Calvary – v2

On Calvary’s throne

the Lord, hanging alone

gave all that He was,

going humbly, by His choice

fulfilling the prophets of old

and sealing the seam, the cut,

the breach, the line in the sand,

the sentence we all bear

balancing the scales,

making us whole

On Easter He rose

to bring the tale to an end

to give us life, evermore

if we would only come to Him,

our Savior and friend.

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

edited August 6, 2019

Calvary – v2

February 3, 2009

Calvary

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/calvary.html

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 51,280 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Calvary, Christ, creator, cross, Easter, Faith, God, Golgotha, Good Friday, Holy Week, hope,  Lent, Lord, poem, poetry, sacrifice, salvation, sharing, sin,

#Calvary #Christ #creator #cross #Easter #Faith #God #Golgotha #GoodFriday #HolyWeek #hope # Lent #Lord #poem #poetry #sacrifice #salvation #sharing #sin

Done No Wrong – v2

Even the lowly criminal

the thief upon the cross

dying beside Jesus

rebuking his neighbor

when he mocked the Lord

Knowing he had done no wrong

righteous yet condemned

seeing sacrifice on His face

His purity, innocence

evident to those who would see

---------------------

edited July 16, 2019

Done No Wrong – v2

April 2, 2010

Done No Wrong

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/04/done-no-wrong.html

Good Friday service

Luke 23:39-46

John 13:34, 35 (Prayer of Confession)

and Service of Tenebrae

Pastor Ruth L. Foss

Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 2, 2010

Tenebrae – The Service of Shadows

1. THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Matthew 26:20-25

2. THE SHADOW OF INNER AGONY

Luke 22:40-44
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

 Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION

Matthew 26:47-50,55,56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY

Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Luke 23:33-46

Hymn: Were You There…

FINAL READING
John 1:1-4

& earlier

Good Friday prayer vigil

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 2, 2010

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 50,770+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, God, grace, hope, Lent, love, Poetry Where You Live, prayer, cross, Ash Wednesday, Gethsemane, Easter, sacrifice, Calvary, Good Friday, Tenebrae

#Christ #Faith #God #grace #hope #Lent #love #Poetry #prayer #cross #AshWednesday #Gethsemane #Easter #sacrifice #Calvary #GoodFriday #Tenebrae

A Very Different Parade – v2

No cries of “Hosanna!”

no “Hail to the King!”

palm boughs not waving

no sound of singing

greeting the Lord.

Shouts and jeers of

“Crucify him!,” “Blasphemy!”

when God spoke the truth;

The crowds now taunting Him

when Christ carried the cross to the Skull.

Angry and confused

the people as Christ walked by

His struggle to carry the cross palpable

going to be crucified

on this day that Jesus died.

------------------

edited March 22, 2019

A Very Different Parade – v2

April 2, 2010

A Very Different Parade

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/04/very-different-parade.html

Season of Lent

Good Friday prayer vigil

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 49,230 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, God, Father, Son, Spirit, grace, hope, Lent, love, Methodist, Poetry Where You Live, prayer, cross, Ash Wednesday, Gethsemane, Easter,  sacrifice, Calvary, Good Friday, Pastor Ruth Foss, sacrifice,

#Christ #Faith #God #Father #Son #Spirit #grace #hope #Lent #love #Methodist #PoetryWhereYouLive #prayer #cross #AshWednesday #Gethsemane #Easter # sacrifice #Calvary #GoodFriday #PastorRuthFoss #sacrifice

Secret Followers – v2

Like Joseph and Nicodemus

we, too often, come silently

only after, later,

standing up to power

carrying the now-dead Christ

too timid to follow Him

in the light of day

We need to proclaim our faith

to be His witnesses

to the ends of the earth

for a world

broken and hurt

filled up with sin

needing His loving grace

--------------------

edited February 7, 2016

Secret Followers – v2

April 8, 2010

Secret Followers

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/04/secret-followers.html

John 19:38-42

Matthew 27:57-61

Mark 15:42-47

Luke 23:50-56

and

Meditation service

after Our Family’s Table

weekly community dinner

by Pastor Ruth L. Foss

Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 7, 2010

&

Mark 16:1-6

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Worship Theme: “He Lives!”

and sermon, “Victory in Jesus”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/04/sermon-victory-in-jesus-by-pastor-ruth.html

by Pastor Ruth L. Foss

the sixth in a series of sermons, based in part on the book,

“24 Hours That Changed the World”, by Reverend Adam Hamilton

http://thewell.cor.org/resurrection-resources/24-hours-that-changed-the-world.html

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 4, 2010

Easter Sunday

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,960+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Two Thieves – v4

Two thieves were crucified

beside the Christ, the Messiah,

two humble, simple men

were dying beside the Lord

Oh, what they must have felt

with their lives slipping away

knowing all too well their own sin

dying beside the unblemished Lamb

One would deride Jesus

taunting God, even in pain,

the other begging for mercy

receiving the gift of Paradise

Two thieves were hanging

making very different choices

one would mock our Savior

the other would seek His forgiveness,

confessing our sins to God.

=====

edited December 11, 2015

Two Thieves – v4

(editing original again)

edited November 26, 2015

Two Thieves – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/two-thieves-v3.html

Thanksgiving Day

(editing original)

edited July 7, 2015

Two Thieves – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/two-thieves-v2.html

March 26, 2010

Two Thieves

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-thieves.html

Luke 23:32, 39-43

and meditation title, “IV Two Thieves: Choosing in Our Agony”,

by the Reverend Peter A. Hey,

http://www.concordwumc.org

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord, NH

March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday

Season of Lent

All of my poems and photographs 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 (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,350+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Two Thieves – v3

With Christ there were crucified

humble, simple men

the two thieves on the cross

dying beside our Lord

What they must have felt

with their lives slipping away

knowing all too well their own sin

dying beside the unblemished lamb

One would deride Him

taunting God, even in his pain

the other begging for mercy

receiving the gift of paradise

Two thieves hanging

making such different choices

mocking our Savior

or seeking His forgiveness,

confessing his sins to God.

=====

edited December 11, 2015

Two Thieves – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/two-thieves-were-crucified-beside.html

(editing original again)

edited November 26, 2015

Two Thieves – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/two-thieves-v3.html

Thanksgiving Day

(editing original)

edited July 7, 2015

Two Thieves – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/two-thieves-v2.html

March 26, 2010

Two Thieves

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-thieves.html

Luke 23:32, 39-43

and meditation title, “IV Two Thieves: Choosing in Our Agony”,

by the Reverend Peter A. Hey,

http://www.concordwumc.org

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord, NH

March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday

Season of Lent

All of my poems and photographs 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 (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,350+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Ashes and the Cup – v6

Wednesday’s ashes

and Maundy’s cup

Sunday’s palms

and Thursday’s basin

Anchors of this season

to this most Holy Week;

Moments of Christ’s life,

Holy, for a purpose

Before the cross, the nails,

the angry thorns, the crown;

symbols of His walk

of our shared Lenten journey

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

edited August 19, 2015

The Ashes and the Cup – v6

(editing version 3)

edited April 12, 2015

The Ashes and the Cup – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ashes-and-cup-v5.html

(editing version 2)

edited April 2, 2015

The Ashes and the Cup – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ashes-and-cup-v4.html

(editing version 3)

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

Maundy Thursday service

April 2, 2015

&

edited April 17, 2014

“The Ashes and the Cup – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-ashes-and-cup-v3.html

(version 2 was on Maundy Thursday bulletin)

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stetson-Memorial-United-Methodist-Church/174161846023512

edited April 7, 2012

“The Ashes and the Cup – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/04/ashes-and-cup-v2.html

April 6, 2012

“The Ashes and the Cup”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/04/ashes-and-cup.html

Holy Saturday

&

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Matthew 27:24-61

Mark 15:16-47

Luke 23:20-56

John 19:1-42

Good Friday prayer vigil

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

&

Good Friday service

Luke 23:39-46

John 13:34, 35 (Prayer of Confession)

John 12:47b; John 13:1b (Assurance of Foregiveness)

and Service of Tenebrae (with 16 candles)

The Passion of the Christ liturgy

(John 18:1-19:42, translated by James H. Charlesworth)

United Methodist Book of Worship pages 355-361

plus

Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal #288)

FINAL READING
John 1:1-4

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 6, 2011

&

Tenebrae – The Service of Shadows

(used in earlier years, with 7 candles)

1. THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Matthew 26:20-25

2. THE SHADOW OF INNER AGONY

Luke 22:40-44
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

 Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION

Matthew 26:47-50, 55, 56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY

Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Luke 23:33-46

Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal #288)

FINAL READING
John 1:1-4

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 38,930+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Quenching the Spirit – v6

Stanching the Fire

the Light growing dimmer;

Wicked of Power

of the Light within,

the Fire going cold.

Another way to see

the candles going dimmer;

What we did that day,

stanching the Spirit,

but the fire with us still.

Quenching the Spirit

extinguishing the Light;

Christ’s Spirit here with us,

our breath blowing out the candles,

when the world should be bright.

The time, Tenebrae,

the darkening gloom around us;

The world falling into sorrow,

yet we know Easter and

the return of the Bridegroom.

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

edited August 14, 2015

Quenching the Spirit – v6

(editing version 4)

edited July 17, 2015

Quenching the Spirit – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/quenching-spirit-v5.html

(editing version 2)

edited April 13, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/quenching-spirit-v4.html

edited February 21, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/quenching-spirit-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 8, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/01/quenching-spirit-v2.html

February 21, 2012

Quenching the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/02/quenching-spirit.html

discussion with Pastor Ruth Foss, February 20, 2012

and further conversation with Jean Anocibar, February 21, 2012

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

&

April 22, 2011 and April 23, 2011

Good Friday service

Luke 23:39-46

John 13:34, 35 (Prayer of Confession)

John 12:47b; John 13:1b (Assurance of Foregiveness)

and Service of Tenebrae

Pastor Ruth L. Foss

Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 22, 2011

Tenebrae – The Service of Shadows

1. THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Matthew 26:20-25

2. THE SHADOW OF INNER AGONY

Luke 22:40-44
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

 Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION

Matthew 26:47-50, 55, 56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY

Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Luke 23:33-46

Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal #288)

FINAL READING
John 1:1-4

&

earlier

Good Friday prayer vigil

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 23, 2011

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 38,820+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Quenching the Spirit – v5

Another way to see

the candles going dim;

stanching the Spirit

the fire with us still

Quenching the Spirit,

extinguishing the Light;

our breath blowing out candles

when the world should be bright

This service, Tenebrae,

the darkening gloom;

yet we know Easter

a return of the bridegroom

=====

edited July 17, 2015

Quenching the Spirit – v5

(editing version 2)

edited April 13, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/quenching-spirit-v4.html

edited February 21, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/quenching-spirit-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 8, 2014

Quenching the Spirit – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/01/quenching-spirit-v2.html

February 21, 2012

Quenching the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/02/quenching-spirit.html

discussion with Pastor Ruth Foss, February 20, 2012

and further conversation with Jean Anocibar, February 21, 2012

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

&

April 22, 2011 and April 23, 2011

Good Friday service

Luke 23:39-46

John 13:34, 35 (Prayer of Confession)

John 12:47b; John 13:1b (Assurance of Foregiveness)

and Service of Tenebrae

Pastor Ruth L. Foss

Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 22, 2011

Tenebrae – The Service of Shadows

1. THE SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

Matthew 26:20-25

2. THE SHADOW OF INNER AGONY

Luke 22:40-44
3. THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

 Matthew 26:40-45
4. THE SHADOW OF DESERTION

Matthew 26:47-50, 55, 56
5. THE SHADOW OF ACCUSATION

Matthew 26:59-67
6. THE SHADOW OF MOCKERY

Mark 15:12-20
7. THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Luke 23:33-46

Hymn: Were You There… (United Methodist Hymnal #288)

FINAL READING
John 1:1-4

&

earlier

Good Friday prayer vigil

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 23, 2011

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 38,380+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Rolling Away the Stone – v3

Our long night over

of the contemplative season;

Going through Christ’s passion

now, about to enter the light.

Rolling away the stone

joy in this morning;

Christ is risen,

He is risen indeed!

====

edited July 16, 2015

Rolling Away the Stone – v3

(editing original)

March 27, 2010

Rolling Away the Stone = Twitter version

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/rolling-away-stone_27.html

March 27, 2010

Rolling Away the Stone – haiku - 2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/rolling-away-stone-haiku-2.html

March 27, 2010

Rolling Away the Stone - haiku

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/rolling-away-stone-haiku.html

March 27, 2010

Rolling Away the Stone – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/rolling-away-stone-v2.html

March 27, 2010

Rolling Away the Stone

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/03/rolling-away-stone.html

on seeing this poem title below,

as I posted it to FaithWriters this morning

----

Moving Stones

Healing lives, changing us

the stones rolled away, removed from the fields

Moving stones and changing lives

the power of the resurrection

the Easter star shining

Using metaphors of moving stones,

good Yankee stones,

and the stones by the road

on Palm Sunday morn’

ready to sing if the crowds had gone mute

The stone guarding the tomb

rolled away Easter morn’

to reveal his glory

Our these stones changed lives,

healing us, making fields to grow

hearts to be mended

and a harvest of souls

to be brought home to the Lord

April 12, 2009 and April 13, 2009

Easter morning

Pastoral Prayer

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Luke 24:1-12

and the sermon, “Rocks”,

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

April 12, 2009

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 38,330+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.