[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] A Dirty Business - sermon on Matthew pericope

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Fisher <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: SBA <SBA at SBAbbey.com>; sermonshop.sermons.topic <sermonshop.sermons.topic at ecunet.org>; PRCL-L <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>; propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>; midrash <midrash at joinhands.com>
Sent: Sat, Jul 9, 2011 2:20 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] A Dirty Business


Here's my sermon for the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time,  using the Matthew
pericope.  It's a bit different so any suggestions will be appreciated.

PAX,


__

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


One of my hobbies
while driving
back and forth
between Kewanee
and Chicago
is to look for interesting
bumper stickers.
Here are 
some of the best ones:
"tell me,
what is this
bright side
you speak of;"
"to err
is human,
to argh
is pirate;"
"free air bag test,
just drive
a little closer."

I've always felt
our denomination
was missing something
by not having
its own
bumper sticker.
So to remedy
such a dreadful lack
I'd like to purpose a bumper sticker
for the next General Assembly
to adopt.
Its one
all of us loudly
and visually
 attested to
 in our younger days.
Its also one
spoken of
in today's Gospel lesson.
I think our denomination's
bumper sticker
should read,
"Dirt Matters!"

In your eyes I think I see right now
a bit of honest fear.
What will Pastor Frank 
now do with dirt
to we who sit out here.
Be not afraid 
my friends I say,
for with mud I won't besmirch.
For the topic 
is so dirty
for a clean talking way, I
'll search.

Now to talk of 
dirty business
is no matter for a song.
So I'll speak today 
in poetry
to move our time along.
"A poet, 
you will never be,"
I imagine 
some retort.
But you'll find 
there's one big benefit,
the sermon 
will be short.

The Farmer came into the field
one fine and sunny day.
It was spring and planting time
or else there'd be no hay
Seed from the pouch was scattered wide
covering every inch of ground.
No matter how poor the dirt might be
a seed on it was found.

Upon the path some seeds did fall
and there they did rebound.
But when came the plow to cover them
no seed could there be found.
Among the rocks some seeds fell too
and sprouted in the cracks.
Yet when the sun rose in the sky
they withered in their tracks.
Still others fell among the weeds
and grew up straight and tall.
But faster still the weeds did grow
and no grain was found by Fall.

It might have seemed the Farmer
did effort waste upon that day.
That might be true you could be sure
but for where more seeds did lay.
They fell on rich and fertile ground
and did a full yield bring.
One hundred fold the harvest came
from the efforts of the King.

For the Farmer who Lord Jesus said
sowed the field with wondrous seed.
Was no other than the God of life
who brings thingss ufficient for our need.
And were ever Christians come to pray
whether many or few they be,
Through God's grace the seeds are sown
to bring God's victory.

If you'd see churches come full alive,
filled with  love and ne'er with strife;
the way to do it is very clear,
simply turn o'er to God each life.
You need not be a monk or nun
or do mission from a yurt.
All this miracle needs now to succeed
is for us to be good dirt.

Come worship and hear God's  word.
Daily pray to the Lord of all.
Gather to learn and fellowship
and you'll begin to hear Christ's call.
Make first in our lives the One who came
and on earth did die for you.
In Christ we do not walk alone
here there'll be many, not a few.

In each of us whose here today
the Farmer's sowed the seed.
We have among us all that we
will find that we will need.
So water yourself from now with prayer
and make Scripture our fertile ground.
In God full life that's slipped away
will here be ever found

So now our task we undertake
to make our churches come alive.
The sower has worked to give us all
what we need to make us thrive.
We'll bear fruit a hundred fold
and be amazed it has not hurt.
And give thanks to God, because if we allow
God will make of us good dirt.

To God alone be glory.   Amen.



 
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