Tomatoes 092409 - Suncook United Methodist Church

Marigolds, Tomatoes, and Morning Glories

The pot at the end of the driveway
alive with colors, radiant in the sun
marigolds, tomatoes, and morning glories
gold finch yellow, burnt orange, forest green,
kelly green, a special red, of the ripening vine
faint, pale canary yellow, lavender, sky blue
at the rim of the trumpet, all together
awash in the warming morning
bright colors dancing together
slight breeze, hint of autumn
but summer still in their blooming,
their growing together

August 29, 2008

Not yet Red

Oh they are so close,
not yet red tomatoes
hanging heavy on the vine
lee of the house, shaded moist ground
lush green plants, loaded with fruits
warming in the summer, late August
changing, from greens to yellows,
oranges, burnt orange,
starting to turn, to change to red
tantalizingly not yet red
mouth watering, anticipation
wanting the final turn
ripe for the harvest

August 28, 2008

The Bounty of Your Garden

Your garden, ripe with squash, with beans,
soon to bear tomatoes, pumpkins
other summer fruits ready for picking
the bounty of your garden
gathered by loving hands
brought into worship, Sunday
this sacred place, sanctuary
To be shared, with those in need
a ministry, hospitality, serving our neighbors
So we are called, providing them
a glimpse of Christ,
by the work of their hands

August 10, 2008
North Kingstown United Methodist Church
the church garden, fruits for the food pantry

Weeding in our Garden

Finding the tares, the weeds
the grasses, the ragweed,
milkweed and plantain, growing, thriving
in the lilies, the beds, the wild mustard plants
all growing in the rich soil, growing in the sun
weeding in our garden, pulling the dead,
letting the light in, culling the weeds,
the roots, the dead leaves, those choking out
But seeing the clematis vines, the milkweed
home for monarchs, the yellow of the goldenrod
all part of the garden, the wild, untamed
the rocks too, all growing among tomatoes,
the cosmos, the lilacs, the maples,
a living wild, garden,
finding balance and color
a garden taking shape
a purpose coming into focus
slowly, carefully, prayerfully

July 23, 2008
1 Corinthians 3:5-9, the combined message,
“Transition”, by
Reverend Yoo Cha Yi,
Pastor Ruth Foss, Mary Ann Cioffi,
and Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH, June 22, 2008,
and the combined sermons of
Reverend Huntley Halvorson and Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
7/6, 7/13, and 7/20/08