A Season of Hope – v2

We are waiting, expectantly

for the coming of the angels,

His parents, Mary and Joseph,

for the shepherds, the animals,

for the birth of the Star, the Babe,

and the wise men, the coming

of the Christmas miracle, the Epiphany,

the telling of the same story,

never old in the remembering

of the moment when Mary gave birth

to the One who was to come

to save His people, the one God

The only begotten Son

to rescue us all from our sin,

from the divide we created

between us and God,

the father, the mother

holy mediator, arbitrator,

the sacrificial lamb of God

Waiting as they did, even in the retelling

because it is a timeless story

of infinity, love and good

that we need to hear, remember

until we all get the message

and finally believe

Edited April 23, 2013

“A Season of Hope – v2”

after Austin Masterson

included the original in a student assignment

Roswell, NM

December 3, 2006 21:36

“A Season of Hope”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/12/season-of-hope.html

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 23,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Singing Boldly

We come singing
joy in our hearts
rejoicing at his birth
singing boldly
as Mary before us
offering ourselves
as servants of God

Waiting expectantly
for the coming
of the Christ-child
the love of God
coming down
into the world.


December 13, 2009 and December 14, 2009
Luke 1:46-49
and Third Advent Candle lighting
by Amy C. Wake
Philippians 4:4-7
Exodus 23:10-12
Isaiah 12:2-6 (Call to Worship)
Psalm 150, United Methodist Hymnal #862 (Responsive Prayer)
Genesis 1:26-30
Worship Theme: “Advent Conspiracy: Thou Shalt Rest”
sermon, “And I Will Give You Rest”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,

Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent
part of a series of sermons,
using the Advent Conspiracy
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
&
Pastoral Letter of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church
“God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action”, at:
http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7BDB6A45E4-C446-4248-82C8-E131B6424741%7D/GRC_Pastoral%20Ltr.pdf
& more worship resources at:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=48267
&
Bill McKibben,
http://www.billmckibben.com/
December 10, 2009
“The Moral Math of Climate Change”
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/
Speaking of Faith
&
http://www.350.org/
350.org
&
http://en.cop15.dk/
15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15)

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 27,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

One Candle Glowing

The first candle,
one candle glowing,
beginning the season
waiting for the Christ

Sharing the flame
faint but burning
preparing our hearts
light come into the world

The wreath, a circle
endless, eternal
four point on the compass
around the center

Each candle waiting,
their turn for glory
to come to life
to prepare for his arrival


December 2, 2009
Jeremiah 33:14-16
service after
http://www.suncookumc.org/OurFamilysTable.dsp
Our Family’s Table
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH

Four Candles Burning

Shining together
around the still-dark candle
Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy
not yet fulfilled, revealed
the Christ candle still unlit
waiting, expectantly
for the moment his light
shines more fully
illumining our lives
the sanctuary aglow
with his royal light
waiting for Christmas night

December 21, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH

The Advent Wreath

A circle of wire, of wood, of metal
garland of ivy, of fir, of holly, of poinsettias
unending love, stages of our journey
leading to the Christ child
the center, the hub, the circle
around which our journey revolves
leading us to the center,
to his bright holy light
his candle to share
the light with the world

written November 30, 2008
November 29 Greening the Church service
November 30, 2008 service
Isaiah 64:1-9
Mark 13:24-37
and sermon, “Anticipation”
Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church

A Snowy Wreath - December 16, 2007

After the Greening

in the dimly lit
Sanctuary, the Chancel
ready for the Choir’s rehearsal
aglow and adorned
pausing to notice
the manger, still empty, the altar,
the Crimson trees
the wreaths, the lights
the feel of Christmas
in this holy space
in Advent,
After the greening

December 8, 2006 21:10

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Decorations

Slowly, over the course of the week
the house of place of memory
of Christmas cheer, of garland
and glow, of greenery, stockings
wreaths, lights, and sweet Noel
of the babe, the hope, the
joy, the Peace on Earth
slowly, surely, as boxes
yield their treasure
from years of our lives
bangles and baubles,
adoring the tables,
walls, and windowsills
fixed up by her
loving hands

December 8, 2006 21:06

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,050+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Season of Hope

We are waiting, expectantly
for the coming of the angels,
His parents,
the shepherds, the animals,
the Star, the Babe,
and the wise men, the coming
of the Christmas miracle,
the telling of the same story,
never old in the remembering
of the moment when Mary gave birth
to the one who was to come
to save His people, the one God
the only begotten son
to rescue us all from our sin,
from the divide we created
between us and God, the father, the mother
the holy mediator, arbitrator,
sacrificial lamb of God
Waiting as they did, even in the retelling
because it is a timeless story
of infinity love and good
that we need to hear,
until we all get the message
and believe

December 3, 2006 21:36

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Advent Wreath

We started a new tradition
tonight, after the service,
on our table, the table where we
sit as a family and say grace,
where we share meals
now where we share the stories
of hope, of faith, of joy, of peace
of the Christ child, the one who
saved us, who came to this world
and found a way, to sacrifice all
so we could be joined with him
A handmade wreath of greens,
of gold, of silver poinsettias,
of stemmed candle holders
and simple votives
in a growing spiral,
Words of Jeremiah, of Psalms
of Luke, all seamlessly
capturing their hope
and ours, in the God
of our ancestors,
the Christ of our saving grace
and his coming again

December 3, 2006 21:28

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Her Wreath

A white paper plate,
a hole roughly cut out of the middle,
with a few haphazardly placed
pom poms, in red and green
held a simple message, in magic marker
“God is Near!”; a profound message
really, with rich, deep meaning
this Advent season, waiting for the
coming of the Christ child, the star
of the Christmas story; but
God is near, if we hold him in our hearts
if we strive to live His example
and love one another, if we walk humbly
here on earth and give more than we receive
God is near because we can be like God
because He gave us the model,
and the covenant and the commandments
God is near too, because He came and
because He will come again
as the same scripture foretold
and foretells, giving hope to a bleeding world
a world still in need of His saving grace

December 3, 2006 12:53

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Christ Candle

In that holy place, on that Oh Holy Night
we rose as a family, to the chancel rail
into the chancel, to the Advent wreath
reading the words from the lectern,
lighting the wicks, the candles of faith,
of hope, of love
one by one, sharing that wonderful moment
not as individuals, but as a part of this family of faith
pausing before lighting the Christ Candle
His candle, marking His birth, when God became Man
breathed his first breath, let out his first cry,
so long ago in the stable bed, a little babe in the manger
walking a bit taller on the steps back to our pew,
hands held tight, eyes heavy with tears of joy

October 16, 2006 23:15
Christmas Eve 2004

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.