September 11, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
The Body of
Christ. . . ?
Wake Up!
Galatians 6:1-5
NLT
Acts 20:7-12 MSG
Hey. . . Are You
Asleep Yet. . .
Prayer of adoration and for God’s
illumination so that His Word would be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
I remember as a child I went to many sleepovers at
my friends’ houses. Now, being a mom, my daughters love to have friends over to
sleep. I don’t know how much sleep happens during these sleep overs. I remember
trying to go to sleep at these sleep overs and saying to my friends “Hey. . . are
you asleep yet?” Of course they weren’t so we would start talking until the sun
came up. . . I am not sure these
should be called sleep overs. . . maybe “stay up all night having fun talking
and having random dance parties while we constantly eat night” . . . but that
is way too long. . .
There are times when we gather together as a church
family. . . the body of Christ. . . that we may ask each other. . . hey are you
asleep. . . during our church services. . . I know that would never happen
here during a sermon right. . . right? OK. . . to be sure we are all awake
here I want you to turn to your neighbor and say “Hey. . . are you asleep. . . ?”
But it is unfortunate that there are times. . . within the body of Christ. . . within
our family. . . the answer is yes. . . yes I am asleep. Maybe that answer needs
to change. . . maybe it’s time to wake up from our slumber and see the world
around us. . .
How would we define the body of Christ? Last week
we defined it as family. We asked ourselves the question “how would I define
family?” We even talked about how God would view family and discovered that we
sometimes don’t even come close to how God would define it. We can tend to
leave out people who, for whatever reason we have, just don’t fit our idea of
family. I left us with some questions to ponder and I pray we really did ponder
them, because unless we do. . . there will be no change in the tide we are in.
. . the scripture is clear in Matthew 25:34-46 what will happen if we don’t
change. . . Shyanne reminded me this
week of a saying from the movie “Lilo and Stitch”, Ohana means family. . . and
family means no one is left behind or left out.
OK.
. . so how are we going to change the tide? That seems like a really daunting
task. I would say yes; it is an intimidating task but it is one that must be
done. And yes. . . we can’t do this alone. We need God’s help to do this
because if we try to this alone we will be overcome by the immensity of the
problem. So. . . here’s where we begin. . . by simply waking up.
Let’s
listen to a story in Acts that talk about falling asleep. It is found in
chapter 20 verses 7-12. . . I am reading
from the Message Bible Translation this morning. . .
Now
this man Eutychus’ name means fortunate. . . and yes he was very fortunate that
Paul was there. This story kind of symbolizes what happens when we, as the body
of Christ, decide to fall asleep. We fall. . . we miss the mark. . . and die.
But there is hope in this story. God can make us alive again when we decide to
open our eyes again.
In
order to begin to live outside our own little world. . . outside our walls. . .
we need to wake up to the world around us. We need to see beyond what is right
in front of us. . . what we see may not
be what is truly there unless we look with the eyes of love and grace. . . through
and with the eyes of God. . . those same eyes that looked upon us and showed
mercy and grace even as we sat in sin. Sometimes we just go through the
motions . . . in our lives. . . in our worship . . . in our fill
in the blank. Maybe. . . just maybe. . . it is not so much about staying
awake at church but staying awake as a church.
Look.
. . there may be many reasons why we don’t want to wake up to the world around
us, maybe there is too much pain and sorrow. . . maybe there is too much evil
that we see. . . it can be overwhelming. Speak
from the Spirit about the world around us. . .
But
the problem is this. . . if we go numb and decided that it is better to sleep.
. . we miss the blessings God has for us. . . even as we deal with the pain and
despair around us. If we go numb what is going to happen to those on the
outside reaching out to take hold of the rope that will pull them out of the
spiraling vortex of pain and darkness into the light of a new day. . . a new
beginning?
Here’s
the Good News. God is waiting for us to wake up. . . He is waiting to lay
across our lives. . . our churches. . . our ministries and bring them back to
life. . . to bring us back to life. . . so we can truly live. . . ! Church. . .
as we wake up as the body of Christ. . . as Christ’s Church we reclaim the hope
and power. . . we can and will make a difference.
Ok.
. . so here’s the scenario. . . As we open our hearts and our doors to those
who are on the outside we become family. . . as we become family we can work
together as the body of Christ. . . as a family of believers who reach out to
those who are looking for someone to grab their hand to pull them out of the
vortex they are in. . . in doing so the word Ohana becomes our battle cry
because no one is left out or left behind. And we do all of this in the name
the One who is the heads of the coin toss of life. . . being the head of the
church, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. . . Got it?
Amen
September
11, 2016
did
he miss the message
September
11, 2016
we
are all broken
September
11, 2016
expand
September
11, 2016
asleep
during the sermon
September
11, 2016
waking
up
September
11, 2016
no
one is left behind
September
11, 2016
we
leave out people
September
11, 2016
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon
Series:
“The
Body of Christ. . . ?”
Wake
Up!
Galatians
6:1-5
Acts
20:7-12
Eutychus
message: “Hey, Are You Asleep. . . ?”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
September 11, 2016
&
and
15th anniversary of the attack of September 11, 2001
&
September
10, 2016
a gathering together
September
10, 2016
a Godly community
Pastor
Ruth Foss
weblog
- “A Pastor’s Meditations”
“What
is worship?”
September
10, 2016
&
September
10, 2016
we must be the body of
Christ
edited
September 10, 2016
Are we the body of Christ
– v3
September
10, 2016
changing the picture
September
10, 2016
pulling at the threads
September
10, 2016
grieving God’s Spirit
September
10, 2016
denying the welcome of God
September
10, 2016
we don’t define family
September
10, 2016
as the family of Christ
edited/new
name September 10, 2016
we
must close our eyes
September
10, 2016
draw
wide the circle
September
10, 2016
Do
I see the face of Jesus
September
10, 2016
close our eyes
September
10, 2016
draw
the circle wider
September
10, 2016
love
the family of believers
September 10, 2016
stand firm in the faith
September
10, 2016
what
would we have to do
September
10, 2016
Resist
Satan
September
10, 2016
do
good to all people
September 10, 2016
connected - 2
September 9, 2016
we come to worship
edited September 9, 2016
surrender to Jesus – v3
edited
September 9, 2016
Are
we the body of Christ – v2
edited
September 9, 2016
those
who game the system – v2
edited September 9, 2016
Do we lack a vision – v2
edited
September 8, 2016
bring bandages – v2
edited September 8, 2016
family – v2
edited September 8, 2016
family – v2
September 8, 2016
family
September 8, 2016
bring bandages
edited
September 5, 2016
needing
the Savior – v2
edited
September 5, 2016
do
we know our siblings – v3
edited
September 5, 2016
do
we know our siblings – v2
September
5, 2016
do
we know our siblings
edited
September 5, 2016
If
Jesus was here with us – v3
September
5, 2016
we
have distorted the image
September
5, 2016
what
would it look like
September
5, 2016
powerful
questions
September
5, 2016
if
we are the body
September
5, 2016
Are
we the body of Christ
September
5, 2016
Are
we the family of God
September
5, 2016
what
family is
September
5, 2016
Are
we family
September
4, 2016
I
lay down my life – 3
edited
September 5, 2016
we
are blood, we are family – v2
edited
September 5, 2016
the
meaning of family – v2
September
5, 2016
those
on his right
September
4, 2016
we
are blood, we are family
September
4, 2016
the
meaning of family
September
4, 2016
Yes,
we are
September
4, 2016
empty
seats
September
4, 2016
ache
in the tearing
September
4, 2016
brothers
and sisters - 2
September
4, 2016
We
Are Family
September
4, 2016
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon
Series:
“The
Body of Christ. . . ?”
Family
Psalm
150
Matthew
25:34-46
Galatians
6:10
1
Peter 2:17
1
Peter 5:9
message: “We Are Family. . . ”
(in the printed bulletin as, “We Are Family. . . ?”)
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
September 4, 2016
&
edited
September 5, 2016
easily
recognized – v2
September
4, 2016
I
pray for a common purpose
September
3, 2016
offer
them love
edited
September 3, 2016
love
the cheats – v2
edited/
new name September 3, 2016
love
the cheats
September
3, 2016
those
who game the system
September
3, 2016
we
need to unite
September
3, 2016
how
can we capture
September
3, 2016
Do
we lack a vision
September
2, 2016
How
can everyone win
thinking
about the National Monument designation,
the
moving forward on a comprehensive plan,
and
the presidential election during
the
Patten Lumbermen’s Museum
board
meeting
September
1, 2016
&
September
2, 2016
remember
the mission
September
2, 2016
simple
- 2
September
1, 2016
share
September
1, 2016
shine
- 2
September
1, 2016
who
we are called to be
September
1, 2016
they
are waiting for us to change
September
1, 2016
season
the world
September
1, 2016
an
embarrassment to Jesus
September
1, 2016
visible
in us
edited
August 31, 2016
surrender
to Jesus – v2
August
31, 2016
easily
recognized
August
30, 2016
a
likeness of Jesus
August
30, 2016
surrender
to Jesus
August
30, 2016
let
Christ lead
August
30, 2016
burn
away the darkness
August
30, 2016
bring
His light
August
30, 2016
declare
Christ’s name
August
30, 2016
uncomfortable
August
30, 2016
be
the edge of the robe
August
29, 2016
needing
the Savior
August
29, 2016
unclean
souls
August
29, 2016
joining
the outcasts
August
29, 2016
using
our gifts together
August
29, 2016
Do
this together
August
29, 2016
we
need the Spirit
August
29, 2016
we
need Jesus
August
29, 2016
touch
the leper
merged
August 29, 2016
living
by our laws, by Christ
August
29, 2016
living
by Christ
August
29, 2016
living
by our laws
August
29, 2016
taking
the news out there
August
29, 2016
what
if Christ had played it safe
August
28, 2016
what
do we lose
August
28, 2016
are
we willing to risk
August
28, 2016
our
light source
August
28, 2016
my
little candle
August
28, 2016
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon
Series:
Risky
Business
Psalm
139:14-18
Mark
8
Mark
9
message: “A Glowing Response”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 28, 2016
&
August
25, 2016
what
price do we pay
August
25, 2016
willing
to take risks
edited
August 24, 2016
If
Jesus was here with us
August
24, 2016
not
matching up
edited/
renamed August 23, 2016
If
Jesus was here with us
August
23, 2016
If
Jesus was alive today
August
23, 2016
speaking
truth to their power
August
23, 2016
their
words become lies
August
23, 2016
shattering
what they believe
edited/merged
August 22, 2016
in
the shattering, something new emerges
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/08/in-shattering-something-new-emerges.html
edited/new August 22, 2016
something
new emerges
edited/new
August 22, 2016
in
the shattering, in the breaking
August
22, 2016
in
the shattering
edited
August 22, 2016
Love
above all else – v2
edited
August 22, 2016
Truth
to change us – v2
August
21, 2016
love
to set them free
August
21, 2016
Love
to set us free
August
21, 2016
Truth
to change us
August
21, 2016
Love
above all else
August
21, 2016
you
bless us
August
21, 2016
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon
Series:
Risky
Business
“Risking
It All”
Psalm
103:1-6
Mark
5:21-43
Mark
6:1-29
message: “Risking It All”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 21, 2016
&
edited August 21, 2016
in the face of adversity – 2 – v2
August
21, 2016
we
judge, we divide
edited
August 21, 2016
How
can we love – v2
August
21, 2016
How
can we love
August 21, 2016
How can the light shine
August 21, 2016
we must pull together
August 21, 2016
We judge our neighbor
edited August 21, 2016
We damage the fabric – v3
August 20, 2016
in the face of adversity - 2
August 20, 2016
in community we find hope
August 20, 2016
we repair the breach – 2
August 20, 2016
binding the cords
August 20, 2016
stitching the wounds
edited August 20, 2016
We damage the
fabric – v2
August 20, 2016
We damage the fabric
We damage the fabric #2
We damage the fabric #1
August
14, 2016
Worship in the Park (indoors)
Scripture:
Habakkuk 3:17-19
message: “Worship in the Park”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
praise music led by
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church Praise Team
Director, Chuck Loucka
opening prayer
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
prayer over the offering
by Pastor Franklin Randall, Jr.
Patten Pentecostal Church
&
August 7, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
Risky Business
Psalm 146
Mark 1:21-45
Mark 2:1-22
sermon “Nothing Held Back”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 7, 2016
&
August 9, 2015
Worship in the Park
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
John 13:34-35
John 15:1-17
Lord’s Prayer
message: “Community”
by Raymond A. Foss
&
praise music led by
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church Praise Team
Director, Chuck Loucka
&
opening prayer
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
&
prayer before the offering
and songs of praise over the offering
by Pastor Franklin Randall, Jr.
Patten Pentecostal Church
&
Pastor Rodney Lord’s sermon, 2014
Worship in the Park
======
Psalm 133
Psalm 84:5
Revelations 4:11
Revelations 5
Deuteronomy 5:16
Leviticus 19
John 4
1 Peter 3:15
Jeremiah 29:11
Hebrews
Romans 15:13
&
message by Pastor Rodney Lord
August 10, 2014
Patten Academy Park
Patten, ME
&
Pastor Ruth Foss
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV
sermon
“There is Hope in Community”
Worship in the Park
Patten Pioneer Days
August 11, 2013
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted
by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at
Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)
for usage. See all 41,700+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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