[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension

[Joe Parrish]

 Forwarded:

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 4, 2011 11:57 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Up, Up, and AWAY!” or “Instant Access”
and deals with the epistle (Acts 1:8-14). Here it is:

Today is Ascension Sunday.  If you look at our cross over the altar,
it’s an ascension Christ-figure.  At first glance, it’s easy to see it
as a crucifix, but there is actually no cross.  We see Jesus, arms
outstretched as if on a cross, ascending to heaven to take his place
of honor and glory after his victorious triumph over death.  And in
the first Bible lesson from Acts (1:8-14) we heard the account of what
happened.  Remember, the disciples had been through a roller-coaster
ride of what looked to them like huge tragedy (Good Friday and the
crucifixion) to the glorious high of the Christ’s amazing
resurrection.  Here they were, just getting used to having him back,
when he took off again with a promise- he would send the Holy Spirit
to strengthen them.  They knew from past experience that Jesus
expected them to stick together, so they went back to the upper room
to encourage each other, plan, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of
me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion.  They didn’t understand the
significance of Jesus’ leaving them, but we do.  If he were still a
person on this planet, how would we access him?  Telephone?  Can you
imagine the busy signals just when we’re desperate?  Email?  “Sorry,
this box is full; please send your message later.”  To be accessible
to all of us all the time, Jesus had to return to heaven- thank God he
did!

That’s what happened to them- now what’s it to us?  How do the
ascension and the disciples’ roller-coaster experiences inform and
strengthen our own lives?  Did you notice the thought for the week:
“Tough times never last; tough people do (Robert Schuller).  True, but
how do we outlast the tough times? I’ve got five key words which I
first heard from the Rev. Bob Stump (Delville United Methodist Church
in Pennsylvania) that to me really answer this question.  They are:
DREAM, SCHEME, TEAM, LEAN, and BEAM.

DREAM!  This reminds me of the Collect for Purity- our first prayer
every Sunday.  It goes, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all
desires known, and from you no secrets are hid.”  Dare to dream!  A
word of warning: parents- don’t dream for your children if you don’t
also dream for yourself.  God doesn’t expect us to live through our
children.  God expects us to life a full life for him, to search for
God’s will for our own lives, and then to struggle to achieve it.
Don’t just tell your children what to do- show them in your own
lives.  You set the example for your children and then help them do
what you did.  Help them search for God’s will for their lives and
then struggle to achieve it.  Remember, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. said, “I have a dream!”  So DREAM!

SCHEME- not in the negative, manipulative sense; but in a positive
planning way.  You know the old gospel song, “Keep your eyes on the
prize, hold on.”  That’s just another way of saying what St. Paul
said, “I press on!”  Don’t be surprised when you encounter obstacles
to your dreams.  Do you remember St. Peter’s warning to his people (I
Peter 4:12)- “Don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through
testing that is like walking through fire.”  If you’re never
frustrated as you try to focus and achieve your dreams, your goals-
you really need to be sure you’ve figured out God’s will for your
life.  You’ve heard the phrase, “No pain; no gain.”  For the Christian
walk, it’s really true.  God’s will involves struggle.  If life is
going too smoothly, you’d better wonder why Satan isn’t testing you-
why he’s just letting you go about your own convenient, easy way.  So
plan, focus, stick with it, SCHEME!

TEAM!  We’re not intended to go this alone.  Remember, what did the
disciples do right after Jesus AGAIN left them alone this time by
ascending to heaven?  Did they each go to their own houses and worry?
Actually, probably Thomas did that, and he missed Jesus first
resurrection appearance to the others and then wasn’t sure he could
believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead.  What did they do?
They all went back to that upper room to encourage each other, talk,
pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e. receive Holy
Communion.  Last Sunday, we heard Jesus proclaim that he is the vine
and we are the branches.  Did you notice- not a single branch, but
branchES.  And St. Paul reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and
individually members of it (1st Cor. 12).  So- don’t try to go it
alone.  Be in church at least once a week and do what Jesus said-
TEAM!

LEAN!  Lean on Jesus.  You know the song, “Learning to Lean.”  Lean on
him.  You know this stole that I must put on before doing any priestly
acts.  Do you know what it symbolizes?  A yoke.  You’ve seen videos of
oxen yoked together to share the load.  When I wear this stole, I
represent all of us.  Do you know who we’re yoked with?  Jesus.
Remember when Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is
light” (Matthew 11:30).  So LEAN!

Finally- BEAM!  Look at the ascending Christ figure over the altar.
Where is Christ looking?  Where are his eyes beaming?  Sure- right on
the altar.  So beam in on God’s wisdom at the altar.  Beam in on God’s
power at the altar.  Beam in on God’s love at the altar.

Let us pray.  Lord, we thank you that the tough times only seem to
last forever.  We thank you that tough times really do pass.  We ask
you to help us to live today and every day to dream, scheme, team,
lean, and beam in on you so we may be one of those tough people who
really do last.  Amen.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan


 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20110605/ff98ffd6/attachment.htm>