I may not be a carpenter,
someone who works with their
hands
none of my children are
named Jesus
none claim to be the Daughter
of the Living God;
but I know in part, at
least,
some of what he must have
been feeling
the awesome responsibility
I am Joseph of Nazareth
maybe not a son of David,
but a child of Abraham,
trying to be faithful
to my calling from God.
Putting on the robe, the
apron
picking up the tools, the
mantle,
preparing to stand before
the altar
at the pulpit, the lectern,
the workbench,
to share the story Advent,
of Christmas,
from a minor character, from
Joseph;
but this is a message I can
understand
at least in part, for I have
lived it,
not that they were Daughters
of God
not in the same sense as
Jesus;
but they were children of
others
whom I am to love, to
nurture,
to adopt as I am able, to
teach
with their mother as they
grow up.
I am Joseph of Nazareth,
though my name is Raymond,
an unlikely father,
unexpected
as if by the voice of an
angel
telling me this would be
alright
that this was all part of God’s
plan
deferred perhaps, but
already written,
a journey together, to
travel
to care for, to raise up
these children of others
these daughters of God
like my own flesh and blood.
====
edited February 13, 2017
I am Joseph of Nazareth – v4
edited December 13, 2014
I am Joseph of Nazareth – v3
edited December 12, 2014
I am Joseph of Nazareth – v2
December 12, 2014
I am Joseph of Nazareth
edited December 13, 2014
adoption in the stable – v2
edited December 13, 2014
an open adoption – v2
edited December 12, 2014
I love you Lord Jesus – v2
edited December 12, 2014
a stepfather for Jesus – v2
edited December 12, 2014
I am Joseph of Nazareth – v2
December 12, 2014
I am Joseph of Nazareth
December 12,
2014
pray for me
December 12,
2014
adoption in
the stable
December 12,
2014
adoption at
the manger
December 12,
2014
an open
adoption
December 12,
2014
a stepfather
for Jesus
December 12,
2014
a manger on
his doorstep
December 12,
2014
the legal
father
December 8,
2014
I love you
Lord Jesus
edited/ new December 8, 2014
I look at this baby
December 8,
2014
How can I
teach Jesus
Matthew
1:18-25
3rd Sunday of
Advent
Advent Sermon
Series: The Voices of Advent, “I was there…”
Luke 1:26-38
(KJV)
Voices of
Advent – “I was there…”
dramas by Ross
Olson
sermon/message
– “Joseph”
(as performed by Raymond A. Foss who, like Joseph,
is an
step-father and adoptive father)
children’s
message
– mystery box
–
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Advent wreath
lighting
Prayer of
Thanksgiving –
by
Raymond A. Foss
communion
worship led by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s Whisper”
blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd
Sunday of Advent
December 14,
2014
&
2nd
Sunday of Advent
Advent Sermon
Series: The Voices of Advent, “I was there…”
Luke 1:26-38
(KJV)
Voices of
Advent – “I was there…”
dramas by Ross
Olson
sermon/message
– “Mary”
(as performed
by Shyanne Foss,
who, like
Mary, is 14 years old)
children’s
message
– mystery box
– spool of thread and cloth and needles
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Advent wreath
lighting
Prayer of
Thanksgiving –
we thank you
Lord – v2
by
Raymond A. Foss
communion
worship led by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd
Sunday of Advent
December 7,
2014
&
1st
Sunday of Advent
Advent Sermon
Series: The Voices of Advent, “I was there…”
Sacred Dance
Introit
Michael W.
Smith’s
“Intro and
Prepare Ye the Way”
from his New
Hallelujah album
Advent wreath
lighting
Prayer of
Thanksgiving –
by Jeanie
Goode
Luke 1:19-20a
children’s
message
– mystery box
–
envelope with
note
Voices of
Advent – “I was there…”
dramas by Ross
Olson
sermon/message
– “Angel Gabriel”
(as performed
by Terry Pettengill)
worship led by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
1st
Sunday of Advent
November 30,
2014
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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See
all 43,200 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Christ, Faith,
God, grace, love, Pastor Ruth Foss, Savior, manger, Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church, Advent, angel, Gabriel, Mary, Luke 1, Christmas, prayer,
Matthew 1, Joseph, stepfather, adoption,
#Christ #God
#grace #love #Advent #UMC #Savior #hope #Christmas #Gabriel #angel #Luke1 #Mary
#prayer #Matthew1 #stepfather #Joseph #adoption
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