A Chargeable Offense – v3

Nothing of the Spirit

of the calling in the words

the rigidity of the law

those who are cast out

A chargeable offense

not about calling, of their gifts,

about the proscription of our words

the boundaries of our love

Separating the faithful

calling some of us lost

nothing of Jesus

in a chargeable offense

edited November 26, 2014

A Chargeable Offense – v3

Edited December 24, 2013

A Chargeable Offense – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-chargeable-offense-v2.html

June 17, 2011

A Chargeable Offense

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/chargeable-offense.html

&

Edited December 23, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/mending-what-is-broken-v8.html

(editing original again)

after watching live stream of Frank Schaefer

http://www.foundryumc.org/rev-frank-schaefer-preach-foundry-dec-22-2013

preaching at Foundry United Methodist Church

December 22, 2013

&

Edited November 30, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/mending-what-is-broken-v7.html

(editing version 2)

Mending what is Broken – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/mending-what-is-broken-v6.html

(editing version 4)

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v4

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v4.html

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v3

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v3.html

Edited August 28, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/mending-what-is-broken-v2.html

June 13, 2011

Mending what is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/mending-what-is-broken.html

John 8

&

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

&

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

&

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 34,900+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Welcoming Christ – v11

Not judging the Master

His church open

welcoming Jesus

into our presence

Open to all

fully inclusive

to all of God’s children

all over the earth

Reconciling, healing

open to blessing

all God’s people gifted

brought back to life

Open to all

fully inclusive

to all of God’s children

all over the earth

-----

editing January 4, 2014

“Welcoming Christ – v11”

(editing version 2)

&

Edited December 31, 2013

For Offering Love – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/for-offering-love-v7.html

-         focused on the Council of Bishops

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4511279/k.BA1F/Council_of_Bishops.htm#.UsLY2NJDvTo

-         and those who will be on future juries

(editing original again)

June 22, 2011

For Offering Love

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-offering-love.html

&

Edited December 28, 2013

Mending What is Broken – v9

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/mending-what-is-broken-v8_28.html

(editing version 3)

Edited December 23, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/mending-what-is-broken-v8.html

(editing original again)

after watching live stream of Frank Schaefer

http://www.foundryumc.org/rev-frank-schaefer-preach-foundry-dec-22-2013

preaching at Foundry United Methodist Church

December 22, 2013

&

Edited December 7, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v10

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/welcoming-christ-v10.html

(editing original version again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/welcoming-christ.html

&

Edited December 7, 2013

A time to come together – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-time-to-come-together-v5.html

(editing original version again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/time-to-come-together.html

written after the conviction of Rev. Frank Schaefer

http://umcconnections.org/2013/11/22/schaefer-says-blame-others-trial/

&

Edited November 15, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v9

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/welcoming-christ-v9.html

(editing original again)

&

“Methodist Pastor Frank Schaefer Faces Trial for Son's Gay Wedding”

http://abcnews.go.com/US/methodist-pastor-frank-schaefer-faces-trial-sons-gay/story?id=20861139

&

Edited October 19, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcoming-christ-v8.html

Edited October 6, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcoming-christ-v7.html

Edited

Welcoming Christ – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcoming-christ-v6.html

Edited September 28, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcoming-christ-v5.html

(editing original again)

Edited September 19, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcoming-christ-v4.html

(editing original again)

Edited September 16, 2013

Welcoming Christ – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcoming-christ-v3.html

Edited April 23, 2013

“Welcoming Christ – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/welcoming-christ-v2.html

after Austin Masterson

included the original in a student assignment

Roswell, NM

June 13, 2011

“Welcoming Christ”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/welcoming-christ.html

&

Edited September 7, 2013

“Making the secular Holy – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/making-secular-holy-v2.html

new poem September 7, 2013

“Making the secular Holy”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/making-secular-holy.html

https://www.facebook.com/StandWithFrank/posts/324730717671030

----

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

http://www.concordwumc.org

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

http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/09/rcm-another-clergy-member-facing-church-trial/

and Rev. Thomas Ogletree

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13119911

and  Rev. Steve Heiss

http://www.rmnblog.org/2013/08/rev-steve-heiss-.html

&

Edited September 7, 2013

For Offering Love – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/for-offering-love-v2.html

June 22, 2011

For Offering Love

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-offering-love.html

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

&

John 8:1-11

&

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

&

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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 27,220+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Mending what is Broken – v9

God must be weeping in heaven

divisions, dissension, anger,

a schism between the people

the one people of faith

To regain the mantle

the name of the Living God

redeeming what is lost

renewing us in love

Mending what is broken

tearing down the walls

gathering our people in

none to be seen as lost

Edited December 28, 2013

Mending What is Broken – v9

(editing version 3)

Edited December 23, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/mending-what-is-broken-v8.html

(editing original again)

after watching live stream of Frank Schaefer

http://www.foundryumc.org/rev-frank-schaefer-preach-foundry-dec-22-2013

preaching at Foundry United Methodist Church

December 22, 2013

&

Edited November 30, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/mending-what-is-broken-v7.html

(editing version 2)

Mending what is Broken – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/mending-what-is-broken-v6.html

(editing version 4)

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v4.html

 (editing original again)

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v3.html

 (editing original again)

Edited August 28, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/mending-what-is-broken-v2.html

June 13, 2011

Mending what is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/mending-what-is-broken.html

John 8

&

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

&

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

&

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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.

A Chargeable Offense – v2

Nothing of the Spirit

of the calling in the words

the rigidity of the law

A chargeable offense

not about calling

about the proscription of our words

the boundaries of our love

separating the faithful

calling some of us lost

nothing of Jesus

a chargeable offense

Edited December 24, 2013

A Chargeable Offense – v2

June 17, 2011

A Chargeable Offense

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/chargeable-offense.html

&

Edited December 23, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/mending-what-is-broken-v8.html

(editing original again)

after watching live stream of Frank Schaefer

http://www.foundryumc.org/rev-frank-schaefer-preach-foundry-dec-22-2013

preaching at Foundry United Methodist Church

December 22, 2013

&

Edited November 30, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/mending-what-is-broken-v7.html

(editing version 2)

Mending what is Broken – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/mending-what-is-broken-v6.html

(editing version 4)

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v4

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v4.html

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v3

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v3.html

Edited August 28, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/mending-what-is-broken-v2.html

June 13, 2011

Mending what is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/mending-what-is-broken.html

John 8

&

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

&

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

&

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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 28,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Mending what is Broken – v8

To regain Christ’s mantle

the name of the living God

redeeming what is lost

renewing us in love

Mending what is broken

tearing down our walls

gathering our people in

none to be seen as lost

Edited December 23, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v8

(editing original again)

after watching live stream of Frank Schaefer

http://www.foundryumc.org/rev-frank-schaefer-preach-foundry-dec-22-2013

preaching at Foundry United Methodist Church

December 22, 2013

&

Edited November 30, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/mending-what-is-broken-v7.html

(editing version 2)

Mending what is Broken – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/mending-what-is-broken-v6.html

(editing version 4)

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v4

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v4.html

Edited September 13, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v3

(editing original again)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/mending-what-is-broken-v3.html

Edited August 28, 2013

Mending what is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/mending-what-is-broken-v2.html

June 13, 2011

Mending what is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/mending-what-is-broken.html

John 8

&

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

&

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

&

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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 28,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.