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Faith and Football: Minister Will Work Super Game into Sunday Sermon

Posted on: Sunday, 5 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Richard Dymond, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

Feb. 5--BRADENTON -- It all started in 1964 when a 134-foot-tall mural showing Christ with outstretched arms erected on the library at the University of Notre Dame became "Touchdown Jesus."

Then, on Dec. 23, 1972, a Terry Bradshaw pass that bounced off Jack Tatum into the hands of Franco Harris came to be known as the "Immaculate Reception," giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a playoff victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Then, on Nov. 23, 1984, Doug Flutie threw a "Hail Mary" pass with six seconds left in the Orange Bowl, leading Boston College past Miami, 47-45.

And now, Feb. 5, 2006, football again finds itself in a holy alliance.

This time it's "The Miracle at Emmanuel," when the Rev. Charlie Rentz of Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Cortez Road not only predicts a 27-24 Pittsburgh Steelers victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL, but will preach while wearing a replica of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's home black and gold uniform, complete with shoulder pads and yellow pants.

"To me, Super Bowl Sunday is such a big event that I can catch people's attention and preach a little of the Gospel by being in uniform," Rentz said.

This is not the first time the 49-year-old Rentz has donned a football uniform at Super Bowl time to get the attention of a congregation.

He gave football-clad sermons on Super Bowl Sunday at Gulf Cove United Methodist in Port Charlotte; Cape Coral First United Methodist in Cape Coral; and Grapevine Community Church in Port St. Lucie, before coming to Emmanuel last July.

And for those Seattle fans who entertain a notion of sacking Rentz, he will have a steel curtain offensive line of Pennsylvania-bred church members guarding him at his 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services today, including Sandy Warren of Washington, Pa.; Joyce Metcalf of Dubois, Pa.; and Lois and Gaylord Ault of Pittsburgh.

"I love sports," said Rentz, who dropped by Bayshore High School last week and borrowed the gold pants to go with his Roethlisberger No. 7 jersey. "I have always thought there is a strong correlation between sports and matters of faith.

"Look at Miracle on the Ice at the Olympics and the 1969 Mets," said Rentz, who reads daily from a sports devotion book.

A former golf pro on the mini-professional tours -- he never won a tournament -- Rentz answered the call to minister and dropped the golf clubs at age 28. He has quickly convinced the 500 members at Emmanuel that he likes to make church fun.

"I played some baseball at University Christian High School in Jacksonville and intramural football at Florida Southern," Rentz said. "I was actually pulling for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars in the playoffs."

The pastor, who has a 34-inch waist, his own hair and actually looks like a quarterback, chose the Steelers to honor because there are many Pennsylvania natives in his church, located just west of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Cortez Road.

Warren, who predicts a 21-14 Steeler victory today, is proud that her hometown of Washington, Pa., located 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, passed a resolution recently to rename the town Steeler, Pa., at least until the Super Bowl is over.

"I'm a big fan of the Steel Curtain years, Mean Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood," Warren said Friday, referring to past Steeler players.

Warren already knows the hero of today's game.

"Troy Polomalu will be all over the place," Warren said, speaking of the Steelers' strong safety from the University of Southern California who has curly black hair streaming from his helmet.

Gaylord Ault, who, with his wife, Lois, hails from Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, likes the Steelers, 30-14.

"It will be a rough and tumble game with a lot of turnovers," Ault said.

Lois Ault has the game at 40-20, Steelers.

Metcalf predicts the Steelers will win 24-17.

"I think it will go back and forth," Metcalf said. "To get to the Super Bowl, both teams must be good, so I look for a struggle."

Those fans who come to Emmanuel for their pre-Super Bowl praise and worship will hear that winning the Super Bowl is no different than winning at the game of life.

"You have to learn the playbook, which for us is the Bible," Rentz said. "You have to rely on your teammates and treat them right. You have to practice hard, which is to say pray every day. You have to play your position. Everyone has a position in the body of Christ and you have to find out what it is and be comfortable in that."

And, Rentz concludes, you must always remember that the enemy is fierce.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7917 or rdymond@HeraldToday.com [mailto:rdymond@HeraldToday.com].

If you go

What: Super Bowl sermon at Emmanuel United Methodist Church

When: 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. today

Where: 5115 Cortez Road W.

Admission: All are welcome

Information: 792-3497

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

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Source: The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.)

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