Poetry Where You Live

All together, one table, one meal
they lived, worshipped, ate together
a single life the lives of the apostles
early believers on the way
sharing all, to spread his message
to bring God’s love
out into the world
bringing their lives together
one community, one meal
In meals shared, in sacrament, in community
we share in their legacy
share the table with them

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, apostles, Christ, Faith, hands, heart, Huntley Halvorson, life, love, Methodist, Our Family's Table, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, September, Sermon, Suncook United Methodist Church

As they lived, so we eat
from one pot, each given a portion
a common prayer, a place set for all
our offering, our ministry
as they lived, in the Way
lives, fortunes, hopes shared
from all to all, family style

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, apostles, Christ, Faith, hands, heart, Huntley Halvorson, Methodist, Our Family's Table, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, September, Sermon, Suncook United Methodist Church

Our Family’s Table
our small part, a place set,
ready for the feast,
Christ in our midst, sitting with us
around a table, sharing a meal
reaching out, our hands, our hearts
welcoming all, to a table set
a meal prepared,
living in community
sharing as the apostles did

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
and the ministry of a weekly dinner,
“Our Family’s Table”

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, apostles, Christ, Faith, hands, heart, Huntley Halvorson, Methodist, Our Family's Table, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, September, Sermon, Suncook United Methodist Church

No separate seat reserved
saved for a coming Elijah
they ate together,
the Messiah present,
living with them
within their midst
after the resurrection, the ascension
He lives with us, walking with us
sharing our meals, our lives
if we but let him in

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, Elijah, Faith, Huntley Halvorson, Messiah, Methodist, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, resurrection, September, Sermon, Suncook United Methodist Church

It was in the living, sharing all
all their wealth, their faith
given to the common good
all were fed, meals together
sharing their lives in faith

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, Communion, Faith, Huntley Halvorson, Methodist, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, September, Sermon, Suncook United Methodist Church

All welcome, receiving, being fed
rest, Sabbath, renewing
the Bread of Life
feeding us all
His sacrifice, his body given
offered for us
We are fed, revived
in the worship, the praise
in the remembrance
in communion with him
with all who have gone before

September 7, 2008
Acts 2:42-47 and sermon by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:42-47, body, bread, Communion, Faith, Huntley Halvorson, life, Methodist, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, sabbath, sacrifice, September, Suncook United Methodist Church

Blind, gaining sight
persecuting, preaching
converted on the Damascus road
in a blaze of light, a voice from above
changing his life,
the story of our faith
forevermore
Spreading the word
justification, grace by faith
dying to the law,
rising with our brother
his life a libation
poured out in love
each one of us beneficiaries
his conversion
on the Damascus road

August 12, 2008
Philippians 3:7-11,
Acts 9:1-9 and
Upper Room August 11, 2008

Labels: Acts, Acts 9, August, disciples, Faith, grace, justifying grace, life, light, love, Methodist, Paul, Philippians, Philippians 3, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, sight, voice

I guess you could say,
Peter was fully committed
in those wondrous moments
stepping from a swaying ship
out onto the rolling seas
The master said “come”, and
he went, over the side,
up onto the waters, walking
as if on dry land
fully committed, in relationship
focused on the living Christ
the Messiah, living with him
studying at his feet,
performing miracles with him
being his hands, feeding the multitude
healing as he was taught
long before the flames
steeled his nerves

August 11, 2008
Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 69:1-3, Psalm 130:1
and sermon, “Reach Out Your Hand”,
by Reverend Lori Eldredge,
North Kingstown United Methodist Church
August 10, 2008

Labels: Acts, acts 2:1-21, August, Faith, feet, God, hands, Lori Eldredge, love, master, Matthew, Matthew 14, Methodist, Peter, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Psalm, Psalm 130, Psalm 69, Raymond A. Foss, Sermon, water, wind

Based on Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost Sunday

Good Morning!!!! Well here we are at Pentecost Sunday!! I love Pentecost Sunday almost as much as I love Easter Sunday. It is the day when the Holy Spirit came down to live in humankind. . . it is the birthday of the church. . . it is the day that the Counselor that was promised arrived! Without this day. . . can you imagine what the church would be like. . . never mind what it would be like. . . there would be no church. When reading the scripture this morning I tried to imagine myself in the room with the disciples. Can you just imagine with me for just a moment. . . you’re in a room. . . praying ceaselessly. . . and all of the sudden there is this big wind that comes into the room. . . you’re looking around and can’t figure out where it is coming from. . . then the person next to you has what looks like a tongue of fire over their head. . . (Now I may have been thinking about getting a bucket of water to quench that fire about now) and they look at you and they see the same thing over your head. Now I don’t know about you but I would have been a little freaked out about this. Still strange yet. . . you start speaking in a language that you don’t even know. (Now. . . I could have really used a little help like this when I took French in school. . . I never did really get it right.) What an awesome. . . yet scary. . . scene that must have been.

What actually happened to the followers of Christ that day? How did they respond to what had happened to them on that fateful day in that room? Does this same type of manifestation of the Spirit still happen today? How are we to respond to the Spirit within us today? These are some questions I think all of us might ask when we read this passage from Acts. Let’s see if we can get some kind of glimpse at the answers to these questions that we all may ask from time to time.

In order to find some of the answers to our questions. . . let’s go back to the beginning of Acts. . . the answer begins in Act 1 verses 1b-5. After Jesus’ suffering on the cross and His victory over sin and death on the third day. . . He appeared to the apostles for 40 days and talked about the Kingdom of God. He also gave many convincing proofs that he was alive during that time. On one of these days he gave them the command to “not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Now. . . Jesus. . . who was back from the dead. . . as He said He would be. . . gave these disciples a command and a told them a promise would be fulfilled. Now I don’t know about you but if someone makes me a promise and keeps it. . . I will more than likely believe them when they make another promise to me. I would more than likely do as they said because they proved their word to be true. They were obedient to Jesus and did as He commanded. There was the element of trust there. This makes me think of the world we live in today. So many promises are broken that sometimes we don’t see the truth when it’s sitting right before us. We tend to question when we are told to do something. Society has us trained that we are to rulers of our lives and not to let anyone try to tell us otherwise. But these disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do. What trust they must have had. . . to only feel that unquestioning trust in our lives today. . . what a blessing that would be.

Now Jesus talks to them about being baptized in the “Spirit”. . . what exactly is this Spirit that Jesus is talking about? What was its purpose in the lives of the apostles and what does it have to do with our lives today? Well. . . after these apostles. . . these followers of Christ were baptized on this day of Pentecost they began to do amazing things. First. . . as I stated before. . . they began to speak in languages. . . in tongues. . . that they never spoke before. All the people around them started hearing them speak in their own language. (Talk about your United Nations Assembly)What did the apostles do with this new gift of the Spirit. . . they began declaring the wonders of God. They used their gift to Gods glory! All Glory and Honor to our Creator God! All good gifts were given to them and to us by our God and King for God’s glory not our own. This Spirit gave these quiet, soft spoken apostles the tenacity to stand up and speak boldly about God and God’s mighty acts. (Talk about finding your voice)

Ray has written a poem called ‘Ignited with Fire’ and it all about these first receivers of the Spirit. It reads:

Timid followers, disciples in the spirit
sharing the words of power, of truth,
hope of the savior, transformed by the spirit
ignited by the fire of God’s love
infused with the spirit’s authority
steeled and changed forever
preaching to the ends of the earth
to Jew and Gentile, slave and free
All were to hear the message
of the grace of God
freely given, as if by flames
alighting on each one of us

Given freely. . . as if by flames. . . alighting. . . on each of us. We too are given that Spirit of strength. . . of power. . . of authority. . . to share God’s story to the ends of the earth. But. . . how many times do we just look away. . . not share our stories because we are afraid of what others might think. . . The other day. . . I was at a restaurant with Ray and another couple. We had been seated by a young gentleman who was pretty interested in our conversation. It was about ministry. . . which we promised to leave work at home but you know us Pastors when we get together. . . well any way. . . he said he had a question for us. . . well the waitress came and he kind of sad well I ask it later. . . he came back after a short time and asked if we were Christians. We said yes (Of course) and he admitted he was a Christian too and was going to a Bible College in Texas. This has gotten me thinking. My question is. . . if this young man had asked us this question when the waitress was there. . . what might have happened? She may have asked about faith and God and maybe had a seed planted. . . she may have said “Hey. . . I’m a Christian too” and he could have known he had a sister in Christ working with him. But. . . we will never know. It makes me think of how many times I may have had that timidness in me instead of using the strength and power of the Spirit within me. We never know what one word. . . just one word. . . may do in a life of another.

Because of the Spirit on Pentecost. . . a church. . . our church was born. The apostles became not just followers but doers of Christ. They went forth to proclaim the Gospel of peace to the ends of the earth. They went boldly forward with a fire within them that illuminated through their words and deeds. This is how it all began. They went around speaking boldly about God and more people began to believe in Jesus Christ. . . our Lord. . . and Savior. Ray wrote another poem about the birth of the church and it catches the essence of the church’s beginning. It is called ‘Born by Fire’:

A church, our church, the body of Christ
Born by the fire of Pentecost
On that day created, ministers commissioned
And missionaries sent, in an instant of fire
The flames wrapping around, touching each one of them
Imparting voice and power, a boldness they had never known
Certainty of the message, finally with words to share
To fight to be heard, to overturn
The scales, the balance of authority
To speak the Truth of Christ’s coming
And of God’s love, baptized by the fire
Of the holy Spirit

We are baptized by water and the Spirit. We are given the boldness of the Spirit if we would just speak from the Spirit instead of the words of society. We are given that same Spirit that was given so long ago that birthed a church. We are not given a timid Spirit but a Spirit of power and might.

The apostles were sent out to proclaim the Gospel of Truth to the ends of the earth. . . but. . . the job is not done yet. There are still many places in the world who don’t know about the saving grace of our Creator God. There are many places in the world where they have never heard of our Lord Jesus Christ and what his death means for all humankind. So. . . what are we to do with this Spirit that is within us? How can we show the love of Christ and share our stories? Well. . . one thing we can do is to pray unceasingly for those around us who may not know Christ as their personal savior. . . who don’t have a personal relationship that we are afforded with Christ. John 14:12-14 says, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. ‘Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ‘If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.’ Whatever. . . we ask. . . in. . . His. . . name! Jesus went to the Father and we were sent the Spirit as our guide, our counselor, our friend. It is a source of strength and a source of peace, love and joy. All we have to do is ask. . . and what we ask will be given (Of course as long as it is good for us or others in GOD’S eyes and not our own). We can make a difference by just sharing our stories with those around us. You never know who might need to hear your story to give them hope for a future. It may even bring them back to the open loving arms of our God and King. Life’s funny like that. . . you just never know.

On the back of the bulletin from this morning is a quote from Corrie ten Bloom. When I first read it I thought, ‘what a perfect way to explain the Spirit in our lives!’ Well Ray liked it so much that of course. . . he wrote a poem it. . . it’s called ‘Merely Gloves.’

The spirit the actor, we the vessels
the skin of our flesh, the gloves of the spirit
touching lives, changing hearts
offering hope, all to God’s glory
Merely the gloves holding our neighbors
the spirit moving in us
to help change the world

May we always be fired up with the Spirit within us. . . and ready. . . to give an account of the joy that is within us!

AMEN

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, apostles, Bible, blessing, body, Christ, christian, cross, eyes, Faith, Family, fire, flowers, God, life, love, May, Messiah, Methodist, Offering, Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Ruth, Sanbornville United Methodist Church, savior, schools, Sermon, the word, voice

(In the Crowd)

We all shook our heads,
in wonderment, amazed,
unable to explain what we heard
these men from Galilee,
those in his inner circle
speaking in words we knew
our home languages
Words they have never used
tongues of fire, igniting tongues
tongues who had been silent, timid
They spoke to me, to each of us
What a Pentecost that was
hearing Christ’s message
in our own languages

May 19, 2008
Acts 2:1-21, Pentecost

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, Christ, disciples, Faith, fire, in the crowd, May, Methodist, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss

They traveled with the man named Saul
commissioned, charged, sanctions
bringing wrath, death, to the followers of Christ;
but they, like he, obeyed,
leading him into the city
following the commands of Christ
speaking from heaven.

Man, did they back the wrong horse.

May 11, 2008
Acts 9:3-9

Labels: Acts, Acts 9, Christ, disciples, Faith, journey, Messiah, Methodist, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Saul, savior, the word

a belief, a religion, defined in terms of journey
in the path they were on, following
a movement, following the master, still
leaving all, changing their life’s course
new wineskin, filled with new wine
traveling the narrow way, the master the gate
moving on by graces,
to fulfill the call to the faithful
a journey, treacherous at times,
to the ends of the earth
to share the savior’s message
traveling ever on the Way

May 11, 2008
Acts 9:1-2

Labels: Acts, Acts 9, Faith, journey, master, May, Messiah, Methodist, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, savior, the word, wine

Filled with the Spirit,
the flames of Pentecost, they preached
in the native tongue of another
Peter stood and spoke, boldly, as they all would,
preaching the truth of the Christ, the Messiah,
killed by man, the Son sacrificed,
as the prophets foretold.
The disciples commissioned on that day
to begin the work we continue,
spreading the hope of salvation
by the gift of God, freely given
and available to all

May 11, 2008
Acts 2:1-21, Pentecost
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“All Fired Up”, Sanbornville United Methodist Church,
Wakefield, NH

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, Christ, disciples, Faith, Family, God, grace, Holy Spirit, May, Messiah, Methodist, Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Pentecost, Peter, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Ruth, salvation, Sanbornville United Methodist Church, Sermon

speaking, proclaiming, announcing
the miracle of the Pentecost
they could all speak, in a tongue they did not know
able to share the message of Christ
as the Spirit moved them
Empowered by God, to be His messengers
fulfilling the promise of the Messiah
while he lived among them
Preparing them to ministry,
proclaim the good news
sharing the love God
wherever they went

May 11, 2008
Acts 2:1-21, Pentecost
and sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“All Fired Up”, Sanbornville United Methodist Church,
Wakefield, NH

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, Christ, disciples, Faith, Family, God, Holy Spirit, love, May, Messiah, Methodist, Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Ruth, Sanbornville United Methodist Church, Sermon

Not by water, not by blood,
not by a dove descending from heaven
they were baptized by a heavenly fire
not a refining fire, a trial by fire
an anointing fire, enabling each one
to speak with power, with boldness
empowered by the living spirit
to be Christ’s messengers of love

May 10, 2008
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4, The Message

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, disciples, Exodus, Exodus 3, Faith, fire, God, love, May, Methodist, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss

in the flames emboldened
timid, tentative,
doubting messengers
empowered, given voice
in the tongues of fire,
the non-consuming,
the living flames
dancing in their midst
burning fire transforming
their spirits
the Holy Spirit of God
commissioning the pilgrims,
shepherds now, bringing
the master’s voice
to the wayward flock
offering Christ to the world

May 10, 2008
Exodus 3:1-12
Exodus 3:2
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4, The Message
Moses and the apostles

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, apostles, disciples, Exodus, Exodus 3, Faith, fire, God, May, Methodist, Moses, Offering, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, voice

The voice of God,
out of the burning, living flames
blessing the leader
empowering him, an assurance
God will be with him
So it was, with the living flames
falling on the faltering
Like Moses, doubting disciples
their power, authority
By the flames given voice
to lead the people
out of bondage,
into a promised land

May 10, 2008
Exodus 3:1-12
Exodus 3:2
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4, The Message
Moses and the apostles

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, apostles, blessing, disciples, Exodus, Exodus 3, Faith, fire, God, May, Methodist, Moses, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, voice

A church, our church, the body of Christ
born by the fire of Pentecost
on that day created, ministers commissioned
and missionaries sent, in an instant of fire
the flames wrapping around, touching each one of them
imparting voice and power, a boldness they had never know
certainty of the message, finally with words to share
to fight to be heard, to overturn
the scales, the balance of authority
To speak the truth of Christ’s coming
and of God’s love, baptize by the fire
of the Holy Spirit

May 10, 2008
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4, The Message

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, body, church, disciples, Faith, fire, God, Holy Spirit, John the Baptist, love, May, Methodist, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, prophet, Raymond A. Foss, voice

The disciples, the followers
praying, hiding alone, cloistered
hidden in the upper room, set apart
waiting, for what they did not know
a promise from Christ to be revealed

A flash of light of sound of motion
roaring wind and fire of the spirit
swirling, rushing, churning, spinning around them
forever changed, the whole of our history,
a church born in that instant,
men speaking in tongues they do not know
able to reach others, others from distant lands
able to proclaim, with power, with authority
Timid no more, on Pentecost reborn
messengers for the king
to the ends of the earth

May 10, 2008
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4, The Message

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, disciples, Faith, fire, God, Holy Spirit, May, Methodist, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Upper Room

He foretold, in boldness, in truth
the acts of the Apostles, greater than his own
for he was leaving this earth, rising, returning
going back to the father, we to carry on
We timid, fearful followers;
but he knew more of the story
the power of Pentecost, transforming
changing believers into leaders,
hearing the message of God’s love
and the salvation of the savior
feeling the fire of God’s endless love
boundless and without merit
loving us while we are yet sinners
over and over bringing us into his embraces
the acts of the Apostles, down through the ages
bringing the sheep into the pasture
the churchyard of the shepherd
the garden of the master

May 10, 2008
Acts of the Apostles
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost
John 14:1-14
John 14:12-14

Labels: Acts, Acts 2:1-12, acts 2:1-21, apostles, disciples, Faith, father, fire, grace, John, John 14, justice, love, master, May, Messiah, Methodist, Pentecost, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, prevenient grace, Raymond A. Foss, salvation, sanctifying grace, savior, sheep, shepherd