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STEPS TO RECONCILIATION: TRUTHTELLING, LISTENING AND FORGIVING

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  STEPS TO RECONCILIATION: TRUTHTELLING, LISTENING AND FORGIVING  (Sermon by The Rev. Canon Dr. Winfred B. Vergara at Grace Episcopal Church, 155-15 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica New York last February 12,2023. Text: Matthew 5:21-37) God be in our minds and in our thinking, in our hearts and in our feelings, on our lips and in our speaking. In the name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. There was a gigantic asteroid hurtling from outer space towards the earth. Once it makes impact, the world as we know it would be gone and the whole human race would be annihilated. An emergency meeting was held in Jamaica, Queens, New York and ministers from various denominations shared what they would preach as their final sermon. The Baptist pastor said, “Brethren, I am going to preach on John 3:16. Nothing could be more urgent than to tell people that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever lives and believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” T
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  A MEDITATION ON THE LAST SEVEN WORDS  OF JESUS ON THE CROSS  The Rev. Canon Dr. Winfred Vergara (4/15/2022) To what can we compare the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross? Writer and theologian Alfred McBride likens it to the song of the thorn bird. The thorn bird is a legendary bird that sings only once in its lifetime. From the moment it leaves its nest, it flies around looking for the longest and sharpest thorn and having found it, it impales itself. As the thorn pierces through it, it sings the sweetest and most melodious music. It outsings the larks and the nightingales and all the hummingbirds and the whole world stops to listen to the song. It makes a point that the ultimate joy can only be purchased with the highest price of self-sacrifice. Jesus Christ made seven final words during his  last hours  on the cross. Like the last will and testament of a dying man, these statements were couched in poetic words like the song of the thorn bird. As I meditate on these words,
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THE CROSS OF LIBERATION BY FRED VERGARA

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  THE CROSS OF LIBERATION The Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Jerusalem Avenue, Hicksville, New York. March 13, 2022       Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.”(Luke 13:31-32) We live in the tension of fragility and fluidity in this planet earth. Life is fleeting and unpredictable. Few months ago, much of the people in Ukraine were living in relative peace. Today, millions are gripped with fear and anxiety, uncertain of the future and fearing for their lives and the lives of their children. With no fault of their own, the masses of its people, find themselves victims of Russian invasion. While their heroes struggle to defend their country and protect their democracy and sovereignty, the masses are caught in the vortex of War
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