From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  2 12:53:18 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 12:53:18 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 13B
In-Reply-To: <b82288cd-31d0-4d3f-a20c-52c127ce290e@ecunet.org>
References: <b82288cd-31d0-4d3f-a20c-52c127ce290e@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14eef54f217-7f05-31849@webstg-a06.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 1, 2015 5:59 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 13B


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Food for the Body vs. Food for the Soul? and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is:
     
 
     
This morning in our Old Testament lesson (Exodus 16: 2-4, 5, 9-15) we heard how God provided the Israelites with very badly needed food for their hungry bodies.  As you recall, God used Moses to work a mighty miracle by leading them out of Egypt- the land of slavery.  When the Egyptian army followed them to bring them back, remember how God parted the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) when they were trapped- so they could escape.  When the Egyptian army tried to follow, God allowed the Sea to close in on them, and God?s people were safe.  Next he gave them the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with them.  Then on they traveled walking to the Promised Land.  There was one problem, however.  It?s pretty hard to find food in the desert, and they got hungrier and hungrier.  In Exodus 16:2-3 we heard the people complaining about Moses, saying they were better off in Egypt.  Did you hear the story of the little boy whose mother had just come home from the hospital with a new baby sister?  That baby cried and cried- nobody in the family could get any sleep.  Finally the little boy asked where they got that new baby.  His mother replied, ?From heaven.?  ?Listen to her cry!?  he exclaimed.  ?I?ll bet even God couldn?t shut her up!?  No wonder they threw her out and she landed down here!?  That?s how the Israelites were- loud, crying, and complaining, until God had pity on them and sent them food (manna).  Every morning when they woke up, there was this bread-like substance on the ground- enough for one day?s food for everyone (two days before the Sabbath so they wouldn?t break the fourth commandment).  Manna, plus the occasional quail that foolishly landed where they could be caught, made an amazingly nutritious diet.  Manna provided food for the body- sustenance to keep them going mile after mile to the Promised Land.  
     
 
     
In today?s Gospel (John 6:24-35) we heard Jesus describe how God provides food for the soul.  In verse 35 we hear Jesus say about himself: ?I am the Bread of Life.  No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.  No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.?  Now we?re talking soul food.  Billy D. Strayhorn, in Bread of Heaven, describes it this way: ?Steven Morris was a special needs child in Mrs. Bernaducci's class. Steven was a thin African-American boy who was blind. His handicap negatively impacted his self-esteem. However, over a period of time, the teacher realized that Steven had exceptional hearing.  One day she put the class mascot, a mouse, into the trash can. The scratching noise created a minor panic until Steven located the mouse. Mrs. Bernaducci exclaimed: "Steven, you are truly a wonder." The nickname caught on. The next year little Stevie Wonder, full of a sense of his own value, began playing the piano. Stevie 'Wonder' would go on to influence and change American music all because of Mrs. Bernaducci's faith and encouragement.  We all need that kind of encouragement. Especially in times like this. Times that try our souls. Times that cause stress and uncertainty. Times when we want of word of direction from God but God seems to be silent. We need a word of encouragement. And that's what we get when we come to this table. A little bit of bread and a little bit of wine remind us that Christ died for us to prove God's love for us.?  
     
 
     
Our problem comes when we know we?re hungry, but we think we need strength for our body, but we really need strength for our souls.  Do you remember the story of the pastor who wanted to convince his children not to smoke, drink, or eat too many sweets?  He got four jars and four worms.  Next he filled one jar with cigarette smoke, one jar with cheap whisky, one jar with a hot fudge sundae, and one jar with good moist soil.  Finally he placed a worm in each jar.  Of course, you know what happened.  All the worms died except the one in the jar with soil.  ?There,? he said to the children.  ?Look at all these dead worms- only one lived.  What can you learn about life from these worms??  ?That?s easy!? said Sally.  ?If you smoke, drink whisky, and eat hot fudge sundaes- you won?t get worms!?  She surely missed the point!  The trouble is- we miss the point too.  We misdiagnose our hunger- just like the child misdiagnosed the purpose of the pastor?s experiment.
     
 
     
   
So- when you have a hunger that you think you must fill, but you know it?s not good for you- try Jesus!
   
When that cigarette cough is making you begin to worry- try Jesus!
   
When you need that drink to get you started in the morning- try Jesus!
   
When you need the TV on to be able to fall asleep- try Jesus!
   
When that sexual partner who?s not good for you comes knocking- try Jesus!
   
When you can?t shut the worries off in your brain- try Jesus!
 
The Holy Bread He offers you today at our altar will be in every cell in your body claiming life and health and joy for you.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan
  
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug  2 13:57:05 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 11:57:05 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 - August 9
Message-ID: <46C774D29D7847678E4BF9B938068325@BobPC>

Collect for Proper 14:

Let us Pray:

God, host of the universe,
you have sent out the invitations,
to dine with your son,
the bread of eternal life,
the bread of enrichment.
May we graciously sit at table,
your multigrain board,
with rich and poor, saint and sinner alike,
both humble and haughty,
all hungry.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God for ever and ever. Amen


For reflection on Proper 14 go to > http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

Bob Eldan
Lander, Wyoming


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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug  2 21:24:36 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 21:24:36 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS foir the ELEVENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <45DEBE3D8B8C442CB947F75BC7862F51@T530>

The following are the readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 9, (Proper 14, ECUSA; Proper 19, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday.



OLD TESTAMENT:  2 Samuel 18: 5 - 9, 15, 31 - 33   (RCL)

2Sam 18:5 (NRSV) The king ordered Jo'ab and Abi'shai and It'tai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Ab'salom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Ab'salom. 
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of E'phraim. 7 The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword. 
9 Ab'salom happened to meet the servants of David. Ab'salom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 

15 And ten young men, Jo'ab's armor-bearers, surrounded Ab'salom and struck him, and killed him. 

31 Then the Cu'shite came; and the Cu'shite said, "Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you." 32 The king said to the Cu'shite, "Is it well with the young man Ab'salom?" The Cu'shite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man." 
33 The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Ab'salom, my son, my son Ab'salom! Would I had died instead of you, O Ab'salom, my son, my son!" 


1 Kings 19: 4 - 8   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

1Kin 19:4 (NRSV) But he [Elijah] himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Ho'reb the mount of God. 


PSALM 130   (RCL)

Psal 130:1 (NRSV) Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 
2 Lord, hear my voice! 
Let your ears be attentive 
to the voice of my supplications! 
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
Lord, who could stand? 
4 But there is forgiveness with you, 
so that you may be revered. 
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
and in his word I hope; 
6 my soul waits for the Lord 
more than those who watch for the morning, 
more than those who watch for the morning. 
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 
and with him is great power to redeem. 
8 It is he who will redeem Israel 
from all its iniquities. 

 
Psalm 34: 1 - 8   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
3 O magnify the LORD with me, 
and let us exalt his name together. 
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, 
and delivered me from all my fears. 
5 Look to him, and be radiant; 
so your faces shall never be ashamed. 
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, 
and was saved from every trouble. 
7 The angel of the LORD encamps 
around those who fear him, and delivers them. 
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; 
happy are those who take refuge in him. 

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greter than the above.


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 4: 25 - 5: 2   (RCL)
                                      Ephesians 4: 30 - 5:2   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 4:25 (NRSV) So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 35, 41 - 51   (RCL)
                    John 6: 41 - 51   (Roman Catholic)

John 6:35 (NRSV) Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, "I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug  8 20:11:15 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:11:15 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 1
Message-ID: <2QBF1r00U4CyTrJ01QBFxa@charter.net>

I'll try splitting this to post ... off to have dinner, then proof it.

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY   THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST 

	1 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 31-33     PROPER 14 b 

	EPHESIANS 4:25 ? 5:2     9th AUGUST, 2015 

	JOHN 6:35, 41-51     PSALM 130 

	 ?I am ?? 

	 Check through John?s Gospel to see how often these two words are
on Jesus? lips. To us, perhaps, they?re not much of a big deal.
Unless, of course, they come from someone who?s so full of her or
himself that the words are a bit grating; as if that person
perpetually self-promotes. 

	 But to the average listener to Jesus, whenever He began by saying,
?I am ??, that person would think immediately of the encounter
between Moses and God. ?Tell them ?I am? sends you,? God said
to Moses. 

	 ?I am? on Jesus? lips, then, plainly places God right in the
centre of human life. ?I am here.? ?I am your friend.? ?I am
your comforter.? ?I am your guide.? ?I am your yard stick.? 

	 ?I am ?? ? it sounds so heartwarming, and yet it terrified
and enraged so many in Jesus? day. It was, indeed, identified with
Moses? encounter in the desert. But it was interpreted also ?
rightly, as it turns out ? as Jesus equating Himself and what He was
saying and doing, with God. THAT was blasphemy! THAT was enough to get
Him killed! And, despite the message of freedom, of courage, of hope
that it embodied, it also set in motion the wheels that would roll on
to Calvary. 

	 How can bread get one in such trouble? 

	 The problem was ? and remains ? the idea that God was and is so
readily available, so present. This is not God who won?t come off
the mountain, or leave the chic beach resort where it?s been so
temperate these last couple of weeks. This isn?t God who only
frequents air-conditioned homes, and sips martinis, or margaritas or
cold designer beer. This isn?t God who wouldn?t be seen dead
riding public transportation. 

	 There was an interesting article on the news last week about a new
bus service in Salem. It seems that if you live in West Salem, with
all its steep hills and mostly residential areas, there isn?t much
help for you if you want to get into the centre of the city, never
mind any of the malls to the east, north or south. With the exception
of Wallace Road, right along the river, you?re out of luck if you
don?t have a car or it?s in the shop. 

	 So some students at Portland State are developing a programme to
organise busses on demand ? it was described as ?ber busses. Of
course, there were immediate issues raised. 

	 No one who has a car wants to leave it at home. We know the familiar
arguments. ?If they want to ride a bus, let them move out of here
and find someplace where Cherriotts, the existing public busses, run
already.? There isn?t even a whiff of a thought that ?I am a
West Salem resident?, if I can put it that way, might make us stop
to consider what?s going on. 

	 Doesn?t it sound a bit strange? God WANTS to feed us. God WANTS to
help us find meaning in our lives, and satisfaction and reasonable,
livable compensation in our employment. God WANTS us to be happy. God
is present EVERYwhere, in EVERY neighbourhood. Yet it?s so hard to
accept and make this a guiding principle in our lives. God WANTS to
take us out of situations that cripple and debilitate us. 

	 Yet that?s not quite right. God doesn?t necessarily want us
actually to move. God simply wants the conditions to change, the
attitudes to be reformed, the whole idea of community to be
reinvented. God hopes and prays that all who are around and come in
contact with others will become aware of their hungers. 

	 Bread, in other words, is not in church alone. 

	 ?I am here,? God says, ?not just there. I?ll take care of
you. I?ll give you guidance. You?ll see.? 

	 But folk get in the way of God so often, consciously or
unconsciously. What right does anyone have to say that she or he can
speak for God; can try to act for God? 

	 ?Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of
St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam
Kraft.? It?s pictured in your bulletins. ?Commissioned in 1493
by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more
elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy
Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of (almost sixty
feet). This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its
towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and
Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure,? which
talks about Jesus as the Bread of Life. ?Imhoff's coat of arms is
displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny
also reveals the presence of (the sculptor) Kraft in the centre, and
two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight
of the whole structure on their shoulders.? 1 


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug  8 20:12:49 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:12:49 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 2
Message-ID: <2QCp1r0095Slt4s01QCpan@charter.net>

(Second part)

 The people of Jesus? time simply couldn?t comprehend that
everyone being fed and satisfied was God?s number one priority; that
providing education for everyone; and safety for everyone; and respect
for everyone, was what God has always intended for those who inhabit
creation. So many of the people of Jesus? time had their own
priorities. They wanted to hang on to whatever they had, and they
wanted to add to that whatever anyone else had. So to have Jesus say
that whoever comes to Him will never be thirsty, never be hungry
again, was SO much of a threat to those who placed their hopes so much
on tangible assets that they couldn?t bear the thought of risking
losing even a crumb of them. THEY wanted to corner the bread market
? whether in church or out beyond four walls. 

	 But Jesus, the Bread of Life, who wants to sustain us all, cannot be
imprisoned or locked away from us or any of His people. 

	 Maybe that?s what made some of the listeners of Jesus, who were
the ones with power, what made them SO angrily nervous. After all, as
a member of the Crow Nation remarked yesterday, the sacred, that which
shows holiness, which draws us into holiness, always has and
demonstrates power. And the fact that Jesus was willing to share
power, to empower everyone, through bread, though conversation,
through promises of eternal life; that made people SO angry. 

	 I don?t know that we get quite that angry, yet there ARE
definitely times when we don?t want to share. Maybe we all need to
go back to kindergarten, where we can learn that prime directive ?
to share with others, no matter what it is ? except for germs and
pain, of course! 

	 Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry made an amusing point about
this last Sunday. He talked about how, in so many ways, we?re really
still in kindergarten. He asked to imagine God looking at all of us on
earth. He asked us to think about the ways in which we?re so far
from getting things right. He asked us to think about how we relative
to one another and to God. He asked us to picture God smiling and
shaking God?s head and thinking, ?Give them time. They?re still
in kindergarten!? 

	As Bishop Curry remarked, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it?s
actually reassuring to think that we?re still in creation?s
kindergarten, because, if this is what humans are like as adults, then
we have some serious problems! 

	If we were adults, we should be falling all over ourselves, trying to
make sure that no one is left out, that everyone has enough to eat,
every single day; enough clean water to drink, every day; enough
shelter from the blazing sun, or pounding rain, or bitter cold ?
every day. 

	We can?t quite see it in the bulletin photograph of the Sacrament
House in St. Lorenz. We have to take the description at its face
value, but think about the meaning of that carving. From head-height
up it?s elaborate, a wonderfully creative expression of joy and
devotion in knowing that within it shall live the Bread of Life which
will feed the whole world. But the creative imagination of the
sculptor, Kraft, was led to understand that all of this glory, this
sign of freedom from hunger, and thirst, and fear; all of it is
balanced on the shoulders of Kraft and his two companions; all of it
is balanced on the shoulders of you and me. 

	Jesus IS the Bread of Life, certainly. He said it over and over,
referring to Himself and to the tidings of peace He brought. That?s
central to our faith. But in order for people to hear about it; in
order to for people to taste it and see how gracious God is, you and I
have to speak the words; you and I ? or someone else on our behalf
? has to mix the ingredients and bake the bread; someone has to make
an offering of it and to use the words given us by Jesus; someone has
to take it, to break it apart and to distribute it ? outside as well
as inside the building we often mistake for church. 

	As crazy as it sounds, Jesus trusts us. Teresa of Avila, born five
hundred years ago this year, wrote, ?O Thou Treasure of the poor!
How marvellously Thou sustainest souls, showing to them, not all at
once, but by little and little, the abundance of Thy riches! When I
behold Thy great Majesty hidden beneath that which is so slight as the
host is, I am filled with wonder?? 2 

	The torn piece of Bread, each bit not cut neatly with straight lines
nor exactly the same as that given to person next to you; that torn
piece of Bread came from human hands, but was blessed by Jesus Himself
through the work of the Spirit which He promised us. 

	That torn piece of Bread, so small, so fragile, apparently so
insignificant, is an incredible sign of life and love from God to us.
It comes from God who made us and is given to us, the kindergarteners
who seem so frequently to be so recently out of the sand box. 

	Yet as twentieth century saint, Dorothy Day, put it, ?Young people
say, ?What good can one person do?? They cannot see that we must
lay one brick at a time; we can be responsible only for the one action
of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our
heart that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and
know God will take them and multiply them as Jesus multiplied the
loaves and fishes.? 3 

	Out of incredible love for us, God in Jesus reaches out to us as to
the first century friends of Jesus and asks us to be the one, the
group, the community, which takes seriously Jesus? words. I AM ? I
AM present and I love and honour you so much as to offer you the means
to eradicate hunger and thirst. 

	The officers of the organisation ?Bread for the World? remind us
that ?Our efforts to help those in need are strengthened by Bread
for the World as it brings together people frommany faith traditions
? to be a collective Christian voice, urging our nation?s decision
makers (and those of other nations) to change the policies and
conditions that allow hunger to persist. We also give thanks for
churches and other organizations that provide emergency relief and
log-term assistance to overcome hunger, poverty, and disease.? 4 

	The Bread which Jesus gives for the life of the world must not be IN
church alone. Nor must it be FOR the church alone. The Bread which
Jesus offers, which Jesus invites us to take to the world, is for
EVERYONE, withOUT exception. 

	THIS is the Good Word of Jesus to us, whether we feel like
kindergarteners in mission or not. In fact, it may be better if we DO
think of ourselves as kindergarteners. Nine times out of ten, they
have no fear, no reluctance, to go to someone, even to a stranger, and
to say, ?Would you like to share my bread?? 

	It rests on our shoulders now, God helping.

	NOTES: 

	[1] Sacrament House by KRAFT, Adam - Web Gallery of Art [1]
www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm [2]

	2 From ?_The Autobiography?_, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) quoted
in ?_Soulwork Toward Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat Proper 14 (Year B),
August 9, 2015 ?Under The Appearance of? _Suzanne Guthrie
http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html [3]

	3 From _?Loaves and Fishes?_ by Dorothy Day (1897-1980) quoted by
Suzanne Guthrie, Op. Cit.

	4 Insert, _?Bread for the World?,_ Washington D.C., October 2015
www.bread.org [4] 


Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=11&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CEIQFjAKahUKEwjMhNyeiZjHAhWILogKHbirB1Y&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wga.hu%2Fhtml_m%2Fk%2Fkraft%2Fselfpor.html&amp;ei=IzjFVYznC4jdoAS4156wBQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNGtDx6WLAAj-trMAZ9NVOj8Do1p5w&amp;bvm=bv.99804247,d.cGU
[2] http://www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm
[3] http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html
[4] http://www.bread.org

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug  9 10:32:33 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2015 08:32:33 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 15 - August 16
Message-ID: <2eYZ1r00M2KWuoN01eYZhJ@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 15:
Let us pray:

	God of flesh and blood,

	when we are truly hungry and thirsty,

	spiritually malnourished,

	you give us your son

	to feed on,

	to satisfy our longing hearts.

	Give us courage

	to pass on this eternal nourishment

	through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	one God for ever and ever. Amen
For reflection on Proper 15 go to >?
http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 12:59:38 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 12:59:38 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd:  Proper 14 b - Part 2
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Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: robertpmorrison <robertpmorrison at charter.net>
To: 'propertalk at stsams.org' <propertalk at stsams.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 8:13 pm
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 2


(Second part) 
 
 
            The people of Jesus? time simply couldn?t comprehend that everyone being fed and satisfied was God?s number one priority; that providing education for everyone; and safety for everyone; and respect for everyone, was what God has always intended for those who inhabit creation. So many of the people of Jesus? time had their own priorities. They wanted to hang on to whatever they had, and they wanted to add to that whatever anyone else had. So to have Jesus say that whoever comes to Him will never be thirsty, never be hungry again, was SO much of a threat to those who placed their hopes so much on tangible assets that they couldn?t bear the thought of risking losing even a crumb of them. THEY wanted to corner the bread market ? whether in church or out beyond four walls.  
            But Jesus, the Bread of Life, who wants to sustain us all, cannot be imprisoned or locked away from us or any of His people.
  
            Maybe that?s what made some of the listeners of Jesus, who were the ones with power, what made them SO angrily nervous. After all, as a member of the Crow Nation remarked yesterday, the sacred, that which shows holiness, which draws us into holiness, always has and demonstrates power. And the fact that Jesus was willing to share power, to empower everyone, through bread, though conversation, through promises of eternal life; that made people SO angry.
  
            I don?t know that we get quite that angry, yet there ARE definitely times when we don?t want to share. Maybe we all need to go back to kindergarten, where we can learn that prime directive ? to share with others, no matter what it is ? except for germs and pain, of course!
  
            Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry made an amusing point about this last Sunday. He talked about how, in so many ways, we?re really still in kindergarten. He asked to imagine God looking at all of us on earth. He asked us to think about the ways in which we?re so far from getting things right. He asked us to think about how we relative to one another and to God. He asked us to picture God smiling and shaking God?s head and thinking, ?Give them time. They?re still in kindergarten!?
  
As Bishop Curry remarked, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it?s actually reassuring to think that we?re still in creation?s kindergarten, because, if this is what humans are like as adults, then we have some serious problems!
  
If we were adults, we should be falling all over ourselves, trying to make sure that no one is left out, that everyone has enough to eat, every single day; enough clean water to drink, every day; enough shelter from the blazing sun, or pounding rain, or bitter cold ? every day.
  
We can?t quite see it in the bulletin photograph of the Sacrament House in St. Lorenz. We have to take the description at its face value, but think about the meaning of that carving. From head-height up it?s elaborate, a wonderfully creative expression of joy and devotion in knowing that within it shall live the Bread of Life which will feed the whole world. But the creative imagination of the sculptor, Kraft, was led to understand that all of this glory, this sign of freedom from hunger, and thirst, and fear; all of it is balanced on the shoulders of Kraft and his two companions; all of it is balanced on the shoulders of you and me.
  
Jesus IS the Bread of Life, certainly. He said it over and over, referring to Himself and to the tidings of peace He brought. That?s central to our faith. But in order for people to hear about it; in order to for people to taste it and see how gracious God is, you and I have to speak the words; you and I ? or someone else on our behalf ? has to mix the ingredients and bake the bread; someone has to make an offering of it and to use the words given us by Jesus; someone has to take it, to break it apart and to distribute it ? outside as well as inside the building we often mistake for church.
  
As crazy as it sounds, Jesus trusts us. Teresa of Avila, born five hundred years ago this year, wrote, ?O Thou Treasure of the poor!  How marvellously Thou sustainest souls, showing to them, not all at once, but by little and little, the abundance of Thy riches!  When I behold Thy great Majesty hidden beneath that which is so slight as the host is, I am filled with wonder?? 2
  
The torn piece of Bread, each bit not cut neatly with straight lines nor exactly the same as that given to person next to you; that torn piece of Bread came from human hands, but was blessed by Jesus Himself through the work of the Spirit which He promised us.
  
That torn piece of Bread, so small, so fragile, apparently so insignificant, is an incredible sign of life and love from God to us. It comes from God who made us and is given to us, the kindergarteners who seem so frequently to be so recently out of the sand box.
  
Yet as twentieth century saint, Dorothy Day, put it, ?Young people say, ?What good can one person do?? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time; we can be responsible only for the one action of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our heart that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and know God will take them and multiply them as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.? 3
  
Out of incredible love for us, God in Jesus reaches out to us as to the first century friends of Jesus and asks us to be the one, the group, the community, which takes seriously Jesus? words. I AM ? I AM present and I love and honour you so much as to offer you the means to eradicate hunger and thirst.
  
The officers of the organisation ?Bread for the World? remind us that ?Our efforts to help those in need are strengthened by Bread for the World as it brings together people frommany faith traditions ? to be a collective Christian voice, urging our nation?s decision makers (and those of other nations) to change the policies and conditions that allow hunger to persist. We also give thanks for churches and other organizations that provide emergency relief and log-term assistance to overcome hunger, poverty, and disease.? 4
  
The Bread which Jesus gives for the life of the world must not be IN church alone. Nor must it be FOR the church alone. The Bread which Jesus offers, which Jesus invites us to take to the world, is for EVERYONE, withOUT exception.
  
THIS is the Good Word of Jesus to us, whether we feel like kindergarteners in mission or not. In fact, it may be better if we DO think of ourselves as kindergarteners. Nine times out of ten, they have no fear, no reluctance, to go to someone, even to a stranger, and to say, ?Would you like to share my bread??
  
It rests on our shoulders now, God helping.
 


  
NOTES:
  
[1]           Sacrament House by KRAFT, Adam - Web Gallery of Art  www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm
 


  
2           From ?The Autobiography?, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) quoted in ?Soulwork Toward Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat Proper 14 (Year B),  August 9, 2015 ?Under The Appearance of? Suzanne Guthrie http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html
 

 
  
3           From ?Loaves and Fishes? by Dorothy Day  (1897-1980) quoted by Suzanne Guthrie, Op. Cit.
 


  
4           Insert, ?Bread for the World?, Washington D.C., October 2015 www.bread.org 
 
 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 13:00:25 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 13:00:25 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd:  Proper 14 b - 1
In-Reply-To: <2QBF1r00U4CyTrJ01QBFxa@charter.net>
References: <2QBF1r00U4CyTrJ01QBFxa@charter.net>
Message-ID: <14f1367f8a4-2f78-4ac30@webstg-m01.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: robertpmorrison <robertpmorrison at charter.net>
To: 'propertalk at stsams.org' <propertalk at stsams.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 8:11 pm
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 1


I'll try splitting this to post ... off to have dinner, then proof it. 
 
 
 
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY             THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
  
1 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 31-33                                                                                                        PROPER 14 b
  
EPHESIANS 4:25 ? 5:2                                                                                                    9th AUGUST, 2015
  
JOHN 6:35, 41-51                                                                                                                      PSALM 130
  
 
  
            ?I am ??
  
            Check through John?s Gospel to see how often these two words are on Jesus? lips. To us, perhaps, they?re not much of a big deal. Unless, of course, they come from someone who?s so full of her or himself that the words are a bit grating; as if that person perpetually self-promotes.
  
            But to the average listener to Jesus, whenever He began by saying, ?I am ??, that person would think immediately of the encounter between Moses and God. ?Tell them ?I am? sends you,? God said to Moses.
  
            ?I am? on Jesus? lips, then, plainly places God right in the centre of human life. ?I am here.? ?I am your friend.? ?I am your comforter.? ?I am your guide.? ?I am your yard stick.?
  
            ?I am ?? ? it sounds so heartwarming, and yet it terrified and enraged so many in Jesus? day. It was, indeed, identified with Moses? encounter in the desert. But it was interpreted also ? rightly, as it turns out ? as Jesus equating Himself and what He was saying and doing, with God. THAT was blasphemy! THAT was enough to get Him killed! And, despite the message of freedom, of courage, of hope that it embodied, it also set in motion the wheels that would roll on to Calvary.
  
            How can bread get one in such trouble?
  
            The problem was ? and remains ? the idea that God was and is so readily available, so present. This is not God who won?t come off the mountain, or leave the chic beach resort where it?s been so temperate these last couple of weeks. This isn?t God who only frequents air-conditioned homes, and sips martinis, or margaritas or cold designer beer. This isn?t God who wouldn?t be seen dead riding public transportation.
  
            There was an interesting article on the news last week about a new bus service in Salem. It seems that if you live in West Salem, with all its steep hills and mostly residential areas, there isn?t much help for you if you want to get into the centre of the city, never mind any of the malls to the east, north or south. With the exception of Wallace Road, right along the river, you?re out of luck if you don?t have a car or it?s in the shop.
  
            So some students at Portland State are developing a programme to organise busses on demand ? it was described as ?ber busses. Of course, there were immediate issues raised.
  
            No one who has a car wants to leave it at home. We know the familiar arguments. ?If they want to ride a bus, let them move out of here and find someplace where Cherriotts, the existing public busses, run already.? There isn?t even a whiff of a thought that ?I am a West Salem resident?, if I can put it that way, might make us stop to consider what?s going on.
  
            Doesn?t it sound a bit strange? God WANTS to feed us. God WANTS to help us find meaning in our lives, and satisfaction and reasonable, livable compensation in our employment. God WANTS us to be happy. God is present EVERYwhere, in EVERY neighbourhood. Yet it?s so hard to accept and make this a guiding principle in our lives. God WANTS to take us out of situations that cripple and debilitate us.
  
            Yet that?s not quite right. God doesn?t necessarily want us actually to move. God simply wants the conditions to change, the attitudes to be reformed, the whole idea of community to be reinvented. God hopes and prays that all who are around and come in contact with others will become aware of their hungers.
  
            Bread, in other words, is not in church alone.
  
            ?I am here,? God says, ?not just there. I?ll take care of you. I?ll give you guidance. You?ll see.?
  
            But folk get in the way of God so often, consciously or unconsciously. What right does anyone have to say that she or he can speak for God; can try to act for God?
  
            ?Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam Kraft.? It?s pictured in your bulletins. ?Commissioned in 1493 by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of (almost sixty feet). This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure,? which talks about Jesus as the Bread of Life. ?Imhoff's coat of arms is displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny also reveals the presence of (the sculptor) Kraft in the centre, and two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight of the whole structure on their shoulders.? 1
  
 

 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 13:01:40 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 13:01:40 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] SermonB
In-Reply-To: <3025fbbd-5477-443b-90b0-0f91f844f771@ecunet.org>
References: <3025fbbd-5477-443b-90b0-0f91f844f771@ecunet.org>
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Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 10:50 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] SermonB


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ??Anger? + ?D?= ?DANGER!?? or ?Please Engage Brain before Putting Mouth into Gear? and deals with the epistle (Ephesians 4:25-5:2).  Here it is:
     
 
     
Did you hear Paul?s instructions about anger in his letter to the Ephesian church?  He wrote, ?Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance.  Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.  Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.  Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide.?  Who does he think we are...Superman or Wonder Woman?  I?d like us to look at the hard topic of anger.  Is it always a sin?  What do you do about those powerful feelings?  I?m here to tell you that anger is one of the devil?s most valuable tools to destroy us, those we love, along with our enemies.
     
 
     
IS ANGER ALWAYS A SIN?  Well, remember- Jesus was sinless, yet we heard of a time in Holy Scripture when he was angry.  Do you remember when it was?  Sure- when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple.  Jesus? anger in the temple porch was righteous anger because travelers were being misused- charged outrageous prices for exchanging money and then charged outrageous prices again for purchasing defective animals to sacrifice in the temple.  On top of that, they were doing all this buying and selling in the porch of the Gentiles- the only place the Gentiles could worship.  Jesus? anger was because of injustice, and his actions afterward didn?t hurt anyone- just solved the problem.  Did you notice Paul says, ?Don?t get so angry that you sin??  In other words, it?s not the anger that is the sin- it?s what you do with it.  It?s not how I feel- it?s what I say.  It?s not my inner emotion- it?s what I do, my action.  We can?t usually control how we feel, but we most certainly can control what we say and do, and it?s important that we do so.  Spell the word ?danger.?  Now spell it again, but skip the first letter.  What word did you spell?  Sure- ?anger? because anger is just one letter away from ?danger!?  I?m sure you?ve heard people say- ?I can?t help it!?  That?s the excuse my schoolchildren tried to use when I was still teaching. ?Mrs. Boli, he made me do it? didn?t hold water with me then and it doesn?t hold water when we try to tell God (or ourselves) now.   
     
 
     
That?s easy to say, but hard to actually accomplish.  Rev. Stanley Sims used to quote an old saying by Molefi Asante, ?There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control--your mind and your mouth.?  Sin starts in our minds (and bodies) with a strong emotion; it goes from there to our mouths and actions.  God has high standards for us about how we deal with anger- no damage (physically or emotionally).  Fix the problem if you can, but don?t damage the person who is acting like your enemy.  How do I know?  Jesus said, ?LOVE (want what?s best for) your enemy and pray for them.?  How do you keep from sinning when someone has angered you?
     
 
     
FIRST- STOP!  Don?t do anything.  Get away from the situation so you can calm down.  It takes a clear mind to figure out how to solve anger-producing problems, and you can?t do it while you?re boiling with fury inside, while all your fight-or flight hormones are coursing through your blood vessels.  Example: Mike Fuller, who was a safety and punt-return specialist for the San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s, spoke about anger this way- ?The wide receivers are continually trying to make us angry each time they come into our area, because they know if they can upset us emotionally, they can fool us on the next play.?  So how do you clear your mind and body of the poisonous effects of anger?  Go for a walk, listen to some music or get involved with a really good TV program or video game, exercise, cook, clean.  DON?T sit and brood and DON?T try to dull your anger with alcohol or another substance.  You?re trying to clear your head, not muddle it.  Once you?ve calmed down, remember this fact- the person who angers you, controls you.  Look at the thought for the week: ?Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.  That person can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him or her? (Epictetus).  
     
 
     
SECOND- While you?re at it, be sure your data is correct.  There?s an old poem that goes: 
     
I'm always careful of the words I speak, I keep them soft and sweet,
     
I never know from day to day which ones I'll have to eat!
     
 
     
NEXT- FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.  Remember what Paul said, ?Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance,? in other words- don?t nurse your anger.  Don?t allow yourself to become bitter.  Don?t get on the phone and enjoy telling your friends how shamefully someone has treated you.  If you do choose to discuss the situation, work on how to solve the problem. Then solve the problem if you can.
     
 
     
FINALLY- DON?T LET YOUR ENEMY BRING YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL.  Did you hear the story of the elderly woman on her death bed?  Her pastor came to visit and asked if she had forgiven all her enemies.  ?All but one,? she answered.  ?I really haven?t been able to forgive my sister.?  ?You have to forgive her,? the pastor replied, ?or God won?t forgive you, and you don?t have that much time.?  ?All right,? she said, ?bring my sister here.?  When her sister walked into the hospital room, the woman looked daggers at her and said, ?I forgive you, BUT IF I GET BETTER, IT DOESN?T COUNT!?  Don?t be that way!  Look at Paul?s advice: ?Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.  Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide.?  Why not?  Because you allowed God to lose this round and the devil to win.  Your enemy has become your master and forced you to do or say things you knew better than to do or say as God?s precious child.  Did you hear the prayer someone prayed?  ?Dear God, so far today I've done all right.  I haven't gossiped; I haven't lost my temper; I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent.  I'm very thankful for that.  But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.?  You?ve got all the help you need- just don?t think you can do this on your own.  Keep your walk with the Lord strong; receive your Holy Communion at least once a week; say your prayers; and think before you speak or act.  May God bless us all as by God?s grace we stay in control of our minds and therefore our mouths and actions.  Amen.
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug  9 20:37:57 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 20:37:57 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the TWELFTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <91DA56475BD545F3A04371D46E435A1A@T530>

The following are the readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, (Proper 15, ECUSA; Proper 20, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic,  Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday. Note that the Canadian BAS Lectionary does not use the RCL alternatives.



OLD TESTAMENT:  1 Kings 2: 10 - 12, 3: 3 - 14   (RCL)

1Kin 2:10 (NRSV) Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. 11 The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in He'bron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. 

3:3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4 The king went to Gib'eon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gib'eon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" 
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." 


Proverbs 9: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

Prov 9:1 (NRSV) Wisdom has built her house, 
she has hewn her seven pillars. 
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, 
she has also set her table. 
3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls 
from the highest places in the town, 
4 "You that are simple, turn in here!" 
To those without sense she says, 
5 "Come, eat of my bread 
and drink of the wine I have mixed. 
6 Lay aside immaturity, and live, 
and walk in the way of insight." 


PSALM 111   (RCL)

Psal 111:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD! 
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, 
in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 
2 Great are the works of the LORD, 
studied by all who delight in them. 
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, 
and his righteousness endures forever. 
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; 
the LORD is gracious and merciful. 
5 He provides food for those who fear him; 
he is ever mindful of his covenant. 
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, 
in giving them the heritage of the nations. 
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; 
all his precepts are trustworthy. 
8 They are established forever and ever, 
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 
9 He sent redemption to his people; 
he has commanded his covenant forever. 
Holy and awesome is his name. 
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 
all those who practice it have a good understanding. 
His praise endures forever. 


Psalm 34: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
3 O magnify the LORD with me, 
and let us exalt his name together. 
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, 
and delivered me from all my fears. 
5 Look to him, and be radiant; 
so your {Gk Syr Jerome: Heb [their] } faces shall never be ashamed. 
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, 
and was saved from every trouble. 


Psalm 34: 9 - 14   (alt. for RCL)

Psal 34:9 (NRSV)  O fear the LORD, you his holy ones, 
for those who fear him have no want. 
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger, 
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 
11 Come, O children, listen to me; 
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 
12 Which of you desires life, 
and covets many days to enjoy good? 
13 Keep your tongue from evil, 
and your lips from speaking deceit. 
14 Depart from evil, and do good; 
seek peace, and pursue it. 


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 5: 15 - 20   (all)

Ephe 5:15 (NRSV) Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 51 - 58   (all)

John 6:51 (NRSV) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 15 15:46:03 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 15:46:03 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for August 16 based on John 6:51-58, "Holy Bread,
 Holy People"
Message-ID: <14f32e5c33a-58eb-7bc0@webstg-a04.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/pbul85d is our sermon for August 16 based on John 6:51-58, "Holy Bread, Holy People".
Peace and blessings,
Joe 
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 15 21:42:03 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (joeparrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 21:42:03 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B
Message-ID: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>

Forwarded:?


From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

-------- Original message --------
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> 
Date:08/15/2015  7:18 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B 

Dear Friends,

?

This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (1st Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14).? Here it is:

?

Today we heard the wonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1st Kings (2:10-12, 3:3-14) that told why King David?s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.? As you recall, when God promised him anything (wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.? Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you asked your specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car, clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?? I know how I?d feel- I?d think they were sick and had lost it!? But Solomon, when he could have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.? This is good advice for us too.? Did you notice Paul?s warning in Ephesians (5:15-17): ?Act like people with good sense and not like fools.? These are evil times, so make every minute count.? Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.?? Then the Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: ?Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies.? Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace.?? Psalm 111:10a says ?Respect and obey the LORD!? This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.??

?

Wisdom- what is it and how do we get it?? The Random House dictionary defines wisdom as ?Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with good judgment.?? Wisdom starts with the facts.? When I was a little girl, you can guess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a real chatterbox!? She finally taught me this little poem: ?A wise old owl lived in an oak.? The more he saw, the less he spoke.? The less he spoke, the more he heard.? Why can?t we all be like that wise old bird?!?? It didn?t work- I still ran my mouth, but my mother really did have a point.? How many ears did God give us for collecting the facts?? (Sure- two.)? And how many eyes did God give us for collecting the facts?? (Again- two.)? And how many mouths?? (Only one.)? Doesn?t that tell us something?? Remember Ephesians 5?? God expects us to have good sense, not act like fools, and not be stupid.? (Isn?t that what it says?)? To be wise, we must get our facts first.

?

There?s a problem with this Bible advice.? Did you notice how Paul reminded us that these are evil times?? There was a sign on a plumber?s window that said, ?We repair what your husband (or wife) tried to fix.?? Everybody?s got to be an expert, even if they don?t have the facts.? Our culture teaches us to pick a side and treat anyone who doesn?t agree with us as the enemy because they are either stupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.? Can you even start to guess how many marriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendships are lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and how many arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse or violence?? Did you hear about the minister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?? They stood along a well-traveled road with a sign that said, ?Turn around, the end is near!?? Along came a car speeding by.? The driver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: ?Religious fanatics- trying to tell me what to believe!?? The next thing they heard was a huge splash.? ?Lost another one,? said the minister.? ?Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.? Maybe we should just say ?Bridge out.?? Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from this driver how to listen to others.? James (1:19-20) says, ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.? If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.?? So what?s the Bible way?? Listen, truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child.?

?

Here are some devil-traps to avoid if we?re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:

Don?t enter a discussion ?armed for battle.?? Your purpose is not to win.? Your purpose is to understand.
Don?t be so busy thinking about how you?re going to respond that you don?t hear where the other person is coming from.
Don?t assume the other person is evil or even wrong.? Instead, if the person is a Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of view.? Treat them with honor and respect. (?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?)
A good friend of mine often says, ?Unless you are without sin, don?t throw the first stone.?? In other words, don?t judge your neighbor.? Follow the advice of Jesus, Paul, and James.
Don?t keep trouble going- that?s a greater sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred between people.
Don?t call someone on the phone to tell them about another person.? Instead, talk to the person himself or herself.? If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal of helping the other person.
Finally, remember in last week?s gospel how Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.? Follow his advice.? Stop worrying about other people and work on your own spiritual life.? When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus? name?? What bad habits do you have?? What are you struggling with yourself?? How are you doing in your Bible reading and prayer life?? When is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and spirit?
?

May God bless us as we continue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points of view, and to grow in Godly wisdom.?? May God bless us as we follow James? advice: ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.?? And may God help us remember his further advice: ?If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.??

?

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .

?

Blessed preaching,

Judy Boli

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Saginaw, Michigan

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org.
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From jedgar at nf.sympatico.ca  Sun Aug 16 09:35:48 2015
From: jedgar at nf.sympatico.ca (John Edgar)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 11:05:48 -0230
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B
In-Reply-To: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>
References: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>
Message-ID: <3BD1D5D8-F291-4336-91BB-6486236A0069@nf.sympatico.ca>

Pr

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 15, 2015, at 11:12 PM, joeparrish <joeparrish at compuserve.com> wrote:
> 
> Forwarded: 
> 
> 
> From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Judy 
> Date:08/15/2015 7:18 PM (GMT-05:00) 
> To: Propertalk 
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B 
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
>  
> 
> This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (1st Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14).  Here it is:
> 
>  
> 
> Today we heard the wonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1st Kings (2:10-12, 3:3-14) that told why King David?s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.  As you recall, when God promised him anything (wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.  Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you asked your specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car, clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?  I know how I?d feel- I?d think they were sick and had lost it!  But Solomon, when he could have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.  This is good advice for us too.  Did you notice Paul?s warning in Ephesians (5:15-17): ?Act like people with good sense and not like fools.  These are evil times, so make every minute count.  Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.?  Then the Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: ?Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies.  Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace.?  Psalm 111:10a says ?Respect and obey the LORD!  This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.? 
> 
>  
> 
> Wisdom- what is it and how do we get it?  The Random House dictionary defines wisdom as ?Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with good judgment.?  Wisdom starts with the facts.  When I was a little girl, you can guess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a real chatterbox!  She finally taught me this little poem: ?A wise old owl lived in an oak.  The more he saw, the less he spoke.  The less he spoke, the more he heard.  Why can?t we all be like that wise old bird?!?  It didn?t work- I still ran my mouth, but my mother really did have a point.  How many ears did God give us for collecting the facts?  (Sure- two.)  And how many eyes did God give us for collecting the facts?  (Again- two.)  And how many mouths?  (Only one.)  Doesn?t that tell us something?  Remember Ephesians 5?  God expects us to have good sense, not act like fools, and not be stupid.  (Isn?t that what it says?)  To be wise, we must get our facts first.
> 
>  
> 
> There?s a problem with this Bible advice.  Did you notice how Paul reminded us that these are evil times?  There was a sign on a plumber?s window that said, ?We repair what your husband (or wife) tried to fix.?  Everybody?s got to be an expert, even if they don?t have the facts.  Our culture teaches us to pick a side and treat anyone who doesn?t agree with us as the enemy because they are either stupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.  Can you even start to guess how many marriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendships are lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and how many arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse or violence?  Did you hear about the minister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?  They stood along a well-traveled road with a sign that said, ?Turn around, the end is near!?  Along came a car speeding by.  The driver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: ?Religious fanatics- trying to tell me what to believe!?  The next thing they heard was a huge splash.  ?Lost another one,? said the minister.  ?Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.  Maybe we should just say ?Bridge out.?  Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from this driver how to listen to others.  James (1:19-20) says, ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.  If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.?  So what?s the Bible way?  Listen, truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child. 
> 
>  
> 
> Here are some devil-traps to avoid if we?re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:
> 
> Don?t enter a discussion ?armed for battle.?  Your purpose is not to win.  Your purpose is to understand.
> Don?t be so busy thinking about how you?re going to respond that you don?t hear where the other person is coming from.
> Don?t assume the other person is evil or even wrong.  Instead, if the person is a Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of view.  Treat them with honor and respect. (?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?)
> A good friend of mine often says, ?Unless you are without sin, don?t throw the first stone.?  In other words, don?t judge your neighbor.  Follow the advice of Jesus, Paul, and James.
> Don?t keep trouble going- that?s a greater sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred between people.
> Don?t call someone on the phone to tell them about another person.  Instead, talk to the person himself or herself.  If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal of helping the other person.
> Finally, remember in last week?s gospel how Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.  Follow his advice.  Stop worrying about other people and work on your own spiritual life.  When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus? name?  What bad habits do you have?  What are you struggling with yourself?  How are you doing in your Bible reading and prayer life?  When is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and spirit?
>  
> 
> May God bless us as we continue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points of view, and to grow in Godly wisdom.   May God bless us as we follow James? advice: ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.?  And may God help us remember his further advice: ?If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.? 
> 
>  
> 
> For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
> 
>  
> 
> Blessed preaching,
> 
> Judy Boli
> 
> St. Paul's Episcopal Church
> 
> Saginaw, Michigan
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org.
> _______________________________________________
> Propertalk mailing list
> Propertalk at stsams.org
> http://mail.stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org
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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 16 13:22:37 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 11:22:37 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 - August 23
Message-ID: <5VNd1r00P1vZNDA01VNdis@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 16:
Let us pray:

	Abiding God,

	you in Jesus, Christ enduring in us,

	we in you,

	to whom else can we go?

	Your son?s words of eternal life

	empower us to stand steadfast

	with each other in you

	through Jesus Christ our Lord,

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

	one God for ever and ever. Amen
For reflection on Proper go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 16 21:09:25 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 21:09:25 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the THIRTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <2CD025DED46F428A9C1148ACAA428CF9@T530>

The following are the readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23, (Proper 21, RCL, Proper 16, ECUSA), according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian (BAS), and  English (Common Worship) lectionaries. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and the C of E are identical to the RCL this Sunday. The NRSV translation is used.


OLD TESTAMET:  1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10, 11) 22 - 30, 41 - 43   (RCL)

1Kin 8:1 (NRSV) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 

10 And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. 23 He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 24 the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. 25 Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, "There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David. 
27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, "My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive. 

41 "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42 --for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm--when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43 then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built. 


Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 15 - 17, 18b   (Roman Catholic)
Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 14 - 18   (alt. for RCL)

Josh 24:1 (NRSV) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to She'chem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 

14 "Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Am'orites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 
16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Am'orites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 


PSALM 84   (RCL)

Psal 84:1 (NRSV) How lovely is your dwelling place, 
O LORD of hosts! 
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints 
for the courts of the LORD; 
my heart and my flesh sing for joy 
to the living God. 
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, 
and the swallow a nest for herself, 
where she may lay her young, 
at your altars, O LORD of hosts, 
my King and my God. 
4 Happy are those who live in your house, 
ever singing your praise. [Se'lah] 
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, 
in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 
6 As they go through the valley of Ba'ca 
they make it a place of springs; 
the early rain also covers it with pools. 
7 They go from strength to strength; 
the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; 
give ear, O God of Jacob! [Se'lah] 
9 Behold our shield, O God; 
look on the face of your anointed. 
10 For a day in your courts is better 
than a thousand elsewhere. 
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
than live in the tents of wickedness. 
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 
he bestows favor and honor. 
No good thing does the LORD withhold 
from those who walk uprightly. 
12 O LORD of hosts, 
happy is everyone who trusts in you. 


Psalm 34: 15 - 22   (alt. for RCL)
Psalm 34: 1 - 2, 15 - 20   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, 
and his ears are open to their cry. 
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, 
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, 
and rescues them from all their troubles. 
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, 
and saves the crushed in spirit. 
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 
but the LORD rescues them from them all. 
20 He keeps all their bones; 
not one of them will be broken. 
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, 
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; 
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above.


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 6: 10 - 20   (RCL)

Ephe 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 


Ephesians 5: (2a, 21 - 24) 25 - 32   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 5:2a (NRSV) [L]ive in love, as Christ loved us

21Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 
22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind--yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 56 - 69   (RCL)
                    John 6: 60 - 69   (Roman Catholic)

John 6:56 (NRSV)  Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Caper'naum. 
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." 
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Aug 17 22:57:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:57:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter materials for Aug. 23 (Proper 16 - OT
 21) John 6:56-69
Message-ID: <14f3ebd3c1b-48fc-4019@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>


Forwarded; 


The following are SermonWriter materials for Aug. 23(Proper 16 - OT 21) John 6:56-69.
 
Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/08-23mn/John.6.56-69.doc
 
HTML:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/08-23mn/John.6.56-69.htm
 
 
www.lectionary.org


Dick Donovan


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Aug 17 23:00:55 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:00:55 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Biblical commentary for OT & Epistle scriptures for
 August 23 - Proper 16 (B)
Message-ID: <14f3ec09efb-48fc-4047@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



 This email has links to the Biblical commentary for thefollowing OT-Epistle scriptures for August 23:

 
1 Kings 8:1-43 (Common Lectionary - Track 1) Joshua24:1-2, 14-28 (Common Lectionary - Track 2 & Catholic) Ephesians 6:10-20(Both lectionaries)
 
1 KINGS 8:1-43

BIBLICAL COMMENTARY (Track 1)
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/OT/11-1Kings-WEB/1%20Kings%2008.01,%2006,%2010-11,%2022-30,%2041-43.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/OT/OT11-1Kings/1-1Kings-LINKS.htm
 
 
 
JOSHUA 24:1-2, 14-28
BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/OT/06-Josh-WEB/Joshua.24.1-25.Exegesis.WEB.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/OT/OT06-Josh/1-Josh-LINKS.htm
 
 
 
EPHESIANS 6:10-20
BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/NT/10-Eph-WEB/Eph-6.10-20-Exegesis-WEB.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/10-Eph/1-Eph-SERMONS.htm
 
www.lectionary.org


Dick Donovan


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Wed Aug 19 02:17:08 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 02:17:08 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] First draft of sermon for August 23 based on John
 6:56-69, "Who can we turn to?
Message-ID: <14f449aa075-1951-8a45@webstg-a10.mail.aol.com>

http://tiny.cc/kek61x is a first draft of our sermon for August 23 based on John 6:56-69, "Who can we turn to?"
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 13:38:58 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 10:38:58 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b - 2
Message-ID: <6hey1r00L4AFqC601heymj@charter.net>


second part

 ?How often have you bought something you felt wasn?t worth the
money? 

	 ?What if you could set the price? 

	 ?What factors would influence your number? 

	 ?For years, behavioral scientists have studied such questions. 

	 ?They often look at a model called P.W.Y.W. (Pay-what-you-want,
that is.) [1]  

	 ?The idea may seem like a consumer?s giddiest fantasy. But a
real-life extreme version of the experiment unfolding at a restaurant
in Montclair, N.J., is affirming the researchers? predictions. It
has been triggering a panoply of reactions ? including anxiety,
delight, incredulity, guilt and, yes, rampant opportunism. ? 

	 ??The majority of people want to take advantage of the offer,
but also recognize that it feels weird,? said Kathleen D. Vohs [2],
a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota who writes
about the psychology of money [3]. ?So they limit what they order,
do a good job of valuing it, and then walk back from what it?s
worth.?? 2 

	 Yes, there ARE people who take advantage of this generosity, people
could easily afford to be fair, if not far better. There are always
folk like that ? who listened to Jesus, ate with Him, got excited
about His conversations about living a refocused life, but balked at
the thought of making dramatic changes and an offering of their lives
for the spread of the Gospel, the Good News about what life CAN be
like when people don?t have to worry about how they could manage
their finances, or their health care, or their education. 

	 But then, thank God, there are others, like ?another family (who)
left a thank-you note with their modest amount. ?The food and
service was worth way more than we were able to leave.? It
continued, ?As a kid in college and a mother doing inconsistent
freelance, without the deal we wouldn?t have gotten the chance to
come.?? 

	 This Jesus-like chef gave that mother and child something they may
not forget for a long time, if ever. He gave them a glimpse of what it
means when people don?t worry about having their name stuck on a
college gate, or a church pew, or a city park ? people who know that
the goal of a life being lived well is to make sure that everyone is
given the invitation and opportunity to share. 

	 ?The other night (one diner) was in a swivet as she anticipated
that post-dessert moment of truth. She?d heard stories about the
shortchangers. 

	 ??I want to show the chef that I love his food and I appreciate
what he?s doing,? (she) said. ?And I worry about the kitchen
staff! The waiters! I?m so anxious!?? 

	 Now THERE?S someone who gets what life us about ? what ETERNAL
life is about! 

	 Solomon was like that chef! He had skills. He knew he could do
wonderful things if given half a chance and was blessed by God to use
his gifts wisely. He raised this Temple that must have been amazing to
see, filled as it was with treasures, not out of pomposity or
arrogance, but as an attempt to imply that nothing but the best is
good enough for God?s dwelling place. But the king didn?t say,
?See what I?ve done for you, God.? Solomon, already showing
signs of the maturity and wisdom for which he?d asked, interceded
with God for the foreigners who?d appear in Jerusalem, who might
come near the Temple. ?Hear that person?s prayer, and answer
it,? he pleaded with God.  

	The stranger, the weak person, the person at her or his wit?s end,
the one who is starving, who has no home, who could never hope to pay
what life cost ? SHE or HE was precisely the one whom Solomon had
come to understand MUST be given hospitality; she or he was precisely
the one to whom Jesus said, again and again, that each must eat His
flesh and drink His blood ? become one with Him. 

	And now this joyful message has been passed to us, who?ve had our
hunger and thirst satisfied at God?s altar. Now it?s our turn, as
God?s holy dwelling place, to minister in the world. We must ask
ourselves, what is Jesus worth to us. Not that we can pay what Jesus
is really worth. But then, all the Jesus wants is that we keep His
company, that we listen and learn, that we follow His example. 

	THAT is how we repay God for the love of Jesus. So, come, then, eat,
drink ? and share. 

	NOTES: 

	[1] _?Paul Smith?s College Will Get $20 Million, if It Changes
Its Name?_ By KRISTIN HUSSEY AUG. 17, 2015
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KVBjmEgFdYACPLKh239P3pgSUm6WmiIEVhWtNL6rtHQI9vhucq+Seal/G11kFaX0AW9SkJDlzpknkn2riy4Y6yo15di8KeuhfwQ4Xzc+oLhB5S9MoITtgvcEBXzBn28U4mJio7tM+Y1sh/48+NDsRAD7OneTLDEye33tlh+Pro2kQ2akLTddt2H2mnxKtytooJGVypokOY2BtSbk0PhUt8Gd60LMy7ONI8=&campaign_id=61&instance_id=61762&segment_id=76143&user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&regi_id=63205127
[4] 

	2  _?__Mind [5]: What Would You Pay for This Meal??_ By Jan
Hoffman  [6]August 17, 2015 2:28 pm August 17, 2015 2:28 pm
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KUPcT7snurzN09anQA2MM49IhNWGFarU5Fm06CM9fHXvtgEWWzQk96NLR+GcTHnS1W3SYdMm1TZ0R83Y9qV6mP1d/KeQOX4/TPEuaATSS1DHfz2/EoFBNTAu6uew9tQ+3uR9B03twB9oEJzhTEwqtoPwHb6IGptGDPmlAmqdBuo1g==&campaign_id=61&instance_id=61762&segment_id=76143&user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&regi_id=63205127
[7] 



Links:
------
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/us/21free.html
[2] https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/faculty/kathleen-vohs
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17110581
[4]
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KVBjmEgFdYACPLKh239P3pgSUm6WmiIEVhWtNL6rtHQI9vhucq+Seal/G11kFaX0AW9SkJDlzpknkn2riy4Y6yo15di8KeuhfwQ4Xzc+oLhB5S9MoITtgvcEBXzBn28U4mJio7tM+Y1sh/48+NDsRAD7OneTLDEye33tlh+Pro2kQ2akLTddt2H2mnxKtytooJGVypokOY2BtSbk0PhUt8Gd60LMy7ONI8=&amp;campaign_id=61&amp;instance_id=61762&amp;segment_id=76143&amp;user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&amp;regi_id=63205127
[5]
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/category/on-your-mind/?module=BlogCategory&amp;version=Blog%20Post&amp;action=Click&amp;pgtype=Blogs&amp;region=Header
[6] http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/author/jan-hoffman/
[7]
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KUPcT7snurzN09anQA2MM49IhNWGFarU5Fm06CM9fHXvtgEWWzQk96NLR+GcTHnS1W3SYdMm1TZ0R83Y9qV6mP1d/KeQOX4/TPEuaATSS1DHfz2/EoFBNTAu6uew9tQ+3uR9B03twB9oEJzhTEwqtoPwHb6IGptGDPmlAmqdBuo1g==&amp;campaign_id=61&amp;instance_id=61762&amp;segment_id=76143&amp;user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&amp;regi_id=63205127

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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 18:51:49 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:51:49 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b Part 1 a
Message-ID: <6mrp1r0041n3kb001mrpky@charter.net>

The first part was deemed too big and is being held, so I'll split
that in half, should you wish to see it - and should this get
through...

This is the first part of part 1!

Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY    THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST 

	I KINGS 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43    PROPER 16 b 

	EPHESIANS 6:10-20     23rd AUGUST, 2015 

	JOHN 6:56-69    PSALM 84 

	 What?s in a name? You fly on a certain airline ? because of the
name. You buy a particular TV ? because of the name. You eat a
certain restaurant ? because of the name. You avoid one sausage ?
because of the name. You don?t attend one church denomination ?
because of the name. You vote ? because of ?. Well, who knows how
some people vote!  

	 You see where and how we?re influenced, though, don?t you? We
may have never experienced something or met someone, but what someone
tells us can have a tremendous impact. If we like the person, then
we?re more inclined to go along with what she or he says. If we?ve
had a bad experience of a person or situation, we may not listen, we
may not participate. Name recognition and name trust is incredibly
important to us. No wonder firms pay billions, if not trillions, of
dollars to get us to buy one particular paper towel, or something
equally insignificant. 

	 Yet this raises the question of why we don?t do the research
ourselves? Why don?t we get to know the person; read what she or he
has written; listen, first-hand, to what that person says; write,
phone, or, better yet, arrange a meeting with that person. If need be,
be right up front and say, ?I?ve heard some interesting things
?? or, ?I?ve heard some strange things ?? or, ?I?ve
seen criticism about this and that?? 

	 As much as some executives might be less than enthusiastic, if we
each made up our own minds, based on information that we tested
several times to ensure its reliability, each of us might be a far
better informed, a far better committed person that we may be,
sometimes. 

	 Studying, listening, talking don?t automatically guarantee that
we?ll be relieved from pressure ? from our peers, from our
neighbours, from people with authority. That?s a given. Nowhere did
that individual we call ?Jesus? say ?for a worry free life, give
Me a call.? At no time did this ?Jesus? talk about avoiding
stress or dealing with animosity or hardship. His own best friends
said as much. ?This is difficult stuff,? they rejoined, when He
was talking about how to live. To which He replied, ?You?re
offended by this? ? Do you wish to go away, like the others?? 


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 18:55:00 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:55:00 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b - 1 b
Message-ID: <6mv01r00A1n3kb001mv00Z@charter.net>

Here's the second part of the first section - I hope the first part of
this section got through. The second section should have been passed
through the system already.

Bob

	 Some of the disciples may have thought that they?d have an
?in? in the villages and among the people whom they visited. All
they?d need to do is to drop Jesus? name into the conversation.
You know, ?I was over at that party with Jesus last night, and He
said ?? 

	 I remember those TV commercials that said that, ?When E.F. Hutton
talks, everybody listens.? And I was really impressed by the ones
John Houseman made for Smith Barney, ?They make money the
old-fashioned way. They EARN it.? It?s funny how these have stuck
with me ? even if I don?t have a clue about how these firms are
doing these days, or whether or not they were among the many morally
bankrupt financial institutions that have devastated the economy in
the last couple of decades. But maybe that?s the point. Their names,
even that of John Houseman, are not necessarily indicators of trust
and propriety. It?s STILL our responsibility to check, to listen, to
make up our own minds. And it?s as difficult a job to do today as it
was in Jesus? time. Jesus is only too happy when someone talks about
the way that knowing Him and inviting Him to walk with her or him has
made a difference in that person?s life. But Jesus doesn?t expect
the listener simply to take someone else?s word on it. For that
matter, He doesn?t stand on any ceremony. He doesn?t say, ?OK,
I?m Jesus. Listen up!? Unlike many today, He doesn?t expect
people to fawn over Him because of His name. Quite apart from the fact
that He doesn?t expect ANYONE to fawn over Him, Jesus hope that
we?ll each come to make up our own minds, after all sorts of
questions; after living with doubts; after, perhaps, despairing of
finding someone or something in which we can trust. 

	 Why do some people think so much of themselves that they have to
project themselves into every aspect of their lives, focusing
attention on themselves and not their ministry, not their way of
interacting in the world? 

	 Last week, I came across an article which described how a New York
State College which could use some financial help to develop its
programmes received an offer from a member of the board. ?(T)he
college?s most generous benefactor, has pledged a $20 million
donation, one that the college president ? says is critical to the
school?s future. 

	 ?But the gift comes with a controversial requirement. In accepting
the money, the college?s board must agree to change the name ??
putting the prospective donor?s name ahead of the current name of
the College. 1 

	 One deeply troubled alumnus was quoted as saying, ?Selling off
your naming rights like a sports venue, it calls into question your
integrity.? 

	 Granted, Jesus talked about ensuring the ability of people to
experience eternal life in joy, but He never pushed Himself to the
front, making Himself so far beyond people?s reaches and
expectations because He was so wonderful. In fact, He actually wore
His Divinity pretty lightly in order to emphasise how much God loves
us and wants to be in our company so that we will be completely
fulfilled. Jesus? concern is that we take God?s love seriously,
that we learn to appreciate it and that we make it such a part of our
lives that it governs how we interact with others. 

	 I know your minds may sometimes wander during a sermon, and that?s
good. It may well be the Spirit having you consider something that?s
important for your well-being right now: for instance, what all Jesus
meant by talking, again, about eating His flesh and drinking His blood
in order to abide in Him. How can this amazingly simple meal bring
about such a close relationship that our lives are transformed? How
can this change the course of our lives for ever? 

	 How do you feel about tomato and cucumber salad with gorgonzola,
followed by roasted carrots, lentils, grapes and liquid gorgonzola,
perhaps with spaghetti carbonara and crispy duck ? or salmon with
black beans and peanuts ? finishing with cr?me brulee or mocha
panna cotta with hazelnuts. 

	 Are you getting hungry yet? 


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug 23 06:50:32 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 06:50:32 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 16
In-Reply-To: <69432a07-e405-4838-b52b-a83891fbb4fa@ecunet.org>
References: <69432a07-e405-4838-b52b-a83891fbb4fa@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14f5a2e5f57-1117-16783@webstg-m04.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 22, 2015 8:04 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 16


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Whom Do You Serve?? or ?Do You Keep your God-Promises When You Get Home?? or ?Break Every Chain!? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18) and the gospel (John 6:56-69).  Here it is: 
     
 
     
In our Old Testament lesson (Joshua 24), we heard part of the mighty prophet Joshua?s last words to his beloved people.  To get the most out of this sermon, let me refresh your memory about the sequence of the Old Testament.  You recall how the Children of Israel were slaves in Egypt; and how God called his mighty Prophet Moses to lead them out of Egypt through the Red Sea to the Promised Land.  It was in the desert that God gave the Children of Israel (and therefore us) the Ten Commandments.  Just before the people were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses died and Joshua was appointed the next prophet to take over after Moses.  Joshua led the Children of Israel across the Jordan River and also as they settled the Promised Land.  Do you remember what happened next?  Time and time again, the Children of Israel, who had seen miracle after miracle as God protected and provided for them in the desert and in conquering the Promised Land, started following the sophisticated ways of the pagans who lived among them and worshipped idols.  Calamity would hit; they would pray for God to save them; God would; then things would go back to normal- including their worship of the fashionable idols of the land.   Now- in today?s Old Testament Lesson, we hear Joshua?s last words to his beloved people.  We hear him as he challenges them: ?Choose this day whom you will serve? (God or idols).  Then Joshua reminded them of his own lifelong choice: ?As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.?
     
 
     
Now let?s move our focus to the Gospel.  Crisis- the 5,000 men (plus women and children) had been listening to Jesus in the hot sun.  It is getting late- time to travel home, and many will be sick and fainting on the journey, since they haven?t eaten.  Jesus feeds all 5,000 plus from the five barley loaves and two small fish donated by a small boy.  After everyone has eaten, twelve baskets full of leftovers are collected from the five barley loaves and two small fish.  What a miracle!  Jesus saved the day!  Surely after such a great miracle, the people would be receptive to Jesus? teaching- right?  Wrong!  Jesus used the occasion to teach some of the 5,000 plus people about the meaning of the Bread from Heaven (i.e. his Holy Flesh given for the life of the world- Holy Communion).  Do you remember what happened next?  Some of these very same people who experienced this mind-blowing miracle start mumbling- ?This teaching is too hard!  Who can stomach such teaching!?  They start to drift away- leave!  Jesus turns to the disciples and asks if they are leaving too?  That?s when Simon Peter makes his prophetic statement: ?Lord, to whom shall we go?  You alone have the words of eternal life!?  In other words, the twelve disciples choose to stay with Jesus- no matter what.
     
 
     
Look at the pattern: Crisis, miraculous deliverance; life gets better; the people drift away- go back to the same-old, same-old; the choice- whose side are you on?  With the Children of Israel- they faced their huge crisis (slavery in Egypt, the Red Sea in front and the Egyptian army behind); with relief they gloried in their miraculous deliverance; life got better and they drifted away from the Lord to selfish behavior; and Joshua challenged them.  The same pattern happened in today?s Gospel.  The many would-be disciples faced their crisis- no food and a long trip home; miraculous deliverance with the multiplication of the five loaves and two small fish so that all 5,000 plus were fed; and then hard teaching.  They decide that following Jesus is too hard; they start to drift away; Jesus? challenge.
     
 
     
Now- what about us?  We?ve seen the same pattern in our lives, sometimes over and over again. Crisis; we pray for deliverance; God works things out for us- we get the house, car, job, health, whatever?  We get used to it and go back to the ?same-old, same-old?, in other words- living as if God doesn?t exist and our only concern is what we want.  We become our own idol.  
     
 
     
You don?t want to be like that, do you?  So how do you recognize the symptoms of going back to the ?same-old, same-old??  It depends on your own personal weaknesses to temptation.  Check these out: 
     
   
When someone does evil to you, do you drop it and give it to God, or do you get revenge?  (This one can be really hard to identify- it?s easy for us to trick ourselves, and revenge can be so very subtle.)  
   
What about money as your idol?  Do you put up God?s money first and work toward a tithe, or do you give God the leftovers?  
   
What about your relationships?  Do you treat everyone with respect, even your enemies?
   
What about sex?  Do you follow your way or God?s way?  Adultery is NEVER all right!  Sex within marriage is always the rule, but if you?re doing it your way- are you taking all possible precautions against pregnancy and STD?s, especially HIV?  It?s one thing to risk yourself.  It?s something else to bring an innocent baby into this world when you are not in any kind of position to care for or even provide for it.  
   
What about your time?  Do you always give God his worship every Sunday, or do you just come to church when it is convenient?  Is every waking minute all about you, or do you invest your time for God- helping others, improving yourself, doing all you can to make God?s church and world glorious in His name?
   
Your friends?  Do they determine your values, or does Jesus determine your values?  When you?re trying to decide what to do, do you ask yourself WWJD- what would Jesus do?
 
This list of six temptations may not have identified yours, but you know your weaknesses.  You know what God is calling you to change (or to keep changed), to improve (or to keep improved), how God wants you to grow (or to keep growing).  So now I?m asking you the same thing Joshua asked his people?  Whom will you serve- God or yourself and what you want?  I can only tell you my choice- I intend to serve the Lord.  
 
I?m going to close with a story.  I hope and pray these scriptures have you thinking about changes that will make you a better Christian.  To be honest, our problem is not making a choice for Jesus while we?re in this holy church- it?s keeping the commitments we make when we get home.  This is a story about the First Goose Church of God in Christ.  Pastor Gander waddled up to the pulpit and began his fiery sermon. ?What kind of birds are we?? He thundered. ?Geese!? The congregation answered, and an ?Amen? was heard from somewhere in the back.  ?That?s right!? shot back the Pastor. ?We are GEESE! God made us GEESE to be GEESE, and not DUCKS or SPARROWS or KIWIS!?  ?AMEN!? honked several congregants. ?And what are these things that GOD has given us, these MAJESTIC appendages?? ?WINGS!? shouted the congregation, honking its approval of this fine observation.  ?And WHY did GOD give us these fine wings??  ?To FLY, Pastor!? said Mrs. Thelma Gosling, standing up in the first row.  ?We can FLY with them!? Choruses of ?That?s right, Thelma!? and ?You go, Girl!? rang out from around the room.  The pastor really started to groove now. ?God wants us to FLY! We can soar above the clouds! We can fill the skies! We are God?s flying children! The moles can dig, the lions can hunt, but we can fly! We can catch the winds beneath our wings and thrill to the sensation of the breeze through our feathers. We can reach the mighty mountain tops and skim the tips of the giant Sequoias!? ?AMEN! We can FLY!? the congregation echoed back  ?If GOD wants us to fly, then what do we gotta do?? challenged the pastor. ?We gotta FLY!? said the congregation. ?We gotta WHAT?? asked Pastor Gander. ?We gotta FLY!? ?WHAT?? ?FLY!!? ?WHAT!? ?FLY!!? And as the congregation WADDLED out of the church and WALKED home, they remarked to one another on how inspiring the pastor?s sermon was that morning (The Rev. John Ramsey, Ottawa, Ohio).  So don?t be like those geese- don?t waddle home.  Use your Holy Spirit power.  Don?t block the Spirit.  Make Jesus your choice and stick with Him.  Amen.
  
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
     
 
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 23 12:09:13 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:09:13 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 - August 30
Message-ID: <8G9D1r00G1vZNDA01G9D6M@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 17:
Let us pray:

	Creator God,

	all you have made is good,

	even very good.

	We in our divided minds

	separate your creation

	into clean and unclean.

	Clear our minds to see you

	both in what we call profane

	as well as in the sacred.

	We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	one God for ever and ever. Amen

For reflection on Proper 17 go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 23 21:22:53 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:22:53 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <9F829CB90935419D9494E2A5491F3340@T530>

The following are the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 30, (Proper 17, ECUSA; Proper 22, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England (Common Worship), and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Song of Solomon 2: 8 - 13   (RCL)

Song 2:8 (NRSV) The voice of my beloved! 
Look, he comes, 
leaping upon the mountains, 
bounding over the hills. 
9 My beloved is like a gazelle 
or a young stag. 
Look, there he stands 
behind our wall, 
gazing in at the windows, 
looking through the lattice. 
10 My beloved speaks and says to me: 
"Arise, my love, my fair one, 
and come away; 
11 for now the winter is past, 
the rain is over and gone. 
12 The flowers appear on the earth; 
the time of singing has come, 
and the voice of the turtledove 
is heard in our land. 
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, 
and the vines are in blossom; 
they give forth fragrance. 
Arise, my love, my fair one, 
and come away. 


Deuteronomy 4: 1 - 2, 6 - 8   (Roman Catholic)
Deuteronomy 4: 1 - 2, 6 - 9   (alt. for RCL)

Deut 4:1 (NRSV) So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you. 

6 You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" 7 For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? 8 And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? 
9 But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children-- 


PSALM 45:1,2, 6-9   (RCL)

Psal 45:1 (NRSV) My heart overflows with a goodly theme; 
I address my verses to the king; 
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 
2 You are the most handsome of men; 
grace is poured upon your lips; 
therefore God has blessed you forever. 

6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. 
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; 
7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness. 
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you 
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. 
>From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; 
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of O'phir. 

Note: Verse numbering in your psalter may differ from the above


Psalm 15   (alt. for RCL)
Psalm 15: 2 - 5   (Roman Catholic)

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. 


NEW TESTAMENT:   James 1: 17 - 27   (RCL)
                                 James 1: 17 - 18, 21b - 22, 27   (Roman Catholic)

Jame 1:17 (NRSV) Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 
22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing. 
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 


GOSPEL:   Mark 7: 1 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 23   (all)

Mark 7:1 (NRSV) Now when the Phar'isees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Phar'isees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. 5 So the Phar'isees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" 6 He said to them, "Isai'ah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 
"This people honors me with their lips, 
but their hearts are far from me; 
7 in vain do they worship me, 
teaching human precepts as doctrines.' 
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." 

14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile." 

20 And he said, "It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Fri Aug 28 17:15:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 17:15:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23,
 "Open arms, open hearts"
Message-ID: <14f762a131d-7caa-4326@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/nhk2tuo is our sermon for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23, "Open arms, open hearts".
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 29 09:48:10 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 09:48:10 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] How to be squeeky clean,
 an alternative sermon  for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Message-ID: <14f79b7290e-5fa7-57d6@webstg-m10.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/pxab8xr is an alternative sermon, "How to be squeeky clean," for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.


Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:27:40 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:27:40 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AlTg1r00D2HfrqE01lTgfX@charter.net>

part 1 of 4 of tomorrow's sermon

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY   THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST 

	SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-13   PROPER 17 b 

	JAMES 1:17-27      PSALM 45:1-2, 6-9 

	MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23      30th AUGUST, 2015 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time  

	 I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. 1 

	 ?I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.? 

	 Finding rest, being wrapped in grace, feeling within the joy of
being made free ? these are what everyone seeks. These are what we
all need. Without one of them, perhaps we can get along for a while,
but not for long. Our physical, mental and spiritual health depend on
finding the amazing affirmation of knowing that one is loved, and
appreciated, and respected. 

	 This is not to say that we don?t need correctives every now and
again. Of course we do. We ALL need that! Perhaps what we think, or
do, or say contributes to the despair that people experience, and we
need to be told that. If we get in the way of the development of
someone?s health, or well-being, we need to be told ? AND we need
to correct it. This isn?t something we can shrug off. After all,
we?re all connected in ways that we can never possibly imagine.
It?s part and parcel of being a human being. It?s a gift from God
to be treasured and to be used. 

	 From time to time, one of my many quirks surfaces. If something
happens, if I?m blessed by a gift, especially if it?s something
tangible, I may set it where I can see it, but there are times when I
don?t want to use it.  

	 Am I afraid I may break it, or tarnish it, somehow take away the
lustre I see in it? There can be several reasons for not using it. But
the gift is given so that I can benefit from it. The gift is given
through the care taken in selecting it and making sure that I receive
it in good condition, precisely so that I can benefit from it. 

	 Just so with the grace of God. I?m given skills and I?m invited
to use them, to follow where they may lead, no matter what changes
they may require. We?re all given such gifts, but sometimes the
gifts may not be apparent to us; sometimes we may set them aside as
not being useful for our lives at that point in time; sometimes we may
not want to engage them because we don?t understand them. 

	 I wonder if this was part of the problem which confronted the
Pharisees and Scribes with whom Jesus was talking that day. They knew
the standard rules. They even kept them as best they could. But they
couldn?t see behind the gifts with which God had blessed them.
Somehow, they?d rather deprive themselves of what was necessary for
their own lives as well as others in order to comply with what they
perceived as the letter of the law.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:28:47 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:28:47 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b Part 2 of 4
Message-ID: <AlUn1r00L526Mg601lUnv7@charter.net>

Part 2 of tomorrow's sermon:

	 I can hear despair in Jesus? voice in the words of today?s
Gospel passage. I can hear Jesus being so frustrated at the inability
of folk to see what it takes to live with God. He wasn?t looking for
perfection, just an effort . He found that the people had lost
whatever sense of connection with God and with one another that they
may once have had, this despite that wonderful imagery contained in
the Song of Solomon. 

	 Throughout both Old and New Covenant books, but especially in this
wisdom song, descriptions of marriage and the intensity of the
relationship between spouses is seen not only as an affirmation of
love between humans but also as an allegory for the intensity of the
love that God has for us. What drove Jesus to distraction was that if
God?s love for us is so focused, so passionate, why people failed to
respond.  

	 Time and time again, God wants to be able to respond to our needs,
to celebrate in our victories and achievements, to cry in our pain and
disappointments, to walk with us, ?to live together in the covenant
(?), to love, comfort, honor and keep (one another ?), in sickness
and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to each other
(for all eternity).? 2 

	 What God desires completely is that we celebrate our new life, with
all its possibilities, because it?s in the entry into this new life,
this new relationship of commitment, that we find the rest, the grace,
the freedom fully to be Jesus? sisters and brothers. 

	 One of my friends recently described the restoration of a
relationship with his cousin. ?Recently,? he wrote, ?a cousin
indicated that she would like to reconnect after over 30 years. She's
an ardent Baptist, and I have been an embarrassment to her.
Accordingly, I have respected her by staying away and connecting only
with notes for birthdays and Christmases.? 3 

	 The fact that she is, or was, an ardent Baptist and that he?s gay
set up the scenario.  

	 He went on, ?I have always loved her in a special way: I was 9
years old when her parents took me with them to receive her from
Alabama's adoption agency. I have never seen any face light up like
theirs and then hers, at 6-months old. I like to think of that as the
way God's face lights up when we become God's children by adoption.?


	 In a few minutes, we?ll celebrate such a moment. Three people will
come to the water of Baptism. They and their sponsors will affirm
belief in God?s passion for them and for us all. They and their
sponsors will talk about their trust in God to bring us to a new life.
They?ll have water poured on them as a sign of the cleansing and the
renewal to which God brings us. Then they?ll hear the words that
they are marked as Christ?s own for ever. 

	 When they make this commitment, symbolised by words and water, I can
see God?s face light up. Whether they ? especially Phillip ?
will smile in return, I can?t say. But the good news is that God
doesn?t wait to see how Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip react before
breaking out in joy. This happens even as God sees them moving towards
the moment of Baptism. 

	 In the midst of everything that can make us despair, that can make
us depressed, Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are setting out on a
journey. They?re moving towards something that they believe will
give them hope. They may not be able to see what lies ahead ? none
of us can much. But we?ve heard stories. Other people have given us
messages about their own experiences, enough to make us curious at
first, then willing to take the journey ourselves, no matter what the
risks. The promise of a new life becomes stronger than the
difficulties, even the fear and danger of living in isolation under
threat, with no support. 

	 I was gripped with thoughts of grief and sorrow when I heard of the
truck which was found abandoned inside the Austrian border this week.
People have been fleeing countries on the eastern and southern shores
of the Mediterranean for quite some time. Life at home has become
intolerable. People are aware of the ships that have sunk in storms at
sea. People are aware that there are incredibly unscrupulous
individuals who prey on the fear and the pain of those living in
countries where civil wars continue to bring devastation. Yet people
continue to take a chance on making these journeys. 

	 More than seventy bodies were discovered in that locked, abandoned
truck, the bodies of people from one month to many decades old, each
hoping and praying for a new life. 4
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:30:07 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:30:07 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b - part 3 of 4
Message-ID: <AlW71r0030Fr52m01lW717@charter.net>

  _q_"Robert P Morrison"  _q_"robertpmorrison at charter.net"  _q_ _q_
Saturday August 29 2015 2:25:19PM     Attachments  Print   Part 3 of
tomorrow's sermon - references in the next part:

	I suppose I ought to reassure Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip that they
won?t end up in similar circumstances. But, truth be told, there ARE
no guarantees ? except that they and we are ALL marked as Christ?s
own ? FOR EVER! There IS nothing that can separate from the love of
God. Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are all invited, to reiterate
Wendell Berry?s words, to ?come into the presence of still
water?, to find company, and welcome, and reassurance. God says to
each ? to them and to us ? ?Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away?. 

 WE ALL DO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, THOUGH. ?WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ARTIST'S HAND STARTS TO SHAKE IS A LESSON FOR US ALL.? PHIL HANSEN
IS AN ARTIST WHO ALMOST WASN?T AN ARTIST. HE WAS BEGINNING HIS
STUDIES WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INTENSE USE OF HIS TECHNIQUE HAD
CREATED A NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM. ?IN ART SCHOOL, PHIL HANSEN
DEVELOPED AN UNRULY TREMOR IN HIS HAND THAT KEPT HIM FROM CREATING THE
POINTILLIST DRAWINGS HE LOVED. HANSEN WAS DEVASTATED, FLOATING WITHOUT
A SENSE OF PURPOSE. UNTIL A NEUROLOGIST MADE A SIMPLE SUGGESTION:
EMBRACE THIS LIMITATION ... AND TRANSCEND IT.? 5

	 ?Say it with me,? said Hansen. ?Embrace the shake.? He did,
and now has a large collection of his art to show just what can be
done. He sought the source that gave him rest, and grace, and freedom
? the expression of life through art. He sought to use the blessing
that God had given him, and he worked through the obstacles placed in
his way, just as Louie Crew-Clay worked through the obstacle of
misunderstanding and held fast to the vision of that moment when he
was nine when his aunt?s and uncle?s faces were wreathed in
smiles, and his young cousin responded. 

	 Louie ended his story with the words, ?We had a gentle reunion.
Neither wanted argument. We wanted just to love one another face to
face again. She put it best: ?Louie, niceness has become very
important to me. You were always nice to me. It is so good to be
together as family again.? 

	 ?Or as another friend put it, ?Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.?? 

	 Where did Wendell Berry come up with his poem? He WAS a committed
Christian, but like most poetic works, I think it?s open to many
interpretations. For today, though, I see it as a reminder of the
peace, and the joy, and the strength we find in coming to the water of
Baptism. So I read again: 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time   I rest in the grace of the
world, and am free.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:31:05 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:31:05 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b - references
Message-ID: <AlX51r00M1cu4PJ01lX5v4@charter.net>

References:

	NOTES: 

	[1] Wendell Berry, "The Peace of Wild Things" from _The Selected
Poems of Wendell Berry._ Copyright ? 1998. Published and reprinted by
arrangement with Counterpoint Press. Source: _Collected Poems
1957-1982_ (Counterpoint Press, 1985)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[1] The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry : The Poetry ... [2]
_www.poetryfoundation.org [3] Poems & Poets_  

	2 _?The Exchange of Vows?_ from _?The Celebration and Blessing
of a Marriage?,_ B.C.P. page 424. 

	3 Louie Crew-Clay on Facebook. 

4 ?_MIGRANT CRISIS: FOUR ARRESTS OVER AUSTRIA LORRY DEATHS? _28TH
AUGUST 2015

HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[4] 

	5 Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake | TED Talk | TED.com [5] ? 10:01
[6] _https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t [7] _


Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[2]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[3] http://www.poetryfoundation.org
[4]
http://mail2.charter.net/HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[5]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[6]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[7] https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t

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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 18:51:12 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:51:12 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Part 3 proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AmrC1r0061Lv1dy01mrCCk@charter.net>

Still haven't seen part 3 come through, to me, at least. I did send
it!

	 I suppose I ought to reassure Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip that they
won?t end up in similar circumstances. But, truth be told, there ARE
no guarantees ? except that they and we are ALL marked as Christ?s
own ? FOR EVER! There IS nothing that can separate from the love of
God. Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are all invited, to reiterate
Wendell Berry?s words, to ?come into the presence of still
water?, to find company, and welcome, and reassurance. God says to
each ? to them and to us ? ?Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away?. 

 WE ALL DO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, THOUGH. ?WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ARTIST'S HAND STARTS TO SHAKE IS A LESSON FOR US ALL.? PHIL HANSEN
IS AN ARTIST WHO ALMOST WASN?T AN ARTIST. HE WAS BEGINNING HIS
STUDIES WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INTENSE USE OF HIS TECHNIQUE HAD
CREATED A NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM. ?IN ART SCHOOL, PHIL HANSEN
DEVELOPED AN UNRULY TREMOR IN HIS HAND THAT KEPT HIM FROM CREATING THE
POINTILLIST DRAWINGS HE LOVED. HANSEN WAS DEVASTATED, FLOATING WITHOUT
A SENSE OF PURPOSE. UNTIL A NEUROLOGIST MADE A SIMPLE SUGGESTION:
EMBRACE THIS LIMITATION ... AND TRANSCEND IT.? 5

	 ?Say it with me,? said Hansen. ?Embrace the shake.? He did,
and now has a large collection of his art to show just what can be
done. He sought the source that gave him rest, and grace, and freedom
? the expression of life through art. He sought to use the blessing
that God had given him, and he worked through the obstacles placed in
his way, just as Louie Crew-Clay worked through the obstacle of
misunderstanding and held fast to the vision of that moment when he
was nine when his aunt?s and uncle?s faces were wreathed in
smiles, and his young cousin responded. 

	 Louie ended his story with the words, ?We had a gentle reunion.
Neither wanted argument. We wanted just to love one another face to
face again. She put it best: ?Louie, niceness has become very
important to me. You were always nice to me. It is so good to be
together as family again.? 

	 ?Or as another friend put it, ?Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.?? 

	 Where did Wendell Berry come up with his poem? He WAS a committed
Christian, but like most poetic works, I think it?s open to many
interpretations. For today, though, I see it as a reminder of the
peace, and the joy, and the strength we find in coming to the water of
Baptism. So I read again: 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time  

	 I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 18:53:28 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:53:28 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] References proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AmtU1r00C0WHv8e01mtU0C@charter.net>

We're having three baptisms this Sunday, hence the names in the
sermon.

Here are the footnote references:

	NOTES: 

	[1] Wendell Berry, "The Peace of Wild Things" from _The Selected
Poems of Wendell Berry._ Copyright ? 1998. Published and reprinted by
arrangement with Counterpoint Press. Source: _Collected Poems
1957-1982_ (Counterpoint Press, 1985)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[1] The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry : The Poetry ... [2]
_www.poetryfoundation.org [3] Poems & Poets_  

	2 _?The Exchange of Vows?_ from _?The Celebration and Blessing
of a Marriage?,_ B.C.P. page 424. 

	3 Louie Crew-Clay on Facebook. 

	  4 ?_Migrant crisis: Four arrests over Austria lorry deaths?
_28th August 2015 

HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[4] 

	5 Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake | TED Talk | TED.com [5] ? 10:01
[6] _https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t [7] _



Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[2]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[3] http://www.poetryfoundation.org
[4]
http://mail2.charter.net/HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[5]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[6]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[7] https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 29 23:35:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 23:35:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 17B
In-Reply-To: <b6ac62d9-3ed5-426d-beb0-f4061402ada3@ecunet.org>
References: <b6ac62d9-3ed5-426d-beb0-f4061402ada3@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14f7cac586c-610c-733c@webstg-m10.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 29, 2015 5:26 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 17B


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?What Comes Out of Your Mouth?? or ?What?s on the Inside?? or ?Breath Mints Won?t Help!? and deals with the gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, [16], 21-23).  Here it is: 
     
 
     
This morning, we heard Jesus talking about what makes us unclean, and I?d like us to think about the implications of his teachings.  In the part of the Bible immediately before our Gospel begins, the Pharisees had just criticized Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands.  Jesus responded with the statement we heard in the gospel- it?s not what you put into your mouth that makes you unclean.  It?s what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean.  You know He?s right!  I do our household shopping once a week, and- WOW!  You should see the huge number of products for bad breath- mints, pocket packs, pocket mist, mouthwash, special toothpaste, tongue scrapers on those shelves!  Guess what, friends?  They?re really not going to help that much, except maybe the tongue scraper, since the cause of most bad breath is a rotten tooth, a gum disease, an infection, an illness, or that garlic you had at dinner!  A breath mint or its equivalent just won?t cut it, because the source of the problem is deep inside your body.  You know how deodorant won?t help if someone hasn?t showered or bathed for a week.  We?ve got to clean up the inside before we worry about the outside.
     
 
     
What?s true with bad breath and deodorant is true with a sinful heart.  What we put in our mouths won?t affect the state of our souls any more than breath mints will clean up seriously bad breath or deodorant will clean up a filthy body.  We?ve got to clean up from the inside out.  It?s what comes out of our mouths that signify what?s on the inside.  So what comes out of your mouth?
     
 
     
Do you have a bad habit of using God?s name in vain?  It is so very easy to pick up this habit- saying ?Oh, Lord!? or such phrases.  What does the commandment say?  ?Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.?  You wouldn?t use your mother?s name that way.  In fact, I still remember from my teaching days how many fights either started or almost started because of the way someone was talking about someone else?s mother.  So- watch your mouth.  The ancient Israelites didn?t even speak the name of God- they considered it too holy.  We can learn from them.  If you?ve got a bad habit in this regard, break it.  Only use God?s name with the highest reverence, respect, and honor.
     
 
     
What about other kinds of swearing that do not use God?s name in vain?  Are they sinful?  That depends.  If the words are used to describe another person or as a weapon against that person, then they are very sinful.  If, however, they are simply part of your vocabulary or used to express anger at someTHING (not someONE)- they may or may not project the image you want, but they?re probably not sinful.
     
 
     
Most times when someone continually uses God?s name in vain or swears casually, it usually signifies a bad habit, not a sinful, poisonous heart; however there?s other poisonous nasty verbiage that comes out of our mouths far too often.  Gossip; put-downs; lies; swearing AT people; labeling people as bad, stupid, ugly, etc.- these seriously show a heart problem, not coronary artery disease but poisoned spirit disease.  These kinds of remarks have heart-roots of jealousy, anger, hatred, poor self-esteem, desire to look better than others, and other negative emotions.  Molefi Asante reminds us, ?There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control- your mind and your mouth.?  He?s right, and you get control of your mouth by getting control of your mind.  Don?t think evil thoughts.  Don?t dwell on negatives.  Remember the old Cherokee who was telling his grandson about a fight that constantly goes on inside himself. It?s a fight between two wolves.  One is evil: full of anger, envy, regret, guilt, false pride, resentment, inferiority, superiority, etc.  The other is good: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather ?Grand-daddy, which wolf wins??  The old Cherokee thought for a minute and then replied simply, ?The one that I feed.?  Don?t feed the negatives.  When you find yourself dwelling on such thoughts, take charge.  Go for a walk.  Wash the dishes.  Listen to some music.  Read your Bible.  Say your prayers.  Call a friend on the phone.  Change the content of your thoughts from negatives to positives.  That?s exactly what St. Paul meant when he taught the Philippians (4:8) ?Finally, my friends- keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.?
     
 
     
Why bother to watch your mouth?  Because when evil words come out, they can never be recalled.  They can be explained, forgiven, maybe if you?re lucky forgotten- but when they?re out, they?re out.  I want to close with a story I?ve told many times before, but it explains so very well why we?ve simply got to think before we speak and keep Jesus in control of our lips.  There was a little boy with a bad temper.  His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to shut his mouth and hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Gradually the number of nails he was pounding into the fence dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it, and the father suggested that now the boy should pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.  The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.  The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, ?You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a person and draw it out.  It won't matter how many times you say ?I'm sorry,? the wound is still there.  A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.?  And while we?re thinking of such things, you know who gets the worst of our poison?  Those we especially love- our family and dear friends.  How we act at home and with those we love is the true test of what?s in our hearts.  So remember Jesus warning, it?s not what you put into your mouth that makes you unclean, but what comes out of your mouth- because it shows the state of your heart.  May God bless us as we clean up our hearts and watch our mouths.
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 30 13:36:02 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2015 11:36:02 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 18 - September 6
Message-ID: <B5c21r00D2M8ciW015c21g@bresnan.net>

Collect for Proper 18:
Let us pray:

	God of even small crumbs,

	you see all people,

	of all shapes and races,

	as your children.

	Then how can we deny crumbs

	to those who need even more,

	denying our own hidden family.

	Open our hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	 one God for ever and ever. Amen

For reflection on Proper 18 go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 30 20:49:10 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:49:10 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIFTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <7EBA19D29E5F472E9E632A7EBD857060@T530>

The following are the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 6, (Proper 18, ECUSA; Proper 23, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday. 



OLD TESTAMENT: Proverbs 22: 1 - 2, 8 - 9, 22 - 23   (RCL)

Prov 22:1 (NRSV) A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 
and favor is better than silver or gold. 
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: 
the LORD is the maker of them all. 
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, 
and the rod of anger will fail. 
9 Those who are generous are blessed, 
for they share their bread with the poor. 
22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor, 
or crush the afflicted at the gate; 
23 for the LORD pleads their cause 
and despoils of life those who despoil them. 


Isaiah 35: 4 - 7a (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL) 

Isai 35:4 (NRSV) Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 
""Be strong, do not fear! 
Here is your God. 
He will come with vengeance, 
with terrible recompense. 
He will come and save you." 
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, 
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. 
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, 
and streams in the desert; 
7 the burning sand shall become a pool, 
and the thirsty ground springs of water; 


PSALM 125 (RCL) 

Psal 125:1 (NRSV) Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, 
which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 
so the LORD surrounds his people, 
from this time on and forevermore. 
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest 
on the land allotted to the righteous, 
so that the righteous might not stretch out 
their hands to do wrong. 
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, 
and to those who are upright in their hearts. 
5 But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways 
the LORD will lead away with evildoers. 
Peace be upon Israel! 


Psalm 146: 7 - 10   (Roman Catholic) 
Psalm 146   (alt. for RCL) 

Psal 146:1 (NRSv) Praise the LORD! 
Praise the LORD, O my soul! 
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; 
I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 
3 Do not put your trust in princes, 
in mortals, in whom there is no help. 
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; 
on that very day their plans perish. 
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, 
whose hope is in the LORD their God, 
6 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: James 2: 1 - 10 (11 - 13) 14 - 17 (RCL) 
                                    James 2: 1 - 5 (Roman Catholic) 

Jame 2:1 (NRSV) My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 
8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 


GOSPEL: Mark 7: 24 - 37 (RCL) 
                  Mark 7: 31 - 37 (Roman Catholic) 

Mark 7:24 (NRSV) From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go-the demon has left your daughter." 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  2 12:53:18 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 12:53:18 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 13B
In-Reply-To: <b82288cd-31d0-4d3f-a20c-52c127ce290e@ecunet.org>
References: <b82288cd-31d0-4d3f-a20c-52c127ce290e@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14eef54f217-7f05-31849@webstg-a06.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 1, 2015 5:59 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 13B


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Food for the Body vs. Food for the Soul? and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is:
     
 
     
This morning in our Old Testament lesson (Exodus 16: 2-4, 5, 9-15) we heard how God provided the Israelites with very badly needed food for their hungry bodies.  As you recall, God used Moses to work a mighty miracle by leading them out of Egypt- the land of slavery.  When the Egyptian army followed them to bring them back, remember how God parted the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) when they were trapped- so they could escape.  When the Egyptian army tried to follow, God allowed the Sea to close in on them, and God?s people were safe.  Next he gave them the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with them.  Then on they traveled walking to the Promised Land.  There was one problem, however.  It?s pretty hard to find food in the desert, and they got hungrier and hungrier.  In Exodus 16:2-3 we heard the people complaining about Moses, saying they were better off in Egypt.  Did you hear the story of the little boy whose mother had just come home from the hospital with a new baby sister?  That baby cried and cried- nobody in the family could get any sleep.  Finally the little boy asked where they got that new baby.  His mother replied, ?From heaven.?  ?Listen to her cry!?  he exclaimed.  ?I?ll bet even God couldn?t shut her up!?  No wonder they threw her out and she landed down here!?  That?s how the Israelites were- loud, crying, and complaining, until God had pity on them and sent them food (manna).  Every morning when they woke up, there was this bread-like substance on the ground- enough for one day?s food for everyone (two days before the Sabbath so they wouldn?t break the fourth commandment).  Manna, plus the occasional quail that foolishly landed where they could be caught, made an amazingly nutritious diet.  Manna provided food for the body- sustenance to keep them going mile after mile to the Promised Land.  
     
 
     
In today?s Gospel (John 6:24-35) we heard Jesus describe how God provides food for the soul.  In verse 35 we hear Jesus say about himself: ?I am the Bread of Life.  No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.  No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.?  Now we?re talking soul food.  Billy D. Strayhorn, in Bread of Heaven, describes it this way: ?Steven Morris was a special needs child in Mrs. Bernaducci's class. Steven was a thin African-American boy who was blind. His handicap negatively impacted his self-esteem. However, over a period of time, the teacher realized that Steven had exceptional hearing.  One day she put the class mascot, a mouse, into the trash can. The scratching noise created a minor panic until Steven located the mouse. Mrs. Bernaducci exclaimed: "Steven, you are truly a wonder." The nickname caught on. The next year little Stevie Wonder, full of a sense of his own value, began playing the piano. Stevie 'Wonder' would go on to influence and change American music all because of Mrs. Bernaducci's faith and encouragement.  We all need that kind of encouragement. Especially in times like this. Times that try our souls. Times that cause stress and uncertainty. Times when we want of word of direction from God but God seems to be silent. We need a word of encouragement. And that's what we get when we come to this table. A little bit of bread and a little bit of wine remind us that Christ died for us to prove God's love for us.?  
     
 
     
Our problem comes when we know we?re hungry, but we think we need strength for our body, but we really need strength for our souls.  Do you remember the story of the pastor who wanted to convince his children not to smoke, drink, or eat too many sweets?  He got four jars and four worms.  Next he filled one jar with cigarette smoke, one jar with cheap whisky, one jar with a hot fudge sundae, and one jar with good moist soil.  Finally he placed a worm in each jar.  Of course, you know what happened.  All the worms died except the one in the jar with soil.  ?There,? he said to the children.  ?Look at all these dead worms- only one lived.  What can you learn about life from these worms??  ?That?s easy!? said Sally.  ?If you smoke, drink whisky, and eat hot fudge sundaes- you won?t get worms!?  She surely missed the point!  The trouble is- we miss the point too.  We misdiagnose our hunger- just like the child misdiagnosed the purpose of the pastor?s experiment.
     
 
     
   
So- when you have a hunger that you think you must fill, but you know it?s not good for you- try Jesus!
   
When that cigarette cough is making you begin to worry- try Jesus!
   
When you need that drink to get you started in the morning- try Jesus!
   
When you need the TV on to be able to fall asleep- try Jesus!
   
When that sexual partner who?s not good for you comes knocking- try Jesus!
   
When you can?t shut the worries off in your brain- try Jesus!
 
The Holy Bread He offers you today at our altar will be in every cell in your body claiming life and health and joy for you.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan
  
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug  2 13:57:05 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 11:57:05 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 - August 9
Message-ID: <46C774D29D7847678E4BF9B938068325@BobPC>

Collect for Proper 14:

Let us Pray:

God, host of the universe,
you have sent out the invitations,
to dine with your son,
the bread of eternal life,
the bread of enrichment.
May we graciously sit at table,
your multigrain board,
with rich and poor, saint and sinner alike,
both humble and haughty,
all hungry.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God for ever and ever. Amen


For reflection on Proper 14 go to > http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

Bob Eldan
Lander, Wyoming


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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug  2 21:24:36 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 21:24:36 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS foir the ELEVENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <45DEBE3D8B8C442CB947F75BC7862F51@T530>

The following are the readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 9, (Proper 14, ECUSA; Proper 19, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday.



OLD TESTAMENT:  2 Samuel 18: 5 - 9, 15, 31 - 33   (RCL)

2Sam 18:5 (NRSV) The king ordered Jo'ab and Abi'shai and It'tai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Ab'salom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Ab'salom. 
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of E'phraim. 7 The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword. 
9 Ab'salom happened to meet the servants of David. Ab'salom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 

15 And ten young men, Jo'ab's armor-bearers, surrounded Ab'salom and struck him, and killed him. 

31 Then the Cu'shite came; and the Cu'shite said, "Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you." 32 The king said to the Cu'shite, "Is it well with the young man Ab'salom?" The Cu'shite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man." 
33 The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Ab'salom, my son, my son Ab'salom! Would I had died instead of you, O Ab'salom, my son, my son!" 


1 Kings 19: 4 - 8   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

1Kin 19:4 (NRSV) But he [Elijah] himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Ho'reb the mount of God. 


PSALM 130   (RCL)

Psal 130:1 (NRSV) Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 
2 Lord, hear my voice! 
Let your ears be attentive 
to the voice of my supplications! 
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
Lord, who could stand? 
4 But there is forgiveness with you, 
so that you may be revered. 
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
and in his word I hope; 
6 my soul waits for the Lord 
more than those who watch for the morning, 
more than those who watch for the morning. 
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 
and with him is great power to redeem. 
8 It is he who will redeem Israel 
from all its iniquities. 

 
Psalm 34: 1 - 8   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
3 O magnify the LORD with me, 
and let us exalt his name together. 
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, 
and delivered me from all my fears. 
5 Look to him, and be radiant; 
so your faces shall never be ashamed. 
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, 
and was saved from every trouble. 
7 The angel of the LORD encamps 
around those who fear him, and delivers them. 
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; 
happy are those who take refuge in him. 

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greter than the above.


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 4: 25 - 5: 2   (RCL)
                                      Ephesians 4: 30 - 5:2   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 4:25 (NRSV) So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 35, 41 - 51   (RCL)
                    John 6: 41 - 51   (Roman Catholic)

John 6:35 (NRSV) Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42 They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, "I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug  8 20:11:15 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:11:15 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 1
Message-ID: <2QBF1r00U4CyTrJ01QBFxa@charter.net>

I'll try splitting this to post ... off to have dinner, then proof it.

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY   THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST 

	1 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 31-33     PROPER 14 b 

	EPHESIANS 4:25 ? 5:2     9th AUGUST, 2015 

	JOHN 6:35, 41-51     PSALM 130 

	 ?I am ?? 

	 Check through John?s Gospel to see how often these two words are
on Jesus? lips. To us, perhaps, they?re not much of a big deal.
Unless, of course, they come from someone who?s so full of her or
himself that the words are a bit grating; as if that person
perpetually self-promotes. 

	 But to the average listener to Jesus, whenever He began by saying,
?I am ??, that person would think immediately of the encounter
between Moses and God. ?Tell them ?I am? sends you,? God said
to Moses. 

	 ?I am? on Jesus? lips, then, plainly places God right in the
centre of human life. ?I am here.? ?I am your friend.? ?I am
your comforter.? ?I am your guide.? ?I am your yard stick.? 

	 ?I am ?? ? it sounds so heartwarming, and yet it terrified
and enraged so many in Jesus? day. It was, indeed, identified with
Moses? encounter in the desert. But it was interpreted also ?
rightly, as it turns out ? as Jesus equating Himself and what He was
saying and doing, with God. THAT was blasphemy! THAT was enough to get
Him killed! And, despite the message of freedom, of courage, of hope
that it embodied, it also set in motion the wheels that would roll on
to Calvary. 

	 How can bread get one in such trouble? 

	 The problem was ? and remains ? the idea that God was and is so
readily available, so present. This is not God who won?t come off
the mountain, or leave the chic beach resort where it?s been so
temperate these last couple of weeks. This isn?t God who only
frequents air-conditioned homes, and sips martinis, or margaritas or
cold designer beer. This isn?t God who wouldn?t be seen dead
riding public transportation. 

	 There was an interesting article on the news last week about a new
bus service in Salem. It seems that if you live in West Salem, with
all its steep hills and mostly residential areas, there isn?t much
help for you if you want to get into the centre of the city, never
mind any of the malls to the east, north or south. With the exception
of Wallace Road, right along the river, you?re out of luck if you
don?t have a car or it?s in the shop. 

	 So some students at Portland State are developing a programme to
organise busses on demand ? it was described as ?ber busses. Of
course, there were immediate issues raised. 

	 No one who has a car wants to leave it at home. We know the familiar
arguments. ?If they want to ride a bus, let them move out of here
and find someplace where Cherriotts, the existing public busses, run
already.? There isn?t even a whiff of a thought that ?I am a
West Salem resident?, if I can put it that way, might make us stop
to consider what?s going on. 

	 Doesn?t it sound a bit strange? God WANTS to feed us. God WANTS to
help us find meaning in our lives, and satisfaction and reasonable,
livable compensation in our employment. God WANTS us to be happy. God
is present EVERYwhere, in EVERY neighbourhood. Yet it?s so hard to
accept and make this a guiding principle in our lives. God WANTS to
take us out of situations that cripple and debilitate us. 

	 Yet that?s not quite right. God doesn?t necessarily want us
actually to move. God simply wants the conditions to change, the
attitudes to be reformed, the whole idea of community to be
reinvented. God hopes and prays that all who are around and come in
contact with others will become aware of their hungers. 

	 Bread, in other words, is not in church alone. 

	 ?I am here,? God says, ?not just there. I?ll take care of
you. I?ll give you guidance. You?ll see.? 

	 But folk get in the way of God so often, consciously or
unconsciously. What right does anyone have to say that she or he can
speak for God; can try to act for God? 

	 ?Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of
St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam
Kraft.? It?s pictured in your bulletins. ?Commissioned in 1493
by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more
elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy
Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of (almost sixty
feet). This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its
towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and
Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure,? which
talks about Jesus as the Bread of Life. ?Imhoff's coat of arms is
displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny
also reveals the presence of (the sculptor) Kraft in the centre, and
two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight
of the whole structure on their shoulders.? 1 


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug  8 20:12:49 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:12:49 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 2
Message-ID: <2QCp1r0095Slt4s01QCpan@charter.net>

(Second part)

 The people of Jesus? time simply couldn?t comprehend that
everyone being fed and satisfied was God?s number one priority; that
providing education for everyone; and safety for everyone; and respect
for everyone, was what God has always intended for those who inhabit
creation. So many of the people of Jesus? time had their own
priorities. They wanted to hang on to whatever they had, and they
wanted to add to that whatever anyone else had. So to have Jesus say
that whoever comes to Him will never be thirsty, never be hungry
again, was SO much of a threat to those who placed their hopes so much
on tangible assets that they couldn?t bear the thought of risking
losing even a crumb of them. THEY wanted to corner the bread market
? whether in church or out beyond four walls. 

	 But Jesus, the Bread of Life, who wants to sustain us all, cannot be
imprisoned or locked away from us or any of His people. 

	 Maybe that?s what made some of the listeners of Jesus, who were
the ones with power, what made them SO angrily nervous. After all, as
a member of the Crow Nation remarked yesterday, the sacred, that which
shows holiness, which draws us into holiness, always has and
demonstrates power. And the fact that Jesus was willing to share
power, to empower everyone, through bread, though conversation,
through promises of eternal life; that made people SO angry. 

	 I don?t know that we get quite that angry, yet there ARE
definitely times when we don?t want to share. Maybe we all need to
go back to kindergarten, where we can learn that prime directive ?
to share with others, no matter what it is ? except for germs and
pain, of course! 

	 Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry made an amusing point about
this last Sunday. He talked about how, in so many ways, we?re really
still in kindergarten. He asked to imagine God looking at all of us on
earth. He asked us to think about the ways in which we?re so far
from getting things right. He asked us to think about how we relative
to one another and to God. He asked us to picture God smiling and
shaking God?s head and thinking, ?Give them time. They?re still
in kindergarten!? 

	As Bishop Curry remarked, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it?s
actually reassuring to think that we?re still in creation?s
kindergarten, because, if this is what humans are like as adults, then
we have some serious problems! 

	If we were adults, we should be falling all over ourselves, trying to
make sure that no one is left out, that everyone has enough to eat,
every single day; enough clean water to drink, every day; enough
shelter from the blazing sun, or pounding rain, or bitter cold ?
every day. 

	We can?t quite see it in the bulletin photograph of the Sacrament
House in St. Lorenz. We have to take the description at its face
value, but think about the meaning of that carving. From head-height
up it?s elaborate, a wonderfully creative expression of joy and
devotion in knowing that within it shall live the Bread of Life which
will feed the whole world. But the creative imagination of the
sculptor, Kraft, was led to understand that all of this glory, this
sign of freedom from hunger, and thirst, and fear; all of it is
balanced on the shoulders of Kraft and his two companions; all of it
is balanced on the shoulders of you and me. 

	Jesus IS the Bread of Life, certainly. He said it over and over,
referring to Himself and to the tidings of peace He brought. That?s
central to our faith. But in order for people to hear about it; in
order to for people to taste it and see how gracious God is, you and I
have to speak the words; you and I ? or someone else on our behalf
? has to mix the ingredients and bake the bread; someone has to make
an offering of it and to use the words given us by Jesus; someone has
to take it, to break it apart and to distribute it ? outside as well
as inside the building we often mistake for church. 

	As crazy as it sounds, Jesus trusts us. Teresa of Avila, born five
hundred years ago this year, wrote, ?O Thou Treasure of the poor!
How marvellously Thou sustainest souls, showing to them, not all at
once, but by little and little, the abundance of Thy riches! When I
behold Thy great Majesty hidden beneath that which is so slight as the
host is, I am filled with wonder?? 2 

	The torn piece of Bread, each bit not cut neatly with straight lines
nor exactly the same as that given to person next to you; that torn
piece of Bread came from human hands, but was blessed by Jesus Himself
through the work of the Spirit which He promised us. 

	That torn piece of Bread, so small, so fragile, apparently so
insignificant, is an incredible sign of life and love from God to us.
It comes from God who made us and is given to us, the kindergarteners
who seem so frequently to be so recently out of the sand box. 

	Yet as twentieth century saint, Dorothy Day, put it, ?Young people
say, ?What good can one person do?? They cannot see that we must
lay one brick at a time; we can be responsible only for the one action
of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our
heart that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and
know God will take them and multiply them as Jesus multiplied the
loaves and fishes.? 3 

	Out of incredible love for us, God in Jesus reaches out to us as to
the first century friends of Jesus and asks us to be the one, the
group, the community, which takes seriously Jesus? words. I AM ? I
AM present and I love and honour you so much as to offer you the means
to eradicate hunger and thirst. 

	The officers of the organisation ?Bread for the World? remind us
that ?Our efforts to help those in need are strengthened by Bread
for the World as it brings together people frommany faith traditions
? to be a collective Christian voice, urging our nation?s decision
makers (and those of other nations) to change the policies and
conditions that allow hunger to persist. We also give thanks for
churches and other organizations that provide emergency relief and
log-term assistance to overcome hunger, poverty, and disease.? 4 

	The Bread which Jesus gives for the life of the world must not be IN
church alone. Nor must it be FOR the church alone. The Bread which
Jesus offers, which Jesus invites us to take to the world, is for
EVERYONE, withOUT exception. 

	THIS is the Good Word of Jesus to us, whether we feel like
kindergarteners in mission or not. In fact, it may be better if we DO
think of ourselves as kindergarteners. Nine times out of ten, they
have no fear, no reluctance, to go to someone, even to a stranger, and
to say, ?Would you like to share my bread?? 

	It rests on our shoulders now, God helping.

	NOTES: 

	[1] Sacrament House by KRAFT, Adam - Web Gallery of Art [1]
www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm [2]

	2 From ?_The Autobiography?_, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) quoted
in ?_Soulwork Toward Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat Proper 14 (Year B),
August 9, 2015 ?Under The Appearance of? _Suzanne Guthrie
http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html [3]

	3 From _?Loaves and Fishes?_ by Dorothy Day (1897-1980) quoted by
Suzanne Guthrie, Op. Cit.

	4 Insert, _?Bread for the World?,_ Washington D.C., October 2015
www.bread.org [4] 


Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=11&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CEIQFjAKahUKEwjMhNyeiZjHAhWILogKHbirB1Y&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wga.hu%2Fhtml_m%2Fk%2Fkraft%2Fselfpor.html&amp;ei=IzjFVYznC4jdoAS4156wBQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNGtDx6WLAAj-trMAZ9NVOj8Do1p5w&amp;bvm=bv.99804247,d.cGU
[2] http://www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm
[3] http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html
[4] http://www.bread.org

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug  9 10:32:33 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2015 08:32:33 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 15 - August 16
Message-ID: <2eYZ1r00M2KWuoN01eYZhJ@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 15:
Let us pray:

	God of flesh and blood,

	when we are truly hungry and thirsty,

	spiritually malnourished,

	you give us your son

	to feed on,

	to satisfy our longing hearts.

	Give us courage

	to pass on this eternal nourishment

	through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	one God for ever and ever. Amen
For reflection on Proper 15 go to >?
http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 12:59:38 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 12:59:38 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd:  Proper 14 b - Part 2
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Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: robertpmorrison <robertpmorrison at charter.net>
To: 'propertalk at stsams.org' <propertalk at stsams.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 8:13 pm
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 2


(Second part) 
 
 
            The people of Jesus? time simply couldn?t comprehend that everyone being fed and satisfied was God?s number one priority; that providing education for everyone; and safety for everyone; and respect for everyone, was what God has always intended for those who inhabit creation. So many of the people of Jesus? time had their own priorities. They wanted to hang on to whatever they had, and they wanted to add to that whatever anyone else had. So to have Jesus say that whoever comes to Him will never be thirsty, never be hungry again, was SO much of a threat to those who placed their hopes so much on tangible assets that they couldn?t bear the thought of risking losing even a crumb of them. THEY wanted to corner the bread market ? whether in church or out beyond four walls.  
            But Jesus, the Bread of Life, who wants to sustain us all, cannot be imprisoned or locked away from us or any of His people.
  
            Maybe that?s what made some of the listeners of Jesus, who were the ones with power, what made them SO angrily nervous. After all, as a member of the Crow Nation remarked yesterday, the sacred, that which shows holiness, which draws us into holiness, always has and demonstrates power. And the fact that Jesus was willing to share power, to empower everyone, through bread, though conversation, through promises of eternal life; that made people SO angry.
  
            I don?t know that we get quite that angry, yet there ARE definitely times when we don?t want to share. Maybe we all need to go back to kindergarten, where we can learn that prime directive ? to share with others, no matter what it is ? except for germs and pain, of course!
  
            Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry made an amusing point about this last Sunday. He talked about how, in so many ways, we?re really still in kindergarten. He asked to imagine God looking at all of us on earth. He asked us to think about the ways in which we?re so far from getting things right. He asked us to think about how we relative to one another and to God. He asked us to picture God smiling and shaking God?s head and thinking, ?Give them time. They?re still in kindergarten!?
  
As Bishop Curry remarked, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe it?s actually reassuring to think that we?re still in creation?s kindergarten, because, if this is what humans are like as adults, then we have some serious problems!
  
If we were adults, we should be falling all over ourselves, trying to make sure that no one is left out, that everyone has enough to eat, every single day; enough clean water to drink, every day; enough shelter from the blazing sun, or pounding rain, or bitter cold ? every day.
  
We can?t quite see it in the bulletin photograph of the Sacrament House in St. Lorenz. We have to take the description at its face value, but think about the meaning of that carving. From head-height up it?s elaborate, a wonderfully creative expression of joy and devotion in knowing that within it shall live the Bread of Life which will feed the whole world. But the creative imagination of the sculptor, Kraft, was led to understand that all of this glory, this sign of freedom from hunger, and thirst, and fear; all of it is balanced on the shoulders of Kraft and his two companions; all of it is balanced on the shoulders of you and me.
  
Jesus IS the Bread of Life, certainly. He said it over and over, referring to Himself and to the tidings of peace He brought. That?s central to our faith. But in order for people to hear about it; in order to for people to taste it and see how gracious God is, you and I have to speak the words; you and I ? or someone else on our behalf ? has to mix the ingredients and bake the bread; someone has to make an offering of it and to use the words given us by Jesus; someone has to take it, to break it apart and to distribute it ? outside as well as inside the building we often mistake for church.
  
As crazy as it sounds, Jesus trusts us. Teresa of Avila, born five hundred years ago this year, wrote, ?O Thou Treasure of the poor!  How marvellously Thou sustainest souls, showing to them, not all at once, but by little and little, the abundance of Thy riches!  When I behold Thy great Majesty hidden beneath that which is so slight as the host is, I am filled with wonder?? 2
  
The torn piece of Bread, each bit not cut neatly with straight lines nor exactly the same as that given to person next to you; that torn piece of Bread came from human hands, but was blessed by Jesus Himself through the work of the Spirit which He promised us.
  
That torn piece of Bread, so small, so fragile, apparently so insignificant, is an incredible sign of life and love from God to us. It comes from God who made us and is given to us, the kindergarteners who seem so frequently to be so recently out of the sand box.
  
Yet as twentieth century saint, Dorothy Day, put it, ?Young people say, ?What good can one person do?? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time; we can be responsible only for the one action of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our heart that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and know God will take them and multiply them as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.? 3
  
Out of incredible love for us, God in Jesus reaches out to us as to the first century friends of Jesus and asks us to be the one, the group, the community, which takes seriously Jesus? words. I AM ? I AM present and I love and honour you so much as to offer you the means to eradicate hunger and thirst.
  
The officers of the organisation ?Bread for the World? remind us that ?Our efforts to help those in need are strengthened by Bread for the World as it brings together people frommany faith traditions ? to be a collective Christian voice, urging our nation?s decision makers (and those of other nations) to change the policies and conditions that allow hunger to persist. We also give thanks for churches and other organizations that provide emergency relief and log-term assistance to overcome hunger, poverty, and disease.? 4
  
The Bread which Jesus gives for the life of the world must not be IN church alone. Nor must it be FOR the church alone. The Bread which Jesus offers, which Jesus invites us to take to the world, is for EVERYONE, withOUT exception.
  
THIS is the Good Word of Jesus to us, whether we feel like kindergarteners in mission or not. In fact, it may be better if we DO think of ourselves as kindergarteners. Nine times out of ten, they have no fear, no reluctance, to go to someone, even to a stranger, and to say, ?Would you like to share my bread??
  
It rests on our shoulders now, God helping.
 


  
NOTES:
  
[1]           Sacrament House by KRAFT, Adam - Web Gallery of Art  www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kraft/selfpor.htm
 


  
2           From ?The Autobiography?, Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) quoted in ?Soulwork Toward Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat Proper 14 (Year B),  August 9, 2015 ?Under The Appearance of? Suzanne Guthrie http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/proper14b.html
 

 
  
3           From ?Loaves and Fishes? by Dorothy Day  (1897-1980) quoted by Suzanne Guthrie, Op. Cit.
 


  
4           Insert, ?Bread for the World?, Washington D.C., October 2015 www.bread.org 
 
 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 13:00:25 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 13:00:25 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd:  Proper 14 b - 1
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References: <2QBF1r00U4CyTrJ01QBFxa@charter.net>
Message-ID: <14f1367f8a4-2f78-4ac30@webstg-m01.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: robertpmorrison <robertpmorrison at charter.net>
To: 'propertalk at stsams.org' <propertalk at stsams.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 8:11 pm
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 1


I'll try splitting this to post ... off to have dinner, then proof it. 
 
 
 
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY             THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
  
1 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 31-33                                                                                                        PROPER 14 b
  
EPHESIANS 4:25 ? 5:2                                                                                                    9th AUGUST, 2015
  
JOHN 6:35, 41-51                                                                                                                      PSALM 130
  
 
  
            ?I am ??
  
            Check through John?s Gospel to see how often these two words are on Jesus? lips. To us, perhaps, they?re not much of a big deal. Unless, of course, they come from someone who?s so full of her or himself that the words are a bit grating; as if that person perpetually self-promotes.
  
            But to the average listener to Jesus, whenever He began by saying, ?I am ??, that person would think immediately of the encounter between Moses and God. ?Tell them ?I am? sends you,? God said to Moses.
  
            ?I am? on Jesus? lips, then, plainly places God right in the centre of human life. ?I am here.? ?I am your friend.? ?I am your comforter.? ?I am your guide.? ?I am your yard stick.?
  
            ?I am ?? ? it sounds so heartwarming, and yet it terrified and enraged so many in Jesus? day. It was, indeed, identified with Moses? encounter in the desert. But it was interpreted also ? rightly, as it turns out ? as Jesus equating Himself and what He was saying and doing, with God. THAT was blasphemy! THAT was enough to get Him killed! And, despite the message of freedom, of courage, of hope that it embodied, it also set in motion the wheels that would roll on to Calvary.
  
            How can bread get one in such trouble?
  
            The problem was ? and remains ? the idea that God was and is so readily available, so present. This is not God who won?t come off the mountain, or leave the chic beach resort where it?s been so temperate these last couple of weeks. This isn?t God who only frequents air-conditioned homes, and sips martinis, or margaritas or cold designer beer. This isn?t God who wouldn?t be seen dead riding public transportation.
  
            There was an interesting article on the news last week about a new bus service in Salem. It seems that if you live in West Salem, with all its steep hills and mostly residential areas, there isn?t much help for you if you want to get into the centre of the city, never mind any of the malls to the east, north or south. With the exception of Wallace Road, right along the river, you?re out of luck if you don?t have a car or it?s in the shop.
  
            So some students at Portland State are developing a programme to organise busses on demand ? it was described as ?ber busses. Of course, there were immediate issues raised.
  
            No one who has a car wants to leave it at home. We know the familiar arguments. ?If they want to ride a bus, let them move out of here and find someplace where Cherriotts, the existing public busses, run already.? There isn?t even a whiff of a thought that ?I am a West Salem resident?, if I can put it that way, might make us stop to consider what?s going on.
  
            Doesn?t it sound a bit strange? God WANTS to feed us. God WANTS to help us find meaning in our lives, and satisfaction and reasonable, livable compensation in our employment. God WANTS us to be happy. God is present EVERYwhere, in EVERY neighbourhood. Yet it?s so hard to accept and make this a guiding principle in our lives. God WANTS to take us out of situations that cripple and debilitate us.
  
            Yet that?s not quite right. God doesn?t necessarily want us actually to move. God simply wants the conditions to change, the attitudes to be reformed, the whole idea of community to be reinvented. God hopes and prays that all who are around and come in contact with others will become aware of their hungers.
  
            Bread, in other words, is not in church alone.
  
            ?I am here,? God says, ?not just there. I?ll take care of you. I?ll give you guidance. You?ll see.?
  
            But folk get in the way of God so often, consciously or unconsciously. What right does anyone have to say that she or he can speak for God; can try to act for God?
  
            ?Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam Kraft.? It?s pictured in your bulletins. ?Commissioned in 1493 by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of (almost sixty feet). This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure,? which talks about Jesus as the Bread of Life. ?Imhoff's coat of arms is displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny also reveals the presence of (the sculptor) Kraft in the centre, and two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight of the whole structure on their shoulders.? 1
  
 

 

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug  9 13:01:40 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 13:01:40 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] SermonB
In-Reply-To: <3025fbbd-5477-443b-90b0-0f91f844f771@ecunet.org>
References: <3025fbbd-5477-443b-90b0-0f91f844f771@ecunet.org>
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Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 10:50 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] SermonB


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ??Anger? + ?D?= ?DANGER!?? or ?Please Engage Brain before Putting Mouth into Gear? and deals with the epistle (Ephesians 4:25-5:2).  Here it is:
     
 
     
Did you hear Paul?s instructions about anger in his letter to the Ephesian church?  He wrote, ?Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance.  Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.  Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.  Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide.?  Who does he think we are...Superman or Wonder Woman?  I?d like us to look at the hard topic of anger.  Is it always a sin?  What do you do about those powerful feelings?  I?m here to tell you that anger is one of the devil?s most valuable tools to destroy us, those we love, along with our enemies.
     
 
     
IS ANGER ALWAYS A SIN?  Well, remember- Jesus was sinless, yet we heard of a time in Holy Scripture when he was angry.  Do you remember when it was?  Sure- when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple.  Jesus? anger in the temple porch was righteous anger because travelers were being misused- charged outrageous prices for exchanging money and then charged outrageous prices again for purchasing defective animals to sacrifice in the temple.  On top of that, they were doing all this buying and selling in the porch of the Gentiles- the only place the Gentiles could worship.  Jesus? anger was because of injustice, and his actions afterward didn?t hurt anyone- just solved the problem.  Did you notice Paul says, ?Don?t get so angry that you sin??  In other words, it?s not the anger that is the sin- it?s what you do with it.  It?s not how I feel- it?s what I say.  It?s not my inner emotion- it?s what I do, my action.  We can?t usually control how we feel, but we most certainly can control what we say and do, and it?s important that we do so.  Spell the word ?danger.?  Now spell it again, but skip the first letter.  What word did you spell?  Sure- ?anger? because anger is just one letter away from ?danger!?  I?m sure you?ve heard people say- ?I can?t help it!?  That?s the excuse my schoolchildren tried to use when I was still teaching. ?Mrs. Boli, he made me do it? didn?t hold water with me then and it doesn?t hold water when we try to tell God (or ourselves) now.   
     
 
     
That?s easy to say, but hard to actually accomplish.  Rev. Stanley Sims used to quote an old saying by Molefi Asante, ?There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control--your mind and your mouth.?  Sin starts in our minds (and bodies) with a strong emotion; it goes from there to our mouths and actions.  God has high standards for us about how we deal with anger- no damage (physically or emotionally).  Fix the problem if you can, but don?t damage the person who is acting like your enemy.  How do I know?  Jesus said, ?LOVE (want what?s best for) your enemy and pray for them.?  How do you keep from sinning when someone has angered you?
     
 
     
FIRST- STOP!  Don?t do anything.  Get away from the situation so you can calm down.  It takes a clear mind to figure out how to solve anger-producing problems, and you can?t do it while you?re boiling with fury inside, while all your fight-or flight hormones are coursing through your blood vessels.  Example: Mike Fuller, who was a safety and punt-return specialist for the San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s, spoke about anger this way- ?The wide receivers are continually trying to make us angry each time they come into our area, because they know if they can upset us emotionally, they can fool us on the next play.?  So how do you clear your mind and body of the poisonous effects of anger?  Go for a walk, listen to some music or get involved with a really good TV program or video game, exercise, cook, clean.  DON?T sit and brood and DON?T try to dull your anger with alcohol or another substance.  You?re trying to clear your head, not muddle it.  Once you?ve calmed down, remember this fact- the person who angers you, controls you.  Look at the thought for the week: ?Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.  That person can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him or her? (Epictetus).  
     
 
     
SECOND- While you?re at it, be sure your data is correct.  There?s an old poem that goes: 
     
I'm always careful of the words I speak, I keep them soft and sweet,
     
I never know from day to day which ones I'll have to eat!
     
 
     
NEXT- FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.  Remember what Paul said, ?Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance,? in other words- don?t nurse your anger.  Don?t allow yourself to become bitter.  Don?t get on the phone and enjoy telling your friends how shamefully someone has treated you.  If you do choose to discuss the situation, work on how to solve the problem. Then solve the problem if you can.
     
 
     
FINALLY- DON?T LET YOUR ENEMY BRING YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL.  Did you hear the story of the elderly woman on her death bed?  Her pastor came to visit and asked if she had forgiven all her enemies.  ?All but one,? she answered.  ?I really haven?t been able to forgive my sister.?  ?You have to forgive her,? the pastor replied, ?or God won?t forgive you, and you don?t have that much time.?  ?All right,? she said, ?bring my sister here.?  When her sister walked into the hospital room, the woman looked daggers at her and said, ?I forgive you, BUT IF I GET BETTER, IT DOESN?T COUNT!?  Don?t be that way!  Look at Paul?s advice: ?Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.  Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide.?  Why not?  Because you allowed God to lose this round and the devil to win.  Your enemy has become your master and forced you to do or say things you knew better than to do or say as God?s precious child.  Did you hear the prayer someone prayed?  ?Dear God, so far today I've done all right.  I haven't gossiped; I haven't lost my temper; I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent.  I'm very thankful for that.  But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.?  You?ve got all the help you need- just don?t think you can do this on your own.  Keep your walk with the Lord strong; receive your Holy Communion at least once a week; say your prayers; and think before you speak or act.  May God bless us all as by God?s grace we stay in control of our minds and therefore our mouths and actions.  Amen.
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug  9 20:37:57 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 20:37:57 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the TWELFTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <91DA56475BD545F3A04371D46E435A1A@T530>

The following are the readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, (Proper 15, ECUSA; Proper 20, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic,  Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday. Note that the Canadian BAS Lectionary does not use the RCL alternatives.



OLD TESTAMENT:  1 Kings 2: 10 - 12, 3: 3 - 14   (RCL)

1Kin 2:10 (NRSV) Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. 11 The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in He'bron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. 

3:3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4 The king went to Gib'eon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gib'eon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" 
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." 


Proverbs 9: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL)

Prov 9:1 (NRSV) Wisdom has built her house, 
she has hewn her seven pillars. 
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, 
she has also set her table. 
3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls 
from the highest places in the town, 
4 "You that are simple, turn in here!" 
To those without sense she says, 
5 "Come, eat of my bread 
and drink of the wine I have mixed. 
6 Lay aside immaturity, and live, 
and walk in the way of insight." 


PSALM 111   (RCL)

Psal 111:1 (NRSV) Praise the LORD! 
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, 
in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 
2 Great are the works of the LORD, 
studied by all who delight in them. 
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, 
and his righteousness endures forever. 
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; 
the LORD is gracious and merciful. 
5 He provides food for those who fear him; 
he is ever mindful of his covenant. 
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, 
in giving them the heritage of the nations. 
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; 
all his precepts are trustworthy. 
8 They are established forever and ever, 
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 
9 He sent redemption to his people; 
he has commanded his covenant forever. 
Holy and awesome is his name. 
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 
all those who practice it have a good understanding. 
His praise endures forever. 


Psalm 34: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 
3 O magnify the LORD with me, 
and let us exalt his name together. 
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, 
and delivered me from all my fears. 
5 Look to him, and be radiant; 
so your {Gk Syr Jerome: Heb [their] } faces shall never be ashamed. 
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, 
and was saved from every trouble. 


Psalm 34: 9 - 14   (alt. for RCL)

Psal 34:9 (NRSV)  O fear the LORD, you his holy ones, 
for those who fear him have no want. 
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger, 
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 
11 Come, O children, listen to me; 
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 
12 Which of you desires life, 
and covets many days to enjoy good? 
13 Keep your tongue from evil, 
and your lips from speaking deceit. 
14 Depart from evil, and do good; 
seek peace, and pursue it. 


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 5: 15 - 20   (all)

Ephe 5:15 (NRSV) Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 51 - 58   (all)

John 6:51 (NRSV) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 15 15:46:03 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 15:46:03 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for August 16 based on John 6:51-58, "Holy Bread,
 Holy People"
Message-ID: <14f32e5c33a-58eb-7bc0@webstg-a04.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/pbul85d is our sermon for August 16 based on John 6:51-58, "Holy Bread, Holy People".
Peace and blessings,
Joe 
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 15 21:42:03 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (joeparrish)
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 21:42:03 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B
Message-ID: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>

Forwarded:?


From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

-------- Original message --------
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> 
Date:08/15/2015  7:18 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B 

Dear Friends,

?

This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (1st Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14).? Here it is:

?

Today we heard the wonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1st Kings (2:10-12, 3:3-14) that told why King David?s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.? As you recall, when God promised him anything (wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.? Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you asked your specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car, clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?? I know how I?d feel- I?d think they were sick and had lost it!? But Solomon, when he could have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.? This is good advice for us too.? Did you notice Paul?s warning in Ephesians (5:15-17): ?Act like people with good sense and not like fools.? These are evil times, so make every minute count.? Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.?? Then the Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: ?Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies.? Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace.?? Psalm 111:10a says ?Respect and obey the LORD!? This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.??

?

Wisdom- what is it and how do we get it?? The Random House dictionary defines wisdom as ?Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with good judgment.?? Wisdom starts with the facts.? When I was a little girl, you can guess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a real chatterbox!? She finally taught me this little poem: ?A wise old owl lived in an oak.? The more he saw, the less he spoke.? The less he spoke, the more he heard.? Why can?t we all be like that wise old bird?!?? It didn?t work- I still ran my mouth, but my mother really did have a point.? How many ears did God give us for collecting the facts?? (Sure- two.)? And how many eyes did God give us for collecting the facts?? (Again- two.)? And how many mouths?? (Only one.)? Doesn?t that tell us something?? Remember Ephesians 5?? God expects us to have good sense, not act like fools, and not be stupid.? (Isn?t that what it says?)? To be wise, we must get our facts first.

?

There?s a problem with this Bible advice.? Did you notice how Paul reminded us that these are evil times?? There was a sign on a plumber?s window that said, ?We repair what your husband (or wife) tried to fix.?? Everybody?s got to be an expert, even if they don?t have the facts.? Our culture teaches us to pick a side and treat anyone who doesn?t agree with us as the enemy because they are either stupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.? Can you even start to guess how many marriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendships are lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and how many arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse or violence?? Did you hear about the minister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?? They stood along a well-traveled road with a sign that said, ?Turn around, the end is near!?? Along came a car speeding by.? The driver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: ?Religious fanatics- trying to tell me what to believe!?? The next thing they heard was a huge splash.? ?Lost another one,? said the minister.? ?Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.? Maybe we should just say ?Bridge out.?? Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from this driver how to listen to others.? James (1:19-20) says, ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.? If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.?? So what?s the Bible way?? Listen, truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child.?

?

Here are some devil-traps to avoid if we?re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:

Don?t enter a discussion ?armed for battle.?? Your purpose is not to win.? Your purpose is to understand.
Don?t be so busy thinking about how you?re going to respond that you don?t hear where the other person is coming from.
Don?t assume the other person is evil or even wrong.? Instead, if the person is a Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of view.? Treat them with honor and respect. (?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?)
A good friend of mine often says, ?Unless you are without sin, don?t throw the first stone.?? In other words, don?t judge your neighbor.? Follow the advice of Jesus, Paul, and James.
Don?t keep trouble going- that?s a greater sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred between people.
Don?t call someone on the phone to tell them about another person.? Instead, talk to the person himself or herself.? If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal of helping the other person.
Finally, remember in last week?s gospel how Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.? Follow his advice.? Stop worrying about other people and work on your own spiritual life.? When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus? name?? What bad habits do you have?? What are you struggling with yourself?? How are you doing in your Bible reading and prayer life?? When is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and spirit?
?

May God bless us as we continue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points of view, and to grow in Godly wisdom.?? May God bless us as we follow James? advice: ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.?? And may God help us remember his further advice: ?If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.??

?

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .

?

Blessed preaching,

Judy Boli

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Saginaw, Michigan

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org.
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From jedgar at nf.sympatico.ca  Sun Aug 16 09:35:48 2015
From: jedgar at nf.sympatico.ca (John Edgar)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 11:05:48 -0230
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B
In-Reply-To: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>
References: <icx70ok8wbkbaqakpc3dnw7l.1439689323253@email.android.com>
Message-ID: <3BD1D5D8-F291-4336-91BB-6486236A0069@nf.sympatico.ca>

Pr

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 15, 2015, at 11:12 PM, joeparrish <joeparrish at compuserve.com> wrote:
> 
> Forwarded: 
> 
> 
> From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Judy 
> Date:08/15/2015 7:18 PM (GMT-05:00) 
> To: Propertalk 
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B 
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
>  
> 
> This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (1st Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14).  Here it is:
> 
>  
> 
> Today we heard the wonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1st Kings (2:10-12, 3:3-14) that told why King David?s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.  As you recall, when God promised him anything (wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.  Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you asked your specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car, clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?  I know how I?d feel- I?d think they were sick and had lost it!  But Solomon, when he could have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.  This is good advice for us too.  Did you notice Paul?s warning in Ephesians (5:15-17): ?Act like people with good sense and not like fools.  These are evil times, so make every minute count.  Don't be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do.?  Then the Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: ?Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies.  Do good instead of evil and try to live at peace.?  Psalm 111:10a says ?Respect and obey the LORD!  This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.? 
> 
>  
> 
> Wisdom- what is it and how do we get it?  The Random House dictionary defines wisdom as ?Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with good judgment.?  Wisdom starts with the facts.  When I was a little girl, you can guess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a real chatterbox!  She finally taught me this little poem: ?A wise old owl lived in an oak.  The more he saw, the less he spoke.  The less he spoke, the more he heard.  Why can?t we all be like that wise old bird?!?  It didn?t work- I still ran my mouth, but my mother really did have a point.  How many ears did God give us for collecting the facts?  (Sure- two.)  And how many eyes did God give us for collecting the facts?  (Again- two.)  And how many mouths?  (Only one.)  Doesn?t that tell us something?  Remember Ephesians 5?  God expects us to have good sense, not act like fools, and not be stupid.  (Isn?t that what it says?)  To be wise, we must get our facts first.
> 
>  
> 
> There?s a problem with this Bible advice.  Did you notice how Paul reminded us that these are evil times?  There was a sign on a plumber?s window that said, ?We repair what your husband (or wife) tried to fix.?  Everybody?s got to be an expert, even if they don?t have the facts.  Our culture teaches us to pick a side and treat anyone who doesn?t agree with us as the enemy because they are either stupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.  Can you even start to guess how many marriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendships are lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and how many arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse or violence?  Did you hear about the minister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?  They stood along a well-traveled road with a sign that said, ?Turn around, the end is near!?  Along came a car speeding by.  The driver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: ?Religious fanatics- trying to tell me what to believe!?  The next thing they heard was a huge splash.  ?Lost another one,? said the minister.  ?Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.  Maybe we should just say ?Bridge out.?  Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from this driver how to listen to others.  James (1:19-20) says, ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.  If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.?  So what?s the Bible way?  Listen, truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child. 
> 
>  
> 
> Here are some devil-traps to avoid if we?re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:
> 
> Don?t enter a discussion ?armed for battle.?  Your purpose is not to win.  Your purpose is to understand.
> Don?t be so busy thinking about how you?re going to respond that you don?t hear where the other person is coming from.
> Don?t assume the other person is evil or even wrong.  Instead, if the person is a Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of view.  Treat them with honor and respect. (?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.?)
> A good friend of mine often says, ?Unless you are without sin, don?t throw the first stone.?  In other words, don?t judge your neighbor.  Follow the advice of Jesus, Paul, and James.
> Don?t keep trouble going- that?s a greater sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred between people.
> Don?t call someone on the phone to tell them about another person.  Instead, talk to the person himself or herself.  If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal of helping the other person.
> Finally, remember in last week?s gospel how Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.  Follow his advice.  Stop worrying about other people and work on your own spiritual life.  When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus? name?  What bad habits do you have?  What are you struggling with yourself?  How are you doing in your Bible reading and prayer life?  When is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and spirit?
>  
> 
> May God bless us as we continue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points of view, and to grow in Godly wisdom.   May God bless us as we follow James? advice: ?My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.?  And may God help us remember his further advice: ?If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.? 
> 
>  
> 
> For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
> 
>  
> 
> Blessed preaching,
> 
> Judy Boli
> 
> St. Paul's Episcopal Church
> 
> Saginaw, Michigan
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org.
> _______________________________________________
> Propertalk mailing list
> Propertalk at stsams.org
> http://mail.stsams.org/mailman/listinfo/propertalk_stsams.org
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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 16 13:22:37 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 11:22:37 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 - August 23
Message-ID: <5VNd1r00P1vZNDA01VNdis@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 16:
Let us pray:

	Abiding God,

	you in Jesus, Christ enduring in us,

	we in you,

	to whom else can we go?

	Your son?s words of eternal life

	empower us to stand steadfast

	with each other in you

	through Jesus Christ our Lord,

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

	one God for ever and ever. Amen
For reflection on Proper go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 16 21:09:25 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2015 21:09:25 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the THIRTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <2CD025DED46F428A9C1148ACAA428CF9@T530>

The following are the readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23, (Proper 21, RCL, Proper 16, ECUSA), according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian (BAS), and  English (Common Worship) lectionaries. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and the C of E are identical to the RCL this Sunday. The NRSV translation is used.


OLD TESTAMET:  1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10, 11) 22 - 30, 41 - 43   (RCL)

1Kin 8:1 (NRSV) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 

10 And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. 23 He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 24 the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. 25 Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, "There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David. 
27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, "My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive. 

41 "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42 --for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm--when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43 then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built. 


Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 15 - 17, 18b   (Roman Catholic)
Joshua 24: 1 - 2a, 14 - 18   (alt. for RCL)

Josh 24:1 (NRSV) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to She'chem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 

14 "Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Am'orites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 
16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Am'orites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 


PSALM 84   (RCL)

Psal 84:1 (NRSV) How lovely is your dwelling place, 
O LORD of hosts! 
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints 
for the courts of the LORD; 
my heart and my flesh sing for joy 
to the living God. 
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, 
and the swallow a nest for herself, 
where she may lay her young, 
at your altars, O LORD of hosts, 
my King and my God. 
4 Happy are those who live in your house, 
ever singing your praise. [Se'lah] 
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, 
in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 
6 As they go through the valley of Ba'ca 
they make it a place of springs; 
the early rain also covers it with pools. 
7 They go from strength to strength; 
the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; 
give ear, O God of Jacob! [Se'lah] 
9 Behold our shield, O God; 
look on the face of your anointed. 
10 For a day in your courts is better 
than a thousand elsewhere. 
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
than live in the tents of wickedness. 
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 
he bestows favor and honor. 
No good thing does the LORD withhold 
from those who walk uprightly. 
12 O LORD of hosts, 
happy is everyone who trusts in you. 


Psalm 34: 15 - 22   (alt. for RCL)
Psalm 34: 1 - 2, 15 - 20   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; 
his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; 
let the humble hear and be glad. 

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, 
and his ears are open to their cry. 
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, 
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, 
and rescues them from all their troubles. 
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, 
and saves the crushed in spirit. 
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 
but the LORD rescues them from them all. 
20 He keeps all their bones; 
not one of them will be broken. 
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, 
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; 
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 

Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above.


NEW TESTAMENT:   Ephesians 6: 10 - 20   (RCL)

Ephe 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 


Ephesians 5: (2a, 21 - 24) 25 - 32   (Roman Catholic)

Ephe 5:2a (NRSV) [L]ive in love, as Christ loved us

21Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 
22 Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind--yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband. 


GOSPEL:   John 6: 56 - 69   (RCL)
                    John 6: 60 - 69   (Roman Catholic)

John 6:56 (NRSV)  Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Caper'naum. 
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." 
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Aug 17 22:57:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:57:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fw: SermonWriter materials for Aug. 23 (Proper 16 - OT
 21) John 6:56-69
Message-ID: <14f3ebd3c1b-48fc-4019@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>


Forwarded; 


The following are SermonWriter materials for Aug. 23(Proper 16 - OT 21) John 6:56-69.
 
Microsoft Word file:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/08-23mn/John.6.56-69.doc
 
HTML:
http://www.lectionary.org/SW/08-23mn/John.6.56-69.htm
 
 
www.lectionary.org


Dick Donovan


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Mon Aug 17 23:00:55 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:00:55 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Biblical commentary for OT & Epistle scriptures for
 August 23 - Proper 16 (B)
Message-ID: <14f3ec09efb-48fc-4047@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



 This email has links to the Biblical commentary for thefollowing OT-Epistle scriptures for August 23:

 
1 Kings 8:1-43 (Common Lectionary - Track 1) Joshua24:1-2, 14-28 (Common Lectionary - Track 2 & Catholic) Ephesians 6:10-20(Both lectionaries)
 
1 KINGS 8:1-43

BIBLICAL COMMENTARY (Track 1)
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/OT/11-1Kings-WEB/1%20Kings%2008.01,%2006,%2010-11,%2022-30,%2041-43.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/OT/OT11-1Kings/1-1Kings-LINKS.htm
 
 
 
JOSHUA 24:1-2, 14-28
BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/OT/06-Josh-WEB/Joshua.24.1-25.Exegesis.WEB.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/OT/OT06-Josh/1-Josh-LINKS.htm
 
 
 
EPHESIANS 6:10-20
BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/NT/10-Eph-WEB/Eph-6.10-20-Exegesis-WEB.htm
 
SERMONS
http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/10-Eph/1-Eph-SERMONS.htm
 
www.lectionary.org


Dick Donovan


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Wed Aug 19 02:17:08 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 02:17:08 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] First draft of sermon for August 23 based on John
 6:56-69, "Who can we turn to?
Message-ID: <14f449aa075-1951-8a45@webstg-a10.mail.aol.com>

http://tiny.cc/kek61x is a first draft of our sermon for August 23 based on John 6:56-69, "Who can we turn to?"
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 13:38:58 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 10:38:58 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b - 2
Message-ID: <6hey1r00L4AFqC601heymj@charter.net>


second part

 ?How often have you bought something you felt wasn?t worth the
money? 

	 ?What if you could set the price? 

	 ?What factors would influence your number? 

	 ?For years, behavioral scientists have studied such questions. 

	 ?They often look at a model called P.W.Y.W. (Pay-what-you-want,
that is.) [1]  

	 ?The idea may seem like a consumer?s giddiest fantasy. But a
real-life extreme version of the experiment unfolding at a restaurant
in Montclair, N.J., is affirming the researchers? predictions. It
has been triggering a panoply of reactions ? including anxiety,
delight, incredulity, guilt and, yes, rampant opportunism. ? 

	 ??The majority of people want to take advantage of the offer,
but also recognize that it feels weird,? said Kathleen D. Vohs [2],
a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota who writes
about the psychology of money [3]. ?So they limit what they order,
do a good job of valuing it, and then walk back from what it?s
worth.?? 2 

	 Yes, there ARE people who take advantage of this generosity, people
could easily afford to be fair, if not far better. There are always
folk like that ? who listened to Jesus, ate with Him, got excited
about His conversations about living a refocused life, but balked at
the thought of making dramatic changes and an offering of their lives
for the spread of the Gospel, the Good News about what life CAN be
like when people don?t have to worry about how they could manage
their finances, or their health care, or their education. 

	 But then, thank God, there are others, like ?another family (who)
left a thank-you note with their modest amount. ?The food and
service was worth way more than we were able to leave.? It
continued, ?As a kid in college and a mother doing inconsistent
freelance, without the deal we wouldn?t have gotten the chance to
come.?? 

	 This Jesus-like chef gave that mother and child something they may
not forget for a long time, if ever. He gave them a glimpse of what it
means when people don?t worry about having their name stuck on a
college gate, or a church pew, or a city park ? people who know that
the goal of a life being lived well is to make sure that everyone is
given the invitation and opportunity to share. 

	 ?The other night (one diner) was in a swivet as she anticipated
that post-dessert moment of truth. She?d heard stories about the
shortchangers. 

	 ??I want to show the chef that I love his food and I appreciate
what he?s doing,? (she) said. ?And I worry about the kitchen
staff! The waiters! I?m so anxious!?? 

	 Now THERE?S someone who gets what life us about ? what ETERNAL
life is about! 

	 Solomon was like that chef! He had skills. He knew he could do
wonderful things if given half a chance and was blessed by God to use
his gifts wisely. He raised this Temple that must have been amazing to
see, filled as it was with treasures, not out of pomposity or
arrogance, but as an attempt to imply that nothing but the best is
good enough for God?s dwelling place. But the king didn?t say,
?See what I?ve done for you, God.? Solomon, already showing
signs of the maturity and wisdom for which he?d asked, interceded
with God for the foreigners who?d appear in Jerusalem, who might
come near the Temple. ?Hear that person?s prayer, and answer
it,? he pleaded with God.  

	The stranger, the weak person, the person at her or his wit?s end,
the one who is starving, who has no home, who could never hope to pay
what life cost ? SHE or HE was precisely the one whom Solomon had
come to understand MUST be given hospitality; she or he was precisely
the one to whom Jesus said, again and again, that each must eat His
flesh and drink His blood ? become one with Him. 

	And now this joyful message has been passed to us, who?ve had our
hunger and thirst satisfied at God?s altar. Now it?s our turn, as
God?s holy dwelling place, to minister in the world. We must ask
ourselves, what is Jesus worth to us. Not that we can pay what Jesus
is really worth. But then, all the Jesus wants is that we keep His
company, that we listen and learn, that we follow His example. 

	THAT is how we repay God for the love of Jesus. So, come, then, eat,
drink ? and share. 

	NOTES: 

	[1] _?Paul Smith?s College Will Get $20 Million, if It Changes
Its Name?_ By KRISTIN HUSSEY AUG. 17, 2015
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KVBjmEgFdYACPLKh239P3pgSUm6WmiIEVhWtNL6rtHQI9vhucq+Seal/G11kFaX0AW9SkJDlzpknkn2riy4Y6yo15di8KeuhfwQ4Xzc+oLhB5S9MoITtgvcEBXzBn28U4mJio7tM+Y1sh/48+NDsRAD7OneTLDEye33tlh+Pro2kQ2akLTddt2H2mnxKtytooJGVypokOY2BtSbk0PhUt8Gd60LMy7ONI8=&campaign_id=61&instance_id=61762&segment_id=76143&user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&regi_id=63205127
[4] 

	2  _?__Mind [5]: What Would You Pay for This Meal??_ By Jan
Hoffman  [6]August 17, 2015 2:28 pm August 17, 2015 2:28 pm
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KUPcT7snurzN09anQA2MM49IhNWGFarU5Fm06CM9fHXvtgEWWzQk96NLR+GcTHnS1W3SYdMm1TZ0R83Y9qV6mP1d/KeQOX4/TPEuaATSS1DHfz2/EoFBNTAu6uew9tQ+3uR9B03twB9oEJzhTEwqtoPwHb6IGptGDPmlAmqdBuo1g==&campaign_id=61&instance_id=61762&segment_id=76143&user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&regi_id=63205127
[7] 



Links:
------
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/us/21free.html
[2] https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/faculty/kathleen-vohs
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17110581
[4]
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KVBjmEgFdYACPLKh239P3pgSUm6WmiIEVhWtNL6rtHQI9vhucq+Seal/G11kFaX0AW9SkJDlzpknkn2riy4Y6yo15di8KeuhfwQ4Xzc+oLhB5S9MoITtgvcEBXzBn28U4mJio7tM+Y1sh/48+NDsRAD7OneTLDEye33tlh+Pro2kQ2akLTddt2H2mnxKtytooJGVypokOY2BtSbk0PhUt8Gd60LMy7ONI8=&amp;campaign_id=61&amp;instance_id=61762&amp;segment_id=76143&amp;user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&amp;regi_id=63205127
[5]
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/category/on-your-mind/?module=BlogCategory&amp;version=Blog%20Post&amp;action=Click&amp;pgtype=Blogs&amp;region=Header
[6] http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/author/jan-hoffman/
[7]
http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KUPcT7snurzN09anQA2MM49IhNWGFarU5Fm06CM9fHXvtgEWWzQk96NLR+GcTHnS1W3SYdMm1TZ0R83Y9qV6mP1d/KeQOX4/TPEuaATSS1DHfz2/EoFBNTAu6uew9tQ+3uR9B03twB9oEJzhTEwqtoPwHb6IGptGDPmlAmqdBuo1g==&amp;campaign_id=61&amp;instance_id=61762&amp;segment_id=76143&amp;user_id=13776d46e58cd1c84bbfacad680c03b7&amp;regi_id=63205127

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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 18:51:49 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:51:49 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b Part 1 a
Message-ID: <6mrp1r0041n3kb001mrpky@charter.net>

The first part was deemed too big and is being held, so I'll split
that in half, should you wish to see it - and should this get
through...

This is the first part of part 1!

Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY    THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST 

	I KINGS 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43    PROPER 16 b 

	EPHESIANS 6:10-20     23rd AUGUST, 2015 

	JOHN 6:56-69    PSALM 84 

	 What?s in a name? You fly on a certain airline ? because of the
name. You buy a particular TV ? because of the name. You eat a
certain restaurant ? because of the name. You avoid one sausage ?
because of the name. You don?t attend one church denomination ?
because of the name. You vote ? because of ?. Well, who knows how
some people vote!  

	 You see where and how we?re influenced, though, don?t you? We
may have never experienced something or met someone, but what someone
tells us can have a tremendous impact. If we like the person, then
we?re more inclined to go along with what she or he says. If we?ve
had a bad experience of a person or situation, we may not listen, we
may not participate. Name recognition and name trust is incredibly
important to us. No wonder firms pay billions, if not trillions, of
dollars to get us to buy one particular paper towel, or something
equally insignificant. 

	 Yet this raises the question of why we don?t do the research
ourselves? Why don?t we get to know the person; read what she or he
has written; listen, first-hand, to what that person says; write,
phone, or, better yet, arrange a meeting with that person. If need be,
be right up front and say, ?I?ve heard some interesting things
?? or, ?I?ve heard some strange things ?? or, ?I?ve
seen criticism about this and that?? 

	 As much as some executives might be less than enthusiastic, if we
each made up our own minds, based on information that we tested
several times to ensure its reliability, each of us might be a far
better informed, a far better committed person that we may be,
sometimes. 

	 Studying, listening, talking don?t automatically guarantee that
we?ll be relieved from pressure ? from our peers, from our
neighbours, from people with authority. That?s a given. Nowhere did
that individual we call ?Jesus? say ?for a worry free life, give
Me a call.? At no time did this ?Jesus? talk about avoiding
stress or dealing with animosity or hardship. His own best friends
said as much. ?This is difficult stuff,? they rejoined, when He
was talking about how to live. To which He replied, ?You?re
offended by this? ? Do you wish to go away, like the others?? 


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Wed Aug 19 18:55:00 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (robertpmorrison at charter.net)
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:55:00 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 16 b - 1 b
Message-ID: <6mv01r00A1n3kb001mv00Z@charter.net>

Here's the second part of the first section - I hope the first part of
this section got through. The second section should have been passed
through the system already.

Bob

	 Some of the disciples may have thought that they?d have an
?in? in the villages and among the people whom they visited. All
they?d need to do is to drop Jesus? name into the conversation.
You know, ?I was over at that party with Jesus last night, and He
said ?? 

	 I remember those TV commercials that said that, ?When E.F. Hutton
talks, everybody listens.? And I was really impressed by the ones
John Houseman made for Smith Barney, ?They make money the
old-fashioned way. They EARN it.? It?s funny how these have stuck
with me ? even if I don?t have a clue about how these firms are
doing these days, or whether or not they were among the many morally
bankrupt financial institutions that have devastated the economy in
the last couple of decades. But maybe that?s the point. Their names,
even that of John Houseman, are not necessarily indicators of trust
and propriety. It?s STILL our responsibility to check, to listen, to
make up our own minds. And it?s as difficult a job to do today as it
was in Jesus? time. Jesus is only too happy when someone talks about
the way that knowing Him and inviting Him to walk with her or him has
made a difference in that person?s life. But Jesus doesn?t expect
the listener simply to take someone else?s word on it. For that
matter, He doesn?t stand on any ceremony. He doesn?t say, ?OK,
I?m Jesus. Listen up!? Unlike many today, He doesn?t expect
people to fawn over Him because of His name. Quite apart from the fact
that He doesn?t expect ANYONE to fawn over Him, Jesus hope that
we?ll each come to make up our own minds, after all sorts of
questions; after living with doubts; after, perhaps, despairing of
finding someone or something in which we can trust. 

	 Why do some people think so much of themselves that they have to
project themselves into every aspect of their lives, focusing
attention on themselves and not their ministry, not their way of
interacting in the world? 

	 Last week, I came across an article which described how a New York
State College which could use some financial help to develop its
programmes received an offer from a member of the board. ?(T)he
college?s most generous benefactor, has pledged a $20 million
donation, one that the college president ? says is critical to the
school?s future. 

	 ?But the gift comes with a controversial requirement. In accepting
the money, the college?s board must agree to change the name ??
putting the prospective donor?s name ahead of the current name of
the College. 1 

	 One deeply troubled alumnus was quoted as saying, ?Selling off
your naming rights like a sports venue, it calls into question your
integrity.? 

	 Granted, Jesus talked about ensuring the ability of people to
experience eternal life in joy, but He never pushed Himself to the
front, making Himself so far beyond people?s reaches and
expectations because He was so wonderful. In fact, He actually wore
His Divinity pretty lightly in order to emphasise how much God loves
us and wants to be in our company so that we will be completely
fulfilled. Jesus? concern is that we take God?s love seriously,
that we learn to appreciate it and that we make it such a part of our
lives that it governs how we interact with others. 

	 I know your minds may sometimes wander during a sermon, and that?s
good. It may well be the Spirit having you consider something that?s
important for your well-being right now: for instance, what all Jesus
meant by talking, again, about eating His flesh and drinking His blood
in order to abide in Him. How can this amazingly simple meal bring
about such a close relationship that our lives are transformed? How
can this change the course of our lives for ever? 

	 How do you feel about tomato and cucumber salad with gorgonzola,
followed by roasted carrots, lentils, grapes and liquid gorgonzola,
perhaps with spaghetti carbonara and crispy duck ? or salmon with
black beans and peanuts ? finishing with cr?me brulee or mocha
panna cotta with hazelnuts. 

	 Are you getting hungry yet? 


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sun Aug 23 06:50:32 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 06:50:32 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 16
In-Reply-To: <69432a07-e405-4838-b52b-a83891fbb4fa@ecunet.org>
References: <69432a07-e405-4838-b52b-a83891fbb4fa@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14f5a2e5f57-1117-16783@webstg-m04.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 22, 2015 8:04 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 16


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?Whom Do You Serve?? or ?Do You Keep your God-Promises When You Get Home?? or ?Break Every Chain!? and deals with the Old Testament lesson (Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18) and the gospel (John 6:56-69).  Here it is: 
     
 
     
In our Old Testament lesson (Joshua 24), we heard part of the mighty prophet Joshua?s last words to his beloved people.  To get the most out of this sermon, let me refresh your memory about the sequence of the Old Testament.  You recall how the Children of Israel were slaves in Egypt; and how God called his mighty Prophet Moses to lead them out of Egypt through the Red Sea to the Promised Land.  It was in the desert that God gave the Children of Israel (and therefore us) the Ten Commandments.  Just before the people were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses died and Joshua was appointed the next prophet to take over after Moses.  Joshua led the Children of Israel across the Jordan River and also as they settled the Promised Land.  Do you remember what happened next?  Time and time again, the Children of Israel, who had seen miracle after miracle as God protected and provided for them in the desert and in conquering the Promised Land, started following the sophisticated ways of the pagans who lived among them and worshipped idols.  Calamity would hit; they would pray for God to save them; God would; then things would go back to normal- including their worship of the fashionable idols of the land.   Now- in today?s Old Testament Lesson, we hear Joshua?s last words to his beloved people.  We hear him as he challenges them: ?Choose this day whom you will serve? (God or idols).  Then Joshua reminded them of his own lifelong choice: ?As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.?
     
 
     
Now let?s move our focus to the Gospel.  Crisis- the 5,000 men (plus women and children) had been listening to Jesus in the hot sun.  It is getting late- time to travel home, and many will be sick and fainting on the journey, since they haven?t eaten.  Jesus feeds all 5,000 plus from the five barley loaves and two small fish donated by a small boy.  After everyone has eaten, twelve baskets full of leftovers are collected from the five barley loaves and two small fish.  What a miracle!  Jesus saved the day!  Surely after such a great miracle, the people would be receptive to Jesus? teaching- right?  Wrong!  Jesus used the occasion to teach some of the 5,000 plus people about the meaning of the Bread from Heaven (i.e. his Holy Flesh given for the life of the world- Holy Communion).  Do you remember what happened next?  Some of these very same people who experienced this mind-blowing miracle start mumbling- ?This teaching is too hard!  Who can stomach such teaching!?  They start to drift away- leave!  Jesus turns to the disciples and asks if they are leaving too?  That?s when Simon Peter makes his prophetic statement: ?Lord, to whom shall we go?  You alone have the words of eternal life!?  In other words, the twelve disciples choose to stay with Jesus- no matter what.
     
 
     
Look at the pattern: Crisis, miraculous deliverance; life gets better; the people drift away- go back to the same-old, same-old; the choice- whose side are you on?  With the Children of Israel- they faced their huge crisis (slavery in Egypt, the Red Sea in front and the Egyptian army behind); with relief they gloried in their miraculous deliverance; life got better and they drifted away from the Lord to selfish behavior; and Joshua challenged them.  The same pattern happened in today?s Gospel.  The many would-be disciples faced their crisis- no food and a long trip home; miraculous deliverance with the multiplication of the five loaves and two small fish so that all 5,000 plus were fed; and then hard teaching.  They decide that following Jesus is too hard; they start to drift away; Jesus? challenge.
     
 
     
Now- what about us?  We?ve seen the same pattern in our lives, sometimes over and over again. Crisis; we pray for deliverance; God works things out for us- we get the house, car, job, health, whatever?  We get used to it and go back to the ?same-old, same-old?, in other words- living as if God doesn?t exist and our only concern is what we want.  We become our own idol.  
     
 
     
You don?t want to be like that, do you?  So how do you recognize the symptoms of going back to the ?same-old, same-old??  It depends on your own personal weaknesses to temptation.  Check these out: 
     
   
When someone does evil to you, do you drop it and give it to God, or do you get revenge?  (This one can be really hard to identify- it?s easy for us to trick ourselves, and revenge can be so very subtle.)  
   
What about money as your idol?  Do you put up God?s money first and work toward a tithe, or do you give God the leftovers?  
   
What about your relationships?  Do you treat everyone with respect, even your enemies?
   
What about sex?  Do you follow your way or God?s way?  Adultery is NEVER all right!  Sex within marriage is always the rule, but if you?re doing it your way- are you taking all possible precautions against pregnancy and STD?s, especially HIV?  It?s one thing to risk yourself.  It?s something else to bring an innocent baby into this world when you are not in any kind of position to care for or even provide for it.  
   
What about your time?  Do you always give God his worship every Sunday, or do you just come to church when it is convenient?  Is every waking minute all about you, or do you invest your time for God- helping others, improving yourself, doing all you can to make God?s church and world glorious in His name?
   
Your friends?  Do they determine your values, or does Jesus determine your values?  When you?re trying to decide what to do, do you ask yourself WWJD- what would Jesus do?
 
This list of six temptations may not have identified yours, but you know your weaknesses.  You know what God is calling you to change (or to keep changed), to improve (or to keep improved), how God wants you to grow (or to keep growing).  So now I?m asking you the same thing Joshua asked his people?  Whom will you serve- God or yourself and what you want?  I can only tell you my choice- I intend to serve the Lord.  
 
I?m going to close with a story.  I hope and pray these scriptures have you thinking about changes that will make you a better Christian.  To be honest, our problem is not making a choice for Jesus while we?re in this holy church- it?s keeping the commitments we make when we get home.  This is a story about the First Goose Church of God in Christ.  Pastor Gander waddled up to the pulpit and began his fiery sermon. ?What kind of birds are we?? He thundered. ?Geese!? The congregation answered, and an ?Amen? was heard from somewhere in the back.  ?That?s right!? shot back the Pastor. ?We are GEESE! God made us GEESE to be GEESE, and not DUCKS or SPARROWS or KIWIS!?  ?AMEN!? honked several congregants. ?And what are these things that GOD has given us, these MAJESTIC appendages?? ?WINGS!? shouted the congregation, honking its approval of this fine observation.  ?And WHY did GOD give us these fine wings??  ?To FLY, Pastor!? said Mrs. Thelma Gosling, standing up in the first row.  ?We can FLY with them!? Choruses of ?That?s right, Thelma!? and ?You go, Girl!? rang out from around the room.  The pastor really started to groove now. ?God wants us to FLY! We can soar above the clouds! We can fill the skies! We are God?s flying children! The moles can dig, the lions can hunt, but we can fly! We can catch the winds beneath our wings and thrill to the sensation of the breeze through our feathers. We can reach the mighty mountain tops and skim the tips of the giant Sequoias!? ?AMEN! We can FLY!? the congregation echoed back  ?If GOD wants us to fly, then what do we gotta do?? challenged the pastor. ?We gotta FLY!? said the congregation. ?We gotta WHAT?? asked Pastor Gander. ?We gotta FLY!? ?WHAT?? ?FLY!!? ?WHAT!? ?FLY!!? And as the congregation WADDLED out of the church and WALKED home, they remarked to one another on how inspiring the pastor?s sermon was that morning (The Rev. John Ramsey, Ottawa, Ohio).  So don?t be like those geese- don?t waddle home.  Use your Holy Spirit power.  Don?t block the Spirit.  Make Jesus your choice and stick with Him.  Amen.
  
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
     
 
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 23 12:09:13 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:09:13 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 - August 30
Message-ID: <8G9D1r00G1vZNDA01G9D6M@bresnan.net>


Collect for Proper 17:
Let us pray:

	Creator God,

	all you have made is good,

	even very good.

	We in our divided minds

	separate your creation

	into clean and unclean.

	Clear our minds to see you

	both in what we call profane

	as well as in the sacred.

	We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	one God for ever and ever. Amen

For reflection on Proper 17 go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 23 21:22:53 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:22:53 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FOURTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <9F829CB90935419D9494E2A5491F3340@T530>

The following are the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 30, (Proper 17, ECUSA; Proper 22, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England (Common Worship), and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Song of Solomon 2: 8 - 13   (RCL)

Song 2:8 (NRSV) The voice of my beloved! 
Look, he comes, 
leaping upon the mountains, 
bounding over the hills. 
9 My beloved is like a gazelle 
or a young stag. 
Look, there he stands 
behind our wall, 
gazing in at the windows, 
looking through the lattice. 
10 My beloved speaks and says to me: 
"Arise, my love, my fair one, 
and come away; 
11 for now the winter is past, 
the rain is over and gone. 
12 The flowers appear on the earth; 
the time of singing has come, 
and the voice of the turtledove 
is heard in our land. 
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, 
and the vines are in blossom; 
they give forth fragrance. 
Arise, my love, my fair one, 
and come away. 


Deuteronomy 4: 1 - 2, 6 - 8   (Roman Catholic)
Deuteronomy 4: 1 - 2, 6 - 9   (alt. for RCL)

Deut 4:1 (NRSV) So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you. 

6 You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!" 7 For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? 8 And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? 
9 But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children-- 


PSALM 45:1,2, 6-9   (RCL)

Psal 45:1 (NRSV) My heart overflows with a goodly theme; 
I address my verses to the king; 
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 
2 You are the most handsome of men; 
grace is poured upon your lips; 
therefore God has blessed you forever. 

6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. 
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; 
7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness. 
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you 
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. 
>From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; 
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of O'phir. 

Note: Verse numbering in your psalter may differ from the above


Psalm 15   (alt. for RCL)
Psalm 15: 2 - 5   (Roman Catholic)

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. 


NEW TESTAMENT:   James 1: 17 - 27   (RCL)
                                 James 1: 17 - 18, 21b - 22, 27   (Roman Catholic)

Jame 1:17 (NRSV) Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 
22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing. 
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 


GOSPEL:   Mark 7: 1 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 23   (all)

Mark 7:1 (NRSV) Now when the Phar'isees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Phar'isees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. 5 So the Phar'isees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" 6 He said to them, "Isai'ah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 
"This people honors me with their lips, 
but their hearts are far from me; 
7 in vain do they worship me, 
teaching human precepts as doctrines.' 
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." 

14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile." 

20 And he said, "It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Fri Aug 28 17:15:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 17:15:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Sermon for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23,
 "Open arms, open hearts"
Message-ID: <14f762a131d-7caa-4326@webstg-m07.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/nhk2tuo is our sermon for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23, "Open arms, open hearts".
Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 29 09:48:10 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 09:48:10 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] How to be squeeky clean,
 an alternative sermon  for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Message-ID: <14f79b7290e-5fa7-57d6@webstg-m10.mail.aol.com>

http://tinyurl.com/pxab8xr is an alternative sermon, "How to be squeeky clean," for August 30 based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.


Peace and blessings,
Joe
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Wilkes-Barre, PA


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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:27:40 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:27:40 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AlTg1r00D2HfrqE01lTgfX@charter.net>

part 1 of 4 of tomorrow's sermon

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY   THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST 

	SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-13   PROPER 17 b 

	JAMES 1:17-27      PSALM 45:1-2, 6-9 

	MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23      30th AUGUST, 2015 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time  

	 I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. 1 

	 ?I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.? 

	 Finding rest, being wrapped in grace, feeling within the joy of
being made free ? these are what everyone seeks. These are what we
all need. Without one of them, perhaps we can get along for a while,
but not for long. Our physical, mental and spiritual health depend on
finding the amazing affirmation of knowing that one is loved, and
appreciated, and respected. 

	 This is not to say that we don?t need correctives every now and
again. Of course we do. We ALL need that! Perhaps what we think, or
do, or say contributes to the despair that people experience, and we
need to be told that. If we get in the way of the development of
someone?s health, or well-being, we need to be told ? AND we need
to correct it. This isn?t something we can shrug off. After all,
we?re all connected in ways that we can never possibly imagine.
It?s part and parcel of being a human being. It?s a gift from God
to be treasured and to be used. 

	 From time to time, one of my many quirks surfaces. If something
happens, if I?m blessed by a gift, especially if it?s something
tangible, I may set it where I can see it, but there are times when I
don?t want to use it.  

	 Am I afraid I may break it, or tarnish it, somehow take away the
lustre I see in it? There can be several reasons for not using it. But
the gift is given so that I can benefit from it. The gift is given
through the care taken in selecting it and making sure that I receive
it in good condition, precisely so that I can benefit from it. 

	 Just so with the grace of God. I?m given skills and I?m invited
to use them, to follow where they may lead, no matter what changes
they may require. We?re all given such gifts, but sometimes the
gifts may not be apparent to us; sometimes we may set them aside as
not being useful for our lives at that point in time; sometimes we may
not want to engage them because we don?t understand them. 

	 I wonder if this was part of the problem which confronted the
Pharisees and Scribes with whom Jesus was talking that day. They knew
the standard rules. They even kept them as best they could. But they
couldn?t see behind the gifts with which God had blessed them.
Somehow, they?d rather deprive themselves of what was necessary for
their own lives as well as others in order to comply with what they
perceived as the letter of the law.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:28:47 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:28:47 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b Part 2 of 4
Message-ID: <AlUn1r00L526Mg601lUnv7@charter.net>

Part 2 of tomorrow's sermon:

	 I can hear despair in Jesus? voice in the words of today?s
Gospel passage. I can hear Jesus being so frustrated at the inability
of folk to see what it takes to live with God. He wasn?t looking for
perfection, just an effort . He found that the people had lost
whatever sense of connection with God and with one another that they
may once have had, this despite that wonderful imagery contained in
the Song of Solomon. 

	 Throughout both Old and New Covenant books, but especially in this
wisdom song, descriptions of marriage and the intensity of the
relationship between spouses is seen not only as an affirmation of
love between humans but also as an allegory for the intensity of the
love that God has for us. What drove Jesus to distraction was that if
God?s love for us is so focused, so passionate, why people failed to
respond.  

	 Time and time again, God wants to be able to respond to our needs,
to celebrate in our victories and achievements, to cry in our pain and
disappointments, to walk with us, ?to live together in the covenant
(?), to love, comfort, honor and keep (one another ?), in sickness
and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to each other
(for all eternity).? 2 

	 What God desires completely is that we celebrate our new life, with
all its possibilities, because it?s in the entry into this new life,
this new relationship of commitment, that we find the rest, the grace,
the freedom fully to be Jesus? sisters and brothers. 

	 One of my friends recently described the restoration of a
relationship with his cousin. ?Recently,? he wrote, ?a cousin
indicated that she would like to reconnect after over 30 years. She's
an ardent Baptist, and I have been an embarrassment to her.
Accordingly, I have respected her by staying away and connecting only
with notes for birthdays and Christmases.? 3 

	 The fact that she is, or was, an ardent Baptist and that he?s gay
set up the scenario.  

	 He went on, ?I have always loved her in a special way: I was 9
years old when her parents took me with them to receive her from
Alabama's adoption agency. I have never seen any face light up like
theirs and then hers, at 6-months old. I like to think of that as the
way God's face lights up when we become God's children by adoption.?


	 In a few minutes, we?ll celebrate such a moment. Three people will
come to the water of Baptism. They and their sponsors will affirm
belief in God?s passion for them and for us all. They and their
sponsors will talk about their trust in God to bring us to a new life.
They?ll have water poured on them as a sign of the cleansing and the
renewal to which God brings us. Then they?ll hear the words that
they are marked as Christ?s own for ever. 

	 When they make this commitment, symbolised by words and water, I can
see God?s face light up. Whether they ? especially Phillip ?
will smile in return, I can?t say. But the good news is that God
doesn?t wait to see how Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip react before
breaking out in joy. This happens even as God sees them moving towards
the moment of Baptism. 

	 In the midst of everything that can make us despair, that can make
us depressed, Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are setting out on a
journey. They?re moving towards something that they believe will
give them hope. They may not be able to see what lies ahead ? none
of us can much. But we?ve heard stories. Other people have given us
messages about their own experiences, enough to make us curious at
first, then willing to take the journey ourselves, no matter what the
risks. The promise of a new life becomes stronger than the
difficulties, even the fear and danger of living in isolation under
threat, with no support. 

	 I was gripped with thoughts of grief and sorrow when I heard of the
truck which was found abandoned inside the Austrian border this week.
People have been fleeing countries on the eastern and southern shores
of the Mediterranean for quite some time. Life at home has become
intolerable. People are aware of the ships that have sunk in storms at
sea. People are aware that there are incredibly unscrupulous
individuals who prey on the fear and the pain of those living in
countries where civil wars continue to bring devastation. Yet people
continue to take a chance on making these journeys. 

	 More than seventy bodies were discovered in that locked, abandoned
truck, the bodies of people from one month to many decades old, each
hoping and praying for a new life. 4
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:30:07 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:30:07 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b - part 3 of 4
Message-ID: <AlW71r0030Fr52m01lW717@charter.net>

  _q_"Robert P Morrison"  _q_"robertpmorrison at charter.net"  _q_ _q_
Saturday August 29 2015 2:25:19PM     Attachments  Print   Part 3 of
tomorrow's sermon - references in the next part:

	I suppose I ought to reassure Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip that they
won?t end up in similar circumstances. But, truth be told, there ARE
no guarantees ? except that they and we are ALL marked as Christ?s
own ? FOR EVER! There IS nothing that can separate from the love of
God. Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are all invited, to reiterate
Wendell Berry?s words, to ?come into the presence of still
water?, to find company, and welcome, and reassurance. God says to
each ? to them and to us ? ?Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away?. 

 WE ALL DO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, THOUGH. ?WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ARTIST'S HAND STARTS TO SHAKE IS A LESSON FOR US ALL.? PHIL HANSEN
IS AN ARTIST WHO ALMOST WASN?T AN ARTIST. HE WAS BEGINNING HIS
STUDIES WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INTENSE USE OF HIS TECHNIQUE HAD
CREATED A NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM. ?IN ART SCHOOL, PHIL HANSEN
DEVELOPED AN UNRULY TREMOR IN HIS HAND THAT KEPT HIM FROM CREATING THE
POINTILLIST DRAWINGS HE LOVED. HANSEN WAS DEVASTATED, FLOATING WITHOUT
A SENSE OF PURPOSE. UNTIL A NEUROLOGIST MADE A SIMPLE SUGGESTION:
EMBRACE THIS LIMITATION ... AND TRANSCEND IT.? 5

	 ?Say it with me,? said Hansen. ?Embrace the shake.? He did,
and now has a large collection of his art to show just what can be
done. He sought the source that gave him rest, and grace, and freedom
? the expression of life through art. He sought to use the blessing
that God had given him, and he worked through the obstacles placed in
his way, just as Louie Crew-Clay worked through the obstacle of
misunderstanding and held fast to the vision of that moment when he
was nine when his aunt?s and uncle?s faces were wreathed in
smiles, and his young cousin responded. 

	 Louie ended his story with the words, ?We had a gentle reunion.
Neither wanted argument. We wanted just to love one another face to
face again. She put it best: ?Louie, niceness has become very
important to me. You were always nice to me. It is so good to be
together as family again.? 

	 ?Or as another friend put it, ?Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.?? 

	 Where did Wendell Berry come up with his poem? He WAS a committed
Christian, but like most poetic works, I think it?s open to many
interpretations. For today, though, I see it as a reminder of the
peace, and the joy, and the strength we find in coming to the water of
Baptism. So I read again: 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time   I rest in the grace of the
world, and am free.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 17:31:05 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 14:31:05 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 17 b - references
Message-ID: <AlX51r00M1cu4PJ01lX5v4@charter.net>

References:

	NOTES: 

	[1] Wendell Berry, "The Peace of Wild Things" from _The Selected
Poems of Wendell Berry._ Copyright ? 1998. Published and reprinted by
arrangement with Counterpoint Press. Source: _Collected Poems
1957-1982_ (Counterpoint Press, 1985)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[1] The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry : The Poetry ... [2]
_www.poetryfoundation.org [3] Poems & Poets_  

	2 _?The Exchange of Vows?_ from _?The Celebration and Blessing
of a Marriage?,_ B.C.P. page 424. 

	3 Louie Crew-Clay on Facebook. 

4 ?_MIGRANT CRISIS: FOUR ARRESTS OVER AUSTRIA LORRY DEATHS? _28TH
AUGUST 2015

HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[4] 

	5 Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake | TED Talk | TED.com [5] ? 10:01
[6] _https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t [7] _


Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[2]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[3] http://www.poetryfoundation.org
[4]
http://mail2.charter.net/HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[5]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[6]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[7] https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t

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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 18:51:12 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:51:12 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] Part 3 proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AmrC1r0061Lv1dy01mrCCk@charter.net>

Still haven't seen part 3 come through, to me, at least. I did send
it!

	 I suppose I ought to reassure Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip that they
won?t end up in similar circumstances. But, truth be told, there ARE
no guarantees ? except that they and we are ALL marked as Christ?s
own ? FOR EVER! There IS nothing that can separate from the love of
God. Caitlynn, Connor and Phillip are all invited, to reiterate
Wendell Berry?s words, to ?come into the presence of still
water?, to find company, and welcome, and reassurance. God says to
each ? to them and to us ? ?Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away?. 

 WE ALL DO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, THOUGH. ?WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ARTIST'S HAND STARTS TO SHAKE IS A LESSON FOR US ALL.? PHIL HANSEN
IS AN ARTIST WHO ALMOST WASN?T AN ARTIST. HE WAS BEGINNING HIS
STUDIES WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE INTENSE USE OF HIS TECHNIQUE HAD
CREATED A NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM. ?IN ART SCHOOL, PHIL HANSEN
DEVELOPED AN UNRULY TREMOR IN HIS HAND THAT KEPT HIM FROM CREATING THE
POINTILLIST DRAWINGS HE LOVED. HANSEN WAS DEVASTATED, FLOATING WITHOUT
A SENSE OF PURPOSE. UNTIL A NEUROLOGIST MADE A SIMPLE SUGGESTION:
EMBRACE THIS LIMITATION ... AND TRANSCEND IT.? 5

	 ?Say it with me,? said Hansen. ?Embrace the shake.? He did,
and now has a large collection of his art to show just what can be
done. He sought the source that gave him rest, and grace, and freedom
? the expression of life through art. He sought to use the blessing
that God had given him, and he worked through the obstacles placed in
his way, just as Louie Crew-Clay worked through the obstacle of
misunderstanding and held fast to the vision of that moment when he
was nine when his aunt?s and uncle?s faces were wreathed in
smiles, and his young cousin responded. 

	 Louie ended his story with the words, ?We had a gentle reunion.
Neither wanted argument. We wanted just to love one another face to
face again. She put it best: ?Louie, niceness has become very
important to me. You were always nice to me. It is so good to be
together as family again.? 

	 ?Or as another friend put it, ?Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.?? 

	 Where did Wendell Berry come up with his poem? He WAS a committed
Christian, but like most poetic works, I think it?s open to many
interpretations. For today, though, I see it as a reminder of the
peace, and the joy, and the strength we find in coming to the water of
Baptism. So I read again: 

	 When despair for the world grows in me  

	 and I wake in the night at the least sound  

	 in fear of what my life and my children?s lives may be,  

	 I go and lie down where the wood drake  

	 rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.  

	 I come into the peace of wild things  

	 who do not tax their lives with forethought  

	 of grief. I come into the presence of still water.  

	 And I feel above me the day-blind stars  

	 waiting with their light. For a time  

	 I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
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From robertpmorrison at charter.net  Sat Aug 29 18:53:28 2015
From: robertpmorrison at charter.net (Robert P Morrison)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:53:28 -0700
Subject: [Propertalk] References proper 17 b
Message-ID: <AmtU1r00C0WHv8e01mtU0C@charter.net>

We're having three baptisms this Sunday, hence the names in the
sermon.

Here are the footnote references:

	NOTES: 

	[1] Wendell Berry, "The Peace of Wild Things" from _The Selected
Poems of Wendell Berry._ Copyright ? 1998. Published and reprinted by
arrangement with Counterpoint Press. Source: _Collected Poems
1957-1982_ (Counterpoint Press, 1985)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[1] The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry : The Poetry ... [2]
_www.poetryfoundation.org [3] Poems & Poets_  

	2 _?The Exchange of Vows?_ from _?The Celebration and Blessing
of a Marriage?,_ B.C.P. page 424. 

	3 Louie Crew-Clay on Facebook. 

	  4 ?_Migrant crisis: Four arrests over Austria lorry deaths?
_28th August 2015 

HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[4] 

	5 Phil Hansen: Embrace the shake | TED Talk | TED.com [5] ? 10:01
[6] _https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t [7] _



Links:
------
[1]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[2]
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiFrsXbnszHAhXLD5IKHRZbCTE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poetryfoundation.org%2Fpoem%2F171140&amp;ei=-pHgVYXJEcufyASWtqWIAw&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEkeJ4A9dDYe3p98vIDZlCI6xWng
[3] http://www.poetryfoundation.org
[4]
http://mail2.charter.net/HTTP://CLICK.EMAIL.BBC.COM/?QS=BD72914DB7D9FCF8ADAEF94E320D72E4A61A380A7A991B0E93BF95DCB69A1FC68097A8B476DB760F
[5]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[6]
https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_the_shake?language=en
[7] https://www.ted.com/talks/phil_hansen_embrace_t

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From joeparrish at compuserve.com  Sat Aug 29 23:35:13 2015
From: joeparrish at compuserve.com (Joe Parrish)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2015 23:35:13 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 17B
In-Reply-To: <b6ac62d9-3ed5-426d-beb0-f4061402ada3@ecunet.org>
References: <b6ac62d9-3ed5-426d-beb0-f4061402ada3@ecunet.org>
Message-ID: <14f7cac586c-610c-733c@webstg-m10.mail.aol.com>

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 29, 2015 5:26 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 17B


 
     
Dear Friends,
     
 
     
This Sunday?s sermon is entitled ?What Comes Out of Your Mouth?? or ?What?s on the Inside?? or ?Breath Mints Won?t Help!? and deals with the gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, [16], 21-23).  Here it is: 
     
 
     
This morning, we heard Jesus talking about what makes us unclean, and I?d like us to think about the implications of his teachings.  In the part of the Bible immediately before our Gospel begins, the Pharisees had just criticized Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands.  Jesus responded with the statement we heard in the gospel- it?s not what you put into your mouth that makes you unclean.  It?s what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean.  You know He?s right!  I do our household shopping once a week, and- WOW!  You should see the huge number of products for bad breath- mints, pocket packs, pocket mist, mouthwash, special toothpaste, tongue scrapers on those shelves!  Guess what, friends?  They?re really not going to help that much, except maybe the tongue scraper, since the cause of most bad breath is a rotten tooth, a gum disease, an infection, an illness, or that garlic you had at dinner!  A breath mint or its equivalent just won?t cut it, because the source of the problem is deep inside your body.  You know how deodorant won?t help if someone hasn?t showered or bathed for a week.  We?ve got to clean up the inside before we worry about the outside.
     
 
     
What?s true with bad breath and deodorant is true with a sinful heart.  What we put in our mouths won?t affect the state of our souls any more than breath mints will clean up seriously bad breath or deodorant will clean up a filthy body.  We?ve got to clean up from the inside out.  It?s what comes out of our mouths that signify what?s on the inside.  So what comes out of your mouth?
     
 
     
Do you have a bad habit of using God?s name in vain?  It is so very easy to pick up this habit- saying ?Oh, Lord!? or such phrases.  What does the commandment say?  ?Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.?  You wouldn?t use your mother?s name that way.  In fact, I still remember from my teaching days how many fights either started or almost started because of the way someone was talking about someone else?s mother.  So- watch your mouth.  The ancient Israelites didn?t even speak the name of God- they considered it too holy.  We can learn from them.  If you?ve got a bad habit in this regard, break it.  Only use God?s name with the highest reverence, respect, and honor.
     
 
     
What about other kinds of swearing that do not use God?s name in vain?  Are they sinful?  That depends.  If the words are used to describe another person or as a weapon against that person, then they are very sinful.  If, however, they are simply part of your vocabulary or used to express anger at someTHING (not someONE)- they may or may not project the image you want, but they?re probably not sinful.
     
 
     
Most times when someone continually uses God?s name in vain or swears casually, it usually signifies a bad habit, not a sinful, poisonous heart; however there?s other poisonous nasty verbiage that comes out of our mouths far too often.  Gossip; put-downs; lies; swearing AT people; labeling people as bad, stupid, ugly, etc.- these seriously show a heart problem, not coronary artery disease but poisoned spirit disease.  These kinds of remarks have heart-roots of jealousy, anger, hatred, poor self-esteem, desire to look better than others, and other negative emotions.  Molefi Asante reminds us, ?There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control- your mind and your mouth.?  He?s right, and you get control of your mouth by getting control of your mind.  Don?t think evil thoughts.  Don?t dwell on negatives.  Remember the old Cherokee who was telling his grandson about a fight that constantly goes on inside himself. It?s a fight between two wolves.  One is evil: full of anger, envy, regret, guilt, false pride, resentment, inferiority, superiority, etc.  The other is good: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather ?Grand-daddy, which wolf wins??  The old Cherokee thought for a minute and then replied simply, ?The one that I feed.?  Don?t feed the negatives.  When you find yourself dwelling on such thoughts, take charge.  Go for a walk.  Wash the dishes.  Listen to some music.  Read your Bible.  Say your prayers.  Call a friend on the phone.  Change the content of your thoughts from negatives to positives.  That?s exactly what St. Paul meant when he taught the Philippians (4:8) ?Finally, my friends- keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.?
     
 
     
Why bother to watch your mouth?  Because when evil words come out, they can never be recalled.  They can be explained, forgiven, maybe if you?re lucky forgotten- but when they?re out, they?re out.  I want to close with a story I?ve told many times before, but it explains so very well why we?ve simply got to think before we speak and keep Jesus in control of our lips.  There was a little boy with a bad temper.  His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to shut his mouth and hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Gradually the number of nails he was pounding into the fence dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it, and the father suggested that now the boy should pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.  The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.  The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, ?You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a person and draw it out.  It won't matter how many times you say ?I'm sorry,? the wound is still there.  A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.?  And while we?re thinking of such things, you know who gets the worst of our poison?  Those we especially love- our family and dear friends.  How we act at home and with those we love is the true test of what?s in our hearts.  So remember Jesus warning, it?s not what you put into your mouth that makes you unclean, but what comes out of your mouth- because it shows the state of your heart.  May God bless us as we clean up our hearts and watch our mouths.
     
 
     
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish?s web site under ?Sermons & Stuff?. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
     
 
     
Blessed preaching,
     
Judy Boli
     
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
     
Saginaw, Michigan
    
  
 To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  propertalk.topic+unsubscribe at ecunet.org. 
 

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From eldan at bresnan.net  Sun Aug 30 13:36:02 2015
From: eldan at bresnan.net (Bob Eldan)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2015 11:36:02 -0600
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 18 - September 6
Message-ID: <B5c21r00D2M8ciW015c21g@bresnan.net>

Collect for Proper 18:
Let us pray:

	God of even small crumbs,

	you see all people,

	of all shapes and races,

	as your children.

	Then how can we deny crumbs

	to those who need even more,

	denying our own hidden family.

	Open our hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

	who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

	 one God for ever and ever. Amen

For reflection on Proper 18 go to >? 

	http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/ [1]
Bob EldanLander, Wyoming



Links:
------
[1] http://preachingtip.com/preaching-tip-of-the-week/

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From chadwohl at satucket.com  Sun Aug 30 20:49:10 2015
From: chadwohl at satucket.com (Charles Wohlers)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:49:10 -0400
Subject: [Propertalk] READINGS for the FIFTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
Message-ID: <7EBA19D29E5F472E9E632A7EBD857060@T530>

The following are the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 6, (Proper 18, ECUSA; Proper 23, RCL & Roman Catholic) according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Canadian (BAS) Lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the lectionaries of ECUSA, Canada and England are identical to the RCL this Sunday. 



OLD TESTAMENT: Proverbs 22: 1 - 2, 8 - 9, 22 - 23   (RCL)

Prov 22:1 (NRSV) A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, 
and favor is better than silver or gold. 
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: 
the LORD is the maker of them all. 
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, 
and the rod of anger will fail. 
9 Those who are generous are blessed, 
for they share their bread with the poor. 
22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor, 
or crush the afflicted at the gate; 
23 for the LORD pleads their cause 
and despoils of life those who despoil them. 


Isaiah 35: 4 - 7a (Roman Catholic, alt. for RCL) 

Isai 35:4 (NRSV) Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 
""Be strong, do not fear! 
Here is your God. 
He will come with vengeance, 
with terrible recompense. 
He will come and save you." 
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, 
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. 
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, 
and streams in the desert; 
7 the burning sand shall become a pool, 
and the thirsty ground springs of water; 


PSALM 125 (RCL) 

Psal 125:1 (NRSV) Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, 
which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 
so the LORD surrounds his people, 
from this time on and forevermore. 
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest 
on the land allotted to the righteous, 
so that the righteous might not stretch out 
their hands to do wrong. 
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, 
and to those who are upright in their hearts. 
5 But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways 
the LORD will lead away with evildoers. 
Peace be upon Israel! 


Psalm 146: 7 - 10   (Roman Catholic) 
Psalm 146   (alt. for RCL) 

Psal 146:1 (NRSv) Praise the LORD! 
Praise the LORD, O my soul! 
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; 
I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 
3 Do not put your trust in princes, 
in mortals, in whom there is no help. 
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; 
on that very day their plans perish. 
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, 
whose hope is in the LORD their God, 
6 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: James 2: 1 - 10 (11 - 13) 14 - 17 (RCL) 
                                    James 2: 1 - 5 (Roman Catholic) 

Jame 2:1 (NRSV) My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 
8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 


GOSPEL: Mark 7: 24 - 37 (RCL) 
                  Mark 7: 31 - 37 (Roman Catholic) 

Mark 7:24 (NRSV) From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go-the demon has left your daughter." 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." 


Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, VT USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
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