A Burgundy Bramble – v2

A vine, a burgundy bramble, alive

blackberry bushes, tall, in the fall sun;

shiny burgundy, yellow, green leaves

standing tall, as if for our pleasure

a visual gift from the creator

walking on this path, this walk

walking because they walk

Sharing just a moment of insight

of their lives, their reality, life,

graced by the beauty of a fall day,

a walk through the fields

walking by a burgundy bramble

shimmering in the sunlight

this gift, a bright blue sky

------

edited July 22, 2015

A Burgundy Bramble – v2

(editing Facebook version)

edited July 22, 2015

A Burgundy Bramble – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-burgundy-bramble-v3.html

(editing original version)

August 15, 2009

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day – Facebook version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/burgundy-bramble.html

October 11, 2008

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/burgundy-bramble.html

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Concord, NH

10/15/08

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 38,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Burgundy Bramble – v3

A vine, a burgundy bramble,

blackberry bushes, tall, in the fall sun

shiny burgundy, yellow, green leaves

standing tall, as if for our pleasure

A visual gift from the Creator

walking on the path

walking because they walk

sharing just a moment of insight

Graced by the beauty of a fall day,

a walk through fertile fields, walking

by a burgundy bramble shimmering

under the gift of a bright blue sky

============

edited July 22, 2015

A Burgundy Bramble – v3

(editing original version)

edited July 22, 2015

A Burgundy Bramble – v2

(editing Facebook version)

August 15, 2009

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day – Facebook version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/burgundy-bramble.html

October 11, 2008

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/burgundy-bramble.html

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Concord, NH

10/15/08

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 38,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Walking Because They Do – Blog Action Day – v2

We gather, in groups large and small,

to share a few hours, a few dollars

to walk, as they must, for food, for water

for solidarity with our brothers, our sisters

around the world, who need to walk

for the basic essentials of life

Out of our abundance, emulating them,

walking as they do, to understand

to lift them up, to provide for their needs

to be, for a moment, a few minutes,

our neighbor’s keeper, giving of ourselves

walking because they do

=====

edited February 2, 2015

Walking Because They Do – Blog Action Day – v2

August 15, 2009

Walking Because They Do – Blog Action Day – Facebook version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/walking-because-they-do.html

October 11, 2008

Walking With Them – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-post_14.html  

October 11, 2008

Walking Because They Do – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/walking-because-they-do.html

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Concord, NH

http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?pg=entry&fr_id=2215

October 15, 2008

Blog Action Day, poverty

&

edited October 16, 2014

Out of Our Abundance – Blog Action Day – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/10/out-of-our-abundance-blog-action-day-v2.html

http://www.blogactionday.org/

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Blog%20Action%20Day

https://www.facebook.com/blogactionday  

https://twitter.com/blogactionday12

https://www.facebook.com/events/268809639909753/

October 11, 2008

Out of Our Abundance – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/out-of-our-abundance-blog-action-day.html

November 18, 2007 and November 20, 2007 8:55am

Out of Our Abundance

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/11/out-of-our-abundance.html

Luke 20:45-21:4

The scribe and the widow’s offering

part of the sermon, “The Widow’s Might”,

by the Reverend Peter Hey

https://www.facebook.com/peter.a.hey

Wesley United Methodist Church,

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH, November 18, 2007

October 15, 2008

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,650+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Walking With Them – v2

Choosing to walk, a six-mile course

beautiful, brilliant fall afternoon

for fun, no stress, together

Very different than the daily struggle,

walking they do, to find food, water

walking in poverty, they have no choice.

But we, even in our abundance, trying, in a small way

walking with them, to remember them,

to reach out our hands, in love, in faith

to try, in this small way to help them

walking because they must

Edited August 4, 2013

“Walking With Them – v2”

August 15, 2009 – Facebook version

“Walking With Them – Blog Action Day - Facebook version”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/walking-with-them.html

10/12/08

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

Concord, NH, 10/11/08

October 15, 2008

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 24,120+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sandals on our feet

removing the heavy shoes
the running shoes with thick soles
walking barefoot
or with sandals on our feet

joining those who must walk
to gather water to survive
sharing our bounty with them
with Jesus by our side


====
September 17, 2012
Message for children
by Muffie Sheehan
about CROP Walk (9/29/2012 in Concord, NH)
Worship Theme: The Responsibility of Privilege
Mark 8:27-38 (The Message Bible)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9 (Common English Bible)
James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
and sermon – “What a privilege!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
September 16, 2012
Sixteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

some had none

like the nursery rhyme
counting our toes
explaining why we walk
when we have much
all the water we need
running through our tap
yet some have none
and desperately need our help


====
September 17, 2012
Message for children
by Muffie Sheehan
about CROP Walk (9/29/2012 in Concord, NH)
Worship Theme: The Responsibility of Privilege
Mark 8:27-38 (The Message Bible)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9 (Common English Bible)
James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
and sermon – “What a privilege!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
September 16, 2012
Sixteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,980+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

the values of our toes

walking for them
thinking about an offering
what we should give
the value of our toes
what it means to walk with them
those around the globe
who know thirst


====
September 17, 2012
Message for children
by Muffie Sheehan
about CROP Walk (9/29/2012 in Concord, NH)
Worship Theme: The Responsibility of Privilege
Mark 8:27-38 (The Message Bible)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9 (Common English Bible)
James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
and sermon – “What a privilege!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
September 16, 2012
Sixteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

for buckets of water

around the world
a crisis, a yearning
for clean drinking water
right at their village
not having to travel
to walk many miles
for buckets of water
the stuff of all life


====
September 17, 2012
Message for children
by Muffie Sheehan
about CROP Walk (9/29/2012 in Concord, NH)
Worship Theme: The Responsibility of Privilege
Mark 8:27-38 (The Message Bible)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9 (Common English Bible)
James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
and sermon – “What a privilege!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
September 16, 2012
Sixteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,075+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Hope in the Water

Something so simple
never thought about
taken for granted

Our troubles
our issue so small
compared to so many
around this troubled world

Hope in the water, in the efforts
clean water, for their bodies
for their lives, their spirits
filling with the loving water


September 29, 2009
CROP Walk and Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main
http://www.churchworldservice.org/

Dirty Water

Dirty water, throughout the world
the poor, the least, drinking dirty water
the wealthy, the run-off, waters of self-reliance
None being refreshed, all still thirsty
seeking still, clean waters
Through love, caring for our neighbors
clean waters of God’s love
eternal spring, living waters
the opposite of this world
clean waters ever flowing
wash over us


September 20, 2009 and September 22, 2009
Children’s Time by Muffie Sheehan
http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main
CROP Walk and Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org/
and
Romans 5:1-12
Romans 5:1-5
Jeremiah 2:1-13
Jeremiah 2:13
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer
& sermon, “Human Limitations and Unlimited Grace”
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
9/13/09

Clean Water

The water we carry
the water we are providing
in the real world
But metaphor too
The fountain, the spring
living water, the creator
Being the children
in the water we offer
clean water
good news for the world
living waters
the love of God


September 20, 2009 and September 22, 2009
Children’s Time by Muffie Sheehan
http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main
CROP Walk and Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org/
and
Romans 5:1-12
Romans 5:1-5
Jeremiah 2:1-13
Jeremiah 2:13
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer
& sermon, “Human Limitations and Unlimited Grace”
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
9/13/09

Walking With Them

Choosing to walk, six-mile course
beautiful, brilliant fall afternoon
Very different than the daily struggle,
walking they do, to find food, water
walking in poverty, they have no choice.
But we, even in our abundance, trying, in a small way
walking with them, to remember them,
to reach out our hands, in love, in faith
to try, in this small way to help them
walking because they must

August 15, 2009 – Facebook version
10/12/08
http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/
Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,
Concord, NH, 10/11/08
October 15, 2008
Blog Action Day, poverty

A Burgundy Bramble

A vine, a burgundy bramble
blackberry bushes, tall, in the fall sun
shiny burgundy, yellow, green leaves
standing tall, as if for our pleasure
a visual gift from the creator
walking on the path
walking because they walk
sharing just a moment of insight
graced by the beauty of a fall day,
a walk through the fields
by a burgundy bramble
shimmering in the sun
the gift, a bright blue sky

August 15, 2009

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day – Facebook version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/burgundy-bramble.html

October 11, 2008

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/burgundy-bramble.html

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Concord, NH

10/15/08

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 38,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Prayers of the People, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, April 22, 2009, Earth Day, Boston University School of Theology, Marsh Chapel, Boston, MA

Eternal Spirit of the universe, you make a pink flower from a gray seed, an ear from a kernel, a carrot from a seed the size of a pinhead, an oak tree from an acorn. You have programmed your soil to provide food for your plants, wooden trees to make apples, feathered hens to lay eggs, grass-eating cows to give milk. And you, grand Creator, you have us take care of your grand creation. In your mercy, Sustainer of all, send rain to water our crops and gardens. Let your sun shine on our fields so that seeds will produce abundantly, so that vines and stalks and trees will hang heavy with fruit and grain. And God, let your grace be as rich to our cattle as it is to us; let it keep our hogs free of disease, our hens laying eggs, and our cows giving milk. May our animals be fertile; may our lambs and calves and pigs frolic in your green pastures so that even in their play we may see your grace.

In Your mercy,

Hear our prayer

Eternal Father-Mother-God, help us to live on your good earth, preserving and caring for the life and soil you bless, ever thankful that for our good you gave your laws of nature and your law of love. Help us for our good and your glory to see those laws as you see them and as the psalmist saw them, as good and perfect, pleasant to think about. Fountain of wisdom, teach us to share the abundance you have given us, never gloating in our excess but always giving our first bushels to feed the hungry in your name. Enlighten our hearts so that our thank-yous ever rise in a crescendo to your throne.

In Your mercy,

Hear our prayer

God of beauty and of justice, we pray for the earth, for restoration of soil, air, and water. We pray for all people you have created, for restoration of dignity and hope. We pray for our nation and community, for restoration of our sense of responsibility in service. We pray even for ourselves, for restoration of our resolve to love you and the world you made.

In Your mercy,

Hear our prayer

O Great Spirit whose voice we hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear us. We come before you as your children. We are small and weak; we need your strength and wisdom. Let us walk in beauty and make our eyes ever behold the purple and red sunset. May our hands respect the things you have made, our ears to be sharp to hear your voice. Make us wise, so that we may know the things you have taught your people, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. We seek strength not to be superior to our brothers and sisters, but to live in harmony with ourselves and all your creation. Help us to be ever ready to come to you, so when life fades as a fading sunset, our spirits may come to you without shame. In Christ’s name we pray.

AMEN

This prayer meshed together language from the United Methodist Book of Worship and the Worship Sourcebook.

In their words

speaking to them in their words,
in stories, experiences they shared
lives close to the land, to family
to the crops and the animals,
speaking to them in a language they knew
so did our Lord preach, teach
share the story of God’s love
with those he met, walking this earth
He used, as we must, to share the message
in their words, to those willing, able
choosing to listen

January 4, 2009
1 Corinthians 14:13-19 and sermon,
“Speaking in Language I Can Understand”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

A Burgundy Bramble - Blog Action Day

A vine, a burgundy bramble
blackberry bushes, tall, in the fall sun
shiny burgundy, yellow, green leaves
standing tall, as if for our pleasure
a visual gift from the creator
walking on the path
walking because they walk
sharing just a moment of insight
graced by the beauty of a fall day,
a walk through the fields
by a burgundy bramble
shimmering in the sun
under the gift of a bright blue sky

August 15, 2009

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day – Facebook version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/08/burgundy-bramble.html

October 11, 2008

A Burgundy Bramble – Blog Action Day

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/10/burgundy-bramble.html

Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,

http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/

Concord, NH

10/15/08

Blog Action Day, poverty

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 38,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Walking With Them - Blog Action Day

Choosing to walk, the six-mile course
of a beautiful, brilliant fall afternoon
Very different than the daily struggle,
walking they do, to find food, potable water
walking in poverty, they have no choice.
But we, even in our abundance, trying, in a small way
walking with them, to remember them,
to reach out our hands, in love, in faith
to try, in this small way to help them
help them with their daily bread, with their water
walking with them, because they must

October 12, 2008
Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,
http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/
Concord, NH, 10/11/08
http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?pg=entry&fr_id=2215
October 15, 2008
Blog Action Day, poverty

Holding Her Hand - Blog Action Day

Wanting so much to walk, for them,
so they would have something to eat,
some clean water to drink, that those in need
would have no want; that is why we walked
Holding her hand, at the back of the pack
the last walkers, struggling up the hill
We walked because of their poverty,
something she believed worth it.
Her faith carrying her on, each of them
walking, trudging, scuffing their feet
Holding their hands, each in turn,
encouraging them, and their cause
walking with them, because so many
have to walk, for food, for water

October 12, 2008
Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Walk,
http://www.churchworldservice.org/CROP/
Concord, NH, 10/11/08
http://www.cropwalkonline.org/site/TR/CropWalks/General?pg=entry&fr_id=2215
walking with Shyanne (8) and Shanequa (6), at the very back of the walk
October 15, 2008
Blog Action Day, poverty