evildoers shall be cut off, *
  but those who wait upon the Lord shall possess the land.
 
11   In a little while the wicked shall be no more; *
  you shall search out their place, but they will not be there.
 
12   But the lowly shall possess the land; *
  they will delight in abundance of peace.
 


Psalm 36: 5 - 10   (C of E)

Psal 36:5 (NRSV) Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, 
your faithfulness to the clouds. 
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, 
your judgments are like the great deep; 
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. 
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, 
and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 
9 For with you is the fountain of life; 
in your light we see light. 
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, 
and your salvation to the upright of heart! 


Psalm 146: 6 - 10   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 146:6 (NRSV) who made heaven and earth, 
the sea, and all that is in them; 
who keeps faith forever; 
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; 
who gives food to the hungry. 
The LORD sets the prisoners free; 
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. 
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; 
the LORD loves the righteous. 
9 The LORD watches over the strangers; 
he upholds the orphan and the widow, 
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 
10 The LORD will reign forever, 
your God, O Zion, for all generations. 
Praise the LORD! 


NEW TESTAMENT:   1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 31   (RCL)
                                      1 Corinthians 1: 26 - 31   (Roman Catholic)

1Cor 1:18 (NRSV) For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, 
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, 
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 
26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." 


GOSPEL:   Matthew 5: 1 - 12   (all but C of E)

Matt 5:1 (NRSV) When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Note: The Roman Catholic Lectionary omits the last part of v. 12.


John 2: 1 - 11   (C of E)

John 2:1 (NRSV) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 29 11:27:57 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (han)
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:27:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: GoodPreacher Preaching Resource
In-Reply-To: <4D423A79.7060200@comcast.net>
References: <4D423A79.7060200@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD8DE89F1CF1AD-DB8-F75@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>



Free Resource from GoodPreacher.com!
Tom Steagald's Preaching Journal








Praying this morning in the midst of a pretty wicked winter thunderstorm, thunder and lightning attending, with three of my most faithful church members? something about that confluence of sensory stimulants: darkness, with flashes erupting; the dimmer but more stable candle flame; the sound of rain pounding on the roof, echoing in our largish sanctuary which, if one has the eyes to see it, with its exposed and curving beams, looks like the inverted hull of an ark; a scrap of memory from my childhood, the first verse of an old Baptist hymn, inspired by the words of the prophet Ezekiel (35:26) ?There shall be showers of Blessing, this is the promise of God. There shall be seasons refreshing, sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need: mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.? So too, the Psalmist: ?Thou visitest the earth and waterest it, thou greatly enriches it?Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.?
I remember how the spiritual writers, many of them, speak of the hard earth of the heart, and the need for the softening, settling rains of mercy that alone can make the heart hospitable to the gospel?s seed. 
Ezekiel speaks of the showers coming in the midst of a covenant of peace, and surely both Micah and Matthew express the characteristics of that covenant in the lessons for Sunday. Surely Paul speaks to what makes such a covenant possible.
And so, this morning, in the darkness we awaited the light?and I praised God for the darkness which in its own way testifies to the light and our need for it. I praised God for the silence, which offers a space into which the Word may deign to come. I thanked God for the rain, confessing that sometimes the showers that are promised are themselves frightening in the moment of their advent. 
I read the beatitudes?not as moral exhortation, which is the way they are often preached and thereby set a standard which few if any can meet and thereby prove to be something other than the Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23) and instead one more indication of how we have failed and fallen short?but just read them, and heard in them something of the eschatological blessing. 
Yesterday I was reading in W.D. Davies? magisterial The Setting of the Sermon on the Mount, and I was reminded, duh, that Jesus appeared ?as a preacher of repentance? (425). How Jesus conceived of this repentance is the subject of many pages of (to our eyes and ears) stilted consideration. But the question of how Jesus? preaching was related to his teaching and healing is an interesting one?beyond my pay grade to say with any certainty?but I am thinking about it in these terms. 
It has long been noted that, in Matthew, Jesus retains to himself, until after the Resurrection, the teaching office. Whatever authority he gives to the disciples in the way of preaching or healing, he alone is the Teacher. The irony, of course?and I believe it was Norman Perrin who made the observation?is that in Matthew, anyone who calls Jesus ?Teacher,? is not his friend or follower. He is the Teacher; but don?t call him that. True followers know him as Lord. Be that as it may, Jesus? preaching is that the Kingdom has drawn near (4:17). Repentance is the first, best, most urgent response to the sermon, and whatever that might mean in its fullness, it means at least leaving behind what has been normative before: nets, family, vocation. In Mark, the disciples also leave the synagogue, so that all the former definitions of life are relinquished in favor of a new identity as disciples (see my Shadows, Darkness and Dawn). Into the void came the teaching of Jesus?like Moses? commands to Israel, who were newly free but as yet unformed?Jesus begins to give definition to the new community by means, ultimately, of five discourses, the Sermon being only the first. First in order, and perhaps in authority. 
In any case, the kingdom has drawn near. The healings of the crowds demonstrate it to be so. Now does Jesus shift to ?impossible? responses to the kingdom?s coming, throwing the responsibility of the new movement back onto the disciples?that it is no longer God?s grace but their obedience to this rigid ethic that will carry the kingdom forward? That is how it is most often preached. I am wondering, though, whether Jesus teaching is benediction, not hortatory or imperative. Which is to say, if people are sitting there listening, whether crowds or disciples, and they are reacting to the absolute claims in anything like the ways we would?it is impossible, it is strategy (I will be meek so I can inherit the earth!), it is absurd (happy are the sad?)?Jesus may be saying something more like this: You are half-there already. When you already experience a hunger for righteousness, because you have been on the short-end of the stick and you wish for justice, not just for self but for the world, you will be satisfied. You really will. When you have grieved and felt some little comfort in the midst of it, you have a foretaste of the solace divine. 
That is not all Jesus is saying, of course. He is not just blessing what already is?at least not entirely. But he is a good preacher, and I suspect that part of what he is doing here is indicating by means of these admittedly eschatological pronouncements that all the people within the sound of his voice, not just the sick and possessed, have already experienced something of the Kingdom?s healing power. Eventually the world will be healed, and all will enjoy it together. For now, there is a proleptic quality that must be recognized?and I am wondering if recognition itself is a kind of repentance: not just going in a different direction but looking at it in a different way, from a different angle. 
Is the darkness just dark? Is grief just sad? Is hunger always a matter of privation? Or is hunger itself a kind of appetizer? Is grief a testimony to the preciousness of life and loved ones? Is the dark a canvass on which light will be painted?
Another thought, of course, is this: Jesus is describing himself in the beatitudes. He is and will be all these things, and so the real teaching is his example, defined and refined by his logia. The disciples, as students of the rabbi, will observe him closely to become what he is.
As an aside, those of you familiar with Rob Bell?s nooma series might take a look at his ?Dust? video. A colleague in our study group mentioned it in conjunction with last week?s lesson, but it may work as well for this week. I have to say I liked all of it save the ?self-doubt? interpretation of Peter?s sinking in the water. Sounded a little Osteenish to my ear. The ?doubt? in that story occurred before Peter got out of the boat when, after Jesus had said, ?Do not be afraid; it is I,? Peter said (sounding very much like the Tempter), ?If it is you, command me to come to you?? Needing proof is not faith; it is doubt. Otherwise the video is interesting and the lesson informative (though whether all Jewish boys had the kind of educational opportunities he enumerates is a matter of speculation/debate). 
We learn from Jesus. Even more, we learn Jesus. Luke Timothy Johnson has reminded us that the holy life is a matter of learning to live Jesus, as we live by learning and observing. And so it was almost eerie the prayer assigned for the day from Dr. Baillie: 
?O Thou to whom I owe the gift of this day?s life, give to me also, I beseech Thee, a spirit to use it as I ought. Forbid that I should stain the brightness of the morning with any evil thought or darken the noontide with any shameful deed. Let Thy Holy Spirit breathe into my heart to-day all pure and heavenly desires. Let Thy truth inform my mind. Let Thy justice and righteousness make a throne within me and rule my errant will. Let Christ be formed in me, and let me learn of Him all lowliness of heart, all gentleness of bearing, all modesty of speech, all helpfulness of action, and promptness in the doing of my Father?s will? (day 26, morning).



GoodPreacher.com
PO Box 843 | Amelia, VA 23002

804-561-3566 | office at goodpreacher.com


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From charles.wohlers at verizon.net  Sun Jan 30 21:28:42 2011
From: charles.wohlers at verizon.net (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:28:42 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIFTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <13711CA10B97415D96C9876B90606E57@cranmer>

The following are the readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 
February 6, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Church 
of England (Cof E), Anglican Church of Canada, and Roman Catholic 
Lectionaries. The ECUSA, C of E (Common Worship) and Canadian readings are 
identical to the RCL this Sunday. All readings are taken from the New 
Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.


OLD TESTAMENT   Isaiah 58 1 - 9a (9b - 12)   (RCL)
                                    Isaiah 58 7 - 10   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 581 (NRSV) Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments,
they delight to draw near to God.
3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see?
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?"
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
and oppress all your workers.
4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
will not make your voice heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I choose
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.


PSALM 112: 1 - 9 (10)   (RCL)
Psalm 112: 4 - 9   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 112:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.


NEW TESTAMENT   1 Corinthians 2 1 - 12 (13 - 16)   (RCL)
                                     1 Corinthians 2 1 - 5   (Roman 
Catholic)

1Cor 21 (NRSV) When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come 
proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I 
decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 
And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech 
and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a 
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest 
not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this 
age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak 
God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our 
glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, 
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit 
searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For what human being knows 
what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one 
comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have 
received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so 
that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13 And we speak of 
these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, 
interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for 
they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because 
they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual discern all 
things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?"
But we have the mind of Christ.


GOSPEL   Matthew 5 13 - 20   (RCL)
                    Matthew 5 13 - 16   (Roman Catholic)

Matt 513 (NRSV) "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its 
taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, 
but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the 
lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let 
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and 
give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have 
come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven 
and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass 
from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of 
the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be 
called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches 
them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, 
unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Phar'isees, you 
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass.   USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu




From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 30 22:11:30 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joseph Parrish)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:11:30 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A
References: <ea20bdee-2d23-44b4-b561-04d01b4b2aa3@d17g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <073DB02E-C669-4CB5-9F1B-C9BEEA5F24FA@compuserve.com>




Begin forwarded message:

> From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
> Date: January 29, 2011 10:42:09 PM EST
> To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> Dear Friends,
> ?God?s Way to Happiness? or ?Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!? and
> deals with the epistle (Matthew 5: 1-12).  Here it is:
> 
> We just heard Jesus tell how to have a blessed life, which is another
> way to say ?a happy life.?  We?d all like a happy life.  What would
> make you happy?  (Listen to a few responses.)  Let me tell you about a
> man who had the chance to get anything he wanted.  This is a story I?m
> repeating from July, 2003.  See if you can remember how it ends.
> Before we start, does anyone know the commercial ?I Wish I Was an
> Oscar Mayer Weiner??  How does it go?  (Get responses.)   Well, here?s
> the story.  A man was walking along the beach when he came across this
> very old oil lamp. The man started to rub it to remove all the ocean
> crud when "poof" a genie appeared.  This genie, like all genies, was
> so happy to be freed of the lamp that he granted the man three
> wishes...  "I wish to be the richest man in the world,? the man said.
> "Man," the genie replied, "It has already happened.?  The man?s wallet
> would hardly fit in his pocket because of all the thousand dollar
> bills.  ?Wait until you get your bank statement!? said the genie.  You
> won?t know what to do with all that money!?  What's your second
> wish?"  "Genie?, said the man, ?I want a CAR!  In fact, I want the
> most expensive Porsche convertible made: Fire engine red, on board GPS
> and the finest audio system ever installed in an automobile."
> "That?ll work," said the genie.  He waved his hand and the finest car
> anybody had ever seen popped out of the lamp. The genie then asked the
> man for his third wish.  He thought and thought, since he really
> wanted to choose wisely.  After all, this was his last wish, so it had
> to be a good one.   Finally he said, ?Genie, I can't think of anything
> now.  May I save the third wish for later?"  "My, that?s unusual,
> responded the genie, but of course you may wait.  Just call me when
> you're ready."  With that, whoosh, the genie disappeared.   The man
> leapt into his fire engine red Porsche convertible, turned on the
> radio with the great audio system and pulled onto the highway.  He had
> the top down, so the wind was whistling through his hair, the sun was
> shining, not another car was on the road, and he was HAPPY- in fact so
> happy that he began to sing along with the great music on his great
> radio.  Up came a commercial, and he continued to sing the old
> familiar tune: ?Oh, I wish I was an Oscar-Mayer Wiener...."  Whoosh-
> what a wish!
> 
> A wishing lamp with a genie really won?t make us happy, but God?s way
> will.  Let?s look at the Beatitudes in the bulletin one by one to see
> God?s way: 3 ?God blesses those people who depend only on him.  They
> belong to the kingdom of heaven!?  If you think about it, who or what
> else can you really depend on that will never let you down?
> 
> 4: ?God blesses those people who grieve.  They will find comfort!?
> Here, we?re talking about those whose hearts are broken by the things
> that break the heart of God.  Are you so in touch with our Lord that
> human pain, misery, injustice, cruelty, ignorance break your heart?
> Practice putting yourself in other?s shoes, so you know how they
> feel.  Then do something about their pain.
> 
> 5: ?God blesses those people who are humble.  The earth will belong to
> them!?  You know what this means- be humble- be reality-oriented.
> Live in a real world.  Don?t pretend to be someone you?re not.  Don?t
> pretend to know something you don?t know.  Acknowledge your talents-
> they?re from God; compensate for your weaknesses- don?t hide them.  In
> other words- know your spiritual gifts and then develop them.
> 
> 6: ?God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or
> drink.  They will be given what they want!?  This is the beatitude
> that really can get to many of us, because we really like to eat.
> Anybody else like that- you can tell what time it is by what our
> stomach is saying?  God needs to come even before food and drink.
> Don?t be a "convenience Christian"- someone who comes to church if it
> isn?t too hot, too cold, too early, too late, too inconvenient because
> they need to cook, they were up late and need to sleep, etc.  Put God
> first if you truly want to be happy.
> 
> 7: ?God blesses those people who are merciful.  They will be treated
> with mercy!?  Here?s ?what goes around comes around.?  Don?t expect
> God to forgive you if you refuse to forgive your enemy
> 
> 8: ?God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see
> him!?  What?s the opposite of pure?  Think in terms of food?  The
> opposite of pure is poisoned.  What poisons the human heart?
> Bitterness, anger, jealousy- all those negatives.  Once we realize
> this, it?s easy to see why a poisoned heart can?t see God- they?d
> never recognize him- not in a neighbor, not in the Bible or in Holy
> Communion, not even in a miracle.  Why?  They?d be too busy
> criticizing the neighbor, the Bible, the church service, and they?d
> think the miracle was an accident!
> 
> 9: ?God blesses those people who make peace.  They will be called his
> children!?  Nothing to say here- love (in other words- want what?s
> best for) your enemy.
> 
> 10: ?God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right.
> They belong to the kingdom of heaven.?  Somebody, perhaps the Rev. Dr.
> Tony Evans, says- ?Those who stand for nothing will fall for
> anything.?  You know what?s right- live it.  Doing so may not be easy,
> may not make you popular, but you?ll have a clear conscience; you?ll
> be able to sleep at night.  Have the courage to stand up for what you
> know is right.
> 
> If you do all these things, what?s in it for you?  Day by day, a
> better life.  In closing, listen to the words Mahatma Gandhi (one of
> Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?s mentors):
> ?Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
> Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
> Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your
> habits.
> Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
> Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.?
> 
> For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
> wisdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
> is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
> 
> Blessed preaching.
> Judy Boli
> St. Paul's Episcopal Church
> Saginaw, Michigan
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 30 22:12:47 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joseph Parrish)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:12:47 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Being Blessed
References: <008501cbc001$b9904050$2cb0c0f0$@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <7B2E1794-0315-4694-B4AC-01DF72010C71@compuserve.com>




Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Frank Fisher" <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
> Date: January 29, 2011 5:13:12 PM EST
> To: <sermonshop.sermons.topic at ecunet.org>, <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>, <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>, <midrash at joinhands.com>, <SBA at SBAbbey.com>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Being Blessed
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> 
> Here's the most recent draft of my sermon for Sunday. 
> 
> __
> 
> Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
> www.ffisher.net
> Interim Pastor
> First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
> www.fpckewanee.org
> Elmira United Presbyterian Church
> www.elmiraunited.org
> 
> aka
> 
> Brother Oscar Romero
> Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey
> Bartonville, IL
> www.SBAbbey.com
> 
> 
> "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb
> 
> ___________________________________
> 
> Over the last year
> we?ve had some chances
> to get to know each other.
> And I bet
> some of you
> have begun to discover 
> some things 
> about my background.
> For instance,
> I was raised 
> in a quiet and refined family.
> Not!
> More often then not,
> my family?s life 
> resembled a Marx brother?s comedy.
> One liners 
> constantly flew,
> rubber rattlesnakes 
> inhabited the hall ways,
> and laughter 
> filled the air.
> 
> It?s no wonder 
> I came out 
> of such an atmosphere
> with some very strange 
> resources.
> One of those 
> is a favorite book of mine 
> called  
> the Complete Practical Joker.
> This book abounds
> with wonderful true stories 
> about elaborate jokes.
> Among my favorite parts 
> of the book
> is the story
> of the upside down room.
> 
> The upside down room
> is supposedly located 
> in an elaborate 
> California mansion.
> All the room?s furniture,
> the chairs, tables, floor lamps,
> even the fire place
> hang upside down 
> from the ceiling.
> The only thing 
> left on the floor 
> is a chandelier
> which is mounted 
> pointing upwards 
> in the middle of the room.
> 
> The mansion?s owner 
> was famous 
> for lavish parties.
> Towards the ends 
> of these parties, 
> some of the guests 
> occasionally
> had a bit too much to drink.
> These guests
> were relieved of their car keys
> and shown to a room
> where they could
> spend the night.
> 
> 
> In the morning
> some of these guests
> would become groggily awake
> in a different place.
> They found themselves,
> of course,
> in the upside down room,
> apparently hanging 
> from the ceiling.
> 
> There are a lot of times 
> when we feel 
> just like the people
> who found themselves
> in the upside down room.
> Times 
> when our perception of reality
> clashes
> with something 
> we encounter.
> And we?re left feeling 
> like our world?s
> being turned upside down.
> 
> That?s the feeling 
> we often get
> when we?re reading 
> today?s Gospel lesson.
> Now 
> I don?t want you to think 
> I equate this text 
> with a crude practical joke.
> But something about its words
> 
> doesn?t  make any sense.
> Are people 
> n horrific circumstances 
> actually blessed?
> 
> None of us 
> want to be considered
> depressed 
> or poor in spirit.
> And if we are,
> hey,
> there?s always Prozac.
> We stay 
> as far away as possible 
> from those who morn.
> Their sorrow reminds us
> we too 
> will see our loved ones 
> die.
> And  when we look 
> at the slaughter of innocents 
> all around the world
> it?s pretty apparent
> the meek 
> do not yet hold title 
> to the earth.
> 
> So how do we make sense 
> of our Lord?s puzzling words.
> It might help
> if we examine
> the concept of blessing.
> Blessing?s
> become 
> a very hazy word to us.
> When we search for its definition 
> we find        
> it has to do 
> with happiness.
> I?ve heard some people 
> note their agreement 
> with that definition
> by terming this passage 
> the ?be happy attitudes.?
> 
> When I searched 
> through my thesaurus
> it also listed happiness 
> as a synonym for blessing.
> It also listed
> success, wealth, plenty, and prestige.
> In other words,
> to our society,
> blessing has come to mean,
> I?ve got mine.
> 
> That tends to make us
> look at Christ?s words
> with a somewhat cynical view.
> It may even lead us 
> to agree
> with a tongue in cheek version 
> of the Beatitudes
> written by Charles R. Swindoll.
> 
> ?Happy are the pushers,
> for they get on 
> in the world.
> Happy are the hard-boiled,
> for they never let 
> life hurt them.
> Happy are they 
> who complain,
> for they get their own way 
> in the end.
> Happy are the blas?,
> for they never worry 
> over their sins.
> Happy are the slave drivers,
> for they get results.
> Happy are the knowledgeable people 
> of the world,
> for they know 
> their way around.
> Happy are the troublemakers,
> for they make people 
> take notice of them."
> 
>  We can choose to accept 
> our society?s  blessing.
> If we do
> I?m sure 
> we?ll be gifted
> with what the world 
> knows and understands
> as blessings.
> 
> But if we do accept 
> that definition 
> we also reject 
> our Lord?s voice.
> For in the world?s blessing
> there?s very little room
> for the poor in spirit, 
> the mourning,
> or the merciful, 
> or meek.
> 
> Or we can reject
> the modern view 
> of blessing
> and look at 
> what it meant 
> to those who lived 
> at the time of Christ.
> To them
> a blessing wasn?t only 
> a thing 
> like wealth or happiness.
> It was also 
> an action.
> In speaking 
> this blessing,
> Christ was doing 
> nothing less
> then throwing open 
> the door 
> of the Kingdom 
> of God.
> 
> Jesus proclaimed 
> God reigns
> in a kingdom that is both now,
> and is to come.
> A kingdom in which 
> we stand 
> in the door now.
> A Kingdom where we?ll 
> fully be
> in the future.
> 
> But Christ?s words
> also tell us 
> something more.
> In pronouncing 
> the blessing,
> Jesus described
> God?s people.
> The words tell us
> God?s people 
> are those who know 
> their identity 
> and security 
> is found only in God.
> God?s people 
> are those 
> who give only God 
> their total devotion.
> 
> God?s people 
> are those who morn 
> because other members 
> of God?s family 
> suffer.
> God?s people are those
> who renounce 
> the violent ways 
> of the world
> causing that suffering.
> 
> God?s people 
> are those 
> who actively strive 
> to do God?s will,
> and in their merciful actions
> reflect God?s mercy,
> and bring God?s peace.
> God?s people 
> are those
> whose actions,
> and whose very selves,
> may be rejected 
> by the world.
> But they rejoice 
> because they know 
> they do 
> their Lord?s work
> and follow 
> their Lord?s path.
> 
> We need to remember 
> some important things
> when we think 
> about this blessing.
> It doesn?t talk 
> about salvation by works.
> Jesus didn?t mean
> we can earn our way 
> into heaven.
> God freely gives us 
> the gift 
> of eternal life.
> That in itself 
> is quite a blessing
> for none of us
> could ever deserve 
> such a gift.
> 
> The blessing 
> also doesn?t describe a path 
> we travel alone.
> We travel it in company 
> with our Lord Jesus Christ.
> We also travel it 
> with each other.
> 
> None of us 
> will ever completely 
> measure up 
> to this description 
> of God?s people.
> But as united members 
> of the body of Christ
> we find 
> the gifts Jesus described
> are present among us.
> 
> We also need to remember 
> God?s gift of eternal life,
> and Christ?s company 
> on our road
> don?t let us 
> off the hook.
> We?re individually responsible 
> to work
> toward the goals 
> of God?s kingdom.
> 
> That leaves the question 
> of how we
> as fragile,
> and broken people
> can transform ourselves 
> into God?s loving,
> and giving children.
> 
> The answer is
> we can?t.
> At least we can?t 
> by our own 
> power.
> Thanks be to God,
> we don?t have to do it 
> by ourselves.
> For the One
> whose blessing 
> inaugurated
> the Kingdom 
> also works in us
> to transform us
> into faithful people 
> of God.
> 
> That transformation requires 
> a conscious choice 
> on our part;
> a choice we must make
> many times each day.
> It also necessitates letting go
> of our own will
> and letting God?s power
> work within us.
> 
> In "Weavings? magazine
> David Griebner
> described a person
> who made that choice
> in a story
> called "Between the Nails.?
> *"He could hardly remember 
> a day 
> when there wasn?t 
> at least 
> some pain;
> and this should come 
> as no surprise.
> For you see,
> this man
> and all his people
> lived on a bed of nails.
> 
> As you might guess,
> it was a rather 
> prickly existence.
> Yet,
> they had all 
> gotten used to 
> the particular limitations 
> of their world.
> They accepted 
> a certain amount of pain
> and discomfort
> as normal.
> And they had developed 
> clothing and footwear
> that insulated them 
> largely
> from the effect 
> of the nails -
> although some 
> were better 
> at ignoring the pain
> than others.
> 
> Now for a long time 
> our friend
> accepted things 
> as they were.
> But then something 
> in him 
> began to grow restless,
> and he became convinced 
> that life
> had to be more 
> than just 
> managed discomfort.
> One day 
> he decided 
> something 
> had to change
> or he 
> was going to take 
> all his clothes off,
> jump into the air,
> and end it all.
> As he pondered 
> this choice,
> he thought he heard 
> something.
> 
> "Get small"
> 
> "What?"
> he said. 
> The words were out his mouth
> before he had time 
> to remember
> he was alone.
> 
> "Get small." 
> 
> There it was again.
> A voice.
> He was sure of it.
> Sort of.
> Something or someone
> was talking to him.
> And since he was out 
> of other options 
> at the moment
> he decided to talk back.
> 
> "Who are you?"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> "What do you want?"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> Obviously 
> he wasn?t asking 
> the right question.
> He decided 
> to address the advice 
> directly.
> 
> "What do you mean,
> ?Get small??"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> Apparently 
> this was all 
> he was going to get,
> and his next response
> came mostly 
> out of a 
> sense of frustration.
> 
> 
> "I can?t get small," 
> he said 
> through clenched teeth
> used to gritting it out.
> 
> "I can make you small," 
> the Voice said.
> 
> Well there it was 
> then.
> If he accepted 
> that the Voice 
> was real,
> the only thing 
> left to do
> was to trust 
> what the Voice 
> had to say.
> 
> "All right," 
> he said,
> "Make me small."
> 
> The first thing 
> he noticed
> was that his clothes 
> got big.
> Then the nails 
> got big.
> Then the space
> between the nails 
> got big
> and he found himself 
> between the nails.
> 
> Then the space 
> between the nails
> got so big
> that there was more space 
> than nails.
> Then 
> there was so much space
> that it seemed 
> as if there were no nails 
> at all.
> 
> Then he was surrounded 
> by people.
> They brought him clothes 
> to wear
> that were light and airy,
> and wonderful food
> that was as rich 
> as the ground 
> was smooth.
> 
> It was a strange feeling,
> but it seemed 
> like he had 
> finally
> come home.
> 
> Once a week
> he 
> and all the people 
> between the nails
> gathered together 
> to sing.
> They lifted their voices 
> to the heavens
> and sang 
> with all 
> their heart
> the two words 
> the Voice
> had taught them all.
> 
> "Get small," 
> they sang.
> 
> For theirs 
> was the Kingdom 
> of Heaven.
> 
> The choice 
> is ours to make.
> If we wish
> we can choose 
> the blessing of the world
> with its material gifts
> and its nails.
> 
> Or we can choose 
> to let go.
> We can choose
> to let Christ?s 
> blessing
> transform us 
> into God?s people.
> 
> In our choices,
> may all glory 
> be given to God. Amen.
> 
> 
> 
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From rrasner at maine.rr.com  Mon Jan 31 06:32:13 2011
From: rrasner at maine.rr.com (Richard Rasner)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:32:13 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] mailing list
Message-ID: <2E2814B160064F29AB5A4DC4C2B4FA49@RasnerPC>

Could I ask that my name be removed from your e-mail list for weekly PorperTalk? I have loved what I have read but I am truly overwhelmed with material (I am a deacon in formation in the Episcopal Church) and I have to eliminate some things. Thanks for your understanding. 
Dick Rasne




Richard L. Rasner
1062 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207.767.1616
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From annfontaine at mac.com  Mon Jan 31 11:40:55 2011
From: annfontaine at mac.com (Ann Fontaine)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:40:55 -0800
Subject: [Propertalk] on not hiding one's light under a bushel basket
Message-ID: <D9A5E701-649F-4889-930E-E7C445889F31@mac.com>



Be of good comfort Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day  
light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall  
never be put out.

-Hugh Latimer to Nicholas Ridley, as they are about to burn at the  
stake 1555




The Rev. Ann K Fontaine
Wyoming









From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Mon Jan 31 13:31:04 2011
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:31:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] mailing list
Message-ID: <1887322780.7795303.1296498670050.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>

Dick,

Go to the web site listed at the foot of each post - it is

http://stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org


Scroll down to where it tells you how to unsubscribe, enter your address 
and that should do it.

One has to do it one's self in order to safeguard others messing with 
you!

Bob


Robert P Morrison
Interim Vicar
The Episcopal Church of St Alban
PO Box 1556
Albany OR  97321   541-921-1076 (cell)


On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 3:32 AM, Richard Rasner wrote:

> Could I ask that my name be removed from your e-mail list for weekly 
> PorperTalk? I have loved what I have read but I am truly overwhelmed 
> with material (I am a deacon in formation in the Episcopal Church) and 
> I have to eliminate some things. Thanks for your understanding. Dick 
> Rasne
>
>
>
>
> Richard L. Rasner
> 1062 Shore Road
> Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
> 207.767.1616
>
>      ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Propertalk mailing list
> Propertalk at stsams.org
> http://stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org



From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 31 18:20:08 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (han)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:20:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: SermonWriter: Feb. 6 (Epiphany 5A) Isaiah 58:1-12
	& 1 Cor. 2:1-16
In-Reply-To: <RjlKQUw4RCg8ez0sUUtIMTY4Mjk3MzQ@Dick>
References: <RjlKQUw4RCg8ez0sUUtIMTY4Mjk3MzQ@Dick>
Message-ID: <8CD8FB488C3B6D8-164-BC0@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH:58:1-12 and 1 CORINTHIANS 
2:1-16.

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address 
window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 58:1-12

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.wpd


1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-16

These materials include the exegesis + a link to sermons + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see 
what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save 
it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

www.lectionary.org
Dick Donovan

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  1 15:21:01 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2011 15:21:01 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Good News for 2011--sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Message-ID: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=277

A sermon draft on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 for Sunday, January 2, 2011, "Good News for 2011"
Peace and New Years blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
and
i-church.org
Oxford, UK
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:01:25 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:01:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] [propertalk.topic] Good News for 2011--sermon on
	Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
In-Reply-To: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>
References: <2A0069D703AC457BB0D3511D121318A4@YOUR264F1833C5>
Message-ID: <8CD78944C279F69-BD4-2FE2@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


And here is a shorter/tiny version of the URL for the Jan. 2 sermon:

http://tiny.cc/4i9dk

Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church
Elizabeth, NJ






-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Parrish <JoeParrish at compuserve.com>
To: Propertalk <Propertalk at stsams.org>
Cc: PROPERTALK.topic <PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:21 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Good News for 2011--sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23


http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=277
 
A sermon draft on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 for Sunday, January 2, 2011, "Good News for 2011"
Peace and New Years blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
and
i-church.org
Oxford, UK
 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:24:58 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:24:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 2A
In-Reply-To: <df3a2ffb-1cbd-4073-9a6a-16feecf5f3c1@s4g2000yql.googlegroups.com>
References: <df3a2ffb-1cbd-4073-9a6a-16feecf5f3c1@s4g2000yql.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <8CD7897962BB95B-BD4-3013@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 9:35 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 2A


Dear Friends,
Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?The Wise Men? or ?Rocks, Mud, and
hristMass Living in 2011? and deals with the gospel (Matthew
:1-12).  Here it is:
Happy New Year!  Has anyone already messed up a check writing 2010
nstead of 2011?  I haven?t yet, but there is something I hope we do
arry over into 2011.  Carrying ChristMass into the entire new year
as huge potential for us.  I?m going to be right ?out-front? with my
oal today.  This is my last chance to impress on you the peace,
ower, and fulfillment available for you in this new year of 2011 if
ou will live ChristMass all year through.  In today?s gospel, we
eard the story of the Wise Men and their visit to Jesus.  This
pisode in the lives of the Holy Family provides a perfect summary of
hristMass principles for us.  As you recall, here?s what happened.
here were some (remember, the Bible doesn?t tell how many)
strologers from the East (probably Persia, actually probably Baghdad)
ho saw an unusual star (or comet) that signified to them the birth of
 new king.  They dropped everything they were doing, left home and
omeland, endured the rigors of travel for more-or-less two years, and
ecause of that star- went to Jerusalem, where they had a conference
ith King Herod.  The king had his Bible scholars study the scriptures
i.e. the Old Testament- the New Testament hadn?t been written yet) to
ee where this new king would be born.  When the scholars said
Bethlehem,? Herod told the Wise Men to go search for the new-child-
ing, and come back so he could worship this new king also.  As the
ise Men approached Bethlehem, the star stopped over the house where
he child was.  They saw Mary and Jesus in the house.  They knelt down
nd worshipped Jesus, then gave him three gifts- gold (Jesus is King),
rankincense (Jesus is Lord), and myrrh (Jesus is Savior).   Then they
ere warned in a dream to avoid King Herod, but go home another way.
hen Herod figured out he had been tricked by the Wise Men, he was
urious.  At that point, it became obvious Herod considered King Jesus
 threat to his throne and had intended, not to worship him, but to do
way with him.  To be sure Jesus did not survive, Herod ordered his
oldiers to kill all Jewish boys two years and younger- which, he
ssumed would automatically get rid of the ?Jesus threat.?  Herod
hould have known there?s no point in fighting against God, because
is plan didn?t work.  Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus and
ary and flee to Egypt.  Now that?s what really happened.  Now my
uestion to you is- how is this story a wonderful summary of the
hristMass principles?
FIRST, LET?S LOOK AT TIME.  Remember the innkeeper who had no room for
he Holy Family in their time of crisis?  He is the person NOT to
mitate.  Instead, be like the Wise Men in today?s episode.  What?s
he basic difference between the two?  The innkeeper made no room for
esus in his life.  The Wise Men did.  It took a long time to follow
hat star and travel by foot or camel or some other animal from
aghdad to Bethlehem.  Yet, if we?re not careful, we can find
urselves admiring the Wise Men, but living like the Innkeeper.  We
et so busy, busy, busy- that we squeeze God out of our lives.  We
on?t intend to- we just do.  How is it possible to read Forward Day
y Day and the accompanying Bible passages, pray each morning and
vening and before meals, and reach out to others?  I?ll tell you how-
iscipline yourself to give God his time first.  A father was trying
o convince his high school son that he had time for his homework.
he father got a gallon jar and filled it with large rocks, then asked
is son if it was full.  ?Sure is!? said the son- that?s how my life
s before I have my homework done.  So the father took some medium
ized rocks and added them.  ?Full now?? asked the father?  ?Now it?s
ull,? answered his son.  You know what happened next, the father
dded small rocks, then gravel, and finally water.  ?That?s how you
rganize your life, son,? said the father.  You put the big important
hings in first.  Good advice!  Take care of your responsibilities to
od first: church, Bible reading, prayer, and let the other things fit
s they may.  Your life will have power like you wouldn?t believe
ossible.  It was Martin Luther who said that the busier his day, the
ore important it was that he start it with prayer- true.  So don?t be
ike the Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men who made time in their busy
ives for Jesus.
SECOND, DON?T BE STINGY.  Again be like the Wise Men who traveled all
hat way to worship Jesus and give him gifts.  Be like them- give
uality gifts- like yourself, your time, your talent, your treasure-
.e. you.  Stop and think- when?s the last time you helped someone you
on?t even know- a stranger, a neighbor, even an enemy?  If you can?t
hink of the last time- what?s wrong here?  Remember, the only way we
an really give a gift to Jesus anyway is to help someone in need.  Do
ou recall his words from Matthew 25: ?Whatever you do for the least
f these, my sisters or brothers, you do for me?.  And when you give,
on?t just give the leftovers.  That poem I told you about ages ago
hat I learned as a little girl applies here.  As you remember, it
oes: ?What can I give Him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I
ould give him a lamb.  If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part.
hat can I give him?  I?ll give him my heart?  (Christina Rosetti).
ave you given Jesus your heart, your whole self?  Now?s a good time
o start the year giving your whole self to Jesus.
THIRD, NOTHING CAN STOP GOD?S PLAN!  Do you believe this?  Today?s
ible episode provides one more example of this truth.  Notice how
othing could kill Jesus or turn him around until he had finished his
ission of dying and rising for us?  Not the power of King Herod nor
he strength of his soldiers; not even Herod?s lying mouth and
cheming plans - because no one can defeat God?s purposes.  Justice
ill prevail.  Remember Dr. Tony Evan?s statement, ?It?s worth waiting
n God, because when He moves, He moves well!?  Here?s a story by an
nonymous author that illustrates this principle.  One day a farmer's
onkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for
ours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he
ecided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up
nyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the
onkey.  He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.  They
ach grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
ealizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed
orribly. Then, a few shovels full later, he quieted down completely.
he farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he
aw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was
oing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on
he new layer of dirt.  This continued until the donkey stepped  up
ver the edge of the well and trotted off, to  the shock and
stonishment of all the neighbors!  Look friends, life is going to
hrow dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.  The smarter you are, the higher
our goals, the more committed your are to the Lord- just be ready-
he more dirt you can expect.  The trick is- don?t let the devil?s
irt bury you in depression or frustration or just giving up.  God is
n charge and you can do it!  Just shake off that dirt every time it
its and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a potential stepping-
tone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never
iving up.  As with the Holy Family, so it is with us- nothing can
top God?s plan but ourselves.  Justice wins every time- you can
utsmart evil just like the wise old donkey did; just like the Wise
en did.
FINALLY, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.  Did you notice how God provided
or the Holy Family?  Maybe toddler Jesus would have preferred toys or
lothes, but how do you think Joseph provided for his family in the
nknown land of Egypt?  Probably with the fabulously expensive gold
nd frankincense and myrrh from the Wise Men.
So, don?t be like the Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men.  Put the large
tones, the important things- i.e. God in your jar of life first.  The
ible promises you, everything else will fall into place perfectly.
gain- be like the Wise Men- don?t be stingy.  Share the highest
uality of gift possible- yourself.  Next, remember the donkey and
ever give up.  Do right and trust God.  Justice will prevail.
inally, remember God?s care of the Holy Family.  If you are on God?s
ide, nothing can defeat you.  You do your part and God will provide.
appy New Year!  Let?s live 2011 for Jesus, justice, and compassion.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  2 08:28:23 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:28:23 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Following the Star
In-Reply-To: <001501cba9f1$c4d3d2e0$4e7b78a0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <001501cba9f1$c4d3d2e0$4e7b78a0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD78981025A1D9-BD4-301D@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Frank R. Fisher. Obl OSB <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: midrash <midrash at joinhands.com>; 'Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary' <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>; propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>; SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic <SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic at ecunet.org>; 'St. Benedict's Abbey' <sba at sbabbey.com>
Sent: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:23 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Following the Star


We're celebrating Epiphany on the 9th, not quite proper I know but the
hurches will have a lay supply in the pulpit on the 2nd. This is my draft
or that day. It's in the form of a letter from Judea written by a Roman
oldier.
PAX
__________________________
Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
ww.ffisher.net
nterim Pastor
irst Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
ww.fpckewanee.org
lmira United Presbyterian Church of Toulon, IL
ww.elmiraunited.org
aka
Brother Oscar Romero
blate of St. Benedict's Abbey
artonville, Illinois, USA
ww.SBAbbey.com
"I pray not that you walk in my shoes - nor I yours - but that together we
alk so close to Rabbi Jesus that we are covered with dust from his
andals." - Neal Rylaarsdam

ail Marcus!
reetings to you 
ost favored one
ho enjoys 
he gentle sun
f our mother Roma,
hile I bake
n this accursed 
nd dirty place!
There my brother,
ou have your answer 
efore you ask.
 haven't gotten used
o the infernal sun,
or the constant dirt,
f this insignificant corner
f Rome's great empire.
or have I gotten used
o the way 
eople treat us here;
ogs,
hey call us.
hat's the 
ltimate 
nsult to them.
I can't get used to it 
arcus.
ou know
ow I've always thought
here should be no difference
etween those who were rich
r poor,
nd no difference
etween anyone
rom any land.
nd if that wasn't enough
f my complaints,
 have to tell you that
until recently,
 thought I'd expire
nder the sword
f constant boredom.
ut finally,
fter being stationed here,
n Jerusalem's fortress Antonious,
or more than a year,
omething 
nteresting
as actually happened.
Of course you know
y century 
as drawn guard duty
t the fortress gates.
ormally
that job's pretty horrible.
ou have to stay alert enough
o be sure  a zealot
on't decide to use your guts
o sheath his sword.
nd there really 
sn't enough going on
o keep your mind occupied.
ately
we've even taken to betting
n the expected life span
f Herod's sons.
aesar
as so right
hen he remarked
t was safer 
o be Herod's pig
han Herod's child.
Well anyway,
'd drawn the morning watch
t the fortress gates.
othing much
eemed to be happening
hen an unscheduled caravan 
ppeared
out of the twists and turns
f the city streets.
t first I thought
t was the usual 
roup of merchants
ho'd banded together
o ward off the bandits.
r maybe,
 thought,
t was yet another 
roup of pilgrims
ere 
or some obscure 
eligious holiday.
But this caravan
as nothing of the usual sort.
or in its midst
ere three old men
hose clothes literally shimmered
ith golden thread
nd precious stones.
ow normally
omeone dressed like that
ouldn't ever bother
ith an ordinary legionary like me.
ut they stopped 
ight in front of the gates,
opped off their horses,
nd came over to say hello.
All three of them
seemed quite excited
bout something or another.
t was quite awhile
efore I could make out 
heir story.
Finally,
 got them to slow down
nd stop talking 
ll at once.
hen,
hen they'd taken a deep breath,
hey began to tell  me,
he strangest tale
've ever heard.
They were all astrologers,
hey said,
earned,
nd important men
n the courts 
f their kings.
t had taken them
any years of study
o earn 
heir current positions.
nd for quite some time
hey were content
o simply bask 
n their king's 
eflected glory.
ll the while,
f course,
hey made sure
hey provided 
ll the proper celestial readings;
eadings
hich reinforced
heir king's power and might.
Then,
he day came
hen they each recognized
something different 
n the sky.
t was a star,
rightly shining
here no star
ad ever been before.
ach of them 
ug into their scrolls.
t first,
hey discovered nothing.
ut finally,
n their oldest
and most brittle scrolls,
hey found 
he new star's message;
 message
hey worriedly brought
o their masters.
 new king
as arising,
he star proclaimed;
 king
ho would rule
ver the nation of Judea.
Quickly,
ach king,
rdered their astrologers
o gather rich gifts;
ifts to offer
n hope of alliance,
ith the new king.
hen,
he three set out,
irst separately
nd then together,
o offer their gifts
to this star foretold king.
nd where else,
hey thought,
ould one come 
o offer gifts
o the new born king 
f Judea,
han here,
t the Jerusalem palace.
Now Marcus,
f course you know
ow I responded
to this idea.
You're going to talk 
o Herod,
bout a king
ho if he exists
ill replace him 
n the throne?"
 asked in bewilderment.
Oh,
ow that's 
 good idea.
hy don't I simply
show you the way 
o prison 
ow?
hat way at least
ou'll save some time."
ut the three astrologers
ere adamant.
hey were going to see 
erod.
fter all,
hey said,
ne must 
o through the proper channels
bout these things.
I was sure
'd never see them again.
nd I left my post 
hat evening
ith a disappointed feeling.
ut I didn't have to stay 
isappointed
or too long.
or as soon 
s I reached 
he barracks,
y centurion 
alled me over
o give me 
ome new orders.
erod wanted someone
o go with the astrologers
s their honor guard.
nd since 
'd spoken to them 
lready,
 was elected.
 was to travel with them,
ind out the identity 
f the new king
nd then return 
o report.
erod,
he centurion said,
anted to deliver 
is own gift
o the new born king.
I wasn't too certain
 wanted
to be any part
f the type of gift Herod
ould want to offer.
ut orders are orders.
o the next morning,
way I went
n the company 
f my new companions.
nd companions 
hey were Marcus.
or instead of ignoring me,
hey spent the trip
elling me 
ll about 
heir mission.
hey showed me 
he star
uiding them 
n their way.
nd they showed me
he gifts 
hey were to bring.
You see Marcus,
hey weren't simply coming
o offer gifts 
o a new king
n the hope 
f an alliance.
hey were coming
o offer their homage.
hey intended
o offer themselves,
ll they had
nd all they were
o this new king.
"But how can you 
o that,"
 asked?
You're pledged 
o other kings already.
nd what makes you 
hink
 Judean king,
ould accept gentile vassals?
fter all,
udeans consider everyone else
o be unclean
nd lower 
han camel spit!"
The gifts they were bringing
uzzled me too,
Marcus.
ne of the carried gold.
hat
I could understand.
ot only 
as it worth something,
ut it was also 
 good symbol
f a king's power.
ut the other two,
arried gifts
I couldn't understand;
rankincense
and myrrh.
Finally,
ust as our journey
as nearing its end,
he astrologers 
eemed to understand 
y puzzlement.
nd as we sat down
n the last oasis
hey began to explain.
"This king,
ill be 
 different type 
f king,"
hey told me.
This is a king
ho will draw 
ll peoples together.
nder this king's rule
heir will be no clean
r unclean.
nd their will be 
nly one people;
he people of God."
"What's this 
bout a god,"
 asked?
nd what's 
ith your gifts?
rankincense and myrrh
re pretty strange gifts
o offer a baby;
ven when the baby's 
 king.
"As we said,"
hey replied,
this will be no ordinary king.
e bring frankincense,
ecause it is a sweet offering
o the one God;
he God 
ho created all.
his child
s the only begotten child
f God.
nd we come 
ot only to offer homage.
e also come,
o offer our worship."
At first
 thought
they were joking.
ut they were 
eally serious
Marcus.
 was pretty much 
n shock 
rom all this,
ut it didn't keep me
rom asking 
ne last question.
"And the Myrrh,
 asked,
hy do you bring it?
hy bring 
 thing 
f pain and death
o this place of new life?"
"Because,"
hey said quietly,
this child of God,
as been born
o die;
o die 
s a sin offering for us
o that we
ight live."
Even I
ad no questions 
fter that
arcus.
he next morning
e arose early.
nd by that evening
e'd finished 
ur journey.
he star led us
o a little village
alled Bethlehem.
nd in the stable
f a house there,
e found 
his new born king.
None of the villagers
eemed too surprised
o see us Marcus.
hen I asked them why,
hey just laughed.
hen they finally 
topped
hey said
ngels  danced and sung
bove them
n the night time sky
n the night 
his child was born
fter seeing that,
 guess
he visit of three men,
ven important men 
uch as these,
sn't much 
f a surprise.
This will be the last letter
ou get from me 
or quite awhile Marcus.
he astrologers
ere warned in a dream
bout the gift
erod
anted to bring 
o this child.
hey said
hey are going on
y another way.
I'm going on
nother way too.
oseph,
he child's 
arthly father,
as asked me 
o help them all
ead off to Egypt
o escape Herod.
o I'm traveling on
ith 
y 
ew king.
Oh,
 guess I forgot to tell you 
bout that.
hen I finally understood
hat the astrologers 
old me;
ow in this
God/king
here would be no one 
nclean,
o one outside,
o one shut away,
here was only 
ne thing
 could do.
I offered this king
y homage too.
Peace to you 
nd yours Marcus.
o not miss me 
oo much,
or I'm sure 
t some point
y king 
ill lead me back 
o Roma.
nd in the meantime,
'll be off
ollowing 
y shining Star.
To God alone be glory.
Amen.


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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  2 20:45:33 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 20:45:33 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FEAST of the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <A05E38B3F791454484627B464685BA5A@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.


OLD TESTAMENT:  Isaiah 60: 1 - 6   (RCL, Roman Catholic)

Isai 60:1 (NRSV) Arise, shine; for your light has come, 
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 
2 For darkness shall cover the earth, 
and thick darkness the peoples; 
but the LORD will arise upon you, 
and his glory will appear over you. 
3 Nations shall come to your light, 
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 
4 Lift up your eyes and look around; 
they all gather together, they come to you; 
your sons shall come from far away, 
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. 
5 Then you shall see and be radiant; 
your heart shall thrill and rejoice, 
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, 
the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, 
the young camels of Mid'ian and E'phah; 
all those from She'ba shall come. 
They shall bring gold and frankincense, 
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. 


PSALM 72: 1 - 7, 10 - 14   (RCL)
Psalm 72: 1 - 14   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 72: 1 - 2, 7 - 8, 10 - 13   (Roman Catholic)
Psalm 72: (1 - 9) 10 - 15   (C of E)

Psal 72:1 (NRSV) Give the king your justice, O God, 
and your righteousness to a king's son. 
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, 
and your poor with justice. 
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, 
and the hills, in righteousness. 
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, 
give deliverance to the needy, 
and crush the oppressor. 
5 May he live while the sun endures, 
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, 
like showers that water the earth. 
7 In his days may righteousness flourish 
and peace abound, until the moon is no more. 
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, 
and from the River to the ends of the earth. 
9 May his foes bow down before him, 
and his enemies lick the dust. 
10 May the kings of Tar'shish and of the isles 
render him tribute, 
may the kings of She'ba and Se'ba 
bring gifts. 
11 May all kings fall down before him, 
all nations give him service. 
12 For he delivers the needy when they call, 
the poor and those who have no helper. 
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, 
and saves the lives of the needy. 
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; 
and precious is their blood in his sight. 
15 Long may he live! 
May gold of She'ba be given to him. 
May prayer be made for him continually, 
and blessings invoked for him all day long. 
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; 
may it wave on the tops of the mountains; 
may its fruit be like Lebanon; 
and may people blossom in the cities 
like the grass of the field. 
17 May his name endure forever, 
his fame continue as long as the sun. 
May all nations be blessed in him; 
may they pronounce him happy. 
18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, 
who alone does wondrous things. 
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; 
may his glory fill the whole earth. 
Amen and Amen. 


NEW TESTAMENT:  Ephesians 3: 1 - 12   (RCL)
                               Ephesians 3: 2 - 3a, 5 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 3:1 (NRSV) This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.  


GOSPEL:  Matthew 2: 1 - 12   (all)

Matt 2:1 (NRSV) In the time of King Her'od, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Her'od heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 
6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; 
for from you shall come a ruler 
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 
7 Then Her'od secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Her'od, they left for their own country by another road.
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  2 20:55:23 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 20:55:23 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIRST SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <827C8449D9564B1F8F426542D8FFDB43@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the First Sunday after the Epiphany (Baptism of Our Lord), Jan. 9, 2011, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, Canadian (ACC) variant of the RCL, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Common Worship and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Isaiah 42: 1 - 9   (RCL)
                               Isaiah 42: 1 - 4, 6 - 7   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 42:1 (NRSV) Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 
my chosen, in whom my soul delights; 
I have put my spirit upon him; 
he will bring forth justice to the nations. 
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, 
or make it heard in the street; 
3 a bruised reed he will not break, 
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; 
he will faithfully bring forth justice. 
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed 
until he has established justice in the earth; 
and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 
5 Thus says God, the LORD, 
who created the heavens and stretched them out, 
who spread out the earth and what comes from it, 
who gives breath to the people upon it 
and spirit to those who walk in it: 
6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, 
I have taken you by the hand and kept you; 
I have given you as a covenant to the people, 
a light to the nations, 
7 to open the eyes that are blind, 
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, 
from the prison those who sit in darkness. 
8 I am the LORD, that is my name; 
my glory I give to no other, 
nor my praise to idols. 
9 See, the former things have come to pass, 
and new things I now declare; 
before they spring forth, 
I tell you of them. 


PSALM 29   (RCL)
Psalm 29: 1 - 4, 3b+9b-10   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 29:1 (NRSV) Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; 
worship the LORD in holy splendor. 
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; 
the God of glory thunders, 
the LORD, over mighty waters. 
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; 
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; 
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, 
and Sir'ion like a young wild ox. 
7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; 
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Ka'desh. 
9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, 
and strips the forest bare; 
and in his temple all say, "Glory!" 
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; 
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. 
11 May the LORD give strength to his people! 
May the LORD bless his people with peace! 


NEW TESTAMENT:  Acts 10: 34 - 43   (RCL)
                                Acts 10: 34 - 38   (Roman Catholic)

Acts 10:34 (NRSV) Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 


GOSPEL:   Matthew 3: 13 - 17   (all)

Matt 3:13 (NRSV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From annfontaine at mac.com  Wed Jan  5 09:32:08 2011
From: annfontaine at mac.com (Ann Fontaine)
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Epiphany 1
Message-ID: <03B8055E-B339-4CB7-BDB8-33502F271A7D@mac.com>

For the Baptism of Christ I am thinking of the scene in The Dawn  
Treader where Aslan and Eustace rid Eustace of the dragon skin Dawn  
Treader is out in the theaters now.

http://www.victorianweb.org/courses/fiction/65/lewis/miller3.html
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, third book in the Narnian series (or  
fifth, depending on the publisher) begins much like the first: the  
Pevensie children visit a strange house and are suddenly transported  
to another world. Whereas the first book, The Lion, the Witch and the  
Wardrobe, has many parallels to the Bible, this book is more of an  
adventure book, with moral instruction to be gleaned from the various  
adventures. However, the book contains some blatantly religious  
imagery as well. One example is the scene in which Aslan Himself  
baptizes Eustace. Aslan tells Eustace that he must undress himself  
before bathing in the well, and Eustace understands that he must shed  
his dragon skin. He rips off the first three layers of dragon skin  
himself, but keeps finding more layers underneath.

"I looked up and saw the very last thing I expected: a huge lion  
coming slowly toward me. And one queer thing was that there was no  
moon last night, but there was moonlight where the lion was. So it  
came nearer and nearer. I was terribly afraid of it. You may think  
that, being a dragon, I could have knocked any lion out easily enough.  
But it wasn't that kind of fear. I wasn't afraid of it eating me, I  
was just afraid of it -- if you can understand. Well, it came close up  
to me and looked straight into my eyes. And I shut my eyes tight. But  
that wasn't any good because it told me to follow it."

"You mean it spoke?"

"I don't know. Now that you mention it, I don't think it did. But it  
told me all the same. And I knew I'd have to do what it told me, so I  
got up and followed it. And it led me a long way into the mountains.  
And there was always this moonlight over and round the lion wherever  
we went. So at last when we came to the top of a mountain I'd never  
seen before and on the top of this mountain there was a garden - trees  
and fruit and everything. In the middle of it there was a well. . . .

"Then the lion said -- but I don't know if it spoke -- 'You will have  
to let me undress you.' I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but  
I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back  
to let him do it.

"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone  
right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt  
worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able  
to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You  
know -- if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like  
billy -- oh but it is such fun to see it coming away."

"I know exactly what you mean," said Edmund.

"Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off -- just as I thought I'd  
done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt -- and  
there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and  
darker, and more knobly-looking than the others had been. And there  
was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had  
been. Then he caught hold of me -- I didn't like that much for I was  
very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on -- and threw me into  
the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that  
it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and  
splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I  
saw why. I'd turned into a boy again." [115-116]




The Rev. Ann K Fontaine
Wyoming









From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Thu Jan  6 12:00:22 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 12:00:22 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] OT Epiphany Mediation/Blog Post
In-Reply-To: <005e01cbadc1$3e8d6ba0$bba842e0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <005e01cbadc1$3e8d6ba0$bba842e0$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD7BDA5734C09D-BC8-2C58@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Fisher <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: PROPERTALK.topic PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org; 
Sent: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 11:46 am
Subject: [propertalk.topic] OT Epiphany Mediation/Blog Post




or any still focusing on Epiphany there is an interesting meditation on it
t http://tinyurl.com/383oauh .
There is also a new entry on my blog about praying the hours,
ttp://www.ffisher.net. 
__
Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
ww.ffisher.net
nterim Pastor
irst Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
ww.fpckewanee.org
lmira United Presbyterian Church
ww.elmiraunited.org
aka
Brother Oscar Romero
blate of St. Benedict's Abbey
artonville, IL
ww.SBAbbey.com

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
hat when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:12:29 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:12:29 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] The First Step: Matthew 3:13-17 - from GoodPreacher.com
Message-ID: <1C3F26CAF828477BA4C59F68155B76D8@YOUR264F1833C5>

from GoodPreacher.com


      The First Step: Matthew 3:13-17


      We do not think about it much, but for most of us, one of the things that brings us here today is that we were baptized. Some were baptized because you turned seven years old and decided that you were sick and tired of not getting to drink the grape juice. A few were baptized because your little sister got baptized and your mother kept pointing out that she was your little sister. Some went to a worship service where the minister made you cry. You felt God calling you to walk the aisle, and if you walk the aisle you get baptized. Some of you are grateful that you were baptized as an infant. Some of you were baptized as an infant, and do not think about it much. Some of you have never been baptized because you have never seen any reason why you should. Some of you have not been baptized and do not know why you have not. Some of you have not been baptized, but you have had to work hard to avoid seriously considering it. 

      I was baptized when I was eight years old, in part, because my best friend and next-door neighbor, Craig, who was nine years old, had decided to be baptized. I did not think people should think that he was more Christian than I was. The Sunday after I walked the aisle, my third grade nemesis, Terri, who was always Lucy to my Charlie Brown, decided that she would be baptized, too. Terri bragged that she would be baptized before I was because they always baptize girls first. She sneered at me just before she went under the water. 

      The first person I baptized was Keith. He was a third grader. I was a college sophomore-about ten years too young to be the pastor of any church no matter how small. Keith and I talked about his baptism at least a half dozen times. I went over it with Keith's parents. We discussed every imaginable possibility, or so I thought. They all somehow managed to forget to mention Keith's fear of water. I did not find out about this fear until I saw it in his eyes as he stood at the edge of the baptistery. I reached out and led him down the steps slowly. I spoke the words of baptism, put my hand on his back, and waited for him to lean back. He did not move. I pulled on his shirt. He still did not move. He had no plans to move. I finally put my left hand on his shoulder to ever so gently push him under. He showed his first sign of life. He did not want to be pushed ever so gently under. There is a small spot on the top of Keith's head that never got wet. I am sure there are Baptist churches that pride themselves on being one hundred percent immersed and where Keith's baptism would be at least five percent unacceptable. 

      It is good that we learn the meaning of our baptisms after the fact. Most of us did not fully know what we were doing on the day we were baptized. It is years later, as we make our way slowly into faith that the purpose begins to unfold. We discover what our baptisms mean after the event rather than before. That is how it was for Jesus, too. 

      In Matthew's Gospel the story skips from Jesus as an infant to Jesus as a thirty-year-old without a clue as to what happened in between. One day Jesus puts down his hammer, takes off his tool belt, hangs a "closed" sign on the door of the carpenter's shop and asks, "What does God want of me?" He heads south and finds his cousin John, smelling of locust and honey, standing in the muddy Jordan in his camel hair baptismal robe. Jesus gets in line and waits his turn. He wades out into the water, right next to real live sinners like you and me. 

      While three gospels tell the story of Jesus' baptism, only Matthew records the curious conversation prior to the baptism. Jesus is eager to be baptized, but John hesitates. They stand hip-deep in the river and engage in a fervent, theological debate as to who should baptize whom. The first time that Jesus speaks in Matthew's Gospel, it is to say that he needs to be baptized, because baptism will help him learn who he is meant to be. Jesus leans back into the water because he believes that God is calling him to a different kind of life. 

      When Jesus rises, the waters of the Jordan dripping into his face, he sees the Spirit descending like a dove to rest upon his soggy head. The Spirit comes not as an all-consuming fire of judgment, but with the flutter of hopeful wings. A voice says: "You are my child. I love you. I'm delighted with you." 

      Then Jesus goes into the desert for forty days to think about what it means to be God's child. Jesus spends all the days and years that follow that afternoon in the Jordan discovering the meaning of his baptism. 

      Paul Tillich said that Jesus is the only one who has been completely true to the voice he heard at his baptism. Jesus gave everything-his dreams and deeds, his labors and his life itself. Jesus gave himself to God's people, took his place with hurting people. Baptism was Jesus' commissioning to ministry. 

      During the week before his death, the leaders of the temple challenged Jesus: "By what authority do you do these things?" Jesus answered with a reference to his baptism: "Was the baptism of John from heaven or not? I was baptized. That's why I do the things I do." In the waters of baptism, Jesus heard the Spirit calling him to speak the truth and live with grace. 

      So Jesus does not die of old age. He dies because he takes his baptism seriously. When Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished" it was his baptism that was complete.

      Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism was first read in a church where some of the people had been baptized years earlier, but did not think about it very much. There were many who had never been baptized, and as they listened to the story, they thought about what being baptized would say about who they wanted to be. There were a few who had been baptized, but at the time it did not mean much. Now as they looked back they could see that it was the beginning of everything. 

      Baptisms, like most beginnings, find their meaning long after the event. Starting, by itself, is often of little consequence. Beginning is usually easy. Finishing is often hard. Bobby Knight, the retired basketball coach, and not a person most preachers quote in sermons, was asked about a player who was doing a great job coming off the bench, "When will he get to start?" Coach Knight responded: "You don't understand the game. It doesn't matter who starts. It matters who finishes." 

      A month before the wedding, glassy-eyed couples tell the minister that they are the perfect pair. One of the joys of ministry is getting to tell them: "You get no points for getting this far. On your wedding day almost every couple is capable of creating a life together filled with faith, hope and joy, and almost every couple is capable of creating something more horrifying than your worst nightmare." Marriages cannot be judged on the wedding day. In ten years you just start to see what they have done with it. What does it mean to get married? Sometimes the meaning is found in pictures of strangely attired bridesmaids and ill at ease groomsmen. More often it is discovered as you sit together at the dinner table.

      Beginning is usually easier than finishing. Any husband can stand in the delivery room, give his wife ice chips and say, "You're doing great, honey." Every father looks good holding a newborn. You cannot judge fathers in the maternity ward. In twenty years you start to see how hard they have worked at it. What does it mean when a child is born? Sometimes the importance is glimpsed by looking at a baby book. More often it is discovered in conversations that take place in the car on the way to school. 

      Beginning is easier than finishing. Depending on which study you read, the average tenure for a pastor in the United States is three to four years. That is embarrassing for churches and ministers. In many of those situations, the congregation and/or the pastor too quickly decide that they need a new start when they have never lived out the promise of the old start.

      The significance of any decision takes a while. It does not take nearly as much to decide to be a friend as it takes to actually be a friend. Moments of initiation are meaningless until we are true to the promise of that beginning.

      We too quickly think that what we need is a new start. Our culture has an insatiable appetite for new things, but we can add a thousand new things without it meaning anything. "What's new?" is not a bad question, but if we constantly pursue only what is new the result is an endless parade of trivia. We ought to be consumed with the question, "What's best?" We spend too much of our lives looking for the new without really exploring the old. We do not need new beginnings nearly so much as we need to make sense of the old beginnings.

      Some of the people who think they need a new job need to fulfill the promise of their old job. What did it mean when you took your job? The job description they handed you before your first day may not mean much. The real significance is found every Monday morning. We may not need new starts. We may need to fulfill the old ones.

      Baptism is a beginning, the prologue to a book waiting to be written. Introductions are not enough by themselves.

      Every once in a while someone will ask to be re-baptized. They say something like: "I was sincere when I was baptized, but then I drifted away. I want to start again." Most of the time the best response is: "The problem is not with your baptism. Your beginning was fine. You need to live out what you've already started."

      We are handed a map, but then we have to take the trip. It takes our whole life to finish the journey we begin when we're baptized. When Martin Luther was tempted to give up on following Christ, he would sit in his study and recite, almost as a mantra: "I am baptized. I am baptized. I am baptized." 

      What does it mean to us to live out our baptisms? If we are true to our baptisms, we cannot make ourselves comfortable, cannot do only what will be appreciated, and cannot be satisfied with the way things are. Our baptisms demand that we struggle with what's right and what's wrong, what's important and what's not. 

      The children of God tell the truth in a world that lies, give in a world that takes, love in a world that lusts, make peace in a world that fights, serve in a world that wants to be served, pray in a world that waits to be entertained, and take chances in a world that worships safety. The baptized are citizens of an eccentric community where financial success is not the goal, security is not the highest good, and sacrifice is a daily event.

      Baptism is our ordination to ministry, our vow to live with more concern for the hurting than for our own comfort, and our promise to take issue with ideas with which everyone else agrees. Baptism is the commitment to share our time with the poor and listen to the lonely. 

      What did it mean when we were baptized? For those of us who were baptized as older children or adults, it might be helpful to remember what we thought, felt, and did on that day. However, the meaning of our baptism is seen more clearly in what we think, feel, and do this day. "Is there anything we should do differently today since we are baptized?" We are forever answering the question, "Why am I baptized?"

      Brett Younger

      McAfee School of Theology

      Atlanta, GA


      www.GoodPreacher.com


     
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:19:14 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:19:14 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 sermon - Matthew 3:13-17
Message-ID: <B9BF88C72C714BD79C177EFB55672EC1@YOUR264F1833C5>

The Rev. Dr. Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, NC, and professor of church history and religion. He is an ordained Baptist minister. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The River
Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism of the Lord - Year A
January 09, 2011
http://day1.org/2540-the_river
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:23:52 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:23:52 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon Resources for January 9 - Part 1
Message-ID: <095E37A1D7624ED6B6354DD072D35592@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
Sermons for the Baptism of Our Lord



Matthew 3:13-17 - "Water that Brings a New Beginning"

Matthew 3:13-17 - "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet



At Sermons.com, you can build a package to suit your worship needs from our library of sermon prep resources and multi-media resources.



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________________________________________



The full text of the following sermon is available at www.Sermons.com.

Sign up today at: http://www.sermons.com/signup 

Or call: 1-800-777-7731.



[Members: Please see Matthew 3 the sermon titled "The Water that Brings a New Beginning"] 



Water has been in the news a lot over the last decade, with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Tsunami in Southeast Asia, and the ongoing cycles of drought and floods.  The Western United States witnessed massive flooding over the holidays.  Australia has seen historic flooding even just this week. Even the less dramatic storms and snowstorms that disrupt our daily lives make the news.  Water is part of the drama of our life.  It brings life, but not enough or too much can bring destruction.  Let us focus on the life giving power of clean, fresh water. 

There are two very different ways to think about baptism. The first approach recognizes the time of baptism as a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. The person then considers herself "saved." She may grow in the faith through the years, but nothing which she will experience after her baptism will be as important as her baptism. She always will be able to recall her baptism as the time when her life changed.

The second approach wouldn't disagree with any of that, but would add to it significantly. This idea affirms baptism as the time when God's love and forgiveness are experienced. It also recognizes baptism as a time of change. However, where the first approach isolates the act of baptism as the most important moment, the second approach understands baptism more as a beginning. While it is true that in the waters of baptism God laid claim on our lives, it is also true that we spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what that means. The first understanding often overlooks the journey which follows baptism.

Baptism too frequently carries the connotation of having arrived. Sometimes people say to their ministers, "I want to be baptized and join the church as soon as I get my life in order." Of course, if that is what any of us are waiting on, we will never be baptized. None of us will ever have our lives sufficiently in order to be baptized. Baptism is not something we earn, nor is it a sign that we have found all the answers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Baptism is a beginning. It is the desire to see the world differently, to see each other differently, and even to see ourselves differently. Baptism is a fresh start, not a destination. Baptism calls into question our previous lives, it does not bless them. Baptism is not a trial-free membership, but a rite of initiation into a way of life in which Jesus promised there would be trials.

Jesus' baptism serves as a model for our baptism. For Jesus, baptism represents the beginning of his ministry. While some ultimate questions may have been answered when he was with John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus continued to deal with questions and temptations throughout his life. The baptism of Jesus is one of our favorite stories. We love to hear how the heavens opened, to imagine the dove descending, and to hear God's blessing on the Son. We would like to think something like that happens when we are baptized. What we should be prepared for is that our journey of faith, much like Jesus' journey, continues to unfold long after our baptism as we try to discern what our baptism means in our daily living.

We can begin to understand more about our baptism by thinking of it in three ways.



1. First, baptism is about beginning anew.

2. The second part of baptism is the good news that we have been included.

3. The third part of baptism is ordination. With baptism comes the Spirit, and with the Spirit come gifts to be used in the service of God.



The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 

_______________________



The full text of the following sermon is available at www.Sermons.com.



Sign up today at: http://www.sermons.com/signup 

Or call: 1-800-777-7731.



[Members: Please see Matthew 3:13-17 the sermon titled "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet] 



How many of your New Year's Resolutions have made it intact through the first full week of 2011? Have you missed a day of exercise yet? Have you stuck to your diet? Are you texting less, talking more, always telling the truth? 



Most "resolutions" we make are self-directed: get thinner, work smarter, be stronger, take control of your life. We want to make changes that will help us, improve us, and bring us good feelings about ourselves.



Jesus said to be "in" the world but not to be "of" the world. So let's start with being "in" a world that begins each year making resolutions: let's make a New Year's Resolution. But what if we weren't "of" this world of resolutions we're "in"? Instead of resolutions to live 2011 in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves, that brings ourselves pleasure, what if we resolve to live a life that brings pleasure to God. 



What if we were to forget the little resolutions and resolve something big (did you catch it? another in-not-of alteration since the world is filled with lots of resolutions but little resolve)? What if we were to resolve to so live in 2011 that in January of 2012 God can look back at our year of living and declare - "Your life brings me great pleasure. Well-done, good and faithful friend."



Could there be any greater joy than hearing those words? 



Remember how as a little child you lived and loved to get the approval of your Mom and Dad? Piano recitals, school plays, science projects, Christmas and Easter pageants - all were at the same time fearful and fun. But for you to feel like you'd really accomplished something, it took a parent, one of your grands or that "special someone," watching and cheering, applauding and effusing--"great job," "well done," "bravo," "I'm so proud and pleased." Or even just an "I love you."



If the praise of our imperfect human parents could bring such a sense of satisfaction to our childish hearts, think how much more the affirmation of our perfect, all powerful, heavenly parent would mean to our life. 



The absolute best thing we can ever know in life is that we have lived in such a way that it brings God great pleasure. 



But there is always a flip side... 



The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:24:22 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:24:22 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon Resources for January 9 - Part 2
Message-ID: <ACD840BB175D450C915812B4AC61A82A@YOUR264F1833C5>

Reasons for Jesus submitting to Baptism



1. To fulfill all Righteousness: To be consecrated to God and approved by God.



2. The public announcement of the arrival of the Messiah and the inception of His ministry.



3. Identification with human sin and identification of himself with the people's movement toward God.



4. To be an example to his followers.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com 



______________________



Welcome To a Journey



The story is told of a pastor's words to a baby shortly after he had baptized her. No doubt, the minister was speaking as much to the congregation as to the infant. "Little sister, by this act of baptism, we welcome you to a journey that will take your whole life. This isn't the end. It's the beginning of God's experiment with your life. What God will make of you, we know not. Where God will take you, surprise you, we cannot say. This we do know and this we say -- God is with you."



And God will be with us as we live out our baptism. 



William B. Kincaid, III,  And then Came the Angel, CSS Publishing Company 



_____________________



Unconditional Love



I don't remember the first time I walked, but I imagine it went something like this: I stood at one end of the room with my mother and my father was a full three steps away. Before that day I could probably do the kind of creative dangling that almost looks like walking, when somebody held me by the hands and shifted me from side to side as my feet barely touched the floor. But this is the day when I will try a real honest walk on my own - all holds barred - with just two eager parents, miles apart, there to cheer me on. So I set out, wobbling at first, stumbling at second, but unmistakably making it on my own from one set of arms to the other. And then I imagine that my father lifted me high in the air with an exultant shout as if no one in human history had ever walked before. Then, after numerous kisses and exclamations, I probably felt like the most loved, most marvelous boy in all the world.

After a time I could walk with more assurance but, for some reason, I didn't receive so much praise. In fact, I can't remember the last time that anyone praised me for walking across a room. So I had to do other things. Simply walking just wasn't good enough anymore. I had to strive to make a splash in other ways, just to get back to that feeling, that feeling of being noticed, of being picked up with a shout of delight, of being valued.

For the most part, we don't have much experience with unconditional love, so we try to create conditions in which we will feel worthy of love. We do not entirely trust love without reasons, so we strive to create reasons for the love received.

And in all that striving, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that my parents did not praise me because of my accomplishments. Rather, they praised my accomplishments because they loved me, and would have loved me if there were no accomplishments to praise.

If parents sometimes have something like unconditional love, a love without reasons, for their children, how much more so does God love God's children? All of our striving to try to win something that is ours already. God values you, not because you have distinguished yourself in some way, but because you are God's beloved.

Martin Copenhaver, Whispered in Your Ear 
___________________________________



Jesus' Consecration



Some years ago, a Scottish minister told his congregation about dreaming he had died. When he came to the pearly gates, to his dismay, he would be denied entrance until he presented his credentials. Proudly the Pastor articulated the number of sermons preached and the prominent pulpits occupied. But Saint Peter said no one had heard them in heaven. The discouraged servant enumerated his community involvement. He was told they were not recorded. Sorrowfully, the pastor turned to leave, when Peter said, "Stay a moment, and tell me, are you the man who fed the sparrows?"



"Yes," the Scotsman replied, "but what does that have to do with it?"



"Come in," said Saint Peter, "the Master of the sparrows wants to thank you."



Here is the pertinent, though often overlooked, point: great and prominent positions indicate skill and capacity, but small services suggest the depth of one's consecration.



And so it is with Jesus' Baptism. He submits to John's baptism of repentance even though he himself was perfect and had no need to repent. Jesus identified with our sins by being baptized. He joined in the popular movement of his day. It was a grass roots movement started by a desert monk named John the Baptist. John was calling for the repentance of Israel. Jesus chose to be baptized because he wanted to participate with the people in their desires to be close to God.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com. Adapted from G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching, Nashville: Broadman, p. 241.



_____________________



Meaning of Baptism



Those who are baptized in Jesus do not need to strive after a new life. They have already attained new life through dying with Christ. But they do need to nurture that new life so it can grow and mature. That's what church is for. That's what Bible study is for. That's what prayer is for. It is like the Parable of the Sower. Many of those seeds sprouted up, but only a few grew into maturity. The rest withered and died.



A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.



"Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the businessman.



"Because I caught enough fish for one day," replied the fisherman.



"Why don't you catch some more?"



"What would I do with them?"



"You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me."



"Then what would I do?" asked the fisherman.



"Then," said the businessman, "you could really enjoy life."



The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I am doing now?"



The baptism of Jesus is dying to our self-centered endeavors and being resurrected into a life marked by grace and love. When we live in the baptism of Jesus, we touch the hearts of others and help open them to the Holy Spirit and new life in Christ. Are you living and growing in the new life you have been given?



Paul Peterson, The Waters of Death 



_____________________



We Draw the Circle Too Small



Roy Lloyd, a Lutheran minister, once interviewed Mother Teresa. He said that one of his questions and one of her answers stands out in his mind as "a bright sun burning in my mind." He asked her, "What's the biggest problem in the world today?" And she answered, without hesitation, "The biggest problem in the world today is that we draw the circle of our family too small. We need to draw it larger every day."



With all that is evil and wrong in this world today it would be easy to answer that question with a hundred different events. That's what makes Mother Teresa's response so jilting. She is saying that the problem is not so much with the world as it is with us. We need to see more people as our neighbor than we are currently doing.



I see Jesus doing this in his baptism. In his baptism he included us in his righteousness. He identified with humanity, with our need to be cleansed, and our need to be made pure. If you have been baptized you have been drawn, by Jesus' baptism, into the circle of God's family.



Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com.



____________________



What Will You Do with Your Gift?



There is a folk tale from India that summarizes our thoughts this morning. It seems that there was a good king who ruled wisely and who ruled well. One day the king called his three daughters together and told them he was leaving on a long journey. "I wish to learn about God, so I will need to go away and spend a long time in prayer. In my absence I will leave the three of you in charge. Before I leave I would like to leave each of you with a gift; a gift I pray will help you learn how to wisely use your power to rule." Then he placed in each of their hands a single grain of rice.

The first daughter tied a long golden thread around her grain of rice and placed it in a beautiful crystal box. Every day she looked at it and reminded herself that she was powerful. The second daughter took one look at the common grain of rice, and threw it away, thus squandering her father's mysterious gift. The third daughter just looked at her grain of rice for a long, long time - until she finally understood what to do with it...



The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for the Baptism of Our Lord can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 




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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:28:35 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:28:35 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter materials for January 9 (Baptism A),
	Matthew 3:13-17, 
Message-ID: <A52FAE275C954A4588405085C7E4F3CB@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 9 (Baptism A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, Matthew 3:13-17, the story of Jesus' baptism "to fulfill all righteousness."





To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/010in/Matt.3.13-17.wpd




A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

     http://www.lectionary.org/ 


Dick Donovan



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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 12:31:46 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 12:31:46 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter:  Jan. 9 (Baptism) Isaiah 42 & Acts 10
Message-ID: <41748C448D494FA9BCD715190B6C15D6@YOUR264F1833C5>

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 42:1-9 and ACTS 10:34-43:

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 42:1-9

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Isaiah.42.01-09.wpd


ACTS 10:34-43

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-09te/Acts.10.34-43.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.
That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

www.lectionary.org

Dick Donovan

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 20:06:04 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 20:06:04 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 1
Message-ID: <9552EF2B797A46579B9600CA77988872@YOUR264F1833C5>

My wife worked at a hospital where the medical and administrative departments threw a huge Christmas party for the staff every year. "It was kind of nice," she said, "To have the chief of medicine pouring your coffee and the president of the hospital serving desert." She also confessed that she felt some discomfort when her waiter (who happened to be the chief of neurosurgery) asked, "Ma'am, would you like the chicken or the steak?" 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/jan10ser99.html

John Jewell, 1999
- - - - -

I would like to tell you a little story about our community. There is one of my friends there who is quite handicapped but a wonderful, wonderful lady. She said to me, "Henri, can you bless me?" I remember walking up to her and giving her a little cross on her forehead. She said, "Henri, it doesn't work. No, that is not what I mean." I was embarrassed and said, "I gave you a blessing." She said, "No, I want to be blessed." I kept thinking, "What does she mean?"
We had a little service and all these people were sitting there. After the service I said, "Janet wants a blessing." I had an alb on and a long robe with long sleeves. Janet walked up to me and said, "I want to be blessed." She put her head against my chest and I spontaneously put my arms around her, held her, and looked right into her eyes and said, "Blessed are you, Janet. You know how much we love you. You know how important you are. You know what a good woman you are."
She looked at me and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I know. I suddenly saw all sorts of energy coming back to her. She seemed to be relieved from the feeling of depression because suddenly she realized again that she was blessed. She went back to her place and immediately other people said, "I want that kind of blessing, too."
The people kept walking up to me and I suddenly found myself embracing people. I remember that after that, one of the people in our community who assists the handicapped, a strong guy, a football player, said, "Henri, can I have a blessing, too?" I remember our standing there in front of each other and I said, "John," and I put my hand on his shoulder, "you are blessed. You are a good person. God loves you. We love you. You are important." Can you claim that and live as the blessed one?

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/nouwen_3502.htm

Henri Nouwen, 1991  
- - - - -

...the story about a pastor who was at a downtown city mission on skid row. In order for these transients and homeless people to sleep at this mission, they had to endure a worship service and a sermon. It was part of the bargain in order to get food and shelter. The preacher that night felt he was a gifted orator and had memorized Kipling's poem, 'If" for a high school thespian contest. The pastor recited the poem with great gusto. 
"If you men can keep your heads when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you.  . If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, and make allowances for their doubting too. . If you men can wait and not be tired of waiting. .Or being lied about, not deal in lies..  Or being hated and not give way to hating. Yet don't look too good nor talk too wise. . If you men can dream and not make dreams your master..  If you can think but not make thoughts your aim. . If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and meet those two imposters just the same. . If you men can fulfill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds left of distant run. .Yours is the earth and everything in it. And what is more, you will be a man, my son." 
As the pastor recited this poem, the "thespian" in him choked with emotion. He was on the edge of tears and filled with deep feelings. There was a long silent pause. During that pause and silence, a voice from the back of the room piped up, "What if you can't?" 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_what_do_we_teach.htm

Edward Markquart
- - - - -

...a book entitled The Art of Pastoring, Contemplative Reflections written by William C. Martin. Admittedly, the book was written as a source of spiritual refreshment, primarily for pastors who believe in Jesus Christ and who seek to be his disciples and show his love. But isn't that who we all are as followers of Jesus Christ? And thus I share with you that which I received:
Thought #11 in Martin's series of daily meditations is entitled Emptying. Please hear it for yourself:

"It is the invisible center where the spokes of the wheel meet that allows the wheel to move. The pastor becomes invisible, so that the parish may move freely. It is the empty space within that makes the bowl useful. The pastor empties himself of agenda and expectation so that the spirit of God may fill her. It is the space within the walls of the house that gives a family room to live. The pastor creates a space uncluttered by oughts or shoulds where her people may safely live. It is the invisible, empty, spacious pastor who serves the Word. Don't be misled by much ado. Emptying is difficult for the Western pastor," Martin states, "for it is likely that you have become convinced that your work lies in the fullness of your mind, your schedule, and your congregation's programs. Yet if you do not become empty, you will never be whole."

http://day1.org/1077-baptism_made_real

Randy Calvo, 2008 
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 20:55:15 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 20:55:15 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 2
Message-ID: <8494841B193548C7B9A201374A584C5B@YOUR264F1833C5>

It would sound very different if it were said only after Jesus had healed the sick, embraced the outcast, and preached good news to the poor. It would be very different because then we might conclude that God's favor was upon him because of all he had done, that in some way Jesus had earned the blessing. Instead, Jesus was immersed in God's favor before he had an opportunity to say anything or do anything. The very first words that Jesus heard as he emerged from the womb of baptism were like words whispered in a baby's ear: "You are my Son, the Beloved; my favor rests on you."

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/copenhaver_5214.htm

Martin Copenhaver, 2009 
- - - - -

Our daughter, Stephanie, is a person with special needs, learning and motor skill disabilities.  Concepts do not come easily for her.  Because of that I supposed that she might never receive baptism since she cannot meet all the conceptual pre-requisites demanded by many Baptists.  You see, she does not understand the substitutionary theory of the atonement or the historical critical method of biblical studies the way the rest of us do.  But on the third Sunday in December, 1991, on the way home from church, Stephanie, age 16, announced to her mother and me, "I think its time for me to be baptized."  We talked about it and she was resolved, so we went to see our pastor, and he was everything a pastor should be for such a moment.  He did not speak to her of what she had to KNOW, but what she wished to BE.  "If you receive baptism, Stephanie," he said, "you are saying that you want to be a follower of Jesus.  Do you want that?"  She said yes and we prayed together.
And on Christmas Eve, Stephanie entered the baptistery of the Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, the same baptistery where her father had taken the spill years before.  "Profess your faith," the pastor said.  "Jesus is Lord," Stephanie replied.  And under she went in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the presence of a congregation that had nurtured her to faith throughout her 16 years. 
We are all special needs persons, you and I.  In some of us, it is just more public than in others. Not one of us can ever conceptualize enough to make us worthy of God's grace.

http://day1.org/2540-the_river

Bill J. Leonard, 2011
- - - - - 

...Jesus' understanding of his mission and the meaning of his own discipleship to God unfolded to him as he lived his life. Rather than viewing Jesus as a static divine being who had it all "worked out" from the womb or from early days, I argued that Jesus' understanding of his ministry and identity emerged for him through his teaching, healing and suffering. Therefore we can look at the Gospels as descriptions of Jesus' own struggle to define and clarify the meaning of faithful discipleship to God. The first opportunity he had to do so was in his baptism by John. 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Matt3.html

Bill Long, 2007
- - - - -

3:13 The verb "arrived" indicated a final point. That point was not the Jordan, but the person of John the Baptist. In Matthew, Jesus made the journey with the sole intent of being baptized by John.
3:14 "John kept trying to dissuade him" is literally "John was preventing him." The verb "prevent" was in the "imperfect" which indicated continual action (hence, "kept trying..."). In context, John's protestations were fruitless.

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/Seasonal/Baptism/A-Baptism-a.html

Larry Broding 
- - - - -

Jesus' reply, that we should "let it be for the time being," in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:15) is not exactly a model of a crystal-clear explanation. I think, however, that we are safe in understanding these words as suggesting that it is only in complete solidarity with all humans that Jesus can "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus cannot fulfill all righteousness if he assumes a position superior to us, but can do so only if he submits to the same ministration as everybody else. 

http://andrewmarr.homestead.com/files/girard/mybelovedson.htm

Andrew Marr
- - - - -

God blesses Jesus twice during our Lord's earthly life, once here at the Jordan and then again during the Transfiguration. The blessing is the same both times: "You are my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased."
<>
Baptized (from the root word, bapto [911, (bap'-to)], is a simple word used for someone who needs to wash. The word can be used for being submerged, sprinkled, or just splashing your face. 

http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/Matthew/mt_03_13-17.html

Jerry Goebel: 2005 ? http://onefamilyoutreach.com.
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 21:28:33 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 21:28:33 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 3
Message-ID: <A4752AD6F1DF4EA0B2692CBE23541A81@YOUR264F1833C5>

It is possible to argue that Jesus' willingness to be baptized by John was an example of the first type of compromise. Jesus certainly didn't need a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That's why John initially refused. Nor did his baptism preempt the forgiveness that is ours in the baptism of his death. Still, for our sake, passing through the waters in fulfillment of Exodus typology is a very powerful image of the dawning of the new age. If an image, rather than substance, then we could say it was an example of "all things to all men." Jesus payment of the temple tax in Matthew 17:24-27, is a perfect example of this type of compromise.

http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday1ag.html

Bryan Findlayson
- - - - -

The church would look different if we lived out the revolutionary implications of baptism. The next time I baptize someone, I will ask that person, "Are you really ready for this revolution? It may just cost you your life!"

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2252

Brad Ronnell Braxton, 2002
- - - - -

The baptism of Jesus the sinless one stands him in solidarity with the repentant ones,
those who came "confessing their sins" to be baptized by John "with water for repentance." The
sinless one stands with them but he will effect their salvation ("he will save his people from their
sins," Matt 1:21). But Jesus also stands in solidarity with the Baptizer himself. "For John came to
you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and harlots
believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe" (Matt 21:32).

http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/9-4_Ministry/9-4_Mork.pdf

Carol Mork, 1989
- - - - -

With his baptism Jesus openly and decisively declared that he stands shoulder to shoulder with me in my fears and anxieties. He intentionally takes sides with people in their neediness, and declares that God is biased in their favor: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV).

http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20080107JJ.shtml

Dan Clendenin, 2008 
- - - - -

-"With you I am well pleased." God is well pleased with Jesus. One of the most important realities of life is to know that God is well pleased not only with Jesus, but with us as well. God delights in Jesus and also delights in us. God delights in our God given uniqueness, even though we are sinful by nature. To know that God is pleased with us transforms our lives. We are pleased when someone declares that they are pleased with us, and we assume that Jesus was pleased when he heard that God was pleased with him.

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_baptism_of_jesus.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

By stepping into the Jordan River with John, Jesus signs his own death certificate. The church would look so different if we truly lived out the revolutionary implications of baptism. Unfortunately, throughout Christian history, believers often have spent more time fighting over the mode of baptism (e.g., immersion, sprinkling, in the name of the Trinity, or in Jesus' name only) than fathoming the depths of its meaning. The next time I baptize someone, I will be sure to ask that person, "Are you really ready for this revolution? It may just cost you your life!" 

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=6

Brad R. Braxton, 2008
- - - - -

When we say that Jesus is God's son, going about the family business, we are saying not only that Jesus is like God; we are saying that God is like Jesus 

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/first_sunday_af.html

Sarah Dylan Breuer 
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan  8 22:35:31 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 22:35:31 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon ideas, Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 4
Message-ID: <244D696798B24EF9B4AF09525B26A783@YOUR264F1833C5>

It is unclear whether the voice from Heaven would have been heard by all those present, but such an affirmation of status and honour would make no sense unless it were heard publicly. Indeed, in some ways, it is possible to read the rest of the account of Jesus' life as being public confirmation of what is announced at Jesus' baptism.

http://www.holytextures.com/2010/12/matthew-3-13-17-year-a-epiphany-1-baptism-of-the-lord-jesus-sermon.html

David Ewart
- - - - -
The baptism of Jesus was a important feast in the early church, more important than Christmas.  

http://www.georgehermanson.com/2008/01/being-bathed-in.html

George Hermanson
- - - - -

I think that John's "temptation" of Jesus presents a struggle for us and our churches -- especially concerning "meeting needs" vs. "doing all that God requires". There are churches whose motto is: "Find a need and fill it." I don't think that Jesus came simply to "meet needs." I don't think that God created churches simply to "meet needs," but "to do all that God requires." 

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt3x13.htm

Brian Stoffregen
- - - - -

Matthew's account depicts a Jesus who explicitly consents to baptism with saying "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (3:15b)-which are Jesus' first words in Gospel of Matthew. 

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28

Francisco Lozada, Jr.
- - - - -

In his version of the Lord's Prayer, Luke has "debts," and he means money.
<>
Matthew uses idou to announce something important.  "Behold!  The heavens were opened."  This is a moment of special revelation.  The abyss between heaven and earth is traversed.  "And the spirit of God descended like a dove on him." 
Said the prophet Isaiah, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down" (64:1)  In continuity with the vision of Isaiah, God does come down, all the way down into the muck and mire of human existence.  Moreover, God comes down not with John's fire, but as a dove, with peace.

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/01/l.html

John Petty, 2011
- - - - -

Let it be so now. John's sense of propriety, of the way things should be or would be has been turned upside down-he is perplexed and grasping for the order he had hoped to impose.  But Jesus' response is, Let it Be So Now.  For it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness. Righteousness is fulfilled when the order is turned upside down and one does not move to right it, but breathes in, breathes out and prays, Let it Be So Now.

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/baptismgospel/

Russell Rathbun
- - - - -

Coming onto the scene and asking for baptism, Jesus is announcing himself as the one promised by God through the prophet long ago. And John's response clearly indicates his awareness of himself not as the One promised but as the one who prepares the way for that One. Jesus "announces himself," F. Dean Lueking writes, "as the fulfiller of the grace which gives sinners who have no standing before God a place to stand in a new relationship to God. 

http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/january-09-2011-i-the.html

Kate Huey, 2011
- - - - -

So imagine for a moment, Working Preacher, if during your sermon you took a moment to invite people to remember some of the more difficult names they have been called during their lives, the names that no matter how long ago they were uttered endure in their memories, dogging them through the day and haunting them at night. Names like "Stupid" or "Egghead," "Fatso" or "Ugly." Names like "Loser" or "Priss," "Know-it-all" or "Victim". Ask them to call to mind these names for one painful moment so that they can then hear God say to each of them, "No! That is not your name. For you are my beloved child, and with you I am well pleased."

http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=443

David J. Lose, 2011 
- - - - -

In all the gospels the baptism has a mythical quality as portraying a point where the heavenly world and earthly reality meet. It is a kind of Chalcedonian confession set in narrative. Like the story of the star, the opening of the heavens is a symbolic narrative making a statement about the breakthrough which is to come. 

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtBaptismJesus.htm

William Loader
- - - - -

Dean McIntyre tells a story about the greatest Christmas gift he received this year. It was a card from the singer and songwriter Ken Medema that contained a $10 bill in it along with the instructions to use the money as Dean saw fit. He writes, "I had Ken's $10 bill in my wallet when I stopped at the grocery store on my way to work one morning. In the checkout lane next to mine was an older couple who spoke in a thick east European accent of some kind. They did not have enough money to pay for their purchases, which appeared to me to be all staples-no frills or extras. They were having to decide which of their purchases to send back to the shelves. I gave Ken's $10 to my own checker and asked her to give it anonymously to the young woman checking out the older couple. It covered their deficit and allowed them to keep a few dollars in their pocket. They were gratefully confused as I watched them head for the door." 
Isn't that the way our baptism works? It is a gift that contains within it the generosity of God, a gift that through us keeps on giving. 

http://christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2008-01/baptized-submission

Erin Martin, 2008
- - - - -

Verse 16: "the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him": Has not Jesus possessed the Spirit before? 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr01l.shtml

Chris Haslam 
- - - - -

In submitting himself to John, Jesus combines great power and acquiescence. Jesus is not a king who won't deign to tread the humble paths of his servants. Jesus' hold on his power is not so tenuous that he must zealously hold on to it at all times. For Jesus, power and humility, authority and submission, power and relationship are not at odds.

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/9/2011

Eric Barreto, 2011
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  9 00:38:18 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 00:38:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Draft for Epiphany 1A Sermon
In-Reply-To: <71bc7eec-127f-4c67-b34e-c92842be5684@s5g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>
References: <71bc7eec-127f-4c67-b34e-c92842be5684@s5g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <8CD7DD68C36487D-BD4-4881@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Dear Friends,
Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Who?s Unclean in Your World?? or ?Who?s
n Your Sheet?? and deals with all the lessons, but especially the
cts lesson (Acts 10:34-38).  Here it is:
In today?s gospel, we heard the episode of Jesus? baptism by his
ousin John.  This was the start of our Lord?s public ministry.  Then
n the Old Testament lesson from Isaiah (which parallels Jesus? first
ermon- Luke 4:16-21), we heard what this ministry was: Jubilee.  You
ecall how in ancient Israel, every seventh day was a Sabbath- a day
f spiritual refreshment.  Every seventh year was also a Sabbath year,
hen the land was to rest.  Seven Sabbath years would be every fifty
ears. (They counted from ?one?, not ?zero? as we do.)  This Sabbath
f Sabbaths was the Jubilee year as described in Leviticus 25.
veryone had a fresh start- slaves were freed, land and belongings
everted back to the original owners, in other words- the basic
oncept of Jubilee was the great equalizer.  Isaiah reminds us that
he messiah would institute the Jubilee.  Finally, in the Bible
eading from the book of Acts, we heard a portion of the encounter
etween Peter and the Roman (Gentile) officer, Cornelius.  It?s this
tory that points out exactly what Jubilee meant when Peter tried to
ive it in his life in the first century and when we try to live it
oday.  The modern day saint and hero who best typifies Jubilee was
he Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday is this coming
aturday.  Let?s look at the Acts story.
To understand the significance of Peter?s experience, you need to
ecall how Jews felt about Gentiles.  Do you remember the extremely
ruel childhood game of the so-and-so touch?  It begins by a popular
hild touching a tormented, picked-on child, let?s call her ?Judy?- I
eel better using myself.  The popular child then runs to catch
nother child and touches him or her, as in tag.  However, here?s the
ifference- once you are tagged, you have the ?Judy touch.?  That?s
ow Jews felt about Gentiles.  If even the shadow of a Gentile fell on
 Jew, he or she was unclean and had to wash to cleanse himself or
erself from the defilement of the ?Gentile touch.?  It goes without
aying that Jews never ate with Gentiles or even considered inviting
entiles into their homes.  That?s the cultural background of the
tory.  You see how their 1st century culture brainwashed them?  We
ust be very careful that we don?t allow 21st century culture to
rainwash us today.  Well, the story from the book of Acts starts with
eter, who is visiting Simon, the tanner, asleep on the roof.  In his
ream- unless you want to call it a nightmare, Peter is famished.  All
f a sudden a huge sheet descends from heaven with many kinds of
nclean animals on it.  Peter hears a voice saying, ?Arise, Peter,
ill and eat.?  Peter answers, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten
nything unclean in my life.?  The sheet goes back to heaven.  Peter
emains hungry.  You know what happens- down comes the sheet again
ith the same words: ?Arise, Peter, kill and eat.?  Once again, Peter
nswers, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten anything unclean in my
ife.?  Back goes the sheet up to heaven.  Obviously, Peter is still
ery hungry, when- you know what happened- down comes the sheet again
ith the same words: ?Arise, Peter, kill and eat.?  Again Peter
nswered, ?Lord, you know that I?ve never eaten anything unclean in my
ife.?  This time, God responds: ?Peter, don?t you ever call something
nclean that I?ve created.?  At once, Peter awakens to find two
ervants and one soldier of the Gentile, Cornelius, at his door.
ornelius was sending for Peter.  Peter invited the Gentile guests to
pend the night, then went with them to instruct and subsequently
aptize Cornelius.  That?s the substance of the Acts lesson when Peter
roclaimed everyone equal- amazing insight for a first century Jewish
an!
So, what?s the significance of this story in our own lives today as we
ry to live as faithful Christians?  We are citizens of a Kingdom in
hich everyone is equal; a Kingdom in which every day is a fresh
tart.  Let?s be more specific.  Who is your Cornelius?  What kind of
erson is it that you just don?t like?  Remember the sheet- everybody
ets a fresh start- no one is unclean whom God has created.  Here?s
nother possibility.  To whom are you a Cornelius?  Who treats you as
f you aren?t quite as good as they are?  Maybe it?s your color, maybe
t?s your sex, maybe it?s your age, maybe it?s your educational level
too high or too low), maybe it?s how much money you have or don?t
ave (too rich or too poor), maybe it?s how you speak (too proper or
ot proper enough), maybe it?s your weight (too fat or too thin),
tc.  Remember the sheet- in God?s eyes there aren?t any ?too
nythings.?  The ground is always level at the foot of the cross.
elieve in your Creator, believe in yourself, and speak up.  Maybe you
on?t have any Cornelius?s and maybe you?ve never been a Cornelius to
nyone else, but you can?t live long in this society without seeing
omeone treated like a Cornelius.  That?s when your loyalty to Jesus
nd his mission comes in.  No matter the cost, speak up.  It?s not
ust Jesus who was called to institute Jubilee and justice, he does it
hrough his followers- us.
May God bless us as we attempt to consider no one ?unclean? as we live
ut this 2011.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sun Jan  9 00:46:24 2011
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 00:46:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] revised 1 Epiphany sermon
Message-ID: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>


I think this is the fourth revision, taking the violence in Arizona into 
account -

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY  	       	            THE 
FIRST SUNDAY IN EPIPHANY A
ISAIAH 42:1-9	                          		    	    	 
9th JANUARY, 2011
ACTS 10:34-43				                                                PSALM 
29
MATTHEW 3:13-17			  	

	The mental image I have of Jesus and John on the banks of the Jordan 
is somewhat vague ? and it?s coloured by countless stories, and sermons, 
and illustrations ? from children?s Bibles to something like Chagall?s 
whirling depictions.
	Maybe this is as it should be. Had either a Matthew Brady set up his 
tripod and camera, or a photographer embedded with the disciples been 
able to come up with anything to which we?ve been accustomed, then we?d 
view Jesus completely differently ? pun intended!
	As it is, though, we have to be content with the biased writings of 
people whose goal was to have us accept that this was, indeed, the Son 
of God walking on earth.
	I find this exciting ? because every time I hear a story about Jesus ? 
biblical or not ? it forces me to come to terms with what I understand 
about God. It opens up my imagination. I find that each new story, or 
each repetition of one heard many times, thrills me by leading me on and 
on into newer and greater possibilities of coming face to face with 
Jesus Himself. It compels me to ask myself how much I accept on trust, 
how much I say, ?I believe this, even if I don?t understand it.?
	When I hear once again the story of these two cousins wrestling with 
how God is acting in their lives; of John and Jesus debating with wonder 
about who should draw the other into a closer relationship with God 
through the act of pouring water on the other ? when I hear once again 
the story of John and Jesus, I?m reminded of the way in which God gives 
us revelation after revelation about what may be accomplished in my life 
? and what may be accomplished in your lives.
	 T.S. Eliot has a marvellous line which illuminates for me what Jesus? 
and John?s meeting means for us who?re caught up in so many different 
issues today.
	?For last year?s words belong to last year?s language and next year?s 
words await another voice.? 1
	Eliot wrote about his experience of spending quiet time in the village 
and Church of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire near Cambridge. He 
experienced a sense of the history of the place where there was a 
religious community established in 1626. Deacon Nicolas Ferrar had 
opened up the community to anyone who needed help. King Charles I 
visited the community. He returned thirteen years later seeking refuge 
after he?d been defeated in battle by Parliamentary troops.
	Shortly afterwards these same forces returned, this time to break up 
the community, whose hospitality to the King proved to betheir undoing.
  	A new voice indeed ? one not altogether free from distress and 
foreboding!
	Just as the conversation between John and Jesus.
	They were talking, for the most part, to each other. Both had groups of 
disciples, who were undoubtedly present. But in Matthew?s account of the 
event it?s fairly clear that John and Jesus were the ones whom God was 
nourishing by the encounter. John was being given the first sign that 
Jesus was, indeed, the one for whose coming he and the nation had been 
hoping. Jesus was being given the first recorded affirmation that He had 
a unique role to play in the whole history of creation.
	In Eliot?s ?Little Gidding?, I find comments strangely reminiscent of 
what was going on down by the Jordan, and strangely reminiscent of what 
happens when we walk past the baptismal font filled with water today, 
and every day.
	?In concord at this intersection time
	     Of meeting nowhere, no before and after,
	     We trod the pavement in a dead patrol.
	I said: 'The wonder that I feel is easy,
	     Yet ease is cause of wonder. Therefore speak:
	     I may not comprehend, may not remember.'
	And he: 'I am not eager to rehearse
	My thoughts and theory which you have forgotten.
	     These things have served their purpose: let them be.
	So with your own, and pray they be forgiven
	     By others, as I pray you to forgive
	     Both bad and good. Last season's fruit is eaten
	And the fullfed beast shall kick the empty pail.
	     For last year's words belong to last year's language
	     And next year's words await another voice.
	But, as the passage now presents no hindrance
	     To the spirit unappeased and peregrine
	     Between two worlds become much like each other,
	So I find words I never thought to speak
	     In streets I never thought I should revisit
	     When I left my body on a distant shore.
	Since our concern was speech, and speech impelled us
	     To purify the dialect of the tribe
	     And urge the mind to aftersight and foresight,
	Let me disclose the gifts reserved for age
	     To set a crown upon your lifetime's effort.

	There?s so much going on in those few sentences and few glances 
exchanged between John and Jesus. John is looking at the beginning of 
time and finding meaning not only for himself, but for creation and all 
within it. John looks into Jesus? eyes, then he feels the water 
cascading off Jesus ? and he himself is splashed by those waters of 
baptism.
	Similarly, when someone comes to this font here, not only is that 
individual baptised, revealed as a member of God?s family, but 
metaphorically, at least, all the rest of us are touched and reminded of 
the community of which we?re all a part.
	The Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia wrote an article the other week in which 
she reminded her readers that ?The Miracle doesn?t end at the manger.? 2 
The miracle continues on through Jesus? life, and on further into our 
own lives whenever we encounter Jesus, whether recognize Him or not.
	The miracle occurs when we respond to God?s invitation to engage in our 
own daily chores, and in our relationships with others, as if we were in 
Jesus? company, indeed, as if we ourselves WERE Jesus.
	Our lives are intersecting with the life of Jesus continually. Each 
day, we?re invited to discover new words and new actions which will 
demonstrate that we?ve kept company with Jesus in the water. Each day ? 
for our own benefit as much as anyone else?s ? we?re invited by God to 
accept what God offers us by way of encouragement and support through 
the ministry of someone else. Each day we?re asked to take on some task, 
some project ? a phone call, a written letter, a volunteer-hour spent 
with someone, a monetary offering ? to this Church, or to someone else ? 
each day we?re invited to participate in life with God. We?re asked to 
?Wade in the Water? alongside Jesus, to wade all the way into life in 
all its swirling eddies ? because more often than not, THAT?S where the 
heavens open, and the dove tends to frequent, and the pleasure of God is 
almost tangibly felt.
	So where are our lives intersecting with Jesus this morning?  Where do 
we expect to find our lives and Jesus? life criss-crossing? On the 
internet? In a grocery store? In the middle of a conversation? 
Yesterday, just after lunch, Diana Butler Bass, the author and 
researcher on religious life in this country, wrote in shock, ?PLEASE 
PRAY FOR MY FRIEND, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a Democrat from 
Arizona who was SHOT in the last hour in Tucson as she was hosting a 
?Congress on Your Corner? event. Gabby supported Pres Obama and narrowly 
won reelection. She's the mother of two children.? 3
	Over the very public internet ? Facebook, actually ? Diana?s words were 
about an incident outside the same Safeway where Jane Hogan?s daughter 
shops.
	Information is still coming in, at least it was when I was writing 
this. People will have all sorts of comments, I?m sure.
	We may think that we?re relatively comfortable being this far away in 
Albany. But we?re not. The internet reaches into our homes. TV and radio 
run night and day, sometimes inanely, sometimes profoundly, sometimes 
toxically. We?re encouraged to make instant decisions, often based on 
nothing more than what someone unknown may say in jest, or anger, or 
illness.
	No matter what our age, what our background, what our education, if 
we?re not careful, we can find ourselves being swept along in 
uncontrolled floods of incivility which well up until they burst through 
in explosions. And I use that metaphor of water deliberately. Water can 
give life ? without it we?ll die. Yet water can also destroy ? I?ve seen 
that on the coast too often.
	Substitute ?words? for ?water? and the image holds.
	Where DO our lives and Jesus? life intersect? What do we do with our 
words? What do we MEAN to do with our words? What about our actions? Do 
they contradict or illuminate our words? Do they build up the human 
family?s relationship with God and with one another? Or do they try to 
score points off one another, to belittle, to ignore, to squash? Either 
option is ours to take. All the way through life, God gives us choices.
	A picture sent to me this past week gave me some more insight into what 
John and Jesus may have experienced that day. 4 Both men are standing 
waist deep in water. Both men have their hands extended high, forming a 
?V?-shape over their heads. My first thought was that I was observing 
some joyous sort of greeting, each recognising the commitment to God 
that existed in the other. But then my eyes rose to look at the 
depiction of a Dove over both the men. The dove?s wings formed the exact 
same ?V?. John, Jesus and Spirit were in exact sync with one another. 
They were all caught up in the joy of creation and of each other?s 
company. And that is the model for us ? to work to make sure that we are 
in sync with both God and with one another. Perhaps not exact duplicates 
of one another, but in another sense we ARE to be mirror images, 
reflecting God in and to the world. We reach out to God; we reflect on 
our acceptance and our vocation; and we reach out to everyone else who 
comes anywhere near us or the water.
	This takes me back to the first line of that part of Eliot?s poem. In 
one way or another we seem to be standing at the intersection of time. 
We?re drawn into concord with one another through the action of God. In 
the spirit of baptism, we?re to forgive, to set aside memory of both 
good and bad. Each moment is completely new. Each moment which God gives 
us is an opportunity to be accepted, to be affirmed, to be encouraged, 
to find out who we are ? right now. Not who we were yesterday. Not who 
we may be tomorrow ? but who we are right now, today. That?s enough with 
which to be concerned ? because other people have needs which we may be 
able to address today.
	What WILL we do with our lives now? Take a look at the water on your 
way to Communion. Does it talk to you of Love, and Dignity, and Justice, 
and Compassion, and Hope? See what it says to you.

NOTES:	

1 	Canto II, ?LITTLE GIDDING? (No. 4 of 'Four Quartets') T.S. Eliot 
http://www.tristan.icom43.net/quartets/gidding.html

2	?The miracle doesn't end at the manger? By Sylvia Miller-Mutia 
Episcopal Caf? 27th December, 2010 
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/family/the_miracle_doesnt_end_at_the.php

3		http://www.dianabutlerbass.com/  See also 
http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9KKCF400%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1018

4	See  www.thechurchatnatchez.com click on ?Baptism?. ?Yellow? picture 
under the word ?Baptism?

Robert P Morrison
Interim Vicar
The Episcopal Church of St Alban
PO Box 1556
Albany OR  97321   541-921-1076 (cell)
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan  9 03:50:44 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 03:50:44 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's love for us", Mt. 3:13-17
Message-ID: <9F1FBB5D739248AFB90D1C9441219C76@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=281 is my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan  9 20:52:16 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 20:52:16 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the SECOND SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <00D4A9B89429464E835B5FE736AF2330@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 16, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.
The readings may also be found on our website: http://satucket.com/lectionary in RTF format, which can be read by just about all word processors




OLD TESTAMENT:   Isaiah 49: 1 - 7   (RCL)
                                     Isaiah 49: 3, 5 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 49:1 (NRSV) Listen to me, O coastlands, 
pay attention, you peoples from far away! 
The LORD called me before I was born, 
while I was in my mother's womb he named me. 
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, 
in the shadow of his hand he hid me; 
he made me a polished arrow, 
in his quiver he hid me away. 
3 And he said to me, "You are my servant, 
Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 
4 But I said, "I have labored in vain, 
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; 
yet surely my cause is with the LORD, 
and my reward with my God." 
5 And now the LORD says, 
who formed me in the womb to be his servant, 
to bring Jacob back to him, 
and that Israel might be gathered to him, 
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, 
and my God has become my strength-- 
6 he says, 
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant 
to raise up the tribes of Jacob 
and to restore the survivors of Israel; 
I will give you as a light to the nations, 
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." 
7 Thus says the LORD, 
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, 
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, 
the slave of rulers, 
"Kings shall see and stand up, 
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, 
because of the LORD, who is faithful, 
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." 


PSALM 40: 1 - 11   (RCL)
Psalm 40: 1 - 10   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 40: 1, 3, 6 - 9   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 40:1 (NRSV) I waited patiently for the LORD; 
he inclined to me and heard my cry. 
2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, 
out of the miry bog, 
and set my feet upon a rock, 
making my steps secure. 
3 He put a new song in my mouth, 
a song of praise to our God. 
Many will see and fear, 
and put their trust in the LORD. 
4 Happy are those who make 
the LORD their trust, 
who do not turn to the proud, 
to those who go astray after false gods. 
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, 
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; 
none can compare with you. 
Were I to proclaim and tell of them, 
they would be more than can be counted. 
6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, 
but you have given me an open ear. 
Burnt offering and sin offering 
you have not required. 
7 Then I said, "Here I am; 
in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; 
your law is within my heart." 
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance 
in the great congregation; 
see, I have not restrained my lips, 
as you know, O LORD. 
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, 
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; 
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness 
from the great congregation. 
11 Do not, O LORD, withhold 
your mercy from me; 
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness 
keep me safe forever. 

Note: Verse numbering in your psalter may be different from the above.


40  Expectans, expectavi    (ECUSA BCP)
 
1   I waited patiently upon the Lord; *
  he stooped to me and heard my cry.
 
2   He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
  he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
 
3   He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
  many shall see, and stand in awe,
  and put their trust in the Lord.
 
4   Happy are they who trust in the Lord! *
  they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
 
5   Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
  there is none who can be compared with you.
 
6   Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
  but they are more than I can count.
 
7   In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
  (you have given me ears to hear you);
 
8   Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
  and so I said, ?Behold, I come.
 
9   In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
  ?I love to do your will, O my God;
  your law is deep in my heart.??
 
10   I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
  behold, I did not restrain my lips;
  and that, O Lord, you know.
 
11   Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
  I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
  great congregation.
12   You are the Lord;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
  let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,


NEW TESTAMENT:   1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 9   (RCL)
                                       1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 3   (Roman Catholic)

1Cor 1:1 (NRSV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sos'thenes, 
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 


GOSPEL:   John 1: 29 - 42   (RCL)
                    John 1: 29 - 34   (Can. BAS, Roman Catholic)

John 1:29 (NRSV) The next day he [John] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." 
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Ce'phas" (which is translated Peter).


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 10 11:15:01 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:15:01 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Epiphany 2 - NT reading
In-Reply-To: <D4CA5430A5FC4F088F479E68A41E54DA@StudyLaptop>
References: <D4CA5430A5FC4F088F479E68A41E54DA@StudyLaptop>
Message-ID: <8CD7EF8AAFB0D10-BC8-67F@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Hi friends,
 was away on a week's vacation last week.  Back again now.  Here are a few 
houghts from Down Under on the New Testament Reading for Epiphany 2.  Use 
nd develop as you like.
Howard
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* There's quite a lot of stuff in our first reading about what great gifts 
od gives to people. But because we only have a short time together I want 
o just think about one of them,
 one that was mentioned at the beginning and at the end of
he passage we read from the letter to the Christians in the
ity of Corinth, in Greece.
 Paul tells them that God has chosen them to be his very own
eople, and also to be partners with Jesus.
 The important thing for us is that the same is true today for all
eople who are followers of Jesus, as it was for those people in
hat Church in Greece in the 1st century.
 So if you are trying to be a follower of Jesus, it doesn't matter
hether you're very good at it, or if you're pretty weak at it,
 if you're trying, then you can be sure that as far as God is
oncerned you are one of his very own people, you are a
artner with Jesus, and with all the rest of Jesus' followers.
* Just think about that a little: if you are one of God's very own people, 
hen you can be real sure that God is looking after you, that God will not 
et you fall away into hell, that God is not out to punish you, or to get 
ou into trouble.
 Instead, as Paul tells us today, God intends to give you all the
lessings that are available in Jesus;
 and amongst them Paul specially mentions 'peace'.
 Being one of God's people doesn't necessarily mean that you
ill protected against the kind of disaster like we hear about in
he media:
bushfires, earthquakes, droughts, floods, wars or other
iolence.
 But it does mean that God will always be near you,
 and you can be conscious of the fact the God is with you;
 and that you will always have the rest of God's people to
upport you too, they'll help you to find and eat the food;
 it means that even if you die, you won't be allowed to enter
ell.
 Some of us may feel that life here on earth is pretty hellish,
 but if you are trying to be a follower of Jesus, you will never
e allowed to descend into a real hell.
+ If you can hang on to such ideas, especially when times are
ough, then you will be able to get through anything, and still
ind peace - God's peace.
 That's one of the things we always say at the end of our
ervice of worship, so try to remember when you leave here to
go in peace".
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
he Rev'd Dr H.C. Smith
Retired Anglican Priest
Orange NSW
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 10 11:44:54 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:44:54 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's
	love for us", Mt. 3:13-17
References: <9F1FBB5D739248AFB90D1C9441219C76@YOUR264F1833C5>
Message-ID: <5592B943EDDA439291058C8AFFCFBD7B@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://tiny.cc/h1qke is the tiny url for my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe Parrish 
  To: Propertalk 
  Cc: PROPERTALK.topic at ecunet.org 
  Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 3:50 AM
  Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Jan. 9 on "God's love for us", Mt. 3:13-17


  http://www.i-church.org/courtyard/blog.php?u=65&b=281 is my sermon for January 9 on Matthew 3:13-17, "God's love for us."
  Peace and blessings,
  Joe
  St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 11 10:39:57 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:39:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon Resources for January 16 - Part 1
In-Reply-To: <1104223086828.1103889869952.45429.12.780100B1@scheduler>
References: <1104223086828.1103889869952.45429.12.780100B1@scheduler>
Message-ID: <8CD7FBCEECD9A36-BC8-153E@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Sermons for Epiphany 2
 
John 1:29-42 - "I've Got a Strong Case of the Can't Help Its'"
John 1:29-42 - "You Bring Me Great Pleasure" by Leonard Sweet
________________________________________
 
John 1, the sermon titled "I've Got a Strong Case of the ''Can't Help Its"  
 
One of the great celebrative anthems that comes to us from the African-American culture is the powerful spiritual "Ain't Got Time To Die." It was written by Hall Johnson and it has these joyfully dramatic words:
 
"Been so busy praising my Jesus,
Been so busy working for the Kingdom,
Been so busy serving my Master
Ain't got time to die.
If I don't praise him,
If I don't serve him,
The rocks gonna cry out
Glory and honor, glory and honor
Ain't got time to die."
 
In this inspiring and wonderful spiritual, the composer is underscoring and celebrating the joy and excitement of being a Christian, the joy and excitement of serving our Lord in gratitude for what he has done for us. The point that this spiritual is trying to drive home to us with great enthusiasm is that when we really become Christians, when we really commit our lives to Christ; then, we can't sit still. We become so excited, so thrilled, so grateful for our new life in Christ that we can't help but love Him, praise Him, serve Him, and share Him with others.
 
This is precisely what happened to Andrew. He found the Messiah, he encountered Jesus - and he was so excited he couldn't sit still. Immediately, gratefully, excitedly, he ran to share the good news with his brother Simon. It reads like this in the first chapter of John's Gospel:
 
"(Andrew) first found his brother, Simon and said to him: 'We have found the Messiah'" Then Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus. This was the greatness of Andrew. He was the man who was always introducing others to Jesus. Three different times in the Bible, Andrew comes to center stage and each time he is bringing someone to meet Jesus. 
 
Here in John 1, he brings his brother Simon Peter. In John 6, Andrew brings to Jesus the boy with the five loaves and two fish. And in John 12, we find Andrew bringing to Jesus the enquiring Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus and visit with Him. Andrew's greatest joy was sharing the good news of Christ and bringing others into the presence of Christ. Having found Jesus, he could not sit still, he could not help it. He had to share Christ with others.
 
A minister friend of mine tells about a woman in his church who is so excited to be a Christian. She has a shady past and had pretty much hit bottom when a friend reached out to her and brought her to church. The church member welcomed her warmly and loved her into the circle of their love and God's love. She started going to church faithfully. She joined a wonderful Sunday School class. She began studying the Bible daily. She started praying regularly and in the process was converted. She realized for the very first time in her life that God loved her, even her! She came to understand that even though she had done all those sordid things in her earlier life, that God still loved her, forgave her, accepted her, valued her, treasured her. She was absolutely bowled over by that "Amazing Grace" and she committed herself to Christ heart and soul. Recently she said to her minister, "I'm so excited to be a Christian, that I've got a strong case of the "can't help its." 
 
This is also true of Andrew. He, too, had a strong case of the "can't help its." He was so grateful, so thrilled, so excited about Christ that he just could not sit still. He could not keep Jesus to himself. You know, as I think about this and as I think about my own personal life and spiritual pilgrimage, I can tell you that I also have a strong case of the "can't help its." It goes with being a Christian. Let me show you what I mean by speaking out of my own personal life with three thoughts. Try these on for size with me and I'm sure that you will think of others out of your own personal and spiritual life, but for now, let me share these three with you.  Because we are Christians...

 
1. We Can't Help But Be Grateful.
2. We Can't Help But Be Confident.
3. We Can't Help But Be Loving.
 
The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 
_______________________
 
John 1:29-42, the sermon titled "St. Andrew Christians" by Leonard Sweet  
 
Even in the most barren desert you can find an oasis or two. 
 
In the wasteland of television you can find an oasis of decency and compassion. Take the commercials sponsored by the "Foundation for a Better Life." Here is lifted up such radically righteous behavior as, oh, some young kid giving up his bus seat to an elderly woman, or, more shockingly, a taller man kindly reaching up to grab an out-of-reach package for someone who is vertically challenged.
 
How sad that such ordinary human activities now rate their own TV commercial because they are perceived as so uncommon and extraordinary. Even more telling and tragic is that such images move our hearts and souls, as though they were truly exceptional events.
 
We parade the pedestrian. We applaud what should be ordinary. We are so acclimated to badness that to entertain an expectation of decency and the occasion of excellence is almost beyond our belief. It is far easier to believe that everyone lies, that everyone is evil, than to open ourselves to the possibility that someone might genuinely be offering us something good. 
 
And what if that "something" was more than simple politeness or momentary care? What if the "something" being offered to us was a whole new truth, a whole new life, a whole new possibility of being? What if offering that kind of message was our definition of the "right" thing to do?
 
In today's gospel text we are faced with two examples of someone doing a crazy "right" thing...
 
The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 
__________________
 
A Change in Posture
 
In a cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark there is a magnificent statue of Jesus by the noted sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. When Thorvaldsen first completed the sculpture he gazed upon the finished product with great satisfaction. It was a sculpture of Christ with face looking upward and arms extended upward. It was a statue of a majestic, conquering Christ.
 
Later that night, however, after the sculptor had left his fine new work in clay to dry and harden, something unexpected occurred. Sea mist seeped into the studio in the night. The clay did not harden as quickly as anticipated. The upraised arms and head of the sculpture began to drop. The majestic Christ with arms lifted up and head thrown back was transformed into a Christ with head bent forward and arms stretched downward as if in a pose of gentle invitation. At first Thorvaldsen was bitterly disappointed. As he studied the transformed sculpture, however, he came to see a dimension of Christ that had not been real to him before. It was the Christ who is a gently, merciful Savior. Thorvaldsen inscribed on the base of the completed statue, "Come Unto Me," and that picture of the Lamb of God in his mercy has inspired millions.
 
King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com
 
_____________________________________
 
The Many Ways to Come and See
 
William Muehl is on the faculty of Yale Divinity School, and he has spent many years teaching people who are about to become ministers and those who are already ministers. "The roads to Christian faith are as varied as the people who profess it," says Professor Muehl. "There in the congregation is the man who would rather be sitting in the car in the church parking lot reading the sports page of the Sunday paper were it not for the fact that his wife has insisted that he put on a suit and tie and accompany her into the sanctuary. There also is the teenager in the balcony with one ear on the pastoral prayer and the other focused on the whispers of her boyfriend. There is the couple who have come because they were invited by the family across the street and they had no handy excuse not to say yes.  There is the young woman who is there because of the music and who reads the hymnbook during the sermon."
 
The point of all this is that the calling to follow Christ is a pathway which is marked "come and see." It is a pathway which is far more important because of where it leads than because of where it begins. It may begin, as it did for Muehl, as a pain in the body, or, as it has for others, as a longing in the heart, a struggle in the soul, or a wondering in the mind. It is a path which some people enter alone, which others enter by tagging along with friends or family, and down which yet others are dragged, at first reluctantly, by parents or teachers. No matter how we begin, we see as we travel that the pathway has been cleared for us by the Christ who goes before us, making of our many beginnings a common journey. "Come and see," we are told, though the voice which calls us sometimes seems faint, filtered through the voices of the ordinary folk around us. And, for whatever reason, we do go, and, then, we do see. What we see is that, no matter who we were when we started, we end up with a new name, a new identity, given by Christ. What we see is that, no matter how we began our travel, we end the journey resting in the Christ who is all in all.
 
Thomas G. Long, Shepherds and Bathrobes, CSS Publishing, Inc.
 
_______________________________________
 
Martin Luther King, Jr. - Captured by the Spirit of Christ
 
Two months before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to his congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta about his death in what would oddly enough become his eulogy. 

"Every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral," Dr. King told his congregation. "If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important. I'd like someone to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like someone to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try, in my life, to clothe those who were naked. I want you to be able to say that I did try to visit those in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity." Dr. King concluded with these words: "I won't have any money left behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind." 

Did Martin King have that level of commitment when he first began his ministry? It's doubtful. He had youthful enthusiasm to be sure. He had strong convictions. He was well brought up, with an outstanding Baptist preacher as a father. But people who are truly captured by the spirit of Christ do so generally after years of walking in Christ's footsteps. Our faith is validated and grows as we "come and see." 

King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com
 
______________________________
 
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 11 10:40:20 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:40:20 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon Resources for January 16 - Part 2
Message-ID: <8CD7FBCFCD3399A-BC8-1542@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>


Jesus Calls the Common Man
 
In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the deacons of the church in
Boston. He had been raised in a Unitarian church, in almost total ignorance of the gospel, but when he had moved to Boston to make his fortune, he began to attend a Bible-preaching church. Then, in April of 1855, his Sunday school teacher had come into the store where he was working and simply and persuasively shared the Gospel and urged the young man to trust in the Lord Jesus. He did, and now he was applying to join the church. One fact quickly became obvious. This young man was almost totally ignorant of biblical truth. One of the deacons asked him, "Son, what has Christ done for us all - for you -which entitles him to our love?" His response was, "I don't know. I think Christ has done a great deal for us, but I don't think of anything in particular that I know of."
 
Hardly an impressive start. Years later his Sunday school teacher said of him: "I can truly say that I have seen few persons whose minds were spiritually darker than was his when he came into my Sunday school class. I think the committee of the church seldom met an applicant for membership who seemed more unlikely ever to become a Christian of clear and decided views of gospel truth, still less to fill any space of public or extended usefulness." Nothing happened very quickly to change their minds. The deacons decided to put him on a year-long instruction program to teach him basic Christian truths. Perhaps they wanted to work on some of his other rough spots as well. Not only was he ignorant of spiritual truths, he was only barely literate, and his spoken grammar was atrocious. The year-long probation did not help very much. At his second interview, there was only a minimal improvement in the quality of his answers, but since it was obvious that he was a sincere and committed (if ignorant) Christian, they accepted him as a church member.
 
Over the next years, many people looked at that young man and were convinced that God would never use a person like that. And in doing so they wrote off Dwight L. Moody. But God did not. By God's infinite grace and persevering love, Moody was transformed into one of the most effective servants of God in church history, a man whose impact is still with us today.
 
Gary Inrig, Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay
 
___________________
 
Party Tonight! 
 
I was once staying in a motel in a large city and was surprised to find, posted to the elevator door, a small, handwritten notice which read, "Party tonight! Room 210. Eight o'clock p.m. Everyone invited!" I could hardly picture who would throw such a party, or for what reason, but I imagined that at 8:00, room 210 would be filled by an unlikely assortment of people - sales representatives seeking a little relief from the tedium of the road; a vacationing couple tired of sightseeing; a man stopping overnight in the middle of a long journey, looking for a bit of festivity; a few inquisitive and wary motel employees, there because of professional responsibility; perhaps some young people who had slipped out of their parents' rooms, anxiously curious about what was happening in room 210.
 
Alas, the sign by the elevator soon came down, replaced by a typewritten statement from the motel staff explaining that the original notice was a hoax, a practical joke. That made sense, of course, but in a way it was too bad. For a brief moment, those of us staying at the motel were tantalized by the possibility that there just might be a party going on somewhere to which we were all invited - a party where it didn't make much difference who we were when we walked in the door, or what motivated us to come; a party we could come to out of boredom, loneliness, curiosity, responsibility, eagerness to be in fellowship, or simply out of a desire to come and see what was happening; a party where it didn't matter nearly as much what got us in the door, as what would happen to us after we arrived.
 
Perhaps if there is to be such a party, the church is going to have to throw it.
 
Thomas G. Long, Shepherds and Bathrobes, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.
_______________________________________
 
Dance the Offering Forward
 
A missionary in Africa was preaching his first sermon in a mission church. When time came for the offering, the people danced their offerings forward. They danced and sang praise to God as they brought their offerings to the altar. It was a beautiful moment. What do you think? Should we get our ushers to do that?
 
After the service, he asked one of the people, "Why do you dance and sing when you bring your offering forward on Sunday morning?" Back came the answer: "How could we not dance? We are so grateful to God for what He has done for us in sending Jesus Christ to save us that we have to dance and sing our thanksgiving and besides it says in the Bible, God loves a cheerful giver."
 
Let me ask you something. Do you feel gratitude to God that strongly? Do you have a strong case of the "can't help its" when it come to gratitude? When you are Christians, gratitude is the spirit of your lifestyle. When you are a Christian, you can't help but be grateful!
 
James W. Moore, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

__________________ 
 
Word of Mouth Evangelism
 
Everyone knows that the best form of advertising ever invented and the one that is still most successful is word-of-mouth - people telling other people. About forty years ago there used to be an automobile named the Packard. Packard was the last car manufacturer to get into advertising. It didn't happen until old man Packard died, because whenever he was approached to buy some advertising for his cars he always said, "Don't need any; just ask the man who owns one." After his death, "Ask the man who owns one" became the Packard slogan.
 
Our Lord Jesus Christ is also known through word-of-mouth advertising. That's how the word about him gets out. Only the Shepherds at the first Christmas heard the good news from angels. Only the Wise Men were led by a Star. Just a comparative few were touched by miracles. Almost everybody came to know Jesus Christ.
 
Daniel G. Mueller, Just Follow the Signs, CSS Publishing Company
 
_____________
 
Jesus the Sin Stealer
 
The primary emphasis of John's declaration is to say who Jesus is (the Lamb of God) and also to say what Jesus does (takes away the sin of the world). This is all well and good, but the old Adam in me gets nervous when I have an encounter with a "sin stealer." I want to be as graphic and as plain as I can be about this Jesus is the ultimate sin stealer, and that troubles me. You can certainly use language that describes this reality in different terms, like "Jesus removes our sins," or "Jesus washed my sins away," but Jesus "rips us off" as far as our corporate and personal sins are concerned. I am a witness to this, because I was reared by a sin stealer my mother. Now Daddy was a "sin reactor and responder," and I was the not always grateful recipient of his reactions and responses, but Mama was the sin stealer, the one who had the spiritual discernment and psychology to see that I would live in the benefits of John's declaration and Jesus' action.
 
This sin stealing was shown most clearly on an early spring day long ago, when my mother had made my favorite lunch for school. It was a small container of chocolate milk, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. I went off to Public School 129, but a block and a half away, eager for the morning to pass so I could sink my teeth into one of those delicious cookies, but as I turned from Stuyvesant Ave on to Quincy Street I was face to face with Junebug, the bully of the block.
 
"Gimmie that lunch, punk!" he said.
 
"But, Junebug, that's my lunch."
 
"You better gimmie that lunch!"
 
"But it's mine. My Mom made it for me, and she made me my favorite--."
 
Junebug's right uppercut sent me and the lunch to the ground. He picked up the lunch and said, "That's what you get for not listening to me!" and went off to school. I also went off to school with no lunch and lots of anger.
 
At home that late afternoon I was very silent. Mama, knowing something was up, said, "What happened at school today?"
 
"I'm gonna kill him!"
 
"What?"
 
"I'm gonna kill him!"
 
"And who do you plan to kill?"
 
"Junebug. He beat me up, he stole my lunch, and I'm gonna kill him!"
 
Mama thought for awhile and then said, "Here, have some food. Don't start your homework right away--there is something we need to do together, but you must do it as I say...
 
The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for Epiphany 2 can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 



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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:06:24 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:06:24 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter: Jan. 16 (Epiphany 2A) John 1:29-42
Message-ID: <FCEE27C5B1E241399BE8A1A0D0134164@YOUR264F1833C5>

 
THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 16 (Epiphany 2A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, John 1:29-42, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and says, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"





To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/John.1.29-42.wpd





A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.


     http://www.lectionary.org/ 

Dick Donovan
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:07:53 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:07:53 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter: Jan. 16 (Epiphany 2A) Isaiah 49 & 1
	Cor. 1
Message-ID: <688604E8131241908EB77E63D4EA77D7@YOUR264F1833C5>

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 49:1-7 and 1 CORINTHIANS 
1:1-9

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the 
address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 49:1-7

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/Isaiah.49.01-07.wpd


1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-16pe/1Cor.1.1-9.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and 
see what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or 
save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.


POSTED AT www.lectionary.org.

Dick Donovan




From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 12 12:11:26 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:11:26 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 Sermon for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany - John
	1:29-42
Message-ID: <2DF671DB8C094309B6F4E2A909088852@YOUR264F1833C5>

The Rev. Dr. Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, NC, and professor of church history and religion. He is an ordained Baptist minister. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pursuing the Prophetic
John 1:29-42
2nd Sunday after Epiphany - Year A
January 16, 2011
http://day1.org/2541-pursuing_the_prophetic
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From deaconsil at comcast.net  Fri Jan 14 15:52:49 2011
From: deaconsil at comcast.net (Sil Galvan)
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:52:49 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Go Light Your World
In-Reply-To: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>
References: <598438333.3460158.1294551985379.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>
Message-ID: <4D30B7A1.2040808@comcast.net>

Friends,
       I have not been writing regularly for quite a while now but felt 
compelled to address the shootings in Arizona last weekend. I have 
attached my effort below (whoever posted that link to Go Light Your 
World on whichever list it was back in December, many thanks!). Any 
comments would be appreciated. I may not even be preaching it this 
weekend but have added it to my website. FWIW!!
Sil Galvan

Go Light Your World

(Begin with Youtube video of Go Light Your World at 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqBz_qvqBL4 )

In our first reading from Isaiah, we heard the verse ?I will make you a 
light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the 
earth?. The principal refrain in the song we just heard is ?take your 
candle and go light your world?.
Light is an image that has always fascinated me. Back in my high school 
physics class, we studied how light has properties that we can?t explain 
like how it can go around corners defying other laws of nature.
We should note that light is an image that is central to the gospel of 
John. In the very first few verses, he says that Jesus ?was life and the 
life was the light of the world? (John 1:4). Later in his gospel, he 
records that when our Lord heard of the death of John the Baptist at the 
hands of Herod, he says that John was a ?light, consuming and revealing, 
but you wished to rejoice exceedingly for a while in his presence? (John 
5:35). I remember meditating on that verse for days on end while I was 
in the Jesuit seminary and how I wanted to do my best to be a light in 
the lives of others.
Just a few weeks ago, we held our Longest Night service in the mausoleum 
for those who might be grieving the loss of a loved one which is 
especially difficult during the normally joyous holiday season. At the 
beginning of that service, I played this same video. I did that because 
later in the service, all those in attendance would be invited to come 
up and light a candle for their departed loved ones. I pointed out that, 
like the song and Scripture says, we all have a light within us. Perhaps 
we could call it the light of life and it radiates to others through the 
good works that we do in life. But once we have passed on, our personal 
light is extinguished unless it is carried on by those who survive and 
remember us. Then they must carry not only their own lights, but ours as 
well, especially in the good works they do in our name.
This past week, we were all stunned by the senseless shootings in 
Arizona. We struggle to make sense out of these tragedies but there are 
no easy answers to the questions we always ask in these circumstances: 
?why did it have to happen??, ?why couldn?t God have stopped it??, ?why 
do bad things always seem to happen to good people??. The answers 
probably won?t be there until we ask our Maker directly in the next 
life. For now, we have to settle on knowing that God is there, not in 
the tragedies themselves, which he is powerless to prevent since he gave 
us free will to do either good or evil, but in our responses to the evil 
deeds.
That good is already evident in some of the stories that have emerged 
from the shootings.
?    Dorwan Stoddard, 76, was a retired construction worker and an 
active church member who loved helping people in need. He took care of 
physical maintenance at Mountain Avenue Church of Christ in Tucson. He 
and his wife, Mavy, were ministry heads in the benevolence committee, 
working with people who had lost their jobs or homes. They were waiting 
in line to speak with the congresswoman when the shooting broke out. Mr. 
Stoddard pulled his wife to the ground and lay on top of her, shielding 
her from gunfire. He died several minutes later, with his wife wounded 
at his side.
?    John M. Roll was the chief federal judge in Arizona and was fatally 
wounded in the attack. Alex Kozinski, the chief judge of the United 
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, described Judge Roll as a 
tireless advocate for his district: ?Of all the chief judges of the 
circuit, I must say he was always the hardest working ? always looking 
out for his district. He?ll be a great loss to his family, but he?ll 
also be a great loss to the federal judiciary.? On Dec. 21, Judge Roll 
sent an e-mail to Judge Kozinski with an attached letter from Ms. 
Giffords and another member of Congress from Arizona, Ed Pastor, a 
Democrat. The two members of Congress encouraged the Ninth Circuit to 
?declare a judicial emergency? to help cope with the increased workload 
by extending deadlines under the speedy trial act. In the e-mail, Judge 
Roll wrote that the Congressional letter was ?unsolicited but very much 
appreciated.? Judge Kozinski speculated - ?just a guess,? he said ? that 
Judge Roll might have gone to the event on Saturday to thank Ms. 
Giffords for the letter.
?    Phyllis Schneck, 79, was New Jersey native and a great-grandmother 
who liked to sew New York Giants and Jets aprons for church fund-raisers.
?    Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, was director of community outreach for 
Gabrielle Giffords. He was described as hard-working with an easy smile 
and a passion for helping people. Mr. Zimmerman, who had a master's 
degree in social work, was known as a peacemaker who handled difficult 
or angry people with care and skill. He spent nights and weekends 
helping to resolve the variety of constituent problems that arrive at 
the doorstep of a Congressional office. Mr. Zimmerman was engaged to be 
married.
?    Christina Green, 9, was on the student council of her elementary 
school, so on Saturday her mother?s friend and neighbor Susan Hileman 
thought she might enjoy seeing government in action: the local 
congresswoman meeting with constituents outside a supermarket near 
Christina?s home. Christina loved animals and volunteered at a 
children?s charity. She was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and she was proud of 
it, her mother said, because it lent a grace note of hope to that 
terrible day. Christina, who was born when the family was living in West 
Grove, PA, was one of the 50 ?Faces of Hope? representing children from 
50 states who were born on Sept. 11. Their images were printed in a 
book, with some of the proceeds going to a Sept. 11 charity. Her father, 
John Green, is a supervising scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Her 
grandfather, Dallas Green, managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 
World Series championship and also managed the Yankees and the Mets. Her 
father John Green told The Arizona Star that Christina was such a good 
speaker that he ?could have easily seen her as a politician.? But she 
also seems to have inherited her family?s baseball genes. She was the 
only girl on her Little League baseball team, and had told her father 
that she wanted to be the first woman to play in the major leagues. Her 
mother said she belonged to Kids Helping Kids charity and tried to help 
children less fortunate. Christina, a slender girl with brownish-blond 
hair, brown eyes and a gentle smile, also sang in the choir at St. 
Odilia Roman Catholic Church. In his homily at her funeral on Thursday, 
Bishop Gerald Kicanas noted that she wanted to make a difference in the 
world with her life. She had told her parents that she wanted to attend 
Penn State University and ultimately have a career that involved helping 
those less fortunate.
As you can see, all of these people had done good things with their 
lives. But all of their lives have been cut short. Monday is our 
remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr., another person whose life was 
cut short by a senseless murder. It is now up to us to carry on their 
memory, or the memory of any of our loved ones. It is up to us to light 
a candle in their name, to remember the light that they brought into our 
lives. It has been said that no one is truly dead until their memory is 
gone from the hearts of all those who survive them. Let us all go light 
the world, not only with our own light while we live, but the lights of 
those who have preceded us into the next life but who showed us how to live.



From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 14:43:07 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:43:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon: Come and See
In-Reply-To: <002701cbb4ec$07d3e580$177bb080$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
References: <002701cbb4ec$07d3e580$177bb080$@fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD8303914ED6F6-BD4-4C99@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:

This is my sermon for tomorrow using the John pericope.


__

Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
www.ffisher.net
Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
www.fpckewanee.org
Elmira United Presbyterian Church
www.elmiraunited.org

aka

Brother Oscar Romero
Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey
Bartonville, IL
www.SBAbbey.com


"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb


________________________________

It was a beautiful 
spring day.
At first glance,
everything, 
 seemed to be at peace,
in Lambston;
everything that is
with the exception
of the monthly meeting
of the ministerial association.

For the past few months
the association meeting
had become a bit boisterous.
The normally 
 tranquil discussions
of prayer and scripture
had given way
to a subject
near to everyone's heart.
And each of the three pastors present
felt their own congregation
had come up with
the best method
for doing evangelism.

Pastor Pyre E. Brimstone
led off the discussion
by showing his colleagues
his congregation's
 flashy new tracts.
"The multicolor printing
was really expensive,
and I had to really sell
my design
to the church board,"
he said proudly.
"But I think
it was worth every penny."

Pastor Brimstone,
or P.B. as his congregation
was wont to call him,
proceeded to show off
the tract's detailed graphics.
Each page
was filled with graphics
of people being thrown into flames
by pitchfork wielding devils.

He seemed especially proud
of the cover
which was emblazoned
with what he described
as his congregation's new motto;
"Come to our church
 or burn forever.
The choice is yours."

"That certainly is, 
ah, 
interesting,"
the other two pastors replied.
But even though 
they were a bit hesitant,
P.B. convinced them
to give his evangelism method 
a try.
So armed with
 cases
of the new tracts
all three pastors
returned to their congregations.
And  congregants
spread out all over the city
to hand out the tracts
to everyone they met.

When the three pastors
gathered
 at their next association meeting,
P.B. seemed a bit distressed.
In fact,
all three of them seemed upset
about the results
of P.B.'s evangelism campaign.
"I can't understand it,"
P.B. moaned.
"The tracts are stacked up 
in waste cans
all over the city.
No one's reading them.
Well,
no one,
that is,
except for the fellow
who told me 
if he was going to hell
he'd be sure 
to save me
a seat by the fire."

"Yes,"
answered Pastor Netta Prophet.
"It seems
fear hasn't been really useful
as an evangelism tool.
It's even driven 
some of our members
away.
They said,
they'd be back
when we stopped threatening people
and tried doing things 
their way."


"And what way
is that,"
P.B enquired?  
"After the drop in attendance last month,
I'll try anything!"

So Pastor Prophet
described the evangelism campaign
developed by her board.
It was all about
how wonderful it was
to live as a Christian,
and about 
all the wonderful things
God returned to us
when we give money
to the church.
"We firmly believe,"
Pastor Prophet concluded,
"if we give ten percent
to God,
we'll be made rich
in all kinds 
of blessings.
And we want to share
that good news
with all of Lambston.

"I'm not sure
this is gonna work either,"
moaned P.B.
as he looked out the window
at Pastor Prophet's 
new advertising truck.
But he did go on to say
 the logo,
displayed prominently 
on the truck's billboard
was . . .
striking! 
"I don't think
I've ever seen
a picture of angels
feeding slot machines,"
he muttered.

Pastor Prophet
convinced the association
to go along
with her board's evangelism campaign 
for the next month.
But all three of them
were discouraged
when their association next gathered.
"How can the State's Attorney say
we're running a Ponzi scheme,"
Pastor Prophet wailed.
"You can't believe
how much the bail money
bit into our budget."

"It didn't help my budget either,"
P.B. chimed in.
"Not to mention
 attendance has dropped again
and we certainly
aren't attracting any new members.
What's your congregation's plan
Pastor Servant?"
Our ideas certainly
don't seem to be working!"

"I'm afraid our board,
didn't go along
with either 
of your evangelism campaigns,"
Pastor Servant replied.
"They felt
we should simply go on doing
what we've been doing."

"Just what
have you
been doing,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet
asked in unison.
"We see
you've had to add 
another Sunday worship time.
That make's four services
each week
doesn't it?"

"Actually,
with the new worship time,
we're gathering six times a week,"
Pastor Servant said.
"And I can't say
we're doing anything special.
Oh,
we certainly advertise
with signs and direct mail.
But it's the congregants
who bring other people in."

"You see,
a couple years ago
we decided to go 
back to the basics.
We've formed all sorts
of small groups.
These groups
all get together to pray
to study
and to serve others.
At first
it seemed nothing much 
was happening.
But over time
we all found
our lives
were being changed.
We found 
we were getting 
closer and closer 
to God.
The closer we got to God
the more we changed
and the more we wanted to serve
God's people."

"But how is that
 evangelism,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet called out?
"What gets the people
in the door?"

"We think
God 
gets them in the door,"
Pastor Servant calmly replied.
"You see,
when we go out
to serve someone else,
or when someone
sees a change
in one of our members,
people ask us why.
Why are we caring for someone
with no attempt
to get something
in return?
Why are we different people
than we were before?"

"When we're asked 'why'
 questions,
we just say 
what Jesus said
when he was calling the disciples.
'Come 
and see.'"

"That's all we say,
'Come and see.'
And many do come,
they see,
and they stay,
for they've found
a life with the Lamb of God:
the One
who takes away
the world's sins;
the One
for whom they've been
searching
without even knowing
whom they sought."

"Hmmm,"
P.B. and Pastor Prophet quietly said.
"Perhaps
you're on to something."

And all three pastors
returned to their congregations
to continue,
or to begin,
 a way of changing lives
into something
entirely new
and spreading 
the Gospel message
of God's incredible love.
As they did
more and more people
asked questions
like "why" and how, 
"what," and "where."

And more and more people
simply answered 
with a gentle smile,
"come and see."

To God alone be glory.
Amen.






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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 16:36:03 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:36:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Textweek for MLKJr and for Epiphany 2
Message-ID: <8CD831357FEFD3D-BD4-4D30@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


http://www.textweek.com/festivals/mlk.htm


http://www.textweek.com/yeara/epipha2.htm


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 18:02:44 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:02:44 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 1
Message-ID: <D9D507313DE246A181A605E929E3DF8B@YOUR264F1833C5>

John Woolman, the colonial Quaker, traveled throughout the South urging the Society of Friends to free their slaves a century before emancipation, warning that a refusal to do so would result in a broken nation.  He was right.  
<>
Wasn't Rosa Parks acting prophetically when she refused to move to the back of the Cleveland Avenue bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on that December day over half century ago?  Her quiet, determined response to one of the great signs of American racism was a prophetic indictment of Jim Crow culture.  We're clearly not yet home yet where racism is concerned in America, but we are a long, long way from Montgomery, Alabama, 1955.  
<>
...John.  He seemed lean and mean, direct and outspoken, like most of the Texas evangelists I grew up hearing, a revival preacher in camel skin.  My grandmother told me we had to like John.  He was a Baptist, after all.  There is that great story of the two frontier preachers arguing over whose church was the most biblically correct.  The Baptist preacher, feeling himself bested, finally exclaimed: "Well, they didn't call him John the Presbyterian, did they?"

http://day1.org/2541-pursuing_the_prophetic

Bill J. Leonard, 2011
- - - - - 

In 1957 , he was elected president of the newly formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the vanguard of the nonviolent struggle for justice in the South.  This contemporary "lamb of God" was spit upon, ridiculed, jailed, fire-bombed, yet he kept on moving -- across the South, then on to Washington for his famous "I Have a Dream" in August of 1963, and then to Oslo, Norway, where he was hailed by the world as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient for 1964, somewhat as Jesus was hailed as he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey on that last fateful journey.  The more threatening Jesus became to those in power in Jerusalem, the more they plotted to end his life.  So too for Dr. King.  

http://www.ipj-ppj.org/Reflections%20-%20Advocacy%20Suggestions%20-%20Lesson%20Plans/A%20Call%20to%20Discipleship%20--%20MLK%20Liturgies.htm

Institute for Peace and Justice
- - - - -

Could this story be telling us something the disciples don't know yet themselves? What people are looking for is not information, answers to questions such as "Who is Jesus?" or "Is this the one?" Or "Am I right about this church business?" Not even the answer to the question of why stories of meeting this man have captured the human heart for generations.

What we are all looking for without even knowing it is a place to stay, a place to remain always. Jesus is that place, a person who is himself a home, a place to belong, a whole way of life. Jesus knows that what the disciples really want is a place to belong.

http://day1.org/1078-what_are_you_looking_for

Catherine Taylor, 2008
- - - - -

Jesus answered, "Come and see." And the word, "see," is meaningful. The Greek word is not "blepo" which means come and physically see. Bu the Greek word is "orapo" which is not physical sight but spiritual insight.

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_andrew.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

...when Jesus looks at Simon and says, "You are..." Jesus gets personal. It's almost as if he's saying, "I know you, I know you." What do you have when you have Jesus? You have a friend who confronts you with the reality of yourself today.
When Jesus says, "You are," he emphasizes the crucial need for self-knowledge.

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/reaves_4209.htm

Benjamin Reaves
- - - - -

Another thing about children's drawings is that they can be very powerful statements about a child's identity. I discovered just how powerful some years ago as a part of a team that worked with families in an alcoholism treatment center. A social worker asked a little boy  to draw a picture of his family. The boy's father was half way through a 30 day residential treatment program. In the lad's picture, it was raining.  Mom was taller than the house and dad was shorter than both mom and the house.  A sister was holding mom's hand.  There were no smiles on the faces.  And it seemed the boy was missing from the picture.
The social worker said, "This is a very nice picture Eric.  I see mom and dad and sister, but I don't see you.  Why isn't Eric in the picture?"
The boy pointed to a small black scribble in the corner of the drawing and said, "There I am!"
All of us (the social worker, the psychologist and myself) became misty eyed when Eric spoke those words. The issue of identity for this child will be a life long struggle. Can you imagine feeling like a small black scribble in the wider picture of your life?
<>
Wouldn't it be wonderful if young children like Eric could have a deep sense within that says, "I am a child of God."   Instead of, "I'm a little black scribble."  There is value and hope and comfort in knowing who I am in relationship to Christ.  When I see myself in light of my relationship of love with the One who made the universe, I gain courage to disregard the identity other people want to hang on me
<>
The only information we have about Andrew comes from John's gospel where all three instances that mention him have to do with Andrew bringing someone to Jesus. 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/jan17ser99.html

John Jewell, 1999
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 21:48:09 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:48:09 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 2
Message-ID: <2C153765130C4446AD3C1007D007A114@YOUR264F1833C5>

I believe we make a theological mistake when we preach that he will take our burdens away; life would be void of meaning and dignity if he did it all for us. Oh, but the joy that comes from the accomplishments of service rendered in his name and the rest that comes when he cuts our burdens in half. I have a beautiful poster that shows a blue-jay with a huge worm dangling from its beak and the words on the poster say, "The early bird gets the worm but God doesn't throw it into the nest."

http://day1.org/699-in_the_right_place_at_the_right_time

Rosemary Brown, 2000 
- - - - -

...as Christians we don't hide from the world but rather engage ourselves in it. I further learned from him that Christianity cannot be reduced to the ways and means of a particular philosophy or political agenda, but rather, God's grace sets us free to fully participate in the creation of a new world order reflecting God's character of peace, love and justice. As Christians we are free to engage in dialogue with others, motivated by our love for God and our love for our neighbor, yet without having to compromise our Christian faith.

http://day1.org/917-do_i_have_a_witness

Ruben Duran
- - - - -

Patently the first Pope and the first bishops (if we want to use that analogy) were not sacred persons, but inept, often stupid human beings? Why do have to pretend that their successors are any better? Why should they be immune from criticism? Have we missed the point somewhere along the line that the leaders of the church and the followers in the church are fragile, imperfect human beings and that Jesus chose them precisely because he wanted a human church. If he wanted something better, he should have turned it over not to the philosophers in Rome but to the Seraphim.

http://www.agreeley.com/hom05/jan16.html

Andrew M. Greeley, 2000
- - - - -

Why is self-giving so unusual? Have you ever been impressed by others who give their time and talent to others? Have they ever asked you to join them? What happened? Did their invitation change you?
A simple invitation can be life-changing. Come and see . . . That invitation can come in different ways, from a letter or a look to a simple act of unselfish love. 

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/b/2-b/A-2-b.html

Larry Broding 
- - - - -

 I recently heard that by 2040 all known sources of fossil fuels in the earth will be depleted. Now is the time to make sacrifices to our God that are substantive, that come from the heart, that will impact the future of all life forms on our earth.

http://www.env-steward.com/lectionary/lecta/a-ep2-go.htm

Wanda Copeland
- - - - -

The four scenes in 1:19-51 climax in the remarkable statement from Jesus that he is the ladder bridging heaven and earth. Scene one (1:19-28) directs our attention from the last prophet of the former era to the eschatological prophet of the era in which heaven is semi-eschatologically present on earth. Scene two (1:29-34) declares baptism of the eschatological era to surpass every previous water ritual. Scene three (1:35-42) displays the eschatological Israel forming in the protological disciples.

http://www.kerux.com/documents/KeruxV9N2A2.asp

James T. Dennison, Jr.
- - - - -

John the Baptist is a man who boldly proclaims the truth of the Gospel. John is marked by humility, but this does not prevent him from preaching with boldness. John's message is not watered down to please his audience. He speaks against sin, whether it be that of tax-gatherers or soldiers or even Herod himself. He clearly identifies sin, condemns it, and calls for repentance. This boldness is not a contradiction to his humility, but a manifestation of it. He is inferior and subordinate to his Lord, the Messiah. He was called of God to proclaim the message he was given. He would do no less than proclaim that message with boldness and clarity. 

http://bible.org/seriespage/witness-john-john-119-37

Robert Deffinbaugh 
- - - - -

I think that it is possible to live a life of what you might call "hyper-spiritual awareness." John's experience, though unique to him, is a lesson for those of us who would like to make enhanced spiritual awareness a part of our daily routine. 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Jn1.html

William R. Long 
- - - - -

...the story of John all the more remarkable. For, in fact, he was "working himself out of a job" when he pointed out Jesus to his disciples. And, to be sure, his job ended shortly thereafter. He was like a pace-setter in a race, who runs the first 800 meters ahead of the pack but then drops out so that the better runners may have a chance at the "record." 

http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryIV/Jn1II.html

William R. Long 
- - - - -

The simplicity of Jesus' manner reinforces His willingness to receive people "where they are" - but also to see their potential. He does not offer lengthy explanations or list His credentials but takes people to His home and lets them see for themselves.

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/weekly_wellsprings/year_b/sunday_02.htm

Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, 2006
- - - - -

There's an old joke among religious educators. When a teacher broaches the subject of humility, he or she begins by stating a simple, but self-defeating command: "Raise you hand if you are humble!"
<>
John lived his life in deference to the One God would point out. He lived most of that life in ignorance of the final outcome, but in hope God would make that outcome plain. His life gives us a primary example of Christian humility, living in deference to God's will. John was truly the humble witness.

http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/a/2-a/A-2-a.html

Larry Broding
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 22:32:55 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:32:55 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 3
Message-ID: <777A9F4F7AA04B19A04E030DD763141E@YOUR264F1833C5>

...the Savior of humanity doesn't descend upon Rome, the world capitol, and is unheralded in Jerusalem, his religion's capitol.  Instead, a bony finger points out from the wasteland and says; "There stands the reason for creation."
Are we adept enough to see the bony fingers in our wastelands?  Are our lives so attuned that we could recognize the salvation of the world in the calloused hands of a backwoods carpenter?  Would I recognize the world's Savior-and if I did-would I move aside for him?  Or is my life too fettered by comfort and sin to be attuned to the improbable or influenced by the preposterous.

http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/John/jn_01_29-42.htm

Jerry Goebel: 2005 ? http://onefamilyoutreach.com
- - - - -

The messiah, as God's sacrificial lamb, will take away sin; he will remove it by vicariously bearing it himself. The text is not quite clear as to whether the messiah takes sin up and carries it, or carries it off. The theologian J. Jeremias said the verb "takes away" can mean "take up and carry" or "carry off." He says "in both cases it is a matter of setting aside the guilt of others. In the former, however, the means of doing this is by a substitutionary bearing of penalty; in the latter, sin is removed by means of expiation." 

http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday2ag.html

Bryan Findlayson
- - - - -

...we need to make a clear distinction between a God who however 'lovingly' we may talk about it sacrifices his Son; & a Son who lovingly offers himself as sacrifice not to the Father's love, but to exemplify it. There's a world of difference. I can no longer live with the former interpretation. The imagery & outworking of the old Hebrew sacrificial system is not a useful tool in our armoury as we proclaim God in Christ today. God is maligned when we turn him into a Son Sacrificer - even for our sins! 

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/matthew0/MIMJN12942EP2.html

Brian McGowan
- - - - -

It is only in this passage in the New Testament that Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God (twice) and perhaps a sermon could focus on this particular quality/characteristic of Jesus. 

It seems that when Jesus was described as the Lamb of God, John the Baptist may have been thinking of the scapegoat in the Old Testament who carried the sins of the world out into the wilderness. On the annual Day of Atonement, the most sacred day for the Jews of old, the high priest would dedicate a goat to symbolically carry out the sins of the whole world from the camp into the desert. (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26.)  Nowadays, we continue to think of Jesus as carrying away the sin of the whole world on his back, out into the wilderness. 
<>

Effective evangelists speak of what we personally have seen or experienced with our own eyes, ears, and heart. That was true of the Apostle John; it was also true of John the Baptist and Andrew in our gospel story for today. 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_two_witnesses_john_the_baptist_and_andrew_GA.htm

Edward F. Markquart
- - - - -

...when John the Baptizer says, "Look -- the Lamb of God," he is articulating a hope that spanned multiple cultures in the ancient world.  He was saying that in Jesus there was power, power that would rise above the other powers in the sky, power present in the beginning, power to make all things new. 

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2005/01/second_sunday_a.html

Sarah Dylan Breuer
- - - - -

...forgiveness is accomplished through Jesus' identity as the Lamb of God. Forgiveness is no longer a means of preparation for the coming of the Messiah; it is instead the Messiah's chief work.

http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28

Timothy B. Cargal
- - - - -

They followed Jesus. When he turns around and asks, "What are you looking for?" he is asking them to identify themselves. To say something like: "We are two people looking for meaning and purpose in our lives and we think you may be it." I think the reason they don't say that is because they are not sure who they are or even that they are looking for something. So instead of answering, they counter Jesus' question with another question: "Where are you staying?"

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Introducing-Jesus-Reflections-on-John-Alyce-McKenzie-01-11-2011.html

Alyce McKenzie, 2011
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 15 23:12:34 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:12:34 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Ideas - Epiphany 2, John 1:29-42 - Part 4
Message-ID: <84C71F1BF9C54083B50EF299A37DDCCB@YOUR264F1833C5>

One thing you have to admire about Jesus' apostles. They get who the finger points to. They drop John like a hot potato and go to see what Jesus is about. The four o'clock mention suggests these men likely stayed the night with Jesus, and that time motivates Andrew to become the pointer as he finds his brother Simon and tells him about (points him to) Jesus. Both Andrew and Simon become Jesus' followers.

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/epiphany2gospel/

Jennifer Johnson, 2011
- - - - -

Jesus' invitation to "come" (a location changing verb connected to the theme of staying, remaining, and abiding) and "see" (an insight changing verb connected to the theme of seeing, light, and revealing) is precisely the invitation to which the rest of John's Gospel is the response.
And, in my humble opinion, these two questions and the invitation are still at the heart of our being Jesus' followers today.

  a.. What am I looking for when I come to church?
  b.. Where is what I am looking for staying? Where might I find what I am looking for?
  c.. Come - leave where you are
  d.. See - open yourself to new insights, new ways of being in the world.
http://www.holytextures.com/2011/01/john-1-29-42-year-a-epiphany-2-january-14-january-20-sermon.html

David Ewart
- - - - -

The stronger association would be the "paschal lamb," the sacrifice mandated by Torah at passover.  The fourth gospel likes passover themes.  Later in the fourth gospel, Jesus will be condemned to death at noon on the day before passover, the precise time when passover lambs were slain in the Temple.  (Ray Brown says that the hyssop Jesus was offered on the cross (19:29) is also the hyssop that was smeared with the blood of the paschal lamb which was then applied to the doorposts of the Israelites (Ex 12:22).)

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2011/01/lectionary-blogging-john-1-29-42.html

John Petty, 2011
- - - - -

...our Christian understanding of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Note that "sin" is singular. As Brown suggests, the plural "sins" refers to sinful acts, while the singular refers to a sinful condition. 

http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/john1x29.htm

Brian Stoffregen
- - - - -

The Mandaeans, some of whom have come to Australia as asylum seekers from Iraq (and have doubtless also gone elsewhere), have traditions which include a higher regard for John than for Jesus. 

http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtEpiphany2.htm

William Loader
- - - - -

This story has a tone of deep friendship between John and his disciples and then between Jesus and his first disciples. It needs to be told in that spirit.

http://gotell.org/pdf/commentary/John/Jn01_29-42_commentary.pdf

Thomas E. Boomershine
- - - - -

In vv. 35-42, two of John's disciples begin to follow Jesus. First, they are curious about Jesus when John tells them who he is. They follow him, recognizing that he is an authority ("Teacher", v. 38). Jesus invites them to "Come and see" (v. 39), to investigate what he teaches. "Staying" and "remained" are technical terms in this gospel: the two begin to understand the way of life Jesus offers and expects. V. 40 tells us that one of the two is "Andrew"; the other is unnamed. 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr02m.shtml?

Chris Haslam
- - - - -

Verse 29: "'the Lamb of God'": Meaning the Lamb provided by God. See also Exodus 12:3-5 (the sacrificial lamb in Egypt); Jeremiah 11:19 ("I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter"); Isaiah 42:1-9; 52:13-53:12 (both are Servant Songs). John the Baptist probably thinks of Isaiah 53:4, 7. By the time John wrote his gospel, the death of Jesus was seen as being like that of the Passover lamb: see John 19:36. 1 Corinthians 5:7 shows that the interpretation of Jesus' death as that of the Passover lamb is early. [NJBC] In Revelation, "the Lamb" is both a sacrifice ("a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered", Revelation 5:6) and the leader of God's people, the Messiah ("the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd", Revelation 7:17). 

http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/apr02l.shtml?

Chris Haslam
- - - - -

When the disciples respond to Jesus' query with their own question, they are not asking Jesus for the location of his tent, or the address of the guest house at which he is visiting; they want to know about the enduring, permanent, eternal, undying dwelling place of this Lamb of God. Where are you staying? Where can we find you? Where shall we go to be with you, to receive what you have to offer? Where can we be in the very presence of God?

Jesus' question is one the preacher might ask of the congregation: What are you seeking? 

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/20/2008&tab=4

Audrey West, 2008
- - - - -
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 16 04:18:40 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:18:40 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for January 16 on John 1:29-42,
	"Making love real".
Message-ID: <CFC81434FCD249DE9C77F32B5432D5DD@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://tiny.cc/ter9i is our sermon for January 16 on John 1:29-42, "Making love real".
Peace and Epiphany blessings,
Joe
St. John's Episcopal Church, Elizabeth, NJ
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan 16 21:53:13 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:53:13 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the THIRD SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <1D3025376B274F7E9B2DFC2B53DF25C3@ThinkpadT60CCW>

The following are the readings for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 23, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E, and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.



OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 9: 1 - 4 (RCL, Roman Catholic) 

Isai 9:1 (NRSV) But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 
2 The people who walked in darkness 
have seen a great light; 
those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- 
on them light has shined. 
3 You have multiplied the nation, 
you have increased its joy; 
they rejoice before you 
as with joy at the harvest, 
as people exult when dividing plunder. 
4 For the yoke of their burden, 
and the bar across their shoulders, 
the rod of their oppressor, 
you have broken as on the day of Mid'ian. 

Note: Verses are numbered differently in Roman Catholic bibles; this is 8:23a, 9:1-3. By the above translation, the Roman Catholic Lectionary omits the second sentence of 9:1.


PSALM 27: 1, 4 - 9   (RCL) 
Psalm 27: 1 - 4   (Can. BAS)
Psalm 27: 1,  4, 13 - 14   (Roman Catholic) 

Psal 27:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; 
whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; 
of whom shall I be afraid? 
4 One thing I asked of the LORD, 
that will I seek after: 
to live in the house of the LORD 
all the days of my life, 
to behold the beauty of the LORD, 
and to inquire in his temple. 
5 For he will hide me in his shelter 
in the day of trouble; 
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; 
he will set me high on a rock. 
6 Now my head is lifted up 
above my enemies all around me, 
and I will offer in his tent 
sacrifices with shouts of joy; 
I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, 
be gracious to me and answer me! 
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" 
Your face, LORD, do I seek. 
9 Do not hide your face from me. 
Do not turn your servant away in anger, 
you who have been my help. 
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, 
O God of my salvation! 
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
14 Wait for the LORD; 
be strong, and let your heart take courage; 
wait for the LORD! 

Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may be different from the above. 


NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 18 (RCL) 
                                    1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 17 (Can. BAS) 
                                    1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 13, 17 (Roman Catholic) 

1Cor 1:10 (NRSV) Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apol'los," or "I belong to Ce'phas," or "I belong to Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Cris'pus and Ga'ius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 


GOSPEL: Matthew 4: 12 - 23   (all)

Matt 4:12 (NRSV) Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Caper'naum by the sea, in the territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isai'ah might be fulfilled: 
15 "Land of Zeb'ulun, land of Naph'tali, 
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 
16 the people who sat in darkness 
have seen a great light, 
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death 
light has dawned." 
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zeb'edee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zeb'edee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 

Note: Vs. 18-23 are optional for Roman Catholics



Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Tue Jan 18 07:10:07 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:10:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Epiphany 3 - Gospel
In-Reply-To: <56D08779A3824D53B7BFBBE2C3F9593B@StudyLaptop>
References: <56D08779A3824D53B7BFBBE2C3F9593B@StudyLaptop>
Message-ID: <8CD851FC7AF7B67-C58-193@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


Forwarded:
Hi friends,
ere are some thoughts towards a sermon on the Gospel from Australia for the 
oming weekend.  You need to know that we celebrate our national day on Jan 
6 - the Wednesday after Sunday.  You may like to adapt some part or other 
f these thoughts.
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This week we celebrate our national day with Auzzie BBQs, with 
aturalisation ceremonies, with presentations for good citizenship, with 
estivals, singing and speechmaking,
 all helping us to remember with thanks that we are part of
he Commonwealth of Australia.
 Now for those of us who are also disciples of Jesus, today's
ospel is spot on to this situation.
 How do I get to that point?
 Well let me firstly draw your attention to the fact that last
eek the Church had us read a different version of the call of
esus' early disciples, today Matthew, last week John;
 and the 2 stories are rather different.
 In John's story the disciples-to-be took their time to make up
heir minds;
 they went off and had a chat with Jesus, and asked a lot of
uestions.
 But in Matthew's version the emphasis is quite different: Jesus calls
hem - they follow.
 It's almost as if John fits the story into the pattern he adopts
hroughout his gospel: think, meditate, reflect, search for
eaning.
 Whereas Matthew, today's story teller, is not so much interested in
he process, but in the outcome, so he tells the story as though
t was fast action: they simply walked off the job and left their
amilies behind;
 and when I think about that, it seems as though this version doesn't
old out much hope for ordinary folk;
 because, if being a Christian means just throwing everything
side and doing nothing but wander all over the country with
esus on a teaching, healing, preaching mission, then that's
ot everybody's cup of tea!
 So perhaps there's another way we can understand Matthew's story.
 Maybe what Matthew wants us to know is that becoming a follower of
esus does something to our order of priorities.
 He wants us to see that living God's way, living as a member of
he "kingdom of heaven" as he calls it, will encourage us to see
he whole of life from a different perspective;
 he wants us to realise that attitudes like compassion,
orgiveness, mercy and understanding are much more
orthwhile than things like just making money, getting to
he top or owning the latest piece of technology, things
hich many of our fellow Australians are keen on, good
hough such things may be in themselves.
* This brings me back to Australia Day: Matthew is telling us that Jesus 
nvites us to live for the Kingdom of heaven whilst we still live in the 
ommonwealth of Australia.
 Jesus invites us to work to overcome the evil, the distress, the
njustice, the prejudices, the hatreds, the wars in our country
nd in our world.
 He calls his disciples to leave behind false values, unhealthy
ehaviour, and instead to allow ourselves to be transformed by
he grace of God, setting an example for the rest of our fellow
ustralians, showing that it can be done.
 Jesus called people to follow him, to live the life of God's New
orld in the midst of this world, helping to transform our
onderful Commonwealth of Australia to be more like the
ingdom of Heaven;
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
he Rev'd Dr H.C. Smith
Retired Anglican Priest
Orange NSW
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:15:26 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:15:26 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Day1 (3 Epiphany) - 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, 3
Message-ID: <EB77D92E13D2484D90B97154DAB5A216@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://day1.org/2542-what_are_we_doing_here

The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., is pastor of Covenant United Church of Christ, South Holland, IL. He is also a trustee of the Alliance for Christian Media.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What Are We Doing Here?
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
3rd Sunday after Epiphany - Year A
January 23, 2011

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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:16:52 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:16:52 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Textweek sermon resources for 3 Epiphany
Message-ID: <14295D27A2F6488086B8261E550C9E73@YOUR264F1833C5>

http://www.textweek.com/yeara/epipha3.htm
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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:22:37 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:22:37 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon resources for Epiphany 3 - Part 1
Message-ID: <1B7C4A923DEE441A825DAEDDF6CBB2C4@YOUR264F1833C5>

Sermons for Epiphany 3



Matthew 4:12-23 - "The Powerful Moments That Change Your Life Forever"

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 - "Carbon Pure and Perfect" by Leonard Sweet



Matthew 4, the sermon titled "The Powerful Moments That Change Your Life Forever"  



I am a collector of lists. I want to share with you this morning my favorite list of all time. It's a list of answers given by English school children on their religion exams.

Noah's wife was called Joan of the Ark.
A myth is a female moth.
Sometimes it is difficult to hear in church because the agnostics are so terrible.
The Pope lives in a vacuum.
The Fifth Commandment is "Humor your father and mother."

This is my favorite of all:

Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.

The point is: right answers are important, but have you thought about this - so are right questions! So the right question I want to raise with you today is this: How long has it been since you had a powerful moment that changed your life forever?

The New Testament was written originally in common Greek and the Greeks had several different words for our one word love.

Agape = unconditional love

Eros = erotic... bargaining love (I'll do this for you if you do that for me, which, if you think about it, is not really love at all)

Phileo = philanthropic, brotherly, sisterly, or humanitarian love

Storge = family love.

New Testament Greek also had two words for time - chronos and kairos. Chronos, which give us our word chronology, is tick-tock time. Each second is exactly like the one that preceded and the one that follows it. It is boring time, humdrum time, drudgery time, meaningless time, empty time. Let me paint the picture of chronos time.

Imagine a convict in a prison cell; a lawyer with insomnia, who hears the unrelenting incessant ticking of a clock; an office worker who hates his job and can't wait for 5:00 to come so he can get out of there; a college student in a 3-hour biology lab (right after lunch) all experience chronos time. Chronos time is empty time; it is a void that must be filled. It is time we must "put in" or endure. It's what we are talking about when, of all things, we talk about "killing" time. So, chronos equals tick-tock time, humdrum time, boring time, and routine time.

Thank God, there is another kind of time. It's called kairos. Kairos time is full time, vital time, crucial time, decisive time, God's time. Kairos moments are those powerful, extra-special moments that are packed with meaning. While chronos is tick-tock time, kairos is when time stands still.

How long has it been since you a moment so powerful that time stood still? Kairos is when God breaks into the routine and speaks loud and clear and you are touched so powerfully deep in your soul that you can never be the same again. A cartoonist depicts an idea with a light bulb flashing. It is a Voila! moment, an "ah ha" experience. Theologians call it the moment of revelation.

Kairos is a key word in the New Testament. When Jesus started his ministry he came into Galilee preaching and saying, "The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." And the word for "time" there in Mark 1 was not chronos, it was kairos. This was crucial time, decisive time, God's time.

Jesus' life was packed with kairos moments:

Zacchaeus - he saw him in that sycamore tree. They connected and that was a kairos moment.

Blind Bartimaeus - nobody else was paying attention to him but Jesus heard his cries, connected with him, and it was a kairos moment.

The hemorrhaging woman came up behind Jesus, touched his robe, and he connected with her, and it was a kairos moment.

Jesus had so many of those moments. We read one this morning. Matthew writes: "The kairos is fulfilled." And what did Jesus do right at that kairos moment? He called his disciples. It was a meaningful moment for them. It wasn't just another tick of the clock. How long has it been since you had a powerful moment like that, that changed your life forever? How long has it been since you had a kairos moment in a chronos world? Kairos moments are all around us if we have the eyes to see them, the ears to hear them, and the hearts to feel them. Now, this morning I want to share with you three kairos moments that I have experienced that changed my life. I am going to be very personal because kairos moments are very personal.

1. The Kairos Moment of Encouragement

2. The Kairos Moment of Love

3. The Kairos Moment of Inspiration





The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com. 

_______________________



1 Corinthians 1, the sermon titled "Carbon Pure and Perfect" by Leonard Sweet 

Jesus is our diamond. 



Jesus is the carbon based incarnation of the divine transformed by the steady pressure of God's endless love into the brightest Morning Star Diamond ever created. 



Jesus is our diamond. 



Jesus is Carbon Pure and Perfect, the pure and perfect way to the Father, our only eternal security. But there are many ways to look at Jesus, just as there are many ways to look at a diamond. 



This is what Paul was getting at in our epistle reading for this morning. Paul is urging the Corinthian Christians to stop their puny, petty squabbles over perceived differences and instead to embrace the greater unity that bound them together. These Corinthian Christians had benefitted from different teachers, hailed from different backgrounds, were of different generations, and drew from different social classes. They had genuinely unique histories and lives. But they all had one thing in common: they had ultimately been led to the same place of wood and water, the wood of the cross and the water of baptism. 



Paul doesn't ask for Jesus' followers to give up their unique identities. Later in this letter Paul emphasizes the matchless role each member of Christ's body plays in making it strong and whole. The existence and experience of the eye is different from that of the hand or the ear or the foot. Each body part or "member" has a different perspective on the whole. Each has a different function within the body. But the body is still one whole. It is not at war against itself. When a body does begin to take on parts of itself as an enemy, for example, cancer, HIV, food allergies, the result is first disease, then ultimately death. In fact, disease is nothing more than a body turned against itself. 



For the body of Christ to be healthy today, it is in desperate need of rehearing Paul's message to the Corinthians this morning...



The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com 

______________________


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:23:00 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:23:00 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon resources for Epiphany 3 - Part 2
Message-ID: <C0487D0A3E60415581C0819A7BEFAF58@YOUR264F1833C5>

Trying Something New



After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr, who helped him find a new balance between his sport and his life. He also helped Jansen learn to focus on the mental aspects of skating Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that Dan has since described as the "toughest I have ever known." By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a five-hundred-meter world record just two months earlier. The Olympic title in that event seemed to belong to him.

Unfortunately, Jansen fell during the five-hundred-meter race. He was disappointed and shaken. But, Dr. Loeher immediately advised him to start preparing for the one-thousand-meter race. He said, the five-hundred-meter race is gone. Put it behind you." However the thousand-meter race was Jansen's weakest event. But, there was no other chance for him to receive a medal. Jansen won the one-thousand-meter race and did it in record time. Since Jansen had followed the wisdom of his coach, he had put his failure behind him and tried something new.

We can play it safe and remain secure in what we know. Like the fishermen, our lives will remain in the darkness until we are willing to follow and move in a new direction. Jesus called the disciples to something that would not only give purpose and meaning to their lives, he called them to a vocation that would change the world. They followed, and from then on their lives would never be the same.

Keith Wagner, Ice Fishing, Anyone?
__________________________________



Working for Christ



Christianity began as a working man's religion. No, that is not the gospel according to Marx; it is the Gospel According to Matthew. Matthew tells us that immediately after Jesus began a public preaching ministry, he took four fishermen as his apprentices. He was walking by the Sea of Galilee and spied Andrew and Peter casting their nets. He called them to follow him, promising to make them fishers of men. In Matthew's Gospel, then, linked tightly together are Jesus' ringing pronouncement, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and his invitation to the fishermen, "Follow me."



You and I, who believe in Jesus Christ and count ourselves his disciples, are not to follow a trade or profession as though it were the Holy Grail. We are to follow Jesus. Work is to take a secondary role in our lives. If Christ is truly our Master, then work cannot be equally important. We may be engaged in work, but never married to it. And whenever we are pressed or tempted to make work supreme, we are to recall the story of the four fishermen. We are to remember how they left their nets and their boats to go and be with Jesus, to do what he would have them do.



John C. Purdy, The Call to Adventure



______________________________



Follow Me...



"Follow me, and I will make you fishers," said Jesus. Fishing takes practice, preparation, discipline. One must learn how to best throw the net, how to make the mouth of the net come open too. I can throw the actual cast net a long way, but I can't always make the net come open so that it will actually form a circle around the fish. One must learn how to cast the line on a rod. Again, some folks can cast a long way, but their accuracy is awful. There may be fish on the right, but they know only how to cast the line to the left. There may be fish on the left, but they keep casting to the right. Casting, like discipleship, is an acquired habit. It rewards practice. 

 

Fishing is noticing the weather, watching the wind and the clouds. Fishing, like the gospel, dear friends, like the gospel, fishing is always practiced in context. It does no good to sit at one lake and wish I was on some other lake. It does no good to stand at the ocean and wish the weather were different. On that day, in that place, I fish in context according to what the conditions are. 

So it is with the proclamation and the living out of the Christian gospel. It does little good wishing that we were somewhere else, in a different time or in a different country perhaps. Our context is this time and this place. Know where the wind blows. Watch the clouds. 

 

Samuel G. Candler, Follow Me and I Will Make You Go Fishing



________________________



A Job vs. A Ministry



Someone has said there is a huge difference between having a job at church
and having a ministry at church.
... If you are doing it because no one else will, it's a job.  If you are
doing it to serve the Lord, it's a ministry.
... If you're doing it just well enough to get by, it's a job.  If you're
doing it to the best of your ability, it's a ministry.
... If you'll do it only so long as it doesn't interfere with other
activities, it's a job.  If you're committed to staying with it even when
it means letting go of other things, it's a ministry.
... It's hard to get excited about a job.  It's almost impossible not to
get excited about a ministry.
An average church is filled with people doing jobs.  A great church is
filled with people involved in ministry.

Mickey Anders, The Beginning of Ministry
__________________________________

 

Bridge Building Belongs to You and Me



There were two unmarried sisters who had such a bitter fight that they stopped speaking to each other. Unable or unwilling to leave their small home, they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the same bedroom. A chalk line divided the sleeping area into two halves. The chalk divided rooms so that both sisters could come and go and get her own meals without trespassing on their sister's space. In the black of night, each could hear the breathing and snoring of the foe. For years they coexisted in grinding silence. Neither was willing to take the first step to reconciliation.



Then one night one sister got up to go to the bathroom and fell, breaking her hip. The other sister awakened by the fall and the scream of pain jumped out of bed crossed the chalk line and came to her sister's side. After a few typical sister jabs at why she would do such a foolish thing as trip on her own feet, the sister held her foe of the past few years until the paramedics came and carried her to the hospital with her sister at her side. In those moments of darkness came the truth and power of love and light. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall told this story with these words. "The legal system can force open doors, and sometimes even knock down walls, but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and me."



Source Unknown



_______________________



Fishers of Men (Witnessing)



Most of our witnessing is likely to happen in passing moments of conversation--those occasions when we show, in relatively minor ways, who we are and to whom we belong. I think of a suburban woman who was playing tennis with her good but quite secular friends. In a conversation break between sets she began referring to something she had read that morning. It would have been easy to say, "I read something this morning." Instead, with no attempt at piosity, she simply introduced one word: "In my devotional reading this morning." It was not a major soul-winning engagement. It was, however, a true sowing of seed. By a word, she had opened the door for some further conversation.



Perhaps our greatest problem in becoming Christ's fishermen is that we are not enough in earnest to grasp the opportunities that come to us; or we are so possessed of the idea that we must say something dramatic and far-reaching that we fail to say the small, immediate and potentially significant thing. To put it in the language of our lesson for the day, most of us really don't act as if we even have a call to "fish." We're out in the waters of human need every day, but we don't seem to know it.



The issue is not that we should become more aggressive about sharing our faith. It is that we should be more sensitive to the needs of the world around us, and more sensitive to the subtle prodding of the Holy Spirit. The two sensitivities are wonderfully intertwined. To be sensitive to the Holy Spirit must mean that we will be more sensitive to people and their pain; to be more sensitive to people ought to make us more open to God and his purposes.



J. Ellsworth Kalas, Reading the Signs, From Empty Nets to Full Lives, CSS Publishing Company 

______________________



Essential Personnel



Even if we live where it rarely snows, the phrase is a familiar one. When budget talks collapse and the government shuts down, this is the phrase that is trotted out. When the earth suddenly moves under the people of California, often a certain group of people are called out while the rest are told to stay at home. When tornadoes blow through the Southwest and disrupt everything in their course, only certain people should risk the dangers involved. These are maintenance people, road crews, ambulance drivers, fire fighters, electric and gas company workers, truck drivers, and a whole host of service people who are taken for granted when things are running smoothly. We call them "essential personnel."



Think about that phrase. Think about what it means to be essential personnel. Then, if you want to be humbled, think about what it is like to be non-essential personnel. Consider the fact that the world can go on without some of us. The good news is that in the church we are all, or at least all can be, essential personnel. We are called to be a special group of people and to do some important things.



William B. Kincaid, III, And Then Came The Angel, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.



______________________



Turning Toward the Light



A little boy named Bobby entered his first science fair in second grade. Because his Mom has a green thumb, they decided to experiment with the growth of plants. He took two small green plants and placed one on a sunny windowsill and the other in a cardboard box. After a couple of weeks, Bobby checked on the two plants. The one on the windowsill had grown a couple of inches and had vibrant green leaves. The one in the box had actually grown a bit, but it had lost all of its green color, becoming almost white and its leaves drooping. Thinking that the plant might die, Bobby cut a hole in one side of the box, like this, and set the box, with the plant inside, by the windowsill...with the hole facing toward the incoming light. Well you know what happened...



The conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and sermons for Epiphany 3 can be accessed at www.Sermons.com. 


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From JoeParrish at compuserve.com  Wed Jan 19 10:29:04 2011
From: JoeParrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:29:04 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] SermonWriter materials for January 23 (Epiphany 3A),
	all lessons
Message-ID: <BBE9A5DEDE3C45A9A565AED929E017C6@YOUR264F1833C5>

All 3 lessons:
1.) THE FOLLOWING are SermonWriter materials for January 23 (Epiphany 3A). They focus on the Gospel lesson, Matthew 4:12-23, where Jesus calls his first disciples.



To access those files, you MUST use the following links.  If clicking on the link fails to work, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.  Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.



Microsoft Word file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.doc



HTML file (web page): 

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.htm



WordPerfect file:  

http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Matt.4.12-23.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.  That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.  Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.  Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of the options.  Click on that.  Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH 9:1-4 and 1 COR. 1:10-18

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

2.) ISAIAH 9:1-4

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/Isaiah.9.1-4.wpd


3.) 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18

These materials include the exegesis + a link to sermons + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/01-23wk/1Cor.1.10-18.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

     http://www.lectionary.org/ 

Dick Donovan
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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Jan 23 20:34:05 2011
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:34:05 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <283AD6C1C50349CEBF7920ADA4E0B5B2@ThinkpadT60CCW>

 
The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 30, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, C of E and Canadian lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.


OLD TESTAMENT:  Micah 6: 1 - 8   (RCL)

Mica 6:1 (NRSV) Hear what the LORD says: 
Rise, plead your case before the mountains, 
and let the hills hear your voice. 
2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, 
and you enduring foundations of the earth; 
for the LORD has a controversy with his people, 
and he will contend with Israel. 
3 "O my people, what have I done to you? 
In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, 
and redeemed you from the house of slavery; 
and I sent before you Moses, 
Aaron, and Miriam. 
5 O my people, remember now what King Ba'lak of Mo'ab devised, 
what Ba'laam son of Be'or answered him, 
and what happened from Shit'tim to Gil'gal, 
that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." 
6 "With what shall I come before the LORD, 
and bow myself before God on high? 
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, 
with calves a year old? 
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, 
with ten thousands of rivers of oil? 
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, 
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; 
and what does the LORD require of you 
but to do justice, and to love kindness, 
and to walk humbly with your God? 


1 Kings 17: 8 - 16   (C of E)

1Kin 17:8 (NRSV) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." 10 So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." 11 As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." 13 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." 15 She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. 


Zephaniah 2: 3, 3: 12 - 13  (Roman Catholic)

Zeph 2:3 (NRSV) Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, 
who do his commands; 
seek righteousness, seek humility; 
perhaps you may be hidden 
on the day of the LORD's wrath. 

12 For I will leave in the midst of you 
a people humble and lowly. 
They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD-- 
13 the remnant of Israel; 
they shall do no wrong 
and utter no lies, 
nor shall a deceitful tongue 
be found in their mouths. 
Then they will pasture and lie down, 
and no one shall make them afraid. 


PSALM 15   (RCL)

Psal 15:1 (NRSV) O LORD, who may abide in your tent? 
Who may dwell on your holy hill? 
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, 
and speak the truth from their heart; 
3 who do not slander with their tongue, 
and do no evil to their friends, 
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, 
but who honor those who fear the LORD; 
who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 
5 who do not lend money at interest, 
and do not take a bribe against the innocent. 
Those who do these things shall never be moved. 


Psalm 37: 1 - 12   (Can. BAS)

37   (ECUSA Psalter)
 
Part I   Noli aemulari
 
1   Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; *
  do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
 
2   For they shall soon wither like the grass, *
  and like the green grass fade away.
 
3   Put your trust in the Lord and do good; *
  dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
 
4   Take delight in the Lord, *
  and he shall give you your heart's desire.
 
5   Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, *
  and he will bring it to pass.
 
6   He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
  and your just dealing as the noonday.
 
7   Be still before the Lord *
  and wait patiently for him.
 
8   Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, *
  the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
 
9   Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; *
  do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil. 

10   For evildoers shall be cut off, *
  but those who wait upon the Lord shall possess the land.
 
11   In a little while the wicked shall be no more; *
  you shall search out their place, but they will not be there.
 
12   But the lowly shall possess the land; *
  they will delight in abundance of peace.
 


Psalm 36: 5 - 10   (C of E)

Psal 36:5 (NRSV) Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, 
your faithfulness to the clouds. 
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, 
your judgments are like the great deep; 
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. 
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, 
and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 
9 For with you is the fountain of life; 
in your light we see light. 
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, 
and your salvation to the upright of heart! 


Psalm 146: 6 - 10   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 146:6 (NRSV) who made heaven and earth, 
the sea, and all that is in them; 
who keeps faith forever; 
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; 
who gives food to the hungry. 
The LORD sets the prisoners free; 
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. 
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; 
the LORD loves the righteous. 
9 The LORD watches over the strangers; 
he upholds the orphan and the widow, 
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 
10 The LORD will reign forever, 
your God, O Zion, for all generations. 
Praise the LORD! 


NEW TESTAMENT:   1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 31   (RCL)
                                      1 Corinthians 1: 26 - 31   (Roman Catholic)

1Cor 1:18 (NRSV) For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, 
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, 
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 
26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." 


GOSPEL:   Matthew 5: 1 - 12   (all but C of E)

Matt 5:1 (NRSV) When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Note: The Roman Catholic Lectionary omits the last part of v. 12.


John 2: 1 - 11   (C of E)

John 2:1 (NRSV) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Jan 29 11:27:57 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (han)
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:27:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: GoodPreacher Preaching Resource
In-Reply-To: <4D423A79.7060200@comcast.net>
References: <4D423A79.7060200@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <8CD8DE89F1CF1AD-DB8-F75@angweb-usd003.sysops.aol.com>



Free Resource from GoodPreacher.com!
Tom Steagald's Preaching Journal








Praying this morning in the midst of a pretty wicked winter thunderstorm, thunder and lightning attending, with three of my most faithful church members? something about that confluence of sensory stimulants: darkness, with flashes erupting; the dimmer but more stable candle flame; the sound of rain pounding on the roof, echoing in our largish sanctuary which, if one has the eyes to see it, with its exposed and curving beams, looks like the inverted hull of an ark; a scrap of memory from my childhood, the first verse of an old Baptist hymn, inspired by the words of the prophet Ezekiel (35:26) ?There shall be showers of Blessing, this is the promise of God. There shall be seasons refreshing, sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need: mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.? So too, the Psalmist: ?Thou visitest the earth and waterest it, thou greatly enriches it?Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.?
I remember how the spiritual writers, many of them, speak of the hard earth of the heart, and the need for the softening, settling rains of mercy that alone can make the heart hospitable to the gospel?s seed. 
Ezekiel speaks of the showers coming in the midst of a covenant of peace, and surely both Micah and Matthew express the characteristics of that covenant in the lessons for Sunday. Surely Paul speaks to what makes such a covenant possible.
And so, this morning, in the darkness we awaited the light?and I praised God for the darkness which in its own way testifies to the light and our need for it. I praised God for the silence, which offers a space into which the Word may deign to come. I thanked God for the rain, confessing that sometimes the showers that are promised are themselves frightening in the moment of their advent. 
I read the beatitudes?not as moral exhortation, which is the way they are often preached and thereby set a standard which few if any can meet and thereby prove to be something other than the Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23) and instead one more indication of how we have failed and fallen short?but just read them, and heard in them something of the eschatological blessing. 
Yesterday I was reading in W.D. Davies? magisterial The Setting of the Sermon on the Mount, and I was reminded, duh, that Jesus appeared ?as a preacher of repentance? (425). How Jesus conceived of this repentance is the subject of many pages of (to our eyes and ears) stilted consideration. But the question of how Jesus? preaching was related to his teaching and healing is an interesting one?beyond my pay grade to say with any certainty?but I am thinking about it in these terms. 
It has long been noted that, in Matthew, Jesus retains to himself, until after the Resurrection, the teaching office. Whatever authority he gives to the disciples in the way of preaching or healing, he alone is the Teacher. The irony, of course?and I believe it was Norman Perrin who made the observation?is that in Matthew, anyone who calls Jesus ?Teacher,? is not his friend or follower. He is the Teacher; but don?t call him that. True followers know him as Lord. Be that as it may, Jesus? preaching is that the Kingdom has drawn near (4:17). Repentance is the first, best, most urgent response to the sermon, and whatever that might mean in its fullness, it means at least leaving behind what has been normative before: nets, family, vocation. In Mark, the disciples also leave the synagogue, so that all the former definitions of life are relinquished in favor of a new identity as disciples (see my Shadows, Darkness and Dawn). Into the void came the teaching of Jesus?like Moses? commands to Israel, who were newly free but as yet unformed?Jesus begins to give definition to the new community by means, ultimately, of five discourses, the Sermon being only the first. First in order, and perhaps in authority. 
In any case, the kingdom has drawn near. The healings of the crowds demonstrate it to be so. Now does Jesus shift to ?impossible? responses to the kingdom?s coming, throwing the responsibility of the new movement back onto the disciples?that it is no longer God?s grace but their obedience to this rigid ethic that will carry the kingdom forward? That is how it is most often preached. I am wondering, though, whether Jesus teaching is benediction, not hortatory or imperative. Which is to say, if people are sitting there listening, whether crowds or disciples, and they are reacting to the absolute claims in anything like the ways we would?it is impossible, it is strategy (I will be meek so I can inherit the earth!), it is absurd (happy are the sad?)?Jesus may be saying something more like this: You are half-there already. When you already experience a hunger for righteousness, because you have been on the short-end of the stick and you wish for justice, not just for self but for the world, you will be satisfied. You really will. When you have grieved and felt some little comfort in the midst of it, you have a foretaste of the solace divine. 
That is not all Jesus is saying, of course. He is not just blessing what already is?at least not entirely. But he is a good preacher, and I suspect that part of what he is doing here is indicating by means of these admittedly eschatological pronouncements that all the people within the sound of his voice, not just the sick and possessed, have already experienced something of the Kingdom?s healing power. Eventually the world will be healed, and all will enjoy it together. For now, there is a proleptic quality that must be recognized?and I am wondering if recognition itself is a kind of repentance: not just going in a different direction but looking at it in a different way, from a different angle. 
Is the darkness just dark? Is grief just sad? Is hunger always a matter of privation? Or is hunger itself a kind of appetizer? Is grief a testimony to the preciousness of life and loved ones? Is the dark a canvass on which light will be painted?
Another thought, of course, is this: Jesus is describing himself in the beatitudes. He is and will be all these things, and so the real teaching is his example, defined and refined by his logia. The disciples, as students of the rabbi, will observe him closely to become what he is.
As an aside, those of you familiar with Rob Bell?s nooma series might take a look at his ?Dust? video. A colleague in our study group mentioned it in conjunction with last week?s lesson, but it may work as well for this week. I have to say I liked all of it save the ?self-doubt? interpretation of Peter?s sinking in the water. Sounded a little Osteenish to my ear. The ?doubt? in that story occurred before Peter got out of the boat when, after Jesus had said, ?Do not be afraid; it is I,? Peter said (sounding very much like the Tempter), ?If it is you, command me to come to you?? Needing proof is not faith; it is doubt. Otherwise the video is interesting and the lesson informative (though whether all Jewish boys had the kind of educational opportunities he enumerates is a matter of speculation/debate). 
We learn from Jesus. Even more, we learn Jesus. Luke Timothy Johnson has reminded us that the holy life is a matter of learning to live Jesus, as we live by learning and observing. And so it was almost eerie the prayer assigned for the day from Dr. Baillie: 
?O Thou to whom I owe the gift of this day?s life, give to me also, I beseech Thee, a spirit to use it as I ought. Forbid that I should stain the brightness of the morning with any evil thought or darken the noontide with any shameful deed. Let Thy Holy Spirit breathe into my heart to-day all pure and heavenly desires. Let Thy truth inform my mind. Let Thy justice and righteousness make a throne within me and rule my errant will. Let Christ be formed in me, and let me learn of Him all lowliness of heart, all gentleness of bearing, all modesty of speech, all helpfulness of action, and promptness in the doing of my Father?s will? (day 26, morning).



GoodPreacher.com
PO Box 843 | Amelia, VA 23002

804-561-3566 | office at goodpreacher.com


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From charles.wohlers at verizon.net  Sun Jan 30 21:28:42 2011
From: charles.wohlers at verizon.net (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:28:42 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIFTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY
Message-ID: <13711CA10B97415D96C9876B90606E57@cranmer>

The following are the readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 
February 6, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Church 
of England (Cof E), Anglican Church of Canada, and Roman Catholic 
Lectionaries. The ECUSA, C of E (Common Worship) and Canadian readings are 
identical to the RCL this Sunday. All readings are taken from the New 
Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.


OLD TESTAMENT   Isaiah 58 1 - 9a (9b - 12)   (RCL)
                                    Isaiah 58 7 - 10   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 581 (NRSV) Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments,
they delight to draw near to God.
3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see?
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?"
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
and oppress all your workers.
4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
will not make your voice heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I choose
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.


PSALM 112: 1 - 9 (10)   (RCL)
Psalm 112: 4 - 9   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 112:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.


NEW TESTAMENT   1 Corinthians 2 1 - 12 (13 - 16)   (RCL)
                                     1 Corinthians 2 1 - 5   (Roman 
Catholic)

1Cor 21 (NRSV) When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come 
proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I 
decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 
And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech 
and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a 
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest 
not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this 
age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak 
God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our 
glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, 
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit 
searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For what human being knows 
what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one 
comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have 
received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so 
that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13 And we speak of 
these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, 
interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.
14 Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for 
they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because 
they are spiritually discerned. 15 Those who are spiritual discern all 
things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?"
But we have the mind of Christ.


GOSPEL   Matthew 5 13 - 20   (RCL)
                    Matthew 5 13 - 16   (Roman Catholic)

Matt 513 (NRSV) "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its 
taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, 
but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the 
lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let 
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and 
give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have 
come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven 
and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass 
from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of 
the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be 
called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches 
them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, 
unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Phar'isees, you 
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.


Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass.   USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu




From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 30 22:11:30 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joseph Parrish)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:11:30 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A
References: <ea20bdee-2d23-44b4-b561-04d01b4b2aa3@d17g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>
Message-ID: <073DB02E-C669-4CB5-9F1B-C9BEEA5F24FA@compuserve.com>




Begin forwarded message:

> From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
> Date: January 29, 2011 10:42:09 PM EST
> To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> Dear Friends,
> ?God?s Way to Happiness? or ?Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!? and
> deals with the epistle (Matthew 5: 1-12).  Here it is:
> 
> We just heard Jesus tell how to have a blessed life, which is another
> way to say ?a happy life.?  We?d all like a happy life.  What would
> make you happy?  (Listen to a few responses.)  Let me tell you about a
> man who had the chance to get anything he wanted.  This is a story I?m
> repeating from July, 2003.  See if you can remember how it ends.
> Before we start, does anyone know the commercial ?I Wish I Was an
> Oscar Mayer Weiner??  How does it go?  (Get responses.)   Well, here?s
> the story.  A man was walking along the beach when he came across this
> very old oil lamp. The man started to rub it to remove all the ocean
> crud when "poof" a genie appeared.  This genie, like all genies, was
> so happy to be freed of the lamp that he granted the man three
> wishes...  "I wish to be the richest man in the world,? the man said.
> "Man," the genie replied, "It has already happened.?  The man?s wallet
> would hardly fit in his pocket because of all the thousand dollar
> bills.  ?Wait until you get your bank statement!? said the genie.  You
> won?t know what to do with all that money!?  What's your second
> wish?"  "Genie?, said the man, ?I want a CAR!  In fact, I want the
> most expensive Porsche convertible made: Fire engine red, on board GPS
> and the finest audio system ever installed in an automobile."
> "That?ll work," said the genie.  He waved his hand and the finest car
> anybody had ever seen popped out of the lamp. The genie then asked the
> man for his third wish.  He thought and thought, since he really
> wanted to choose wisely.  After all, this was his last wish, so it had
> to be a good one.   Finally he said, ?Genie, I can't think of anything
> now.  May I save the third wish for later?"  "My, that?s unusual,
> responded the genie, but of course you may wait.  Just call me when
> you're ready."  With that, whoosh, the genie disappeared.   The man
> leapt into his fire engine red Porsche convertible, turned on the
> radio with the great audio system and pulled onto the highway.  He had
> the top down, so the wind was whistling through his hair, the sun was
> shining, not another car was on the road, and he was HAPPY- in fact so
> happy that he began to sing along with the great music on his great
> radio.  Up came a commercial, and he continued to sing the old
> familiar tune: ?Oh, I wish I was an Oscar-Mayer Wiener...."  Whoosh-
> what a wish!
> 
> A wishing lamp with a genie really won?t make us happy, but God?s way
> will.  Let?s look at the Beatitudes in the bulletin one by one to see
> God?s way: 3 ?God blesses those people who depend only on him.  They
> belong to the kingdom of heaven!?  If you think about it, who or what
> else can you really depend on that will never let you down?
> 
> 4: ?God blesses those people who grieve.  They will find comfort!?
> Here, we?re talking about those whose hearts are broken by the things
> that break the heart of God.  Are you so in touch with our Lord that
> human pain, misery, injustice, cruelty, ignorance break your heart?
> Practice putting yourself in other?s shoes, so you know how they
> feel.  Then do something about their pain.
> 
> 5: ?God blesses those people who are humble.  The earth will belong to
> them!?  You know what this means- be humble- be reality-oriented.
> Live in a real world.  Don?t pretend to be someone you?re not.  Don?t
> pretend to know something you don?t know.  Acknowledge your talents-
> they?re from God; compensate for your weaknesses- don?t hide them.  In
> other words- know your spiritual gifts and then develop them.
> 
> 6: ?God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or
> drink.  They will be given what they want!?  This is the beatitude
> that really can get to many of us, because we really like to eat.
> Anybody else like that- you can tell what time it is by what our
> stomach is saying?  God needs to come even before food and drink.
> Don?t be a "convenience Christian"- someone who comes to church if it
> isn?t too hot, too cold, too early, too late, too inconvenient because
> they need to cook, they were up late and need to sleep, etc.  Put God
> first if you truly want to be happy.
> 
> 7: ?God blesses those people who are merciful.  They will be treated
> with mercy!?  Here?s ?what goes around comes around.?  Don?t expect
> God to forgive you if you refuse to forgive your enemy
> 
> 8: ?God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see
> him!?  What?s the opposite of pure?  Think in terms of food?  The
> opposite of pure is poisoned.  What poisons the human heart?
> Bitterness, anger, jealousy- all those negatives.  Once we realize
> this, it?s easy to see why a poisoned heart can?t see God- they?d
> never recognize him- not in a neighbor, not in the Bible or in Holy
> Communion, not even in a miracle.  Why?  They?d be too busy
> criticizing the neighbor, the Bible, the church service, and they?d
> think the miracle was an accident!
> 
> 9: ?God blesses those people who make peace.  They will be called his
> children!?  Nothing to say here- love (in other words- want what?s
> best for) your enemy.
> 
> 10: ?God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right.
> They belong to the kingdom of heaven.?  Somebody, perhaps the Rev. Dr.
> Tony Evans, says- ?Those who stand for nothing will fall for
> anything.?  You know what?s right- live it.  Doing so may not be easy,
> may not make you popular, but you?ll have a clear conscience; you?ll
> be able to sleep at night.  Have the courage to stand up for what you
> know is right.
> 
> If you do all these things, what?s in it for you?  Day by day, a
> better life.  In closing, listen to the words Mahatma Gandhi (one of
> Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?s mentors):
> ?Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
> Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
> Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your
> habits.
> Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
> Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.?
> 
> For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
> wisdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
> is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
> 
> Blessed preaching.
> Judy Boli
> St. Paul's Episcopal Church
> Saginaw, Michigan
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Jan 30 22:12:47 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joseph Parrish)
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:12:47 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Being Blessed
References: <008501cbc001$b9904050$2cb0c0f0$@comcast.net>
Message-ID: <7B2E1794-0315-4694-B4AC-01DF72010C71@compuserve.com>




Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Frank Fisher" <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
> Date: January 29, 2011 5:13:12 PM EST
> To: <sermonshop.sermons.topic at ecunet.org>, <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>, <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>, <midrash at joinhands.com>, <SBA at SBAbbey.com>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Being Blessed
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> 
> Here's the most recent draft of my sermon for Sunday. 
> 
> __
> 
> Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
> www.ffisher.net
> Interim Pastor
> First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
> www.fpckewanee.org
> Elmira United Presbyterian Church
> www.elmiraunited.org
> 
> aka
> 
> Brother Oscar Romero
> Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey
> Bartonville, IL
> www.SBAbbey.com
> 
> 
> "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb
> 
> ___________________________________
> 
> Over the last year
> we?ve had some chances
> to get to know each other.
> And I bet
> some of you
> have begun to discover 
> some things 
> about my background.
> For instance,
> I was raised 
> in a quiet and refined family.
> Not!
> More often then not,
> my family?s life 
> resembled a Marx brother?s comedy.
> One liners 
> constantly flew,
> rubber rattlesnakes 
> inhabited the hall ways,
> and laughter 
> filled the air.
> 
> It?s no wonder 
> I came out 
> of such an atmosphere
> with some very strange 
> resources.
> One of those 
> is a favorite book of mine 
> called  
> the Complete Practical Joker.
> This book abounds
> with wonderful true stories 
> about elaborate jokes.
> Among my favorite parts 
> of the book
> is the story
> of the upside down room.
> 
> The upside down room
> is supposedly located 
> in an elaborate 
> California mansion.
> All the room?s furniture,
> the chairs, tables, floor lamps,
> even the fire place
> hang upside down 
> from the ceiling.
> The only thing 
> left on the floor 
> is a chandelier
> which is mounted 
> pointing upwards 
> in the middle of the room.
> 
> The mansion?s owner 
> was famous 
> for lavish parties.
> Towards the ends 
> of these parties, 
> some of the guests 
> occasionally
> had a bit too much to drink.
> These guests
> were relieved of their car keys
> and shown to a room
> where they could
> spend the night.
> 
> 
> In the morning
> some of these guests
> would become groggily awake
> in a different place.
> They found themselves,
> of course,
> in the upside down room,
> apparently hanging 
> from the ceiling.
> 
> There are a lot of times 
> when we feel 
> just like the people
> who found themselves
> in the upside down room.
> Times 
> when our perception of reality
> clashes
> with something 
> we encounter.
> And we?re left feeling 
> like our world?s
> being turned upside down.
> 
> That?s the feeling 
> we often get
> when we?re reading 
> today?s Gospel lesson.
> Now 
> I don?t want you to think 
> I equate this text 
> with a crude practical joke.
> But something about its words
> 
> doesn?t  make any sense.
> Are people 
> n horrific circumstances 
> actually blessed?
> 
> None of us 
> want to be considered
> depressed 
> or poor in spirit.
> And if we are,
> hey,
> there?s always Prozac.
> We stay 
> as far away as possible 
> from those who morn.
> Their sorrow reminds us
> we too 
> will see our loved ones 
> die.
> And  when we look 
> at the slaughter of innocents 
> all around the world
> it?s pretty apparent
> the meek 
> do not yet hold title 
> to the earth.
> 
> So how do we make sense 
> of our Lord?s puzzling words.
> It might help
> if we examine
> the concept of blessing.
> Blessing?s
> become 
> a very hazy word to us.
> When we search for its definition 
> we find        
> it has to do 
> with happiness.
> I?ve heard some people 
> note their agreement 
> with that definition
> by terming this passage 
> the ?be happy attitudes.?
> 
> When I searched 
> through my thesaurus
> it also listed happiness 
> as a synonym for blessing.
> It also listed
> success, wealth, plenty, and prestige.
> In other words,
> to our society,
> blessing has come to mean,
> I?ve got mine.
> 
> That tends to make us
> look at Christ?s words
> with a somewhat cynical view.
> It may even lead us 
> to agree
> with a tongue in cheek version 
> of the Beatitudes
> written by Charles R. Swindoll.
> 
> ?Happy are the pushers,
> for they get on 
> in the world.
> Happy are the hard-boiled,
> for they never let 
> life hurt them.
> Happy are they 
> who complain,
> for they get their own way 
> in the end.
> Happy are the blas?,
> for they never worry 
> over their sins.
> Happy are the slave drivers,
> for they get results.
> Happy are the knowledgeable people 
> of the world,
> for they know 
> their way around.
> Happy are the troublemakers,
> for they make people 
> take notice of them."
> 
>  We can choose to accept 
> our society?s  blessing.
> If we do
> I?m sure 
> we?ll be gifted
> with what the world 
> knows and understands
> as blessings.
> 
> But if we do accept 
> that definition 
> we also reject 
> our Lord?s voice.
> For in the world?s blessing
> there?s very little room
> for the poor in spirit, 
> the mourning,
> or the merciful, 
> or meek.
> 
> Or we can reject
> the modern view 
> of blessing
> and look at 
> what it meant 
> to those who lived 
> at the time of Christ.
> To them
> a blessing wasn?t only 
> a thing 
> like wealth or happiness.
> It was also 
> an action.
> In speaking 
> this blessing,
> Christ was doing 
> nothing less
> then throwing open 
> the door 
> of the Kingdom 
> of God.
> 
> Jesus proclaimed 
> God reigns
> in a kingdom that is both now,
> and is to come.
> A kingdom in which 
> we stand 
> in the door now.
> A Kingdom where we?ll 
> fully be
> in the future.
> 
> But Christ?s words
> also tell us 
> something more.
> In pronouncing 
> the blessing,
> Jesus described
> God?s people.
> The words tell us
> God?s people 
> are those who know 
> their identity 
> and security 
> is found only in God.
> God?s people 
> are those 
> who give only God 
> their total devotion.
> 
> God?s people 
> are those who morn 
> because other members 
> of God?s family 
> suffer.
> God?s people are those
> who renounce 
> the violent ways 
> of the world
> causing that suffering.
> 
> God?s people 
> are those 
> who actively strive 
> to do God?s will,
> and in their merciful actions
> reflect God?s mercy,
> and bring God?s peace.
> God?s people 
> are those
> whose actions,
> and whose very selves,
> may be rejected 
> by the world.
> But they rejoice 
> because they know 
> they do 
> their Lord?s work
> and follow 
> their Lord?s path.
> 
> We need to remember 
> some important things
> when we think 
> about this blessing.
> It doesn?t talk 
> about salvation by works.
> Jesus didn?t mean
> we can earn our way 
> into heaven.
> God freely gives us 
> the gift 
> of eternal life.
> That in itself 
> is quite a blessing
> for none of us
> could ever deserve 
> such a gift.
> 
> The blessing 
> also doesn?t describe a path 
> we travel alone.
> We travel it in company 
> with our Lord Jesus Christ.
> We also travel it 
> with each other.
> 
> None of us 
> will ever completely 
> measure up 
> to this description 
> of God?s people.
> But as united members 
> of the body of Christ
> we find 
> the gifts Jesus described
> are present among us.
> 
> We also need to remember 
> God?s gift of eternal life,
> and Christ?s company 
> on our road
> don?t let us 
> off the hook.
> We?re individually responsible 
> to work
> toward the goals 
> of God?s kingdom.
> 
> That leaves the question 
> of how we
> as fragile,
> and broken people
> can transform ourselves 
> into God?s loving,
> and giving children.
> 
> The answer is
> we can?t.
> At least we can?t 
> by our own 
> power.
> Thanks be to God,
> we don?t have to do it 
> by ourselves.
> For the One
> whose blessing 
> inaugurated
> the Kingdom 
> also works in us
> to transform us
> into faithful people 
> of God.
> 
> That transformation requires 
> a conscious choice 
> on our part;
> a choice we must make
> many times each day.
> It also necessitates letting go
> of our own will
> and letting God?s power
> work within us.
> 
> In "Weavings? magazine
> David Griebner
> described a person
> who made that choice
> in a story
> called "Between the Nails.?
> *"He could hardly remember 
> a day 
> when there wasn?t 
> at least 
> some pain;
> and this should come 
> as no surprise.
> For you see,
> this man
> and all his people
> lived on a bed of nails.
> 
> As you might guess,
> it was a rather 
> prickly existence.
> Yet,
> they had all 
> gotten used to 
> the particular limitations 
> of their world.
> They accepted 
> a certain amount of pain
> and discomfort
> as normal.
> And they had developed 
> clothing and footwear
> that insulated them 
> largely
> from the effect 
> of the nails -
> although some 
> were better 
> at ignoring the pain
> than others.
> 
> Now for a long time 
> our friend
> accepted things 
> as they were.
> But then something 
> in him 
> began to grow restless,
> and he became convinced 
> that life
> had to be more 
> than just 
> managed discomfort.
> One day 
> he decided 
> something 
> had to change
> or he 
> was going to take 
> all his clothes off,
> jump into the air,
> and end it all.
> As he pondered 
> this choice,
> he thought he heard 
> something.
> 
> "Get small"
> 
> "What?"
> he said. 
> The words were out his mouth
> before he had time 
> to remember
> he was alone.
> 
> "Get small." 
> 
> There it was again.
> A voice.
> He was sure of it.
> Sort of.
> Something or someone
> was talking to him.
> And since he was out 
> of other options 
> at the moment
> he decided to talk back.
> 
> "Who are you?"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> "What do you want?"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> Obviously 
> he wasn?t asking 
> the right question.
> He decided 
> to address the advice 
> directly.
> 
> "What do you mean,
> ?Get small??"
> 
> "Get small."
> 
> Apparently 
> this was all 
> he was going to get,
> and his next response
> came mostly 
> out of a 
> sense of frustration.
> 
> 
> "I can?t get small," 
> he said 
> through clenched teeth
> used to gritting it out.
> 
> "I can make you small," 
> the Voice said.
> 
> Well there it was 
> then.
> If he accepted 
> that the Voice 
> was real,
> the only thing 
> left to do
> was to trust 
> what the Voice 
> had to say.
> 
> "All right," 
> he said,
> "Make me small."
> 
> The first thing 
> he noticed
> was that his clothes 
> got big.
> Then the nails 
> got big.
> Then the space
> between the nails 
> got big
> and he found himself 
> between the nails.
> 
> Then the space 
> between the nails
> got so big
> that there was more space 
> than nails.
> Then 
> there was so much space
> that it seemed 
> as if there were no nails 
> at all.
> 
> Then he was surrounded 
> by people.
> They brought him clothes 
> to wear
> that were light and airy,
> and wonderful food
> that was as rich 
> as the ground 
> was smooth.
> 
> It was a strange feeling,
> but it seemed 
> like he had 
> finally
> come home.
> 
> Once a week
> he 
> and all the people 
> between the nails
> gathered together 
> to sing.
> They lifted their voices 
> to the heavens
> and sang 
> with all 
> their heart
> the two words 
> the Voice
> had taught them all.
> 
> "Get small," 
> they sang.
> 
> For theirs 
> was the Kingdom 
> of Heaven.
> 
> The choice 
> is ours to make.
> If we wish
> we can choose 
> the blessing of the world
> with its material gifts
> and its nails.
> 
> Or we can choose 
> to let go.
> We can choose
> to let Christ?s 
> blessing
> transform us 
> into God?s people.
> 
> In our choices,
> may all glory 
> be given to God. Amen.
> 
> 
> 
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From rrasner at maine.rr.com  Mon Jan 31 06:32:13 2011
From: rrasner at maine.rr.com (Richard Rasner)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:32:13 -0500
Subject: [Propertalk] mailing list
Message-ID: <2E2814B160064F29AB5A4DC4C2B4FA49@RasnerPC>

Could I ask that my name be removed from your e-mail list for weekly PorperTalk? I have loved what I have read but I am truly overwhelmed with material (I am a deacon in formation in the Episcopal Church) and I have to eliminate some things. Thanks for your understanding. 
Dick Rasne




Richard L. Rasner
1062 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207.767.1616
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From annfontaine at mac.com  Mon Jan 31 11:40:55 2011
From: annfontaine at mac.com (Ann Fontaine)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:40:55 -0800
Subject: [Propertalk] on not hiding one's light under a bushel basket
Message-ID: <D9A5E701-649F-4889-930E-E7C445889F31@mac.com>



Be of good comfort Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day  
light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall  
never be put out.

-Hugh Latimer to Nicholas Ridley, as they are about to burn at the  
stake 1555




The Rev. Ann K Fontaine
Wyoming









From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Mon Jan 31 13:31:04 2011
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:31:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] mailing list
Message-ID: <1887322780.7795303.1296498670050.JavaMail.javamailuser@localhost>

Dick,

Go to the web site listed at the foot of each post - it is

http://stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org


Scroll down to where it tells you how to unsubscribe, enter your address 
and that should do it.

One has to do it one's self in order to safeguard others messing with 
you!

Bob


Robert P Morrison
Interim Vicar
The Episcopal Church of St Alban
PO Box 1556
Albany OR  97321   541-921-1076 (cell)


On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 3:32 AM, Richard Rasner wrote:

> Could I ask that my name be removed from your e-mail list for weekly 
> PorperTalk? I have loved what I have read but I am truly overwhelmed 
> with material (I am a deacon in formation in the Episcopal Church) and 
> I have to eliminate some things. Thanks for your understanding. Dick 
> Rasne
>
>
>
>
> Richard L. Rasner
> 1062 Shore Road
> Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
> 207.767.1616
>
>      ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Propertalk mailing list
> Propertalk at stsams.org
> http://stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org



From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Jan 31 18:20:08 2011
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (han)
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:20:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: SermonWriter: Feb. 6 (Epiphany 5A) Isaiah 58:1-12
	& 1 Cor. 2:1-16
In-Reply-To: <RjlKQUw4RCg8ez0sUUtIMTY4Mjk3MzQ@Dick>
References: <RjlKQUw4RCg8ez0sUUtIMTY4Mjk3MzQ@Dick>
Message-ID: <8CD8FB488C3B6D8-164-BC0@angweb-usm003.sysops.aol.com>


THE FOLLOWING are links to materials for ISAIAH:58:1-12 and 1 CORINTHIANS 
2:1-16.

To access those files, you MUST use the following links.

IF CLICKING ON THE LINK FAILS TO WORK, copy the link and paste it in the address 
window near the top of your browser.
Then hit the ENTER key or click GO.

ISAIAH 58:1-12

These materials include the exegesis + a link to one sermon + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/Isaiah.58.1-12.wpd


1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-16

These materials include the exegesis + a link to sermons + a hymn list:

Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.doc

HTML file (web page):
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.htm

WordPerfect file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/02-06yt/1.Cor.2.1-16.wpd


A TIP: If you want the Word or WordPerfect files, LEFT-CLICK on the link and see 
what happens.

That should bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to open the file or save 
it.
Choose OPEN.  Then save it wherever you like on your hard drive.

If that doesn't work, RIGHT-CLICK on the link.  You should get a sub-menu.
Hopefully, "Save Target As" will be one of them.  Click on that.
Then save the file wherever you want on your hard drive.

www.lectionary.org
Dick Donovan

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