December 31, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
New
Year Sunday
Sermon
Series: “The Invitation”
“An
Invitation To New Life”
“A
New Year Beginning…”
Let us pray…
Listen
to the reading from Revelations this morning. It is the perfect way to end the
year and step into the new one standing before us. We stand on the precipice of
a new day dawning… I will be reading from The Voice, verses 1-7 this morning.
Listen to the hope that arises from these Words of grace…
Good Morning and welcome to “The Invitation…” The invitation
of Advent. We have come to the end of our “Advent”ure to the feeding tough the
Bread of Life, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ was laid in. It is the moment
that God sent the invitation to all of humanity to come and see the babe in the
manger and return forever changed. Without this invitation there is no Hope, no
Peace, no Joy, and no Love…there is no invitation to Christ. Without “The
Invitation”, there is no Resurrection Sunday morning. But we are offered so
much more…
We emptied our bags, our life’s suitcase so to
speak, at the door way of Advent and entered in with bags waiting to be filled.
suitcases. We have filled it with the Hope of a restored relationship with God,
we gathered up and packed the clothing of Peace that we are never alone, we
have gathered the words of the song of Joy because no matter what we face, we
have been enveloped in a Love too wonderful for words, and lastly, we have
accepted the One who was in the manger as our Lord and Savior. So, what’s next?
Well, now that we have Jesus as our Lord and
Savior, I think the most awesome promise is ours for the taking. What do you
think that promise is? Give time to
answer. Our promise is…we are given “An Invitation To…” … New Life. We are
given a new life with Christ. It is at this point…at this time…after the
invitations of Advent…we are offered Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love. As we accept
the Christ Child we are restored, and we are never the same again. Oh sure…we
may go back to our old ways…we may trip and fall…we may struggle and fight…but
that doesn’t change the one thing that is unchangeable within this Adventure…we
are now a child of God.
So, we live in a world that wants to know
“what’s in it for me?” Even we, as Christians may resound that same question. If I give my life to Christ, what am I
going to gain from it? I have been following Christ for years, why should I
continue? Does it really matter if I follow Jesus? What is going to happen…what
is my gain…if I follow Jesus? I have even asked these questions to myself
but…but…I need not ask them anymore
in my life.
As I said so many times. I love the book of
Revelation. It gives me hope and peace. It tells me what I have instore for me
It tells me that I am loved and to push through and persevere, to continue, to
endure, because in the end…good always wins… from the scripture I read this
morning from this Book of Truths, John states:
“Everything
above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth
that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely. 2 And
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
prepared like a bride on her
wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only.”
Everything is going to be new…How awesome is
that going to be. Just think about what John claims:
See,
the home of God is with His people.
He will live among them;
They will be His people,
And God Himself will be with them.
4 The prophecies are fulfilled:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more,
For the first things have gone away.
He will live among them;
They will be His people,
And God Himself will be with them.
4 The prophecies are fulfilled:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more,
For the first things have gone away.
To me…I get to live part of this now. Because of
accepting the invitation, God walks with me. As I trust in Him He will wipe
away all my tears, fears, and pain. Because of the invitation, I no longer am
no longer under the death sentence of sin, I now have life eternal. I can
have a foretaste so now I can’t wait for the “Full Monty”.
The invitation…I am going to give you an
invitation to the new year. I asked you
to write down one thing you want to leave in 2017 so that you can move forward
into 2018. This is my invitation to “A New Year Beginning”. As Chuck plays a
little music for us, I would ask that, as the spirit leads you, to come up with
your piece of paper and drop it in this bowl. It is filled with water
symbolizing that we can drop our cares into the “waters of new life” and come
away ready to face the day…
Give
time for people to come forward…
Let
them all praise the name of the Lord.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
14 He has made his people strong,
honoring his faithful ones—
the people of Israel who are close to him.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
14 He has made his people strong,
honoring his faithful ones—
the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise
the Lord!
Amen…
=====================
December 31,
2017
edited
December 31, 2017
A new life in
Jesus – v3
December 31,
2017
an ending, a
beginning
edited December
31, 2017
A new life in
Jesus – v2
December 31,
2017
A new life in
Jesus
December 30,
2017
A New Year
Beginning
December 30,
2017
we are offered
new life
December 31,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Happy New Year
Sermon Series:
“The Invitation”
“An Invitation
To New Life”
Psalm 148
Revelations
21:1-6
“The New
Jerusalem” (NCV)
and sermon “An
Invitation to New Life…”
“A New Year
Beginning”
text and video
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
New Year’s Eve
December 31,
2017
&
December 30,
2017
look for the
good
December 30,
2017
we light the
candle of Love
December 30,
2017
we are offered
true love
December 30,
2017
we return to
the stable
edited
December 30, 2017
we don’t know
the day – v2
edited
December 30, 2017
we don’t know
the day – v2
December 30,
2017
we don’t know
the day
edited
December 30, 2017
the time has
come – v2
December 30,
2017
the time has
come
edited/ new
name December 30, 2017
the gift of
Jesus Christ
December 30,
2017
the hope that
we carry
December 30,
2017
the gifts we
carry, we offer
December 30,
2017
the gift of
Christ Jesus
December 30,
2017
this love is
mercy – 2
edited
December 29, 2017
this love is
mercy
December 29,
2017
this love is
power
edited
December 29, 2017
the shadow of
our cross – v2
edited
December 29, 2017
we are drawn
to the stable – v2
edited
December 28, 2017
What
is this Love – v4
edited
December 28, 2017
What
is this Love – v3
edited
December 28, 2017
the
love of the manger – v2
edited
December 28, 2017
we
draw near the manger – v2
December
28, 2017
we
draw near the manger
December
28, 2017
we
are drawn to the stable
December
28, 2017
the
love of the manger
December
28, 2017
the
shadow of our cross
edited
December 28, 2017
The Shadow of
the Cross – 3 – v2
December 28,
2017
The Shadow of
the Cross - 3
The Great
Thanksgiving
December 28,
2017
gathering,
filling
edited/ new
name December 27, 2017
every step on
our journey
December 27, 2017
each step on
our journey
edited
December 27, 2017
each step is a
prayer – v2
December 27,
2017
each step is a
prayer
edited/
renamed December 27, 2017
we journey to
Bethlehem
December 27,
2017
we join the
pilgrims
edited
December 26, 2017
I came down
from heaven – v2
edited
December 26, 2017
What is this
Love – v2
edited
December 26, 2017
I descended
from heaven – v2
edited
December 26, 2017
The Savior, a
baby – v3
December 26,
2017
Oh, please
come to the stable
December 26,
2017
We come to the
stable
December 26,
2017
come to the
stable - combined
December 26,
2017
come to the
stable – part 2
December 26,
2017
come to the
stable – part 1
December 26,
2017
What is this
Love
December 25,
2017
without this
invitation – v2
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
The Savior, a
baby – v2
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
The Savior, a
baby
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
I descended
from heaven
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
I came down
from heaven
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
I entered
among you
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
A Christmas
Letter
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
To set the
world right
Christmas Day
December 25,
2017
Love came down
- 2
Christmas Day
&
December 24,
2017
Stetson Memorial
United Methodist Church
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
Sermon Series:
“The Invitation”
“An Invitation
To Christ”
Lighting of
the Advent Wreath – the Christ Candle
and “A
Christmas Letter”
text and video
text
video
as read by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
December 24,
2017
&
December 24,
2017
come and see
the babe in the manger
December 24,
2017
born in us
anew
Quotes from Bishop
Sudarshana Devadhar’s
Christmas
Message
December 23,
2017
In the midst
of this reality, we sing "O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us,
we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us
today" (United Methodist Hymnal #230, verse 4).
&
"What
does it look like when Jesus Christ is born within us anew;
when we become
the embodiment of Jesus, and grace and truth
become our
mantra as baptized Christians?”
&
December 24,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Fourth Sunday
in Advent - Love
Christmas Eve
Morning
Sermon Series:
“The Invitation”
“An Invitation
To Love”
Lighting of the
Advent Wreath – the candle of Love
Great
Thanksgiving before communion
and sermon
“What Is This Love…”
text and video
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Fourth Sunday
in Advent
December 24,
2017
&
edited
December 23, 2017
a time of
waiting and preparation – v3
edited
December 23, 2017
an echo of
Hannah – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
she sang – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
bowing down to
idols – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
joy in the
chaos – v3
edited
December 23, 2017
her prayer of
faith – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
when I was a
stranger – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
Happiness is
fleeting – v3
edited
December 23, 2017
The Magnificat
– v2
edited
December 23, 2017
How I rejoice
in God my Savior – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
a prayer of
submission – v2
edited/ merged
December 23, 2017
Mary sang the
Magnificat – 2 – v3
December 23,
2017
an echo of
Hannah
edited
December 23, 2017
Mary sang the
Magnificat – 2 – v2
edited
December 23, 2017
Mary sang the
Magnificat – v3
Song of Hannah
1 Samuel
2:1–10
Luke 1:46-55 Complete
Jewish Bible (CJB)
The Magnificat
edited January
12, 2017
Mary sang the
Magnificat – v2
December 11,
2016
Mary sang the
Magnificat
edited January
12, 2017
Worship in
Song – v2
edited January
2, 2017
Preparing the
Way – v3
(merging edits
to original and version 2)
edited
December 30, 2016
Preparing the
Way – v2
November 30,
2009
Preparing the
Way
Upper Room
Disciplines for 2009
Malachi 3:1
for November
30, 2009
Malachi 3:2-4
for December
1, 2009
Luke 1:68-75
for December
2, 2009
by F. Douglas
Powe, Jr.
&
edited/new
name December 22, 2017
Mary sang the
Magnicat - 2
December 22,
2017
She sang
December 22,
2017
the joy of
Mary
December 22,
2017
bowing down to
idols
December 21,
2017
without this
invitation
December 21,
2017
real joy
December 21,
2017
Joy remains
December 21,
2017
Joy stays
December 21,
2017
joy is
constant
edited
December 21, 2017
Happiness is
fleeting – v2
December 21,
2017
Happiness is
fleeting
December 21,
2017
Joy is a fruit
edited
December 20, 2017
joy in the
chaos – v2
December 20,
2017
joy in the
chaos
December 20,
2017
we are offered
joy
December 20,
2017
How I rejoice
in God my Savior
December 19,
2017
offered up to
God
December 19,
2017
her prayer of
faith
December 19,
2017
her prayer of
joy
December 19,
2017
a prayer of
submission
edited
December 19, 2017
The Song of
Mary – v2
December 19,
2017
The Song of
Mary
December 19,
2017
The Magnificat
December 17,
2017
God’s promise
of Joy
December 17,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Third Sunday
in Advent - Joy
Advent Sermon
Series – “The Invitation…”
Lighting of
the Advent Wreath – the candle of Joy
Congregation
prayer over George Merrow
Great
Thanksgiving and prayer before communion
Psalm 126
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Isaiah 61:1-2,
8-11 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Luke 1:46-55 Complete
Jewish Bible (CJB)
The Magnificat
1 Thessalonians
5:16-24Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
and sermon “An
Invitation to Joy…”
text and video
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
Third Sunday
in Advent
December 17,
2017
&
December 15,
2017
Advent – haiku
- 7
December 15,
2017
Advent -
acrostic
December 15,
2017
come and see
the babe
edited/ new
name December 15, 2017
we cannot know
peace
December 15,
2017
peace begins
with trust
December 15,
2017
an invitation
of peace
December 15,
2017
an invitation
to peace
December 15,
2017
give your
worries to Jesus
December 15,
2017
a relationship
with God
edited
December 14, 2017
we are offered
peace – v2
December 14,
2017
we are offered
peace
December 14,
2017
we are offered
hope
edited
December 13, 2017
treasures of
Advent – v2
edited
December 13, 2017
memories of
Advent – v2
December 13,
2017
a time of
waiting and preparation – v2
December 12,
2017
memories of
Advent
December 12,
2017
treasures of
Advent
edited
December 12, 2017
treasures of
the season – v2
December 12,
2017
treasures of
the season
edited/new
name December 12, 2017
making room
for Advent
December 12,
2017
room for
Advent
December 12,
2017
souvenirs of
Advent
December 10,
2017
leaving the
script
Christ
changing the words of the Passover Seder,
which was
already 1400 years old at that time
December 10,
2017
God makes an
invitation
December 10,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Second Sunday
in Advent - Peace
Advent Sermon
Series – “The Invitation…”
Lighting of
the Advent Wreath – the candle of Peace
Psalm 85:1-2,
8-13
Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah 9:6-7
Romans 14:17-19
Great
Thanksgiving and prayer before communion
and sermon “An
Invitation to Peace…”
text and video
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
Second Sunday
in Advent
December 10,
2017
&
edited
December 9, 2017
a journey of
hope – v2
edited
December 9, 2017
an invitation
to the stable – v2
&
December
9, 2017
God
will return
2
Peter 3:8-15a
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Faithful
Wilderness Waiting”
December
4, 2017 to December 10, 2017
by
Frank Rogers, Jr.
devotion
for December 8, 2017
read December 9, 2017
&
December 9,
2017
a time of
waiting and preparation
December 8,
2017
Breathe Deeply
of Advent
December 8,
2017
Breathe in the
Season
December 5,
2017
even in the
wilderness
December 4,
2017
the Hope of
the invitation
December 4,
2017
there is hope
in the manger
December 4,
2017
things we
gather
December 4,
2017
gather all you
can
December 4,
2017
welcome to
Advent
December 4,
2017
the invitation
to the manger
December 4,
2017
Faith and Hope
edited
December 4, 2017
Faith for each
step – v2
December 4,
2017
Faith for each
step
edited
December 3, 2017
hope above all
else – v2
December 3,
2017
hope above all
else
December 3,
2017
the ones
dressed in white
December 3,
2017
riding into
battle
edited
December 3, 2017
they don’t
come – v2
December 3,
2017
invite them
December 3,
2017
carrying our
treasure
December 3,
2017
we wait, we
hope
edited
December 3, 2017
A journey of
Hope – 2 – v2
December 3,
2017
A journey of
Hope - 2
edited/new
name December 3, 2017
an invitation
to hope
December 3,
2017
a journey of
hope
December 3,
2017
the invitation
of Advent
December 3,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
First Sunday
in Advent - Hope
Advent Sermon
Series – “The Invitation…”
Lighting of
the Advent Wreath – the candle of Hope
Psalm 80:1-7,
17-19
Isaiah 57:7-12
Isaiah 9:1-3
Romans 5:1-5
Great
Thanksgiving and prayer before communion
Testimony of
Shyanne Foss about her Type 1 Diabetes
and sermon “An
Invitation to Hope”
text and video
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
First Sunday
in Advent
December 3,
2017
&
edited November 22, 2017
A Journey of Treasure – v5
(editing original again)
edited January 13, 2015
A Journey of Treasure – v4
(editing original again)
Edited January 5, 2013
“A Journey of Treasure – v3”
edited September 1, 2011
“A Journey of Treasure – v2”
1/1/06 14:38
“A Journey of Treasure”
Matthew 2:1-12 and the sermon “Time Passages”
by Pastor Lori Eldredge
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord, NH
&
December 17,
2017
when I was a
stranger
December 17,
2017
I was starving
December 17,
2017
gathered into
His pasture
edited
December 3, 2017
they are not
invited – v2
December 2,
2017
they are not
invited
December 2,
2017
they don’t
come
December 2,
2017
we must invite
them
December 2,
2017
we don’t
invite them
December 2,
2017
come into
God’s presence
edited
December 2, 2017
Will we join
that congregation – v2
edited/new
title December 2, 2017
will we join
that congregation
December 2,
2017
will we be
gathered up to heaven
edited
December 2, 2017
will we be
raptured – v2
December 2,
2017
will we be
raptured
December 2,
2017
an invitation
to the stable
December 2,
2017
Jesus won
salvation
edited
December 2, 2017
where will we
stand on Judgment Day – v2
edited
December 1, 2017
The King is
coming – v2
edited
December 1, 2017
will we be
ready – v2
December 1,
2017
will we be
ready
December 1,
2017
where will we
stand on Judgment Day
December 1,
2017
The King is
coming
edited
December 1, 2017
Does the
Judgment convict us
December 1,
2017
does the
judgement convict us
edited
November 30, 2017
we live out
our faith – v2
(with truthful
weasel words added…)
edited/new name
November 30, 2017
we live out
our faith
edited
November 30, 2017
do we live out
our faith? – v2
November 30,
2017
do we live out
our faith?
November 30,
2017
do we believe
the scripture?
November 29,
2017
Christ will
return soon
edited
November 29, 2017
I believe in
Jesus – 2 – v2
November 29,
2017
I believe in
Jesus - 2
November 28,
2017
when I say I
am a Christian
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
I say I am a
Christian
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
We say we are
Christians
November 28,
2017
They say they
are Christians
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
Christ will
come down from heaven
edited
November 28, 2017
Christ will
judge us – v2
November 28,
2017
Christ will
judge us
November 28,
2017
God will see
our heart
November 27,
2017
whitewashed
Christians
Matthew
23:27-28 (The Message)
““You’re
hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds!
You’re like
manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright,
but six feet
down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh.
People look at
you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin
you’re total
frauds.”
November 27,
2017
false
Christians - 2
edited
November 27, 2017
lumped in with
the others – v2
November 27,
2017
lumped in with
the others
edited
November 26, 2017
Why would I
want to be a Christian – v2
November 26,
2017
why would I
want to be a “Christian”
November 26,
2017
the name
Christian spit from their lips
November 26,
2017
the name
Christian spit from their lips
edited
November 26, 2017
I saw heaven
open – v2
edited to fit
Twitter 280 characters
November 26,
2017
I saw heaven
open
November 26,
2017
Ladies of
scripture
November 26,
2017
Christ the
King Sunday
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 95:1-7
(The Voice
Matthew
25:31-46 (The Voice)
The Final
Judgement
The Sheep and
the Goats
Revelations
19:11-16 (The Voice)
The Rider
and sermon “The
King is coming…”
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
Christ the
King Sunday
November 26,
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 45,810 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church, poem, Matthew 25, Psalm 95, prayer, Christ the King Sunday,
Revelation 19, sheep, goats, judgement, Christian, second coming, Advent,
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#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Psalm95
#Matthew25 #pray #praying #prayer #hope #ChristtheKingSunday #Revelation19
#sheep #goats #judgement #Christian #Esther #rider #secondcoming #Advent
#rapture #invitation #salvation
==================
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church, prayer, invitation, hope, journey, treasure, Magi, peace,
joy, Christmas, second coming, life, New Year’s Eve,
=============
#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Psalm80
#Romans5 #Isaiah7 #Isaiah57 #pray #praying #prayer #hope #secondcoming #Advent
#invitation #salvation #manger #cross #sacrifice #journey #treasure #Magi #peace #joy
=============
#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #Psalm85
#Romans14 #Isaiah9 #Isaiah11 #prayer #secondcoming #Advent #invitation #salvation
#manger #cross #sacrifice #journey #treasure #Magi #hope #peace #love #joy
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#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #Psalm126
#Isaiah61 #Luke1 #1Thessalonians5 #prayer #secondcoming #Advent #invitation
#salvation #manger #cross #sacrifice #journey #treasure #Magi #hope #peace
#love #joy #Mary #Magnificat
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#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer
#secondcoming #Advent #invitation #salvation #manger #cross #sacrifice #journey
#pilgrimage #treasure #Magi #hope #peace #love #joy #waiting #preparation #indwelling
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#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer
#secondcoming #Advent #invitation #salvation #manger #cross #sacrifice #journey
#pilgrimage #treasure #Magi #hope #peace #agape #love #joy #waiting #indwelling
#Christmas #NewYearsEve #life
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