Poetry Where You Live

sermon blog

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

meditation blog

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Patten, ME

October 20, 2013

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 26,260+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

quick to deny the accolades – v5

watching his presentation

his words of reality, of addiction

how the drug holds him

a struggle every day

laughing at himself

the absurdity, tragedy

knowing the grip, the hold

they have on him today

taking courage to stand before them

friends and family ready

honestly sharing, open

the truth of his life

sharing his challenge

the struggles still remaining

giving voice to his demons

the struggle within him, present

“I am an addict”, not “I was an addict. . . ;“

words echoing in the full room

before so many who love him

who know what he had done

ready to lift him up

to heap him with praise

as if he was finished

the journey already won;

but he was quick to deny the accolades

the battle continuing still

his response stopping them in their tracks

a change of the atmosphere

the environment in the room

speaking truth, his pain, his struggle

not recovered; in the fight, yet,

the battle day by day

prayers needed ever, today

for his incarceration, prison,

the battle still before him

in a dark place, remaining

to love him as he is

a beautiful chipped vessel

offering his life to God, truly;

still struggling with the demons

Edited October 26, 2013

quick to deny the accolades – v5

Edited October 8, 2013

quick to deny the accolades – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/quick-to-deny-accolades-v3.html

(written at Jeremiah’s Corner, October 7, 2013)

Edited September 28, 2013

quick to deny the accolades – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/quick-to-deny-accolades-v2.html

July 2, 2013

quick to deny the accolades

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/quick-to-deny-accolades.html

question and answer time and

presentation by Chester (Chet) Birmingham

https://www.facebook.com/chester.birmingham.7

on addiction and recovery at

Jeremiah’s Corner,

led by Ellen Dickinson

https://www.facebook.com/ellen.alwarddickinson

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

Patten, ME

July 1, 2013

If we were honest – v4

If we were true to our faith

if we were fully honest

consistent, justice

freedom for all

not an illusion, a lie

our hope would be in action

not just a dream

seeking justice, consistent

not an illusion, a lie

all would be free

Edited October 26, 2013

If we were honest – v4

Edited August 6, 2013

If we were honest – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/if-we-were-honest-v2.html

“If we were honest”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/if-we-were-honest.html

Edited August 6, 2013

“If we were Christians – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/if-we-were-christians-v2.html

February 20, 2011

“If we were Christians”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/02/if-we-were-christians.html

Matthew 5:38-48 (The Message Bible)

Love Your Enemies

Psalm 119:33-40 (God’s Word Translation)

Leviticus 19:9-18 (The Message Bible)

Psalm 25:8-10 (God’s Word Translation)(Call to Worship)

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (New Living Translation)

Prayer of Adoration (UMBOW #461)

Prayer of Dedication (GBOD)

James 4:8 (“Just a Closer Walk with Thee (The Faith We Sing #2158)

Luke 2:29 (“Go Now in Peace”, UMH #665)

Worship Theme: “God’s law versus Human Law”

and sermon, “Mercy versus Retribution”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://twitter.com/Ghonim

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

February 20, 2011

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

on the transformations since the beginning of January -

all the protests in Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya,

Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Djibouti, Mauritania, Senegal, etc.

and

especially the resignation of Hosni Mubarak

February 11, 2011

and the jubilance in Tahrir Square

versus the bloodshed in Bahrain and Libya, etc.

February 18, 2011

hearing claim by President Obama 2/15/2011

in a news conference that when history books tell it

we will be seen as being on the right side of history

in how the United States responded

Post on Twitter by Wael Ghonim

“Our Revolution was like Wikipedia”

http://twitter.com/Ghonim/status/37306340103688192

http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/ghonim-our-revolution-wikipedia

February 14, 2011

Post on Twitter by Wael Ghonim

http://twitter.com/Ghonim

“This is Revolution 2.0: No one was a hero because everyone was a hero.”

http://twitter.com/Ghonim/status/36708161440190464

February 13, 2011

and see

http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/notes/safiyah-fosua/a-prayer-for-the-people-of-egypt-february-3-2011/10150134548244274

A Prayer for the People of Egypt (February 3, 2011)

by Safiyah Fosua

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719089081

Matthew 5:21-37 (Common English Bible)

Law of murder

Law of adultery

Law of Divorce

Law of Oaths

Matthew 5:17 (Common English Bible)

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 18:1-3, 46 (God’s Word Translation) (Call to Worship)

Prayer of Invocation

Prayer of Dedication

Exodus 16:13-15, Psalm 34:8, John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 5:8

(Centering Hymn: “All Who Hunger”, The Faith We Sing #2126)

Romans 14:7

(Lord, Speak To Me”, United Methodist Hymnal #463)

Acts 2:42

(“Let Us Break Bread Together”, United Methodist Hymnal #618)

Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 5:6, Matthew 11:28

(“You Who Are Thirsty”, The Faith We Sing #2132)

1 John 1:7

(“Trust and Obey”, United Methodist Hymnal #467)

Worship Theme: “God gives life . . . sin gives death”

and sermon, “A Life or Death Situation

(Aka . . . A fine line between Heaven and Hell)”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/branches-of-vine-v2.html

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

February 13, 2011

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Matthew 5:13-20 (NRSV)

(and Matthew 5:1-12, Beatitudes)

John 6:51 (Call to Worship)

Isaiah 58.6-12 (NRSV)

John 13:34-35 and Ephesians 4:4-6

(“They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”, The Faith We Sing #2223)

Micah 6:8

(“We Are Called”, The Faith We Sing #2172)

Call to Worship (John 6:51)

Prayer of Confession

Prayer of Dedication

Worship Theme: “A Meal for All People”

and sermon, “Salty Christians”

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

February 6, 2011

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

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 26,240+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Branches of the vine – v4

branches of the vine

part of the vine itself

alive within the Christ

for He is the vine

branches of the vine

within the love of God

held in Christ’s loving arms

for He is the vine

branches of the vine

knitted with the Spirit

held in Christ’s love

for He is the vine

Edited October 26, 2013

Branches of the vine – v4

Edited October 14, 2013

Branches of the vine – v2

September 29, 2012

Branches of the vine

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/branches-of-vine.html

John 15:1-17

hymn “O Blessed Spring”

http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/FWS/2076

Annual Church Conference

led by the Reverend Doctor David Abbott

http://www.neumc.org/districts/detail/3

welcome message by Bishop Devadhar

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=6387671&ct=7269779

and Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog