Healed in an instant
with power he commanded
and his brother walked
they were all witnesses
awesome God
September 13, 2008
Acts 3:1-10
– Twitter version
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
God is Love
In the letter, the words of John
written later, distilling, aware, understanding
after the walk with the One, sent to earth as was foretold
after the loss of his dying, the joy of his rising
the awareness of all that had been fulfilled
after the day of Pentecost, the filling with the Spirit
the sending forth, to the ends of the earth
Transforming words, of insight, of understanding
God is love. A clear declarative statement, present-tense
full of hope, of joy, of a changing view of the world.
God is love;
not that he loved us merely,
not even that he sent His Son
not even that He loves us now and in the future.
A state of being, the essence, the way to know God
That He is love, incarnate, in the world now
that our Creator, our Savior, our Guide
indwelling within us, is love.
That He is the same thing as love, deep, abiding, eternal,
that the thing we call love; this noun, this verb,
even the adjective, lovingly, is to say something,
someone is acting in the way of God;
that what we see in others, that we share
that which we feel, love,
all of that is the same thing as God
In mathematical terms the equation,
the permanent, immutable truth
God = Love
That to feel love is to know God;
If only we could get that into our thick skulls!
June 19, 2009
1 John 4:8
1 John 4:16
1 John 4:1-21
1 John 3:1-24
written later, distilling, aware, understanding
after the walk with the One, sent to earth as was foretold
after the loss of his dying, the joy of his rising
the awareness of all that had been fulfilled
after the day of Pentecost, the filling with the Spirit
the sending forth, to the ends of the earth
Transforming words, of insight, of understanding
God is love. A clear declarative statement, present-tense
full of hope, of joy, of a changing view of the world.
God is love;
not that he loved us merely,
not even that he sent His Son
not even that He loves us now and in the future.
A state of being, the essence, the way to know God
That He is love, incarnate, in the world now
that our Creator, our Savior, our Guide
indwelling within us, is love.
That He is the same thing as love, deep, abiding, eternal,
that the thing we call love; this noun, this verb,
even the adjective, lovingly, is to say something,
someone is acting in the way of God;
that what we see in others, that we share
that which we feel, love,
all of that is the same thing as God
In mathematical terms the equation,
the permanent, immutable truth
God = Love
That to feel love is to know God;
If only we could get that into our thick skulls!
June 19, 2009
1 John 4:8
1 John 4:16
1 John 4:1-21
1 John 3:1-24
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A New Day Burgeons
Bursting forth, blooming before our eyes
not some truly gradual even, unfurling
more like water boiling, suddenly, urgently
seemingly going from water to steam
so is the day, burgeoning, suddenly upon us
presenting itself as fact, changed from the night
into the brightening day
Bursting forth, the Spirit, changing our lives
inexplicably, invisibly, profoundly
our lives not like before, rising on heavenly wings
our spirits soaring from the lift
the transforming of the Spirit within
changing us forevermore, different
unlike what we were the moment before
a new life, a new creation
into a new day burgeoning with promise
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
not some truly gradual even, unfurling
more like water boiling, suddenly, urgently
seemingly going from water to steam
so is the day, burgeoning, suddenly upon us
presenting itself as fact, changed from the night
into the brightening day
Bursting forth, the Spirit, changing our lives
inexplicably, invisibly, profoundly
our lives not like before, rising on heavenly wings
our spirits soaring from the lift
the transforming of the Spirit within
changing us forevermore, different
unlike what we were the moment before
a new life, a new creation
into a new day burgeoning with promise
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
All of my
poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me
at Ray Foss
for usage. See all 25,780+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
from its slumber
Newborn, rising from the earth
the warming, changing,
the rich wet soil
the crocus rising from its slumber
bursting forth into the light
unfurling, opening so soon
warmed by the spring rays
a new thing revealed
out of the melting snow, new earth,
turned by the growing,
up from its slumber.
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
the warming, changing,
the rich wet soil
the crocus rising from its slumber
bursting forth into the light
unfurling, opening so soon
warmed by the spring rays
a new thing revealed
out of the melting snow, new earth,
turned by the growing,
up from its slumber.
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
Bursting Forth
Changed, transformed
forevermore, a new creation
like the butterfly out of its cocoon
its wings stiffening
new blood through the veins
warming in the sun, the breeze.
The same for us, the old cast off
new blood of the Spirit
indwelling within us
warmed by the Son’s light
quickened by the breath of God
Our lives changed forevermore
a new life bursting forth.
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
forevermore, a new creation
like the butterfly out of its cocoon
its wings stiffening
new blood through the veins
warming in the sun, the breeze.
The same for us, the old cast off
new blood of the Spirit
indwelling within us
warmed by the Son’s light
quickened by the breath of God
Our lives changed forevermore
a new life bursting forth.
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
through the eyes of the Spirit
The world, life, a new perspective
a new prism, looking, seeing
through the eyes of the Spirit
living, dwelling within us
new eyes, a new creation
focus forever changed
fear, given over, hope
ever before my eyes
seeing the world anew
through the eyes of the Spirit
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
a new prism, looking, seeing
through the eyes of the Spirit
living, dwelling within us
new eyes, a new creation
focus forever changed
fear, given over, hope
ever before my eyes
seeing the world anew
through the eyes of the Spirit
June 15, 2009 to June 17, 2009
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sermon - "“New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, June 14, 2009, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14b-17 (The Message Bible)
“New Beginnings”
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray. . .
Loving Creator of new beginnings, You who are a God of second. . . third. . . and fourth chances, we pray for Your presence here with us this morning. May your Spirit fall down upon us gathered here in your name this day. We thank you for the opportunity to worship you in Spirit and Truth. Come Holy Spirit. . . illuminate our hearts and minds this day. Speak Lord. . . Your friends are listening.
(Read 2 Corinthians Scripture)
Spring. . . it is probably my favorite season in the year. It tells me that the cold winter is over and now we will have warm weather again. But. . . to me. . . there is a deeper meaning of Spring. This meaning is what makes me so excited about Spring. To me. . . Spring is a time of new beginnings. It’s a time when the earth is being warmed by the sun and because of that warmth. . . a new thing comes bursting forth. . . a new beginning. The world breaks forth in glorious song to the Creator, ever praising Him for His creation. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
In the scripture from Corinthians this morning, we heard what happens when God’s Spirit enters our being. . . what happens when God creates a new beginning for us. . . a new life with the Creator of all things. The Message Bible uses the statement that “The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” Well. . . being the scholar that I am. . . I just had to look up this word. (And yes. . . I had no idea what the word meant) The word means to grow or develop quickly; flourish. . . to put forth. . . to begin to grow or blossom. A new life begins. . . is put forth. . . grows and blossoms. And not only does the Spirit begin to germinate within us. . . the Spirit puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we will not settle for less in life. . . we strive to please God no matter what. Our lives become refocused and our Spirits can break forth with singing. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
This morning we will be Confirming Erica and taking in new members. What a glorious day for Christ’s Church! What a day to break forth in song! What a new beginning it is indeed! (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
You see. . . as we come into the transforming presence of God. . . it will open our eyes to a great many things in life. As we draw near to Him it will guarantee that we will begin to rethink the way we think and question the way we have always considered things to be. We begin to see life, not through rose colored glasses but through the eyes of the Spirit within us. God is creating a new thing. The old is gone; a fresh new thing is bursting forth in song.
There are new things bursting out all over! When the birds burst into glorious song just before daybreak. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we see the first signs of Spring with the Crocus coming up from its slumber. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a new born baby cries at its first breath. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a sinner comes to the throne of grace and turns their life over to Christ. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time the people of Christ’s church decide to step out in faith...there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we, as disciples, plant a seed of Christ’s love into another’s heart... there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we as Christian reach out to others in Christ’s name. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth.
Each day is a new beginning. . . a new chance to burst through with song. . . a new chance to touch the lives around us. We are a new creation in Christ. . . may we ever put ourselves in the Potter’s hand. . . may we be created a new and molded into what the Potter has planned for us from the start. . . and with all of Creation sing Alleluia there’s a new thing bursting forth.
(Potter’s Hand Video)
Amen. . .
“New Beginnings”
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray. . .
Loving Creator of new beginnings, You who are a God of second. . . third. . . and fourth chances, we pray for Your presence here with us this morning. May your Spirit fall down upon us gathered here in your name this day. We thank you for the opportunity to worship you in Spirit and Truth. Come Holy Spirit. . . illuminate our hearts and minds this day. Speak Lord. . . Your friends are listening.
(Read 2 Corinthians Scripture)
Spring. . . it is probably my favorite season in the year. It tells me that the cold winter is over and now we will have warm weather again. But. . . to me. . . there is a deeper meaning of Spring. This meaning is what makes me so excited about Spring. To me. . . Spring is a time of new beginnings. It’s a time when the earth is being warmed by the sun and because of that warmth. . . a new thing comes bursting forth. . . a new beginning. The world breaks forth in glorious song to the Creator, ever praising Him for His creation. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
In the scripture from Corinthians this morning, we heard what happens when God’s Spirit enters our being. . . what happens when God creates a new beginning for us. . . a new life with the Creator of all things. The Message Bible uses the statement that “The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” Well. . . being the scholar that I am. . . I just had to look up this word. (And yes. . . I had no idea what the word meant) The word means to grow or develop quickly; flourish. . . to put forth. . . to begin to grow or blossom. A new life begins. . . is put forth. . . grows and blossoms. And not only does the Spirit begin to germinate within us. . . the Spirit puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we will not settle for less in life. . . we strive to please God no matter what. Our lives become refocused and our Spirits can break forth with singing. (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
This morning we will be Confirming Erica and taking in new members. What a glorious day for Christ’s Church! What a day to break forth in song! What a new beginning it is indeed! (There’s a new thing bursting forth)
You see. . . as we come into the transforming presence of God. . . it will open our eyes to a great many things in life. As we draw near to Him it will guarantee that we will begin to rethink the way we think and question the way we have always considered things to be. We begin to see life, not through rose colored glasses but through the eyes of the Spirit within us. God is creating a new thing. The old is gone; a fresh new thing is bursting forth in song.
There are new things bursting out all over! When the birds burst into glorious song just before daybreak. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we see the first signs of Spring with the Crocus coming up from its slumber. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a new born baby cries at its first breath. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time a sinner comes to the throne of grace and turns their life over to Christ. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time the people of Christ’s church decide to step out in faith...there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we, as disciples, plant a seed of Christ’s love into another’s heart... there’s a new thing bursting forth. Every time we as Christian reach out to others in Christ’s name. . . there’s a new thing bursting forth.
Each day is a new beginning. . . a new chance to burst through with song. . . a new chance to touch the lives around us. We are a new creation in Christ. . . may we ever put ourselves in the Potter’s hand. . . may we be created a new and molded into what the Potter has planned for us from the start. . . and with all of Creation sing Alleluia there’s a new thing bursting forth.
(Potter’s Hand Video)
Amen. . .
Seeds of Faith
Small seeds of faith
words – faith, belief, God
love, salvation, resurrection
Fed by the watering of the word
the light of the Son
growing within, invisible
mysterious, as the Spirit
burgeoning forth,
a new creation
in the fullness of God’s time
according to His plan.
June 14, 2009
Mark 4:30-34
Upper Room Disciplines 2009,
for June 14, 2009
and
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009
words – faith, belief, God
love, salvation, resurrection
Fed by the watering of the word
the light of the Son
growing within, invisible
mysterious, as the Spirit
burgeoning forth,
a new creation
in the fullness of God’s time
according to His plan.
June 14, 2009
Mark 4:30-34
Upper Room Disciplines 2009,
for June 14, 2009
and
Call to Worship:
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name,
O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your
faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your
deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of
your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4 NIV)
Unison Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for this day that we may come into
Your house and worship You. We ask that Your Holy Spirit
would fall down upon us gathered here so that we may
understand all that You would have us hear this day.
We thank you for the Spirit that you have gifted us with.
We pray that our worship would be pleasing in Your sight.
This we pray in the strong name of Your Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-13
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Heavenly Father, you have offered us such abundance.
We are so very blessed. Yet, we often think that we have so little.
Some of us may even feel as though our gift is too small.
Thank you for reminding us that even our mustard seed-sized
gift may grow beyond our individual possibility. So, today we
place before you all amounts of gifts – some quarters from
children, some $1 bills from adults, some larger bills and
checks – knowing that you transform our scarcity into your
abundance. Thanks be to God. Amen. (GBOD)
The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Sermon, “New Beginnings”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
June 14, 2009