A Christian in the throne room of God

Oh to be a Christian, in the throne room of God
to be like Isaiah, to be in awe, in wonder
to see the heavenly beings, to see the risen Christ
sitting at the right hand of the Father
to hear the heavenly choir, to be so graced

To walk, assuming that was how we move there
to approach the throne of our brother
to bow, to humble myself,
in supplication and, oh yes, in thanksgiving

Oh if only I could find the words, in that very moment
to tell my brother, what his sacrifice, what his obedience
what his gift of love means to me

If I but have this chance, to be a Christian
to have been yoked with my brother all the days of my life
to be in the presence of God, to be before my Lord and King;
but especially to be able to thank him, to wash his feet,
as he has washed mine, as he has poured out
grace upon grace, joy after joy

To be a Christian in the throne room of God,
and to know what that means


May 1, 2009
Google search string, “cHRISTIAN In the tHRONE ROOM of God POETRY”,
that led someone from Richmond, VA to my blog
and
Isaiah 6:1-8
and
John 3:1-17
Romans 8:12-17
Advanced Lay Speaker class
April 18, 2009

Feeling His Presence

Kneeling at the rail
the altar festooned
overflowing, the bright flowers of spring
a stone, rock, to remember,
the crown of thorns still on the cross
Words of praise, of joy,
an invocation, calling him into our midst
Feeling the presence of Christ
here in the sanctuary
walking into our worship
sitting with me,
raising his voice
in those of the pastors
Calling us from winter’s slumber
Easter people, smiling
Joy in the morning
He is risen, and with us this day


April 12, 2009
Easter morning
Pastoral Prayer
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Luke 24:1-12
and the sermon, “Rocks”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH

Slowing Our Steps

Slowing our steps
measured steps, of remembrance
pilgrims, yoking our lives with Christ
and with the first disciples
journeying with them, his face to Jerusalem

Slowing our steps
to Bethany, to Bethpage
to a donkey’s stable
to the Mount of Olives

Slowing our steps
Walking with them, in preparation
sitting with them in the upper room
sharing the Passover, in reflection
the new words, the bread and the wine

Slowing our steps
the coolness of the garden
the deepening night
the master in prayer

Quickening our steps
running naked from the garden
fear and despair
the shepherd at their mercy

Slowing our steps, stealth
hiding, in the courts watching
the trial, the judgment
the suffering of our Lord

Slowing our steps, ponderous
following, tears in our eyes
walking the dusty road
leading to the skull
to the cross

Our steps at an end,
standing at the cross
watching in disbelief
watching in despair
Christ dying on the cross
the world in darkness

Our steps leading, slowing our steps
leading to the grace
the body laid
the stone closing the tomb

Our steps, now in prayer, kneeling
being as they were,
wondering what will be
our Master in the tomb.


April 11, 2009
John 18:1-19:42
Job 14:1-14
Upper Room Disciplines 2009 – April 10, 2009
Upper Room Disciplines 2009 – April 11, 2009
Alive Now – April 11, 2009,
“The Great Vigil of Easter”

Trembling at the Rail

Trembling, kneeling at the rail,
His voice rising in prayer,
My spirit calling, to my creator
for an answer, a guiding word
through this storm, this test,
this season in my life
needing you beside me
Her hand upon my own, mine upon hers,
kneeling at the rail, together in prayer

The Wise Men

Not three kings, not royalty
men of faith, of science, scholars
students of the ancient texts
able to read the signs,
of nature, of the heavens
followers of the stars, called
raised from their lands, studies

His star rising, to his star
they were called, “Come”.
Leaving their lands, their lives
bringing gifts, traveling
journeying to his bed, his side
Overwhelmed, overcome,
falling, kneeling, bowing down,
worshipping him, the babe
the king, born of prophecy
Paying homage, opening their treasure
giving him gold, frankincense and myrrh
Their lives, journeying under his star

January 6, 2009
Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany Night

At His Table

We come together, kneeling
at His table, set for us
the table of the one
who was visited by the shepherds
who received gifts from the wise men
who ate with tax collectors, with sinners
who laid down his life
that we may live
This is His table, not our table,
open to all, to any who would come
who would accept God’s offer of love

January 4, 2009
Call to Worship,
Isaiah 56:6-8
1 Corinthians 14:13-19 and sermon,
“Speaking in Language I Can Understand”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

Magi – haiku – 4

Outsiders worship
brought gifts, kneeling, to your bed
babe of the manger

January 3, 2009
Matthew 2:1-12

A Christmas Night

It was the night in a stable
so long, long ago
the cattle were lowing,
the manger below
Mary and Joseph
keeping their watch
over the babe, under the light of a star
wrapped in swaddling clothes,
the shepherds kneeling at his bed
Wise men, journeying still
led by his star
a night like none other
to change the world

December 24, 2008

A Community Prayer

The words, our father, forgive us,
give us, our daily bread
the words of a community
a communion, a loving family
praying, in unison, together,
kneeling, in faith
at the rail, in the pews
in the holy space
standing on holy ground
a prayer to our Father

December 10, 2008
Matthew 6:9-13
Matthew 6:5-15
Lord’s Prayer

Black slippers

Black slippers, white socks
flowers on her dress
long black hair, covering her shoulders
kneeling at your altar,
accepting the bread, the wine
sharing in the communion
remembering our brother, our savior
accepting the elements,
kneeling at your rail

November 2, 2008
Communion
Suncook United Methodist Church
Shanequa

At the Altar Rail

After the concerns, the celebrations
the pastors moved to the altar rail
to lead us in prayer
A small smiling face
looked my way, asking for permission
to walk forward, kneel beside her pastor
She stride was determined, purposeful
half-standing, half-kneeling,
leaning into her robe
next to the stole, so close to her face
Going forward, to pray at the altar rail
her faith, her certainty, a joy to see

December 12, 2007

Come to the Stable

Come to the stable you pilgrims
you believers, needing to be reborn
needing to be affirmed in your faith
needing this advent season, needing
desperately, to be in the spirit
within the stable, standing, kneeling by
the baby’s bed, the baby’s manger bed
look into his face, the face of his parents
see the truth of his life, his call, his fulfillment
He is the one they had hoped for, for centuries
waiting for the stump, the stump of Jesse
to bear a son, a shoot, a new branch
ready to take the mantle of David
to rise to lead his people, to set his people free
to seal the breach so long ago, mend the bond
provide a path, a way, to reconciliation
with the father, to be the one
who would create heaven on earth
We wait too, again, for the child in the manger
and the king to descend from heaven
and bring us home

December 9, 2007