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Sunday, April 16, 2017

sermon, "Passed Over...", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, April 13, 2017, Maundy Thursday, Patten, ME



Maundy Thursday
April 13,2017
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 The Message Bible
Luke 22:1-20 The Message Bible
John 13:1-9 The Message Bible
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19 The Message Bible

Passed Over…

The Lord be with you…and also with you…let us pray…

We have come almost to the end of our Lenten journey…only two more stops to make, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We all really like the Easter part of the journey. But the Good Friday…well…not so much. It is hard to think about what Jesus endured for you and me…for all of humanity. But it is in the remembering that we find strength and hope. It is in the remembering that we are changed and renewed…we are recreated within our sorrow and despair…as we rise from the ashes of Wednesday into the glorious Sunday dawning. Yes, it is good to remember even through the pain…so let us remember together…It is a dark night but also one that brought Light into a world full of darkness…yes it truly was a night to remember…

So here we are in the upper room with Jesus and His disciples. We can probably still smell the fragrant oil that Mary anointed Jesus with just six day prior. We are here to share a meal with Him before He completes His purpose here and returns home to His Father…our Father…in Heaven. We have come to stop here for a moment and be taught more of His ways and how we should act. Jesus was still teaching right up to the moment He breathed His last.

Let’s back track for one moment. Jesus had come into the city with fine fanfare. Coats were laid on the ground as well as palm tree branches. He was ushered into the city with loud Hosanna’s and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” … The people had their savior that was going to save them from Roman oppression. Oh, how joyous it was…and oh, how things had changed since then…now…the religious leaders were looking for a way to kill this would be king of the Jews…soon that same crowd that sang His praises will be shouting “Crucify Him…Crucify Him” … If they only knew that by crucifying Him they made Him King of kings and Lord of lords. But enough of that story…we will save that for our next stop on our Lenten journey…

So, as I said, here we are in the upper room. It is a simple room that has no real specialty to it. An ordinary meeting room… But what happened here was far from the ordinary. What happened here turned the world upside right. What happened here we remember…we remember what Jesus said and did…how He turned the Passover Seder into something that would help all humanity be “passed over” …if they choose that is.

One thing that happened this night was truly a teaching moment. As if anything Jesus did was not teachable…The disciples followed Jesus and for the most part they were pretty teachable …or were they? They followed Jesus for His whole ministry and still didn’t get it…that is until the whole scene was played out…including Friday and Sunday… Let’s think back to the John Scripture I read tonight…

Now there were a couple of disciples that went and made all the arrangements for them to celebrate the Passover Seder…we will talk more on that later. Now they get there and they are enjoying the meal. All of the sudden Jesus gets up…sets aside His robe…gets a basin and washes the disciple’s feet… Now this was not an ordinary thing. He was their teacher…their Rabbi…how in the world can you allow someone of that stature wash your feet? But Jesus shows us how to treat others…not as superior beings but as subservient beings…looking out for others and caring for them more than we care for ourselves.

Jesus showed His disciples, then and future, that it is not about being mighty in our own selves but being humble enough to “lower yourself” so that others can be uplifted. How fitting that Jesus should wash the feet of His disciples telling them if they didn’t allow it they would have no part of Him…later they …and all of humanity, would be washed with His blood to make them worthy ambassadors of His Kingdom…but that is a choice that they and we would have to make. Remember…Jesus showed His disciples to be meek and mild…why would He force the decision upon humanity…?

It is within the simple that greatness is achieved. It is within weakness that victory is won. It is within death that true life begins… It is within rising from the bottom that the real journey begins…

Jesus now puts His robe back on and continues with the night’s festivities. They gathered to celebrate, to remember, to ponder upon the day that God’s mighty hand once again worked in the lives of His people…the night that God set the captives free. We heard the story of the remembrance of that night that they were passed over by the death plague as God pronounce judgment upon the Egyptians.

Within the Exodus story, there is still yet another story being created. God went through the land and struck down the first born in the land of Egypt…didn’t matter if it were it was man or beast…the first born was not going to be saved. Or was there a way of being saved from the angel of death…? Did God provide a way around the death sentence of the Egyptian’s sin against God…the night God pronounced judgement on the gods for Egypt?

The answer to that is yes…God did provide a way for those who believed in Him…and sill does. He instructed them to put blood from the lamb that was slaughtered on the door post of their home. When the hand of God came by it would pass by their home because of the blood on their door posts. How ironic is the fact that the first born of Egypt was put to death because of the sins of the Egyptians and that Jesus, God’s first born died not for His sins…He was sinless…but for our sins and transgressions. It is when we put the blood of Jesus…our only Savior…the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth…on the door posts of our hearts that we too are passed by and do not receive the judgement of God’s mighty hand,” the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life” Romans 6:23.

So, they are celebrating the meal and it comes to one of the parts where Jesus was going to bless the bread and cup… Now as I have said before…He celebrated this meal many times with His disciples…but tonight it was different…there was this kind of a nervousness in the air. There was something big on the horizon and you could cut the tension with a knife...Little did they know how big it really was…

The scene was set and not one of them knew the life changing events that were happening right before their eyes. He broke the bread, raised to heaven , broke the bread and instead of saying the usual recitation He said “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.” His disciples must have thought, “What! What is Jesus talking about His body broken for us. Why is He saying this? Has He had too much wine tonight?” And again, with the cup, He raised it to heaven, Blessed it now this is where it really get weird for the disciples…He said more off the wall things, “This is the cup of the new covenant written in my blood, poured out for you.” Again, His disciples must have been confused. They may have even thought, “What is He talking about a new covenant? We have the one that was given to us through Father Abraham. Why is Jesus talking about a new covenant?”

At this moment, Jesus took on the manifestation of the Spotless Lamb of God. There was no other way and even though He asked if it was His Fathers will for Him to be able to not have to do what He came to do… It was God’s will and not His own He was concerned with doing. Since Adam and Eve people sacrificed lambs to God for the forgiveness of sins. But it wasn’t a once and for all thing. They had so many kinds of sacrifices it was probably hard to keep up with them. They used a live goat over whose head Aaron, the priest, confessed all the sins of the children of Israel on the Day of Atonement. The goat that symbolically bore their sins, was then sent into the wilderness. God knew that there was only one way to have His relationship back with humanity. There needed to be a perfect lamb and only Jesus had the credentials to do it…

Let me go one step ahead of this night to the moment Jesus died for you and me…for all of humanity…it has to do with the lambs. The religious leaders were the ones who slaughter the lambs and passed them out to people so they could apply the blood on the door posts and eat the lambs as they had done for centuries. Well, when Jesus was put on the cross to die, they had not yet slaughtered the lambs yet for Passover. It was when Jesus, the Lamb of God, breathed His last…the temple lambs were slaughtered at that very moment…those Passover lambs and our Lamb that enables us to be passed over, fulfilled their purposes… And as I said before…it is when we apply the blood of Jesus to the door post of our hearts that the voyage begins…the voyage of a life time with Jesus at the helm…a voyage to the heart of God…a voyage of eternal instead of the temporal life we had before…

We heard the Psalmist of Psalm 116 cry out to God for mercy and God listened to him…death was on his heals and he cried for God to save him. God did just that and still does when we cry out for a Savior. Through this Savior we are made right with God. There is no way to pay for this gift…Jesus did that for you and me. We, like the Psalmist can bless God’s name by raising His name up in the assembly of believers and beyond, we are set free to be a blessing to others…that is our greatest service. A grateful and thankful heart for what He has done is a sweet aroma to God as our praises waif up to heaven.

Something began in that upper room. Something that would shake the world. Justice was being served for the least, last and forgotten. God was getting ready to turn the world right side up. And it began with a meal of remembrance and a willing heart. Do you have that willing heart to open itself to the application of the blood of the Lamb that will take away your sins…the blood of a new covenant? Let us remember as we share this meal…doing this in remembrance of Him…the Lamb of God who took away the sins of you and I…

Let us read together from the bulletin the Prayer of thanksgiving…

Living and loving God, we lift our hearts to you in gratitude and joy for all your gifts to us.
You made us in own image and set us in this world of contrasting beauty.
In your great love, you delivered your people of old from slavery and you have delivered us from the power of evil and death through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
We praise and honor you; holy God
Heaven and earth are surely full of your glory.
Blessed is He whose supper we share this night,
and blessed are we - renewed by his life.
==============
April 15, 2017
a night to remember
April 13, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14
Luke 22:1-20
John 13:1-9
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19
Romans 6:23
intro to Seder elements
invitation to the foot washing
sermon, “Passed Over…”
text:

video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Maundy Thursday
April 13, 2017
&
April 9, 2017
our palms laid before him
April 9, 2017
The message of the palms
April 9, 2017
in words, in symbols
April 9, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Palm Sunday
Sermon Series:
 “God Shaped Hole. . . ”
Inspired by Marcia McPhee’s
 Looking For Love. . .
Psalm 8:1-9
Genesis 38:6
John 12:13
sermon, “Palms?”
text:

video:
by Chrissy McCarthy
Children’s Message
by Chrissy McCarthy
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Palm Sunday
April 9, 2017
&
April 4, 2017
From Bethany to Jerusalem
April 4, 2017
Lazarus come out
April 2, 2017
Rise from your grave
edited April 2, 2017
wake up church – v2
April 2, 2017
wake up church
edited April 2, 2017
We are raised from the dead – v2
April 2, 2017
we are raised from the dead
April 2, 2017
Christ sets us free
April 2, 2017
Our Liberator
April 1, 2017
freed from the grave
April 1, 2017
Come back to life
April 1, 2017
Freed by Christ - 2
April 1, 2017
Love in the form of Christ Jesus
April 1, 2017
may the bones come together
April 2, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
5th Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
 “God Shaped Hole. . . ”
Inspired by Marcia McPhee’s
 Looking For Love. . .
“Liberator”
Psalm 130
Psalm 130:1-8
Ezekiel 37:1-14
John 11:1-45
sermon, “within these dry bones”
text:
video:
pages 1- 6
pages 6-7
by Raymond A. Foss
altar call by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
5th Sunday of Lent
April 2, 2017
&
edited  April 2, 2017
may you find eternal life – v2
April 2, 2017
may you find eternal life
merged April 1, 2017
we go forth
April 1, 2017
strengthened by the Holy Spirit
April 1, 2017
redeemed by Christ’s mercy
April 1, 2017
created by God’s love
John 11:1-15, 38-45
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Seeing with the Eyes of God”
March 27, 2017 to April 2, 2017
by Deirdre Good
devotion for April 2, 2017
read April 1, 2017
&
edited  April 1, 2017
a prisoner of hope – v2
April 1, 2017
a prisoner of hope
quote of Bishop Desmond Tutu
April 1, 2017
there is no life
April 1, 2017
the breath of life
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Seeing with the Eyes of God”
March 27, 2017 to April 2, 2017
by Deirdre Good
devotion for April 1, 2017
read April 1, 2017
&
April 1, 2017
a living, breathing nation
edited/renamed March 31, 2017
We are not dead; We are alive
March 31, 2017
He is not dead; He is alive
March 31, 2017
prophesy to the bones
edited March 31, 2017
within these dry bones – v2
March 31, 2017
within these dry bones
March 31, 2017
get up my people
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Seeing with the Eyes of God”
March 27, 2017 to April 2, 2017
by Deirdre Good
devotion for March 31, 2017
read March 31, 2017
&
John 11:1-45
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Seeing with the Eyes of God”
March 27, 2017 to April 2, 2017
by Deirdre Good
devotion for March 30, 2017
read March 30, 2017
&
April 1, 2017
Jesus gathers us in - 2
April 1, 2017
a different kind of Savior
April 1, 2017
Jesus, our Shepherd
April 1, 2017
the Lord looks on the inside
April 1, 2017
a rain to fall upon our parched soul
March 31, 2017
The voice of the world
March 30, 2017
we listen to the wrong voices
March 30, 2017
the voice that knows our path
March 30, 2017
Too many voices
March 30, 2017
spend time with the shepherd
March 30, 2017
listen to the voice of God
March 30, 2017
as Your guest
March 26, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
4th Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
 “God Shaped Hole. . . ”
Inspired by Marcia McPhee’s
 Looking For Love. . .
Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6
John 10:1-21 NIV
1 Samuel 16:1-13
sermon, “Ba Ba Black Sheep”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
4th Sunday of Lent
March 26, 2017
&
March 30, 2017
tearing way the excess
March 30, 2017
filling that hole
March 30, 2017
give me this water
March 30, 2017
pour your love
March 30, 2017
His blood cleanseth
March 30, 2017
unquenchable thirst
March 30, 2017
a God-shaped hole
March 20, 2017
You Will Thirst No More
March 19, 2017
in the waters of grace
March 19, 2017
we are refreshed now
March 19, 2017
we are released of our sin
March 19, 2017
we are washed clean now
March 19, 2017
Share the Water
March 19, 2017
Christ is that well
March 19, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
3rd Sunday of Lent
Sermon Series:
 “God Shaped Hole. . . ”
Inspired by Marcia McPhee’s
 Looking For Love. . .
Psalm 95:1-7
John 4:1-15
Romans 5:1-5
Exodus 17:1-6
sermon, “You Will Thirst No More… ”
(with Sermon Notes)
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
3rd Sunday of Lent
March 19, 2017
&
March 19, 2017
Jesus is that Savior
March 19, 2017
we all need the Savior
March 19, 2017
Until the Savior set us free
March 18, 2017
my help comes from the Lord
March 18, 2017
without Jesus we are dead
March 18, 2017
we need a Savior
March 18, 2017
sin rules us
March 18, 2017
seek God
March 18, 2017
searching  for something
March 16, 2017
the resistance of evil
March 16, 2017
to fill the void
March 16, 2017
a pilgrimage to the cross
March 15, 2017
we shall not perish
March 15, 2017
God saved the world
March 15, 2017
Faith is Life
March 15, 2017
I need a Mother
March 15, 2017
I need a Father
March 15, 2017
I need a Guide
March 15, 2017
I need a Helper
March 15, 2017
I need a Savior
March 15, 2017
I need Somebody
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
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
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
Repent, change direction
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”   


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 43,730 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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