March 12, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
2nd Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
“God Shaped
Hole…”
Inspired by Marcia McPhee’s
Looking For Love…
Psalm 121
John 3:16-17
“Help, I Need
Somebody”
Prayer of illumination….
Please Stand for the reading of the Gospel according
to John chapter 3, verses 16 through 17. Listen to loves call for you and I,
the beloved…
16 For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
When I was a little girl I used to like to
watch the cartoon “Under Dog”. I loved the fact that when things looked like it
was going to be the end of the world or someone’s life, he would come in just
in time and save the day. It was so good to see that there was always someone
who would make sure everything would turn out right. Kind of like Mighty Mouse with his “Here I come to save the day!”
I think we all want to see everything turn
out ok and that good will always win. I believe that there are times in our
human lives that we just need a savior come in and turn a bad situation into
something that is good. When we are at our wits end, we want someone to come in
and fix everything. We want a savior to come and rescue us on his white horse
and whisk us away to safety. When we are near death we want someone to come and
bring life back into our lives.
We are on a Lenten pilgrimage to the cross.
This season is a time of retrospect as we look at our lives and see if there
are things that are getting in the way of our relationship with God. We are on
a road to the heart of God trying to find what may be missing as we find the
key to filling the God shape hole in our lives.
As we share this Lenten journey with one
another, I would like to invite all of you on a journey to the heart of the
matter…finding that perfectly, God shaped thing we are missing. I would like to
invite you to a time of looking at what will fill that hole so that we can help
others find their way to the place of turning around so that they too will be
on the road to God’s own heart. Let’s look at what we really need as we look
for the love that will satisfy our souls.
We started our journey on Ash Wednesday as
we decided that yes, we have that God shaped hole and yes at times we look for
other things to fill that hole only to find ourselves empty and frustrated. We
discovered that Jesus is the resistor or
should I say resist-or. Instead of giving into what the tempter was
offering, Jesus demonstrates for us that it is in the resistance to evil that
we find our true communion to God…that we find the road to the Lover of our
souls. It is within the resistance of evil that we begin the journey back to
God. What else will satisfy that longing…fill that God shaped hole?
I think the biggest thing that fills that
hole…the most important thing we are searching for is a Savior. Why do we need
a Savior? Here are a few suggestions I would like for you to ponder:
1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural [i.e.,
unspiritual] man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are
folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are
spiritually assessed.
Without
a Savior to help us and make us spiritually alive, we are so perverted in our
values that when we hear the truth of the gospel, we will think it is
foolishness. And so, our perverse sense of values will make us unable to grasp
the truth for ourselves and be saved. Humanity
is in need of help...in need of a Savior
Romans 3:9–12
What then? Are we Jews any
better off? No, not at all; for I have already charged that all men, both Jews
and Greeks, are under the power of sin, as it is written: None is righteous,
no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside,
together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.
Without
a Savior, sin rules us. We are not inclined to seek God. None of our deeds is
good. All is the veiled expression of sin. Humanity
is in need of help...in need of a Savior
Romans 6:17–18
But thanks be to God, that
you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the
standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free
from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Until
the Savior set us free, were slaves of sin. Humanity
is in need of help...in need of a Savior
Ephesians 4:17–18
Now this I affirm and
testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the
futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated
from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their
hardness of heart.
Without
a Savior, our hearts were so hard that they gave rise only to spiritual
ignorance and futility and alienation. This hardness is the death. Humanity is in need of help...in need of a
Savior
But God has and had a plan to His created
back to the Creator. It is found in the John scripture from this morning. Jesus
is that Savior that we need. Otherwise there is still that deep cavern…that big
hole in the ground between God and ourselves. When Jesus stretched His arms
across the cross He bridged that gap between God and humanity…only He can do
that.
Before Jesus, humanity continued to try and
fill that God shaped hole within them with everything that was of this world.
Even when they would give sacrifices to God, that hole was filled for only a
short while…until they sinned again. Jesus is the only thing that fill that
hole for good. Jesus is the sacrifice that lasts more than just a moment in
time but for all time.
As we walk this Lenten road may we find
that piece of the hole that will make us whole…our Risen Lord Jesus. May we
proclaim with the Psalmist:
121 I raise my eyes toward
the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the
Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
16 For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Amen.
====
March 12, 2017
2nd Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
“God Shaped Hole…”
Inspired by Marcia
McPhee’s
Looking For Love…
Psalm 121
John 3:16-17
sermon, “Help,
I Need Somebody… ”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd
Sunday of Lent
March 12, 2017
&
March 5, 2017
we shine in
the brilliance of God
March 5, 2017
resist evil
March 5, 2017
a resistor
March 5, 2017
a false hope
March 5, 2017
resist sin
March 5, 2017
a real reward
March 5, 2017
Don’t test me
March 5, 2017
1st Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
“God Shaped
Hole…”
“Looking for
the Resistor”
Inspired by
Marcia McPhee’s
Looking For
Love…
Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 32
sermon, “Resist-or”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
1st
Sunday of Lent
March 5, 2017
&
March 5, 2017
Days of Journey
March 5, 2017
the piece we
are missing
March 5, 2017
failing miserably
March 4, 2017
the God-shaped love
March 4, 2017
a journey to
repentance
edited March 4, 2017
cover me with clay – v2
March 3, 2017
cover me with
clay
edited March 3, 2017
the journey to the cross - 2
March 3, 2017
the journey of the cross
March 3, 2017
cover me with the dust of the earth
March 3, 2017
cloak my life
March 3, 2017
smudged with
ashes - 2
edited March
2, 2017
searching,
seeking
March 2, 2017
searching
March 1, 2017
Ash Wednesday service
Sermon Series:
“God Shaped
Hole…”
“Where Is the
Love”
Inspired by
Marcia McPhee’s
Looking For
Love…
Joel 2:12-17
Matthew 6:1-6;
16-21
Opening Words
Greeting
Lenten Prayer
Hymn, “In the Garden”
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance
Lenten Poem
sermon, “Where
Is The Love?”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Communion
Distribution
of Ashes
and closing
hymn,
“It Is Well
with My Soul”
Closing Prayer
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday
March 1, 2017
&
February 25,
2017
burning up our
praise
February 25,
2017
igniting our
prayers, our worship
February 28,
2017
Burning of the
Palm service
Isaiah 58:5-10
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
February 28,
2017
&
edited
February 27, 2016
The Smell of
the Burning Palms – v6
(merging edits
to version 3 and version 5)
edited
February 19, 2015
The Smell of
the Burning Palms – v5
(merging edits
to original and version 3)
edited February 12, 2016
we will get up – v2
February 12, 2016
we will get up
February 12, 2016
We will stand up
February 12, 2016
And we will rise up
February 12, 2016
Deliver us
February 12, 2016
Restore us - 2
February 12, 2016
Create in us
February 12, 2016
Purge us
February 12, 2016
Teach us
February 12, 2016
Wash us
February 12, 2016
our sick souls
February 12, 2016
we lay down prostrate before you
February 12, 2016
we kneel before you - 2
February 12, 2016
we bow before you - 2
February 12, 2016
we need your grace
February 12, 2016
our hidden transgression
February 12, 2016
on this Ash Wednesday
February 12, 2016
meditation on God’s Holy Word
February 12, 2016
self-denial
February 12, 2016
prayer and fasting
February 12, 2016
a holy Lent - 3
February 12, 2016
prepared for Holy Baptism
February 12, 2016
During this season - 2
February 12, 2016
We’re guilty
edited February 11, 2016
Rip your heart wide open – v2
February 11, 2016
running back to God – 3
February 11, 2016
running back to God – 2
February 11, 2016
a season of change
February 11, 2016
spiritual preparation
February 11, 2016
Journeying with Him
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/journeying-with-him.html
February 11, 2016
Beginning in ashes
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/beginning-in-ashes.html
Journeying with Him
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/journeying-with-him.html
February 11, 2016
Beginning in ashes
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/beginning-in-ashes.html
February 11, 2016
Repent, change direction
February 11, 2016
here on Ash Wednesday
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/here-on-ash-wednesday.html
here on Ash Wednesday
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/here-on-ash-wednesday.html
February 11, 2016
this whole Lent thing
February 11, 2016
don't add too much
February 11, 2016
pray in secret
February 11, 2016
adding and subtracting
February 11, 2016
a time of self-reflection
February 11, 2016
Is there a mark on the inside
February 11, 2016
do not tear your clothes
February 11, 2016
Rip your heart wide open
February 11, 2016
even now
Ash Wednesday service
Joel 2:12-17a
Matthew 6:1-6,
16-21
centering song, “Surely the Presence”
Opening Words
Greeting
Lenten Prayer
Hymn, “In the Garden”
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance
Invitation to Communion
Prayer after Communion
Invitation to receive ashes
Distribution of Ashes
Lenten poem: ”Journeying to Jerusalem”
sermon, “The
Math of Lent 2.0”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and closing
hymn,
“It Is Well
with My Soul”
Closing Prayer
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday
February 10,
2016
&
February 10, 2016
the palms ablaze
Ash Wednesday
February 10, 2016
into ashes
Ash Wednesday
edited February 10, 2016
Palms for the Ashes – v5
(merging edits to version 3 and version 4)
Ash Wednesday
edited February 10, 2016
I hear the crackle – v2
Ash Wednesday
February 10, 2016
I hear the crackle
Ash Wednesday
February 10, 2016
fuel for the fire
Ash Wednesday
edited February 10, 2016
how quickly they burn – 2 – v3
(editing version 2)
Ash Wednesday
edited
February 10, 2016
How quickly
they burn – v3
(editing
version 2)
Ash Wednesday
February 10,
2016
licking the
flesh
Ash Wednesday
edited
February 9, 2016
Our joy burned
in anger – v2
February 9,
2016
Our joy burned
in anger
Isaiah 58:5-10
Burning of the
Palm service
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
February 9,
2016 and February 10, 2016
&
edited
February 5, 2016
Palms for the
Ashes – v4
(editing
version 3)
February 5, 2016
Palms for the Fire
edited April
2, 2015
Palms for the
Ashes – v3
(merging edits
to version 2 and version 1)
edited
February 19, 2015
Palms for the
Ashes – v2
Ash Wednesday
service
Joel 2:12-17a
Matthew 6:1-6,
16-21
Prayer of Confession
Imposition of Ashes
Communion
Lenten poem:”Changer: A Lenten Poem”
by Adrienne Sparrow Trevathan
sermon, “The
Math of Lent”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and closing
hymn,
“It Is Well
with My Soul”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday
February 18,
2015
&
edited January
8, 2016
bittersweet –
v3
(merging edits
to version 2 and original)
edited
February 18, 2015
bittersweet –
v2
edited March 5, 2015
how quickly they burn – 2 – v2
February 17,
2015
how quickly
they burn - 2
Isaiah 58:5-10
Burning of the
Palm service
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
February 17, 2015
and February 18, 2015
&
edited March
21, 2015
the sweetness
of Sorrow – v3
(editing version
2)
edited March
9, 2015
the sweetness
of Sorrow – v2
March 6, 2015
the sweetness
of Sorrow
edited May 6,
2015
breathing in
Sorrow – v5
(editing
version 3)
edited March
6, 2015
breathing in
Sorrow – v4
(merging edits
to version 3 and version 2)
edited
February 18, 2015
breathing in
Sorrow – v3
(editing
version 1)
edited March
24, 2014
breathing in
Sorrow – v2
edited, new
poem March 7, 2014
breathing in
Sorrow
edited
February 18, 2015
the ashes
drawn within – v3
(editing
version 2)
edited March
6, 2014
the ashes
drawn within – v2
March 6, 2014
the ashes
drawn within
Ash Wednesday
worship service at
Mountain
Heights Healthcare Facility
Patten, ME
March 6, 2014
&
edited August
5, 2015
The flesh of
that bread – v4
(editing
version 2)
edited April
19, 2014
The flesh of
that bread – v3
(editing
original version again)
edited March
12, 2014
The flesh of
that bread – v2
March 5, 2014
The flesh of
that bread
edited
February 18, 2015
the dust of
the ashes – v3
(editing
version 1 again)
edited March
10, 2014
the dust the
ashes – v2
March 5, 2014
the dust the
ashes
edited
February 18, 2015
the palms
consumed – v2
March 6, 2014
the palms
consumed
edited
February 18, 2015
the sorrow of
the ashes – v3
(editing
version 1)
edited March
15, 2014
the sorrow of
the ashes – v2
March 6, 2014
the sorrow of
the ashes
edited
February 18, 2015
my lungs
filled with the smoke – v2
March 6, 2014
my lungs
filled with the smoke
edited
February 18, 2015
burning our
celebration – v3
(editing
original)
edited March
10, 2014
burning our
celebration – v2
March 6, 2014
burning our
celebration
edited
February 18, 2015
burning our
hope – v3
(editing
version 1)
edited April
12, 2014
burning our
hope – v2
March 5, 2014
burning our hope
edited
February 18, 2015
cloaked in the
smoke – v2
March 5, 2014
cloaked in the
smoke
edited
February 18, 2015
ashes of that
fire – v2
March 5, 2014
ashes of that fire
edited
February 18, 2015
How quickly
they burn – v2
March 5, 2014
How quickly
they burn
edited/new
name February 18, 2015
the mirror of
the ashes
edited
February 18, 2015
the truth of
the ashes – v2
March 5, 2014
the truth of
the ashes
edited
February 18, 2015
the anger of
the fire – v5
(editing
original again)
edited March
30, 2014
the anger of
the fire – v4
edited March 24,
2014
the anger of
the fire – v3
edited March
15, 2014
the anger of
the fire – v2
March 5, 2014
the anger of
the fire
March 5, 2014
bittersweet
edited July
15, 2015
within the
sweetness of the smoke – v9
(editing
version 5)
edited July 1,
2015
within the
sweetness of the smoke – v8
(editing
version 5)
edited March
20, 2014
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v7”
edited March
4, 2014
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v6”
Ash Wednesday
and Lent
beginning this
week
burning of the
palms from last year
hymn -
“Sunday’s palms are Wednesday’s Ashes”, TFWS #2138
&
Worship Theme
– “Ash Wednesday”
Prelude
Unison Prayer
Matthew 6:1-6,
16-21 (CEB)
Joel 2:12-17a
(CEB)
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance
Imposition of Ashes
Communion
Lenten poem:”Changer: A Lenten Poem”
by Adrienne Sparrow Trevathan
my earlier
poem, “within the sweetness of the smoke”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 5, 2014
Ash Wednesday
Lent
&
edited March
23, 2015
cover me with
dust – v3
Edited March
22, 2013
“cover me with
dust – v2”
February 15,
2013
“cover me with
dust”
Worship Theme
– “Ash Wednesday”
Prelude
Unison Prayer
Matthew 6:1-6,
16-21 (CEB)
Joel 2:12-17a
(CEB)
hymn,
“Sunday’s Palms Are Wednesday’s Ashes” TFWS #2138
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance
Imposition of Ashes
Communion liturgy – “The Great
Thanksgiving for Early Lent”
Lenten poem: “Changer: A Lenten Poem”
by Adrienne Sparrow Trevathan
my earlier
poem, “within the sweetness of the smoke”
on the
bulletin back cover
This Lenten
Season, we are doing something a little different. We are doing Lenten Dramas
from: http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/home.htm
It is called "The Voice of God". We are hearing conversations between
God and some of the characters that took part in Passion Week. It has been a
"moving experience" for all. . .
February 13
2013 Ash Wednesday – James (portrayed by
Diane Mitchell)
February 17,
2013 – Judas (portrayal by Ray Foss)
February 24,
2013 – Peter (portrayal by Marshall
Burns)
March 3, 2013
– Pilate (portrayed by Richard Fleury)
March 10, 2013
– Barabbas (portrayed by Mark Cioffi)
March 17, 2013
- Dysmas (Thief on the cross) (portrayed
by Ray Foss)
March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday
March 28, 2013
Maunday Thursday – The Centurion
March 29, 2013
Good Friday - Mary Mother of Jesus
March 31, 2013
Easter Sunday! - The Gardner
and Ash
Wednesday Drama:
(a
conversation with James and God
after the Garden
of Gethsemane)
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Suncook United
Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 13,
2013
Ash Wednesday
Lent
&
Edited November 28, 2013
The brittleness of our hope – v2
(Thanksgiving Day)
February 6, 2013
new poem – “The brittleness of our hope”
The brittleness of our hope
Edited February 6, 2013
“The smell of the smoke – v3”
February 27, 2012
“The smell of the smoke – v2”
Worship Theme – “Ash
Wednesday”
Prelude
Unison Prayer
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (CEB)
Joel 2:12-17a (CEB)
Prayer of Confession (Psalm 51:3)
Pastoral Prayer
Word of Assurance (GBOD 2012)
Thanksgiving over the ashes
Distribution of the Ashes
hymn, “Sunday’s Palms Are Wednesday’s Ashes” TFWS #2138
and Ash Wednesday Meditation,
“The Math of Lent”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Ash Wednesday
February 22, 2012
&
thinking on the earlier poem, “within the sweetness of
the smoke”
February 19, 2012
Ash Wednesday and Lent
beginning this week
burning of the palms from last year
hymn - “Sunday’s palms are Wednesday’s Ashes”, TFWS #2138
&
Edited January
1, 2014
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v5”
(editing
version 2)
Edited
February 14, 2013
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v4”
Edited
February 14, 2013
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v3”
Edited
February 6, 2013
“within the
sweetness of the smoke – v2”
February 19,
2012
“within the
sweetness of the smoke”
&
Worship Theme
– “God’s Healing Mercy”
Mark 2:1-12
(NRSV)
Isaiah
43:18-25 (NRSV)
2 Corinthians
1:18-22 (NRSV)
Call to Worship (Psalm 41:1-4, 13 (NRSV Bible))
Unison Prayer
Prayer of
Dedication ((GBOD Mark 9:2-9)
and sermon,
“How Good of God”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Suncook United
Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
Seventh Sunday
of Epiphany
Transfiguration
Sunday
February 12,
2012
&
February 21,
2009
Palms for the
Ashes
preparing the
Ash Wednesday ashes
from Palm
Sunday’s palms
Suncook United
Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
2/21/2009
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 43,440 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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