Saturday, January 25, 2014

the words a lie

a sad reality
a bait and switch
the words a lie
hiding the truth

our principles clear
our calling to connection
open minds, open doors,
open hearts to all

for all of God’s children
ready to welcome
to offer mercy
to share with each other

an inclusive church
stronger, living, vibrant
open to all God’s children
none deemed unworthy

an aspiration unfulfilled
in this time of conflict
wanting it to be true
but still finding us wanting


edited/new poem January 25, 2014
the words a lie
(editing version 2)
(after conviction and defrocking of Rev. Frank Schaefer,
before trial of Rev. Thomas Ogletree)
Edited November 15, 2013
An Inclusive Church – v5
(editing original version again)
Edited September 8, 2013
An Inclusive Church – v4
Edited September 1, 2013
An Inclusive Church – v3
Edited August 28, 2013
An Inclusive Church – v2
June 12, 2011
An Inclusive Church
John 8
&
June 23, 2011
Able to Breath – unedited
&
Edited September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy – v2”
new poem September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy”
----
This poem is about my wife and me when we got married
in a civil service on December 17, 2004 in Concord, NH in White Park
and then before our church family at
Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord, NH
on April 23, 2005.
----
We celebrate 2 anniversaries because they both mean a great
deal to us, in very different ways.
I grieve for those who are able to marry civilly in so many
states now, such as NH, but are unable to marry in their
United Methodists churches and for the clergy who are put on trial
for choosing to go against the Discipline to marry them.
&
trials of Rev. Frank Schaefer
and Rev. Thomas Ogletree
and  Rev. Steve Heiss
&
Edited September 7, 2013
For Offering Love – v2
June 22, 2011
For Offering Love
Love on Trial,
the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,
which begins on June 20, 2011
&
John 8:1-11
&
Samuel Thompson’s
Inclusion Essay
shared at the New England United Methodist Church
Annual Conference
in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network
for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,
June 10, 2011
&
in part inspired by conversations with
the Reverend John Makokha
Riruta UMC
Children of Africa Hope Mission Project in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. http://rirutaumc.homestead.com/children_of_africa.html
&
Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
&
Matthew 28:18-20
Great Commission


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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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