Monday, September 18, 2017

sermon, "Hopes Little Reminder...", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME





September 10, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“The Remembering”
Psalm 119:33-40
Luke 22:14-19 ESV
1 Samuel 21:1-9 ESV


Hopes Little Reminder…

The Lord be with you…let us pray… (prayer for the Spirit’s indwelling as bring God’s words of hope this morning…)

Please stand for the reading of the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 22, verses 14-19. Listen to words of caution from God to the people of God as we seek His will…


“Well let me get you in touch with our young adult leader and they can help you get started on this road of recovery as you recover your life in and through Jesus Christ”, “Thank you so much Pastor Roy. Pastor Roy was good to his word and found a young adult group that he felt would be a good fit for her.

As Hope entered the room, she was a little uneasy as most people are when you are the “new kid”. Everyone seemed nice and welcomed her. The Adult leader of the group came up to introduce herself to Hope. The woman seemed familiar but Hope just couldn’t remember why.

“Hi, my name is Lovely, but most of the kids call me Ms. Love. Pastor Roy has told me so much about you Hope. I am so glad you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I know you are going to fit right in.” “Do I know you,” Hope asked, “you seem very familiar to me.” “Well I am not sure. I have been working with kids for a long time. Have you ever been to any kind of camp? I work in camps over the summer.” “Hmmm…I don’t think so. Well I am sure it will come to me.”

The group began sharing memories from their past that helped them become who they were today. They shared memories from camp and from school…about people who made a difference in their lives. Ass Hope listened she began to search her own memory. Was there anyone or anything that would be important enough to talk about? The she had this fleeting thought of one person who made a mark on her life. It was a woman who used to come and take care of her family when her parents were too sick…too involved with other things…to take care of them. What was her name? She was nice and always talked about Jesus. Hope loved the stories of Jesus. It made her feel sort of good inside. What was her name? all she could remember was Ms. L.

After the group meeting, Hope went to Ms. Love, wanting to share her story quietly with her. “Ms. Love”, Hope began, “I do have a story. It was when I was very young and this lady would come and take care of my family. All I can remember is Ms. L. She told me stories of Jesus and it is her memory I have always kept in my heart. I had always hoped about being loved by Jesus but was always told by my parents I wasn’t good enough but I still remembered the stories,” Hope said.

“Ms. L., I haven’t been called that for many, many years. Did you live across the bay in a little yellow house when you were little?” Ms. Love asked. “Why yes, I did,” Hope exclaimed. “Is that you little Hope? I thought I recognized you but was afraid to ask.” “Ms. L, is it really you? I have missed you so and have thought of you many times.” Hope said with tears in her eyes. “It was the memory of you and the stories you told me that have helped me hold on. It was those same stories that made me think I really might have a chance of being love by God.” “Oh Hope” Ms. Love said as she reached for Hope… “I have thought many times of you too. To think, I was able to give hope to Hope…” The two of them hugged for what seemed like an eternity. Hope had now found her hope and her remembrance of the hope within her…

In what do you find hope? We live in a chaotic world full of hopelessness and despair, how can we have hope? We need to cultivate hope in our lives...and have enough to share with a broken world. This doesn’t happen overnight, it is a process. But as we begin to have a living hope in us it is as if a light is turned on in our lives, a bright light. But the question is…how do we hold on to this hope we have?


Over the past few weeks, we have plowed the fields and germinated seeds. It has sprouted and we have planted it in the soil…the good and cultivated soil, that is sustained by God and His word…the seedlings hopefully have taken root and has gone deep down into the ground and watered by the Living Water. Beloved, remember, if the seedling…if hope is not planted, there is no grounding…no growth. It is shallow and when trials of life some scorching in it is dried up and withers…  The only way to withstand the pressures of life our hope has root itself in good soil where it receives water…Living Water.

 As we till the soil, seeds of love and hope begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within those who Go calls us to plant within. This is our part in the growing of hope…and to help others to do the same. But have there been times that you feel you want to move on? We may even want to move on because of a painful…fill in the blank. But…but…God says, not just yet…you need to stay put where you are. As we bloom where we are…the fruits are shared within our community of the church and out into the larger community of the world… It becomes evident in our lives and the lives of others… (If it isn’t evident…is there really ant hope to be found?) There is more than one way of bearing, bearing our own and helping others bear theirs, and we are called to both…

We may become weary at times…you can’t just keep putting out and not run out. So, we need to sustain our hope somehow. If we don’t grow in hope then we are dead…what’s the sense? We become tired, discouraged, exhausted, and disappointed. We need to revive ourselves with the word of God…go to the well that will give us rest and rejuvenate us to continue. We also are to help others revive as well…

Another way of sustaining our hope is remembrance. As we remember, recall, those times when our hope was enlarged we will be encouraged. It is in the remembrance of Hope that we are buoyed up to continue…

When have you had to recall having hope? When have you had to remember in order to continue? Give time to answer. When we look at the rings of a tree, we can see the passage of time. We, a humanity, seem to have this need to mark time…moments of significance in our lives. Do you remember when you truly accepted Jesus as your savior? How about when Jesus became “real” to you?

The scripture from Luke has us remembering that fateful night when Jesus died for all of humanity. For me, this brings to remembrance of how He took on my sin. It brings to remembrance of how He took on the guise of a servant and washed the feet of the Disciples and called them and us to do likewise. It brings remembrance of my sins being nailed to the cross. It brings to remembrance so much more than just these few things for me. How about you? Give time to answer. It is in the remembrance we find and rekindle our hope. Kind of like “Hopes Little Reminders” for us.

David, the man after God’s own heart, also needed reminders in his life. He needed to remember how Got him through “a” to get to “b”, so to speak. God had always been with him, even as a child. He defeated a lion and a bear to keep the sheep of his father’s flock safe. He knew God was with him…just as we do…even if you don’t feel Him there.

There is an account in 1 Samuel that looks innocent at first but when you look at it, it has a deeper meaning. It is found in chapter 21, verses 1-9. Listen to the story and then we are going to unpack it. Read the account form the ESV Bible…

David is running for his life right now. Saul is looking to kill him because he knows that David is going to succeed him. I am sure that David must have thought that this was the end. He may have even thought that God had abandoned him. But…but…listen to these few words…

“8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.””
“The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah,” the sword of remembrance, so to speak. He was remembering how God had helped him defeat Goliath. He remembered how God had watched over him as he watched his father’s flock…how God had helped him through…Fill in the blank. He had renewed hope. I am sure he had fought many battles with this sword and it brought to remembrance God’s goodness and mercy.  Hopes Little Reminders.

What is your Goliath’s Sword in your life? What is it that you hold onto on remembrance of God’s goodness? What is it that you hold onto to hold onto your hope? What and who are the people you hold in your memory that sustain ad reminds you of hope? Beloved hold on to that reminder for dear life. There will be times when that’s all you will have. But even though that may be all you have, what it gives you is irreplaceable. It is what gives you hope and a future…in the future. It reminds you of the Goliath’s you have overcome with and in the grace of God. There is hope, to be found by you and me. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…

Amen!









=====================
September 19, 2017


September 17, 2017
buried in the good soil, planted
September 17, 2017
I remember everything you taught me
September 17, 2017
she remembered every lesson
September 17, 2017
the student became the teacher
September 17, 2017
she had found her hope
September 17, 2017
on the rock, on the foundation
September 17, 2017
start building your house
September 17, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 9
“”
Psalm 103:1-17
Luke 6:47-49 (The Voice Translation)
1 Peter 2:4-6 (The Voice Translation)
Psalm 127:1 (The Voice Translation)
and sermon, “W.I.P. (Work In Progress) …”
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
September 17, 2017
&
edited September 16, 2017
there is life in this hope – v2
edited September 15, 2017
the hope of America must not die – v2
edited September 15, 2017
the dream of America must not perish – v2
edited September 15, 2017
hope reminds us – v2
edited September 15, 2017
life is in this hope – v2
edited/new name September 15, 2017
there is life in this hope
edited September 15, 2017
we must hold onto hope – v2
edited September 15, 2017
Hold hope tightly – v2
edited September 15, 2017
don’t let go of hope – v2
September 12, 2017
life is in this hope
edited September 12, 2017
hope grows – v2
September 12, 2017
hope grows
September 12, 2017
hope reminds us
September 11, 2017
the hope of America must not die
September 11, 2017
the dream of America must not perish
edited September 11, 2017
the seed of hope must not die – v2
September 11, 2017
the seed of hope must not die
edited, new name September 10, 2017
don’t let go of hope
September 10, 2017
Hold hope tightly
September 10, 2017
we must hold onto hope
September 10, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 8
“The Remembering”
Psalm 119:33-40
Luke 22:14-19
and sermon, “Hope’s Little Reminders…”
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
September 10, 2017
&
Matthew 18:18-20
Matthew 18:15-20
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Searching the Scriptures”
September 4, 2017 to September 10, 2017
by Mark H. Stephenson
devotion for September 10, 2017
read September 10, 2017
&
edited September 10, 2017
we can have hope – v2
September 4, 2017
we can have hope
September 4, 2017
it is hope that sustains us
September 4, 2017
it is hope that ignites us
September 4, 2017
hope fuels us
September 3, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 7
“The Sustaining”
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 46:4
Psalm 54:4
Psalm 55:22
Isaiah 50:4
Matthew 11:28-30
Revelations 22:17a
and sermon, “Hope’s Sustaining Power”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
September 3, 2017
&
August 30, 2017
there is power in our words
August 30, 2017
there is power in God’s grace
August 30, 2017
there is power in our prayers
August 30, 2017
there is power in our hope
August 30, 2017
our words have impact
edited August 29, 2017
our hope cannot stay hidden – v2
August 29, 2017
our hope cannot stay hidden
August 29, 2017
we are called to witness – 2
August 29, 2017
we each are the witness
edited August 29, 2017
only Christ can redeem us – v2
August 29, 2017
only Christ can redeem us
August 28, 2017
none of us are worthy - 2
August 28, 2017
he told her about Jesus
August 27, 2017
he shared his faith
August 27, 2017
offering her hope
August 27, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 6
“Bearing Hope”
Psalm 138
John 15:1-8 GNT
Philippians 1:9-11 GNT
and sermon, “Hope Bearer…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 27, 2017
&
August 20, 2017
Help me go grow
August 20, 2017
before I gave my life to Christ
edited August 20, 2017
August 20, 2017
I have been you
August 20, 2017
whatever your station
August 20, 2017
slave or free
August 20, 2017
grow there
August 20, 2017
give to them willingly
August 20, 2017
show them compassion
August 20, 2017
offer mercy, grace
August 20, 2017
do not resist them
August 20, 2017
strip them of power
August 20, 2017
may hope find a home
edited August 20, 2017
may hope abide – v2
August 20, 2017
may hope abide
August 20, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 5
“Residing with Hope”
Psalm 133
Luke 3:10-14
1 Corinthians 7:20-24
Jeremiah 29:4-7
and sermon, “Where Hope Resides”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 20, 2017
&
August 19, 2017
nurturing hope
edited/ new name August 19, 2017
if the seedling isn’t planted
August 19, 2017
if the seed isn’t planted
August 19, 2017
It is hard to believe
August 19, 2017
Hope begins to sprout and root
edited August 19, 2017
Hope germinates and grows – v2
August 19, 2017
Hope germinates and grows – v1
August 19, 2017
hope is like a seed
August 19, 2017
a flickering of something
edited August 19, 2017
a kernel of hope – v3
edited August 19, 2017
a kernel of hope – v2 (2)
August 19, 2017
a kernel of hope (2)
August 19, 2017
seeds of hope within us
August 13, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 4 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm 105:1-6
Mark 4:1-8 NIV
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
John 4:13-14
Zephaniah 3:17
Romans 12:12
Romans 15:4
and sermon, “Nurturing Planted Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 13, 2017
&
August 10, 2017
our roots are anchored in Christ
August 10, 2017
we are grounded in Christ
August 10, 2017
our hope is grounded
edited August 6, 2017
we must accept the seed – v3
edited August 6, 2017
we must accept the seed – v2
August 6, 2017
we must accept the seed
edited August 6, 2017
for hope to grow – v2
August 6, 2017
for hope to grow
edited August 6, 2017
Hope is planted – v2
August 6, 2017
Hope is planted
August 6, 2017
the roots going deep
new name/ edited August 6, 2017
the seedlings planted
(editing “the young plants planted”)
August 6, 2017
let your roots grow down
August 6, 2017
cultivate the hope inside
August 6, 2017
plant the seeds of grace
August 6, 2017
plant the seeds of love
August 6, 2017
get them in the ground
edited August 6, 2017
germinated seeds – v2
August 6, 2017
germinated seeds
August 6, 2017
the seed growing
August 6, 2017
living in hope
August 6, 2017
may our hearts be open
edited August 6, 2017
that we might understand – v4
August 6, 2017
the young plants planted
August 6, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 3 - “Planting Seeds of Hope”
Mark 4:1-8
Parable of the Sower
Psalm 145:7-8; 14-21
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
Colossians 2:6-8 NLT
Sermon, “Planting Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 6, 2017
&
August 2, 2017
hidden in our flesh
August 2, 2017
growing in our soil
edited/ new name August 2, 2017
growing in the good soil
August 2, 2017
growing in the ground
August 2, 2017
hidden in the ground
edited August 2, 2017
After the planting – v2
August 1, 2017
We must water and feed
August 1, 2017
Like seeds, like yeast
August 1, 2017
that we might understand – v3
August 1, 2017
we must understand
August 1, 2017
not in riddles but parables
edited July 31, 2017
that we might understand – v2
July 31, 2017
that we might understand
July 31, 2017
we must hear God’s word
edited July 31, 2017
we are seeking, searching – v2
July 31, 2017
We are seeking, searching
July 31, 2017
We have the seed planted
merged July 31, 2017
Before the planting – v2
July 31, 2017
After the planting
July 31, 2017
Before the planting
July 30, 2017
We want to be the good soil
July 30, 2017
we need that hope to work within us
edited July 30, 2017
we must embrace the seeds – v2
July 30, 2017
we must trust in God
edited July 30, 2017
a little more hope – v3
(editing original again)
edited July 30, 2017
we must embrace the seeds
edited July 30, 2017
embrace the seeds
July 30, 2017
embrace the seed
July 30, 2017
hope is alive within us
July 30, 2017
hope planted within us
&
July 29, 2017
we are the soil – v2
July 29, 2017
do we nurture the seed – v2
July 16, 2017
do we nurture the seed
edited July 16, 2017
do we care for the message – v2
July 16, 2017
do we care for the message
July 16, 2017
do we welcome the seed
July 16, 2017
are we the soil
July 16, 2017
we hold the seed
July 16, 2017
we are the sower
July 15, 2017
we are the soil
edited July 15, 2017
held by the thorns – v2
July 15, 2017
held by the thorns
July 15, 2017
choked by the briars
Matthew 13:18-23
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“The Promise and Work of God’s Word”
July 10, 2017 to July 16, 2017
by John Adcox
devotion for July 15, 2017
read July 15, 2017
&
edited July 29, 2017
a miracle in the seed – v2
July 29, 2017
searching, seeking - 2
July 29, 2017
a miracle in the seed
edited July 29, 2017
seeking treasure – v2
edited July 29, 2017
Finding Treasure – v2
merged/edited July 29, 2017
Seeking treasure, Finding treasure
July 29, 2017
seeking treasure
July 29, 2017
Finding Treasure
Matthew 13:44-52
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures from God”
July 24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by Chris Folmsbee
devotion for July 29, 2017
read July 29, 2017
&
July 28, 2017
tiny acts of love
edited July 28, 2017
out of God’s great love – v2
July 28, 2017
the kingdom of God growing
Matthew 13:31-33
The Parables of the Mustard Seed
the Parable of the Yeast
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
The Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures from God”
July 24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by Chris Folmsbee
devotion for July 27, 2017
read July 28, 2017
&
edited July 27, 2017
Germinating Seeds of Hope – v2
July 27, 2017
Germinating Seeds of Hope
July 30, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 2 - “This Living Hope”
opening prayer
video
Psalm 128
Matthew 13:1-9
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:18-24
Christ explaining the Parable of the Sower
Psalm 139:13-16
Matthew 13:31-33
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Parable of the Yeast
prayer before sermon
and Sermon, “Germinating Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Raymond A. Foss
Children’s Message
by Raymond A. Foss
closing prayer
video
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 30, 2017
&
edited July 26, 2017
a little more hope – v2
July 26, 2017
a little more hope
July 26, 2017
we are imprisoned by our fears
edited/ new name July 24, 2017
we are strangled by anxiety
July 24, 2017
immobilized by fear
July 24, 2017
freed by hope
July 23, 2017
Hope is Trust
July 23, 2017
why are we so anxious
July 23, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 1 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Jeremiah 29:11-14 Amplified Bible
Romans 5:1-5 Amplified Bible
John 3:16-17 Amplified Bible
and Sermon, “This Living Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 23, 2017

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 44,940 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, poem, seed, home, Psalm 103, Psalm 127, Luke 6, 1 Peter 2, work in progress, build,

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