St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Saginaw, MI, a Jubilee Ministry Center, is an inclusive, thinking person's church where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord. We are a Gospel Community of Christians committed to building strong, holy lives; reaching out in love to others; strengthening justice and compassion throughout our community; and winning souls for Christ and his Church.
A Center for Jubilee Ministry Un Centro de Liberacion
Rector: The Rev. Judith Boli Deacon: The Rev. Joan Kemp Parish Administrator: Mrs. Ellen Williams Sr. Warden: Dr. Caroline Scott Jr.Warden: Mrs. Rosie Stovall Clerk of the Vestry: Ms. Jean Grey Director of Outreach Ministries: Mr. Grady Holmes
Thoughts for Sermons:
Draft sermon for Sunday, October 5, 2008, is at the end of this web page.
Do you want to make your sermons more inclusive? Short, thought-provoking wisdom statements by African-Americans are near the end of this web page.
For additions to the above statements, sermon feedback, etc., please e-mail me at:
Thought for the Week: “Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.” (Anonymous)
Schedule
Sunday
8 & 11 A.M.: Holy Communion Services
9:30 A.M.: Sunday School for children, teens, and adults
1 P.M.: Dinner at St. Paul's- we feed the hungry.
2nd Sunday at 9:20 AM- vestry meetings
1 P.M.: Healthy Futures- every last Sunday of the month (a health clinic for the un and under-insured)
Weekdays
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: Sandwich Ministry (2 P.M. until bag lunches are gone)
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: Pantry Ministry (10AM- 3 PM)
Wednesday (noon): Holy Eucharist with healing and adult Bible study- all welcome!
Transportation is available for all worship and fellowship activities by calling (989)799-2189.
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OUTREACH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Each month, St. Paul's Church feeds approximately 1,000 people and distributes groceries to about 300 families. Our food costs average about $400 per month.
Ministry Needs:
Food or the money to buy it. (Every penny donated goes to feed the hungry. None goes for overhead. Checks can be made out to Dinner-at-St.Paul's.)
Volunteers- Church or business groups to host a Sunday (4-5 people needed plusfood to feed about 125 people from 1-2 PM).
Your prayers for our ministry and the people we serve!
If you would like to participate with us in this ministry, please call me at 989-799-2189 or e-mail me at: jboli@charter.net
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Thought-provoking Wisdom Statements by African-Americans:
“As we act, we must not become the evil we deplore.” (The Very Rev. Nathan Baxter, bishop- Diocese of Central Pennsylvania)
“Education and learning have become tools for shaping the future and not devices of privilege for an exclusive few.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
"We are a nation imperiled by the richness of its diversity." (The Rev. Gardner C. Taylor, prayer at 1997 presidential inauguration)
“When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth.” (Anonymous- originally from Ethiopia)
Sermon for Sunday, October 5, 2008
Title: “The Ten Commandments” or “Don’t Talk Like a Christian and Live Like an Atheist!”
We just heard the very serious parable Jesus told about the renters who tried to take over the vineyard from the owner. They killed the slaves who came- even killed the owner’s son (i.e. Jesus), and thought they were home free. They acted as if the owner did not exist- as if he would never intervene. Then Jesus asked a frightening question- “What do you suppose the owner (i.e. God) will do to those evil renters?” The answer- terrible things! In other words, don’t play with God! We’ve got to be careful we’re not acting like those renters- we act as if God does not exist and really will never intervene. If we’re not careful, it’s just too easy to talk like a Christian, but live like an atheist. Just like the renters started acting as if the vineyard was their own, we start acting as if our lives are our own, not God’s. Did you hear the story of President Clinton’s visit with the pope? The meeting that was supposed to be short lasted for two days. Finally, a weary President Clinton emerged to face the waiting news media. The former president was smiling and announced the summit was a resounding success. He said he and the pope agreed on 80% of the matters they discussed. Then Mr. Clinton declared he was going home to be with his family. A few minutes later, the pope came out to make his statement. He looked tired and discouraged and was practically in tears. Sadly he announced his meeting with the President was a failure. Incredulous, one reporter asked, “But your Holiness, President Clinton just announced the summit was a great success and the two of you agreed on 80% of the items discussed.” Exasperated, the pope answered, “Yes, but we were talking about the Ten Commandments!” My friends, the Ten Commandments are not called the Ten Suggestions! They are not open to negotiation! You know the song that Frank Sinatra used to sing- “I Did It My Way.” I’m not supposed to live my life my way; I’m supposed to live my life God’s way.
Why? Why would God give us orders? For the same reason parents give rules to their children? To keep them safe so they can have a happy life. The Rev. Bass Mitchell told a story illustrating why we need the commandments. He wrote, “Once a people lived on an island. They were a happy and content people. But something started to go wrong. Some of them began to disappear. They discovered to their horror that all around them were dangerous, deep pits that you could not see until it was too late. When one of their children strayed too far away one day and never returned, the people gathered at the hut of one of their holy elders, pleading with him to do something. He went into the shrine and prayed for guidance. Days passed by and he did not come out. Then one day the people were summoned to the shrine. The elder told them that God had granted their prayers. The elder held up before them a sketch of their island, and a large X mark identified each dangerous pit for them. They rejoiced! They put the elder on their shoulders and carried him in a parade. They made copies of the sketch and committed it to memory. They gave thanks to God for such a great gift. That’s what the commandments are for us- a life-map showing the basic potential pitfalls. So you see, the commandments are not intended to stifle our spirits, but to allow us to have happy lives and avoid tragedy.
Let’s look at them (Exodus 20). You’ll notice they fall into two categories: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength” and “Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.” The first four commandments describe the greatest possible pitfalls we face in terms of loving God. 1..Do not worship any god except me (vs. 3). 2. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth (vs. 4). 3. Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name (vs. 7). 4. Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me (vs. 8). The last six commandments deal with loving our neighbor- they describe how God intends us to interact with our neighbors. 5. Respect your father and your mother, and you will live a long time in the land I am giving you (vs. 12). 6. Do not murder (vs. 13). 7. Be faithful in marriage (vs. 14). 8. Do not steal (vs. 15). 9. Do not tell lies about others (vs. 16). 10. Do not want anything that belongs to someone else (vs. 17).
Friends, our intentions are good- we Christians really do want to obey the commandments, yet we frequently fail. What goes wrong? When are we most at danger of breaking one of the commandments? Did you hear the story of the Sunday school teacher who was discussing the Ten Commandments with her class of five and six-year-olds? After explaining the commandment to honor thy father and thy mother, she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.” This story gives insight into how the devil tempts us into breaking the last six commandments (describing our duty toward our neighbors). Have you heard the wisdom statement that says, “He who angers you, controls you”- True! Strong emotions make us vulnerable, so we do what we want at the moment rather than what we know is right and best in the long run. Like the child in the story- anger or jealousy tempt us to threaten or hurt or kill or lie about someone. Strong sexual urges make us choose to disrespect someone’s partner and family. Seeing something we want makes us choose to steal. So watch out when those strong feelings hit. Take a breath, count to ten (or 1,000 or say The Lord’s Prayer), get away from the situation for a while, and talk it out/ walk it out/ think it out/ pray it out.
What about the commandments that deal with our duty toward God (the first four commandments)? We are most vulnerable to breaking those commandments when we decide that we are Lord of our own lives. We’ll do it our way, thank-you. We talk like a Christian, but live like an atheist. Did you notice the thought for the week- “Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position” (Anonymous). God doesn’t need our advice, we need God’s roadmap. May God bless us as we struggle to live what we believe.
