Dependent on God

Fully dependent on God
not the lie of self-sufficiency
is this the lesson
the difference between the poor
and the rich man with possessions
Told by the world that they have
all that they need
Needing to give up, to turn over
to let go of our faith in ourselves
remembering we are clay
on the potter’s wheel alone
giving up anything
that keeps us from following Christ


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

Understanding the Rich Man

Our lives, a lesson
learning the choices of life
understanding the rich man
the disciple, the follower
his sorrow, not letting go
unable to give up his wealth
to go, sell, and to give
unable to follow the Christ
unable to part with his possessions
his station, his sense of himself
Unwilling, unable to trust
to turn in faith from his life
to follow the master, to trust
centered only on God


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

Walking Away

Turning, walking away
sorrowful at the answer
the choice he could not make
To go and sell, to give away his possessions
to let go and trust, to follow the Christ
Too much to give up
He could not do this
even though he loved
and wanted to be saved
His possessions his idol
his focus not on God


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

In a Beam

Laying down, melted
stretched out, draped
atop the cool radiator
in a beam of light
his orange fur aglow
Drinking in the warmth
a quiet spot awash
golden sun of autumn
pouring over him

October 10, 2009
our cat Larry
Suncook, NH

Failing His Test

Ultimately, all of us
standing before God
facing the test of the rich man
whether we will follow or not

To truly follow, a change in our lives
leaving all that holds us
all our false idols
things in the way
keeping us from God

The rich man failing
sorrowfully going
leaving Christ
because of his possessions
Choosing not to follow
when confronted with himself


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

You Without Reserve

What he is asking,
what is required
you, given, offered
without reserve
nothing holding you
keeping you from the creator

Nothing standing in the way
of following the Christ
Our lives, our things
the stuff that binds us
all to be sold and given away

Our savior before us
the choice ours to make
to hold onto our possessions
or follow the Lord


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

Go, Sell, Give, and Follow

The words of Christ
the lawyer before him
asking how to be saved

An uncomfortable answer
not what he wanted
to go, sell, give all away
and then to follow the Lord

All that held him,
all his possessions
All that possessed his heart

To give away all of his idols
all that kept him
set apart from God

Not one thing remaining
nothing left between us
that is what Jesus meant that day
That nothing would keep us
from following God


October 10, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

Sermon - “What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure, What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”, Suncook United Methodist Church, 10/11/09

Mark 10:17-31

Does this scripture make you uncomfortable, a little bit maybe? I know it does for me.

What can I as a person, what can we as a congregation and people of faith in a land of such abundance, learn from this lesson? What is Jesus actually telling us to do?

I have been thinking about this scripture, the story of the Rich Man and the teaching of how hard it is for a rich man to go to heaven, and about being called to follow Christ.

And Jesus often talks about what it means to follow him, what we must be prepared to give up. Those first disciples, as Peter ably relates in the scripture, gave up everything. They did drop the nets, left their families. They stopped serving one master and chose to serve another. They took up their cross and followed Jesus.

I have often thought about these lessons, for both myself and for our country, this land of plenty, this blessed land. I am mindful too of what is going on in the world now, about hunger in the world (something I’m particularly mindful of this morning after walking over 6 miles yesterday), about the health care debate here at home, and about the global environmental threat of climate change and our role in that as individuals and as a country.

Have you determined yet what your carbon footprint is yet? I’m not sure I want to know, especially after thinking about what Muffie shared about the amount of water we all use versus what others around the world have to use. When we drained the pool in our back yard for the year, I thought, “How many people around the world could have used that?”

More personally, I struggle with all of this as an attorney, as a father, and as someone who has been blessed with the particular, specific, gift of poetry from God. I believe in my heart that it is my “starfish”, as Pastor Huntley talked of back on July 26.

He told the story of the man standing on the beach throwing starfish back into the sea. Another man, maybe any one of us, prudently asked the man why he was throwing them back, that he couldn’t possibly save all of the starfish on the beach. The first man replied that it made a difference to each one he did save from the sun’s heat, out of the living waters.

But I have this nagging feeling, this questioning. I have felt a call to do more with my gift of Poetry. Should I give up my law practice and try to write poetry for a living? Am I not following Christ because I haven’t dropped this one life and picked up the cross and trusted that this was what Jesus wants me to do? Is that where my treasure is?

I think God is challenging us to trust in Him. that He will provide if we are faithful servants. That is in our work and in our sharing of our gifts.

In my work, I have a lot of clients who haven’t paid me as an attorney. I have a lot of clients who I have taken on pro bono or at a very reduced fee. I sort of grit my teeth thinking about how much is owed. But, you know, God has provided. We have had the money we needed for our daily bread. We have this wonderful church home.

And I have responded by writing more poems, posting them in more places, and I have been blessed by the responses from around the world.

In the forty-four years of my life before meeting Ruth, I had written a total of 300 poems. In the last 5 ears, since the beginning of October 2004 to now, I have written and posted a total of 4,300 poems, 450 in just the last 3 months. And, for me, I drop my nets regularly when God calls. You see, most of my poems come when God wants them to.

Bottom line for me as an individual, I guess, is that I don’t want to come before God with a full silo, like one of the other rich men in scripture, in Luke 12:13-21. I would like to share two poems I wrote about that scripture, based on the sermon Pastor Huntley gave on November 23, 2008. The first one is called:

Storing Up When We Should Give

A foolish man, so the lectionary calls the rich man
his new silos, full, bursting; but empty
his life for the work, for storing up, preparing only
for the rest of this life, his time on this mortal coil
When the master calls, he is empty, unprepared
for his appointment with destiny
Storing up, when he should give
calling on man when God is there
when God would provide
all he, all we need

November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church

The second one is called:

Grain Spoiled

Like the manna, enough provided, all he would need
his daily bread, relying on the Lord
Grain spoiled, in the silos, the garners
useless grain, at the end of his days
Gathered in and unshared, more than his daily needs
Spoiled, lost, when he was called home

November 23, 2008
Luke 12:13-21 and sermon,
“The Human Need to Give”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church

As a church, I think we hear this calling from God, to give to our brothers and our sisters, to not store our grain, through Our Family’s Table, through the bread ministry, through the Food Pantry, and other ways that we as individuals serve those in need.

And, as a country, I think God is calling us to be more giving, to see our neighbors as Jesus would see them, as part of our family. I would like to close, with the challenge that Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church posed in his weekly column in Faith in Action on September 28, 2008. He forcefully reminds all of us that we, the United Methodist Church, have approved a call to action to bring about universal health coverage in America, and a single-payer system for healthcare for all, in Paragraph #3201 of the 2008 Book of Resolutions, found on pages 346 to 356.

He said that we need to be preaching about the need for health care in our country, for all. It is what we believe and it is what we should be calling for from our leaders.

Pretty uncomfortable.

As so often happens when I read scripture, when I read my devotionals, or something like this letter, I felt God’s uncomfortable nudge, his calling to me, to drop my nets and to write. This is one of the two poems I wrote about this challenge from Jim (which I sent to President Obama too). It is called:

In this Land of Plenty

In this land of plenty
no one should know hunger or fear
none should be without
the care they dearly need

We are our brothers’, our sisters’ keepers
their neighbors on this earth
we share the same human birth
our trials just the same

Our ways are made more gentle
our paths made more straight
when we each stop and help our neighbor
a good Samaritan’s hand offered
when no one is watching at all

All of us the same
no one better or worse
all called to follow
the master’s message
his command

To love one another
as we would choose to be loved
to help each other
to offer comfort to our neighbors
as we would hope they would do

All should be covered
no insurance withheld
all of our brothers, our sisters
worthy of healthcare
whenever they are in need

September 30, 2009
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpracticeBy Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink

I don’t know about you; but I think I’m actually glad I am uncomfortable about this scripture. We should be. We need to always be testing our lives against the example of Christ and his teachings, to the words of our own faith, and to Jesus’ challenges to the rich man, to all of us.

So, what will you do with this teaching; where is your treasure, what’s in your silo, and whom will you follow? Amen

Poetry Where You Live

My book, available at Xlibris: https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=56943

The Wind

Running for coffee
out to the car, still night
The sound of the wind
in the maples, losing their leaves
fall wind, blustery

Layers of crisp clouds,
illumined from behind,
as if painted on moving glass plates
some stagehand working overtime
the moon behind, radiant still

Pausing, stopping my walk
to gather in these images
coffee can wait
as I stood there in wonder


October 8, 2009
Job 37:14
and Day 55, “Consider God’s Wonder”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Not for Man Alone

All of our work for the Lord
not for man alone
every task, every effort
service to the king
A perspective, a mindset
a way of approaching each day
The love of God revealing
in how we walk in the way


October 8, 2009
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Colossians 3:23
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=8&year=2009
for October 8, 2009,
“Working for God”,
by Malinda Fillingim

Genuine Suffering

Profound abandonment
that moment of pain
genuine human suffering
the cry of our Lord
hanging, dying on the cross
Crying out to God
ancient words of the people,
the psalm, the lament

True separation from God
draped with the weight of our sin
Righteous, and yet
Forsaken by God
Darkness falling
curtain soon to be cut
Crying out to God
for his presence
in the emptiness
the suffering of the cross


October 8, 2009
Psalm 22:1-15
Matthew 27:46
Mark 15:34
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 8, 2009

Ever Calling

In the lessons, in the scripture
God pursuing, ever calling
calling for you and me
Seeking our hearts, our worship
our praise, our lives
calling us to follow Him

Leaving our lives, our sense of self
our place in the world
to drop our nets,
our treasure, our lives
to follow Him
wherever he may call us


October 7, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09

received via email 10/7/09 - "A Full Glass of Milk", author unknown

One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?" You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay fo r it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words!

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:

"Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands." There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you... The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Stubborn Clay

Not so willing, pliable
stubborn clay on the potter’s wheel
holding to our own will
not fully bending to the Lord’s
wanting a say, part of the making
the potter’s plan
Our lives needing
to be turned over
our will giving way to His
our lives pliable
yielding
to the potter’s hands


October 7, 2009
Jeremiah 18:1-10
and Upper Room Daily Devotion for 10/7/09,
“Pretentious or Plan”, by Darlene Mackey
and
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09

Our Stuff

Our lives, our stuff
our things in the way
keeping us from our master
sitting at the feet of Christ
the rich man’s lament
rumbling in the land
How can I drop
the treasure, the stuff
how can I follow,
into the unknown


October 7, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09

His Heart Hurting

The rich man, rushing to Christ
a message from the master
hard to hear
to give all away
all he had
to humble himself
to follow the Lord

So hard to let go of all
to walk away from our wealth
But so much given up
when our things
keep us from God
Let go of the barriers
all else clutter
when the savior awaits


October 7, 2009
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09

Facing Christ

at the altar rail, communion
preparing myself
facing Christ
in the servant before me
serving the bread, the cup
the body and blood of my savior
here in your house, Lord
the quiet of this night
only a few of your faithful gathered
in your presence, facing Christ
sacrament, grace washing over me
humbly, trembling and in awe


October 7, 2009
in preparation for the message I will be giving tonight
in our worship service
after the Our Family’s Table weekly dinner
1 Corinthians 11:23:32
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/7/09

Hearing These Words

My prayer, for my words
the ancient words of Christ
beginning in that upper room
passed down from the saints
to each believer in turn

Hearing these words differently
personally, a message from God
the words not a ritual,
not rote intoning of the words of Christ

Passion instead, power,
tears welling up, crying at the altar rail
feeling the master before us,
as if in that upper room

His blood dripping down,
pouring down upon us
anointing us, washing us
over our beard, our collar
seared into our very hearts

His body, broken,
seeing his hurt in his eyes
knowing the path he would take
our hands touching his flesh
cupped in our trembling hands

Our eyes rising, after eating the bread,
drinking of the cup
meeting His eyes
a glimpse of his love, his divinity
an expression of our thanks and praise

October 7, 2009
in preparation for the message I will be giving tonight
in our worship service
after the Our Family’s Table weekly dinner
1 Corinthians 11:23:32
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/7/09

His Blood Spilled

Pausing in my praying
aware of the fragrance of Christ
the smell of his blood
resting upon my hands
His blood spilled
for me, onto me,
marking me, my life
the fragrance of Christ
wash over me


October 7, 2009
inspired from reading the poem below again,
in preparation for the message I will be giving tonight
in our worship service
after the Our Family’s Table weekly dinner
1 Corinthians 11:23:32
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?”
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/7/09
----
The Smell of His Blood

Raising the bread from the chalice
the wine splashing
running down my hand
the smell of his blood
as I sat in prayer
after the sharing the
bread and the cup
Tangible, real memory
washing over me,
as the tears ran down my face
The sacrifice of the savior
made real once again,
in the smell of his blood
lingering on my trembling hands.

April 25, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus

Sermon - "When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?", October 7, 2009, by Raymond A. Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church

Message 10/7/09
Raymond A. Foss
Worship service after Our Family’s Table

When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?
The familiar words of scripture, the words of Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, from The Message:

. . .

Pastor Huntley used this scripture for his sermon on Sunday for World Communion Sunday. The universality of Communion, starting in that small upper room, as Pastor Ruth reminded us on Sunday, moving to the ends of the earth, for all these many generations.

How many times have you come to His table? Have you ever come crying?
Paul went on to say in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32,

. . .

How is your heart as you come to this service, as we come to the table tonight. Have you ever come crying?

Have you ever felt that sense of awe, or maybe not feeling worthy, or that moment when you faced Christ at the rail, in the person handing you the bread and the cup?

I remember one time, when Peter Hey at Wesley caught me with the words, the way he lived communion in the service in November 2006:

More than Bread
He brought tears to my eyes,
so quickly this time, because he paused
caught me with the pacing, the cadence
of his words, so rich with meaning,
meaning I treasure, relish, long to understand
“This is More than Bread” he said, holding up
the loaf of fresh-baked bread; “and this is
far more than just grape juice”
He broke the loaf and raised the goblet
intoning our hope in the mystery, the retelling
of the ancient sharing of the sacrifice
of the Christ, God with us, in the flesh
Again, with hushed words, dripping with emotion

And another time, this April, on a Walk to Emmaus weekend, when the grape juice and the bread were on my hands in prayer:

The Smell of His Blood
Raising the bread from the chalice
the wine splashing
running down my hand
the smell of his blood
as I sat in prayer
after the sharing the
bread and the cup
Tangible, real memory
washing over me,
as the tears ran down my face
The sacrifice of the savior
made real once again,
in the smell of his blood
lingering on my trembling hands.

April 25, 2009
Luke 24:13-35
Walk to Emmaus

I pray that Communion will be as real, as powerful, as present as has been for me.

Morning Moon

Their big sister, far down the sidewalk
walking purposely around the church
Slightly slower, noticing the bright red
the sugar maple, the azure sky,
the cross of the steeple shining gold
in the morning light
Saying good morning to the blue moon
radiant still in the early morning
not yet lost its luster to the sun
Shimmering white, darker too
not yet ready to leave the sky


October 6, 2009
the conversation with Shyanne and Shanequa
walking this morning
to Pembroke Village School
Suncook, NH

"100 Great Web Sites for Poetry Lovers”

Received via email:

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/10/05/100-great-web-sites-for-poetry-lovers/

Sharing Communion with Us

Around Your table Lord
all around the world
sharing communion with us
one body of Christ
brothers and sisters
strangers no more
those hungry physically
all those spiritually searching
members with us
the family of God
One meal,
shared around the world
in communion with God


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

The Words Lived Out

The words of the Lord’s Prayer
of the communion liturgy
the instructions of Paul
revealed, lived out
in the life of the church
the body of Christ alive
Lived out in the simple acts
our worship continuing
in the little loving acts of service
Doing our part, in our time, our place
their daily bread given
our hands living out
God’s loving plan


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

That Eternal Meal

This one eternal meal
the body and the blood
given, shared
one meal, around the world
From that small upper room
through the ages, across the globe
Christ shared, all of us the body
all part of the family of God
sitting down together
all around your table
seeking our daily bread


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Starting in that Small Upper Room

The one loaf, his one life
his body broken for us
the cup, his blood poured out
Starting in that small upper room
the one meal shared, all of us
one body, one family
all around the world


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

They Join Us

Our neighbors, in their own homes
opening food we have donated
their daily bread provided
God acting their our hands
In these acts of sharing
joining us at the one table
one family around the table of the Lord


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Express Your Worship

Express your worship
your praise of the Lord
out into the world
in your daily walk with God
Look out for your brothers
for your sisters in pain or in need
Serve one another
all part of the same family of God
We all share one Father
our brother the Christ
all joining together
around the table of the Lord


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Expressions of Our Worship

In our walks of faith
each one revealed
expressions of our praise, our worship
our living with the word
Little acts of kindness
Caring for our neighbors’ needs
Serving our brothers and our sisters
giving where we are called
Reflecting the love of our Father
Giving Him our all.


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

A Table for the Hungry

A table for the hungry
offered around the clock
in the service of this house
Our church, our work
labors for the Lord
continuing beyond the word
the sharing of the bread, the wine
the body and the blood

Offering more, much more
in service and in love
doing the simple acts
our tithe in time
and caring
for our neighbors
our brothers, our sisters
all around the world


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Give us this day our daily bread

More than a line in prayer,
a call of trust in God
a prayer for our actions
to serve each other
our neighbors
all around the world

All of us coming
to the table of the Lord
all of us needing
his help, his saving word

We join our savior
his teachings to apply
when we offer others
their daily bread
by our loving acts
when we truly share


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

At His Table with Us

We with them and they with us
all of us sharing the one meal
all of us at his table
all around the world

In the water they drink
the food we have helped to buy
The sharing of the tradition
this simple meal
his body, his blood for all

In the sharing of the bread,
in the meal we share in your house
our brothers, our sisters
at his table with us
all of us in his debt


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

More than the Printed Words

More than the Printed Words

The printed words of the liturgy
the sharing of the body, the blood
the bread, the cup together
his offering of love

Only a moment,
not the whole story
not by far, more to tell
about the communion meal

More than the printed words
our lives of faith
sharing the liturgy,
the ancient rite
each hour, each day
in our daily lives

The way we live, as the body of Christ
individually, as a church
Doing the work of God
serving our neighbors
in offering them hope
their daily bread

The prayer our Lord taught us
a call to action in the words
to serve one another
to offer the daily bread
not merely the words


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

We Participate

We participate in communion
in the sharing of the body and the blood
when we are serving our brothers, our sisters
when we are going and caring with love

In the simple tasks, the little things
the daily service of the church
when we buy food, when we wash dishes
we offer a hand, a hope,
a bit of the love of God
to our neighbors,
to the body
all of us together,
one bread, one body
united in love


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Sharing Our Meal

One meal, all around the same table
the daily food of life,
our daily bread
each of us sharing our one meal
Our worship, together
all around the world
in remembrance of the Lord


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

More to the Story

Such much more to the story
than the moment in our worship
the bit of bread, the cup of juice
shared at the altar rail
A history, connection
to that small upper room
A sharing around the world
one meal that we share
A lifetime of service
helping others with their daily bread
the prayer of the Lord
a lesson on how we are led
Our brothers, our sisters
all who are in need
joining is at the one table
his meal, his body
in the breaking of the bread
and the sharing of the cup


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm

Continuing Worship

A call, a challenge
a truth about this place
continuing our worship
beyond this time and space

Doing the work of a Christian
caring for our neighbors
both near and very far
simple acts of service
out of love for the Lord

Serving in this time
in this place, doing what we can
offering a helping hand
a smile, hope, a bit of bread
to all our brothers, our sisters
our hands, our hearts open
to their cries, their needs
in simple acts of love


October 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
Matthew 25:31-40
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& sermon, “The Ecology of The Lord’s Supper”
& Benediction
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/4/09
World Communion Sunday
http://www.textweek.com/festivals/worldcommunion.htm