Poetry Where You Live

sermon blog

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

meditation blog

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Patten, ME

August 11, 2013

new poem, August 17, 2013

“gauze of the Spirit”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gauze-of-spirit.html

Edited August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels-v3.html

Edited August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels-v2.html

new poem, August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels.html

Edited August 13, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gloves-of-spirit-v4.html

Edited July 31, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/gloves-of-spirit-v3.html

edited July 24, 2012

changed to “Crystal Vessels”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/crystal-vessels.html

edited July 14, 2012

changed to “Crystal Vases”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/crystal-vases.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Bags of Crystal”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/bags-of-crystal.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Cellophane Bags”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/cellophane-bags.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Gloves of the Spirit – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/gloves-of-spirit-v2.html

July 24, 2010

“Gloves of the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/gloves-of-spirit.html

Colossians 2:6-19 (The Message)

Luke 11:9-11 (NLT)

Psalm 100:1-3 (NLT) (Call to Worship)

Worship Theme: “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”

and sermon, “Buyer Beware”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-spirit-v2.html

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

July 25, 2010

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,

“I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. We are gloves. It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.”

edited May 23, 2014

from the Spirit – v2

May 23, 2014

from the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-spirit.html

Galatians 5:22-25

“Not by My Power”

devotion by Kay Robertson

https://www.facebook.com/kay.robertson.507464

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phil-and-Kay-Robertson/138077799672507

https://www.facebook.com/kaytobertsonforFoodNetwork

https://twitter.com/MissKayDuckD

for May 23, 2014

read May 23, 2014

Duck Commander Daily Devotional

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Commander-Devotional-Alan-Robertson/dp/1476748683

compiled by Alan Robertson

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Robertson-duck-dynasty/601622119889439

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Robertson/665992033453188

http://duckcommander.com/meet-the-family/al-robertson

https://twitter.com/BeardlessBro

Edited September 1, 2012

“Merely Gloves – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/merely-gloves-v2.html

May 21, 2010

Let me but skin – edited

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-me-be-but-skin-edited.html

as read at the House of Purpose Coffee House

May 21, 2010

Hillsboro, NH

February 14, 2009

Let me be but skin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/let-me-be-but-skin.html

written after posting the Merely Gloves to Faithwriters site

February 21, 2009

Nothing By Myself

http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/nothing-by-myself.html

on posting Merely Gloves and getting feedback

May 10, 2008

Merely Gloves

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/05/merely-gloves.html

Acts 2:1-21

Pentecost

and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,

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 39,390+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Holy White

A cloud descending, shimmering robes
holy white, beyond human ability
the Son of Man, the Son of God
claimed by the creator, out of the whirlwind
his own, to be followed, to be listened to
well pleased, beloved son
Steeled by the Father, the son
Up on the mountaintop,
down into his passion
the cup, crimson, soon to his lips
the blood of the lamb
soon to be spilt
Holy white, burned within
preparing for the prophesy
to be utterly fulfilled

February 21, 2009
Mark 9:2-9

Taken Up

Taken up, a whirlwind, a chariot from above
a prophet going to God, to the Lord
rising to heaven, from the banks of the Jordan
his mantle given to another, faithful
his protégé, his student
watching as he ascended, fulfilling
claiming the share of the gifts
this servant of God
taken up, as all were aware
completing his service to the Lord

February 21, 2009
2 Kings 2:1-12

Palms for the Ashes

My throat thick, my nostrils full
the smell of their burning on my skin
palms of the festival, of the glory; Hosannah!
your triumphant entrance
burned for the ashes, the beginning of Lent
The palms they waved, we shared, laid at your feet
A stain now, upon our skin,
remembering your gift, your offering
The palms burnt, the sanctuary still
beginning a journey of remembrance
your choice, your faithfulness, your servanthood
ever present in our hearts, we pray

----

edited February 5, 2016

Palms for the Ashes – v4

(editing version 3)

edited April 2, 2015

Palms for the Ashes – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/palms-for-ashes-v3.html

(merging edits to version 2 and version 1)

edited February 19, 2015

Palms for the Ashes – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/02/palms-for-ashes-v2.html

Ash Wednesday service

https://www.facebook.com/174161846023512/photos/pb.174161846023512.-2207520000.1424361536./644000469039645/

Joel 2:12-17a

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=644454492327576

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Prayer of Confession

Imposition of Ashes

Communion

Lenten poem:”Changer: A Lenten Poem”

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=644455148994177

by Adrienne Sparrow Trevathan

https://twitter.com/AdrienneSparrow

sermon, “The Math of Lent”

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=644606845645674

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

meditation blog

“God’s Whisper” blog

and closing hymn,

“It Is Well with My Soul”

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=644455328994159&set=vb.174161846023512

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

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

Ash Wednesday

February 18, 2015

Isaiah 58:5-10

Burning of the Palm service

https://www.facebook.com/174161846023512/photos/pb.174161846023512.-2207520000.1424361416./644000769039615/

by Pastor Ruth Foss

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

February 17, 2015 and February 18, 2015

February 21, 2009

Palms for the Ashes

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/palms-for-ashes.html

preparing the Ash Wednesday ashes

from Palm Sunday’s palms

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

2/21/2009

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 40,930+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Awakening the Muse

Asleep within me, the muse of my heart
You, Spirit, waiting for me
Looking inside, the words still there
finding voice, freedom, when I still myself to thee
Speak to me, spirit eternal
give me your words to convey
find me willing, in the quiet of my soul
teach me to share your message to the world

February 21, 2009
Awakening the Muse
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/awakening-muse.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, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, voice, Holy Spirit, soul, giving, hope, poem, Writing Poetry, God, gifts, creator, Faith, sharing, heart, eternal,

#Poetry #voice #HolySpirit #soul #giving #hope #poem #WritingPoetry #God #gifts #creator #Faith #sharing #heart #eternal

With Each Step

Slowing my pace,
short walk home,
around the side of the church
Slowing to see the glistening,
crystals, the fibers of snow, ice
catching the bright morning light
Each step, a cascade of rainbow sparks
flashes of sparkling sun
rising to my eager eyes
shimmering, washing over me
jewels of this morning,
dancing as if in song.

February 21, 2009
on the walk home from school
one of the mornings this week

Sparks

Sparks of gold, of silver,
splashes of color rising
up from the new-fallen snow
greeting my lowered head
deep in thought, troubled brow
Dancing light, a rat-a-tat-tat
firing staccato, rapid fire
each footfall, wave, a barrage
like the fireworks’ finale
almost more than my eyes comprehend
flashes of light
rising from the ground

February 21, 2009

Her Healing Words

The cut, deep, into her palm
wrapped, covered, days later
Her little voice, her healing words
raised in prayer to God
The redness, the cut gone
with the morning rising
a new day, healing done
Words, rising to heaven
with the faith of her believing
Healing her mother’s hand.

February 21, 2009
Shanequa and Ruth

Drawn to the Cross

Closer, ever closer,
drawn to the cross,
to the foot of the cross
our savior’s burden
his suffering, his sacrifice
ever present, preordained, prophesized
in the words of the scripture,
in the lessons he taught his disciples,
in the words written down for us,
his living disciples, in the world still today
Leading us, drawn to the cross,
humbly, reverently, spending time
with our savior, in these forty days
trying, in little ways,
to walk closer with him
to feel as he did, even in echo,
in reflection, in quieting of our spirits
drawn ever closer to the cross
walking his steps this Lenten time

February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting.
John Wesley considered it one of the six primary
"means of Grace." But I was surprised to read
TIME magazine’s cover story (Feb. 23) on
"How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness
protocols and traditional religious rituals is
the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of
clarity and even euphoria." Dr. Catherine Gordon
of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain
(and I would add, spirit) during a "short-term fast."
The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from after
dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period.
If you have any questions about your health you should
check with your doctor first. It can be tough at first,
but the members of the congregations I served and
I found it to be a great blessing whether used just
during Lent, or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing
things we think we "can't do without" like television
or shopping for non-necessities. The time saved or the
money saved can then be put to extra time for meditation
or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit,
confirming that strength that is greater than our appetites.
It is an exercise in "God's will, not mine be done."
What may seem at first to be "denial" becomes "affirmation,"
and that which at first seems to be "depriving" becomes a
fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent,
I pray that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross,
and New Life!”

Drawn to New Life

Study, prayers, fasting
growth through study, meditation
through some sacrifice, some meager change
some discipline, holy, drawing us
closer to Christ, closer to His cross,
to the calling, the cross we are to bear
closer to, drawn to new life, in Him
in his humble message, his radical theology
turning the world right side up
leaving our past, our comfort,
a Peter did, as Paul did
our boats, our tents, our nets unattended
drawn to a new life, in our risen Lord
spending time, precious time
walking with our savior
in these days leading to the palms,
leading to the cross, leading us all
to his resurrection, and our redemption

February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Closer to the Cross

These days, these times,
more focused, more centered,
fasting, praying, thinking about You
about the path you walked, in that testing
at the beginning of your ministry
of the days leading to your passion
to your submitting, to your journey
closer each day to the cross
to the destiny foretold, the prophecy fulfilled
you, the unblemished Passover lamb
your blood poured out
on the lintels of our hearts
the doorways to our spirits
our souls walking with you
these days, this time of remembrance
walked ever closer to the cross

February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Closer to Christ

Close to our savior, our brother
feeling the yoke, the weight he carried
the cross he bore, for me, for you
walking yoked with him, as were his first disciples
feeling his strength, his suffering, his courage
the Word made flesh, walking this journey
guiding us, walking with us
closer to Christ, in this Lenten season
feeling him with us along the way
marching, as his apostles, his witnesses
out into the world, his messengers
his light closer to them
those who need his love
those like you and me

February 21, 2009
based on email Partners in Ministry message
2/20/09 from Bishop Peter Weaver
“TIME AND FASTING.

As we begin Lent, I would once again commend to
you the wonderful spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley
considered it one of the six primary "means of Grace."
But I was surprised to read TIME magazine’s cover
story (Feb. 23) on "How Faith Can Heal" commending fasting also.
"One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional
religious rituals is the cleansing fast, which is said to purge toxins...
Done right, these fasts may lead to a state of clarity and even euphoria."
Dr. Catherine Gordon of Children's Hospital Boston is quoted about the
positive changes that occur in the body and brain (and I would add, spirit)
during a "short-term fast." The "Wesley fast" consists of not eating from
after dinner on one day to just before dinner on the next day...
giving up two meals over a twenty four hour period. If you have any
questions about your health you should check with your doctor first.
It can be tough at first, but the members of the congregations I served
and I found it to be a great blessing whether used just during Lent,
or year around as Wesley did.

There are other forms of fasting, such as foregoing things we think
we "can't do without" like television or shopping for non-necessities.
The time saved or the money saved can then be put to extra time for
meditation or supporting special mission projects. It becomes a plus,
not really a minus. Fasting centers us in the Spirit, confirming that
strength that is greater than our appetites. It is an exercise in
"God's will, not mine be done." What may seem at first to be "denial"
becomes "affirmation," and that which at first seems to be "depriving"
becomes a fullness of cleansing and clarity. Try it yourself, and
commend it to your congregation.

Whatever spiritual disciplines you undertake during Lent, I pray
that they will draw you closer to Christ, the Cross, and New Life!”

Protect Women Around the World, Re-introduce International Violence Against Women Act, email received 2/20/09, The General Board of Church & Society

March 8th is International Women's Day. To honor this day, a number of organizations are calling on U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and John Kerry to re-introduce the International Violence Against Women Act. Violence against women takes many forms, including rape, female genital mutilation/cutting, domestic violence and honor killings. It is a global health crisis, human rights violation, and moral outrage that contributes to instability and insecurity throughout our world.

United Methodist pastor (and GBCS board of director) Tamara Brown recently stated, “when one suffers, we all suffer; when one is abused, we all are abused.”

You can take action today by sending an email, letter or fax to Senators Lugar and Kerry and to President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Go to http://www.umc-gbcs.org/ProtectWomen and take action today. Please pass this action alert on to friends and family.

Linda Bales
Director, Director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project

The General Board of Church and Society
100 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002202-488-5600
FAX 202-488-5619
Order Resources
www.umc-gbcs.org

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Let me be but skin

Let me be emptied, poured out,
my will, my all
Fill me Lord, your life, your spirit
your will acted out
Let me be the gloves,
your hands working through me
touching the world, reaching out
into the darkness, bringing your strength,
your life, through my skin,
merely your gloves

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

edited September 26, 2015

Gloves of the Spirit – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/09/gloves-of-spirit-v6.html

(editing version 3)

Edited December 14, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v5”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/gloves-of-spirit-v5.html

(editing version 2)

Edited August 13, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gloves-of-spirit-v4.html

Edited July 31, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/gloves-of-spirit-v3.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Gloves of the Spirit – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/gloves-of-spirit-v2.html

July 24, 2010

“Gloves of the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/gloves-of-spirit.html

Edited August 19, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels-v4.html

Edited August 17, 2013

“gauze of the Spirit – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gauze-of-spirit-v2.html

Worship Service in the Park – 8/11/2013

https://www.facebook.com/events/610706165616894/

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+3%3A17-19&version=NIV

and sermon “There Is Hope In Community”

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=417472318359129&id=174161846023512

http://pstruthsermons.blogspot.com/2013/08/there-is-hope-in-community.html?spref=fb

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

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

meditation blog

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Patten, ME

August 11, 2013

new poem, August 17, 2013

“gauze of the Spirit”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gauze-of-spirit.html

Edited August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels-v3.html

Edited August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels-v2.html

new poem, August 16, 2013

“to be cellophane vessels”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/to-be-cellophane-vessels.html

Edited August 13, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/gloves-of-spirit-v4.html

Edited July 31, 2013

“Gloves of the Spirit – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/gloves-of-spirit-v3.html

edited July 24, 2012

changed to “Crystal Vessels”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/crystal-vessels.html

edited July 14, 2012

changed to “Crystal Vases”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/crystal-vases.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Bags of Crystal”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/bags-of-crystal.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Cellophane Bags”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/cellophane-bags.html

edited July 14, 2012

“Gloves of the Spirit – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/gloves-of-spirit-v2.html

July 24, 2010

“Gloves of the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/gloves-of-spirit.html

Colossians 2:6-19 (The Message)

Luke 11:9-11 (NLT)

Psalm 100:1-3 (NLT) (Call to Worship)

Worship Theme: “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”

and sermon, “Buyer Beware”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-spirit-v2.html

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

July 25, 2010

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,

edited May 23, 2014

from the Spirit – v2

May 23, 2014

from the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/from-spirit.html

Galatians 5:22-25

“Not by My Power”

devotion by Kay Robertson

https://www.facebook.com/kay.robertson.507464

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phil-and-Kay-Robertson/138077799672507

https://www.facebook.com/kaytobertsonforFoodNetwork

https://twitter.com/MissKayDuckD

for May 23, 2014

read May 23, 2014

Duck Commander Daily Devotional

http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Commander-Devotional-Alan-Robertson/dp/1476748683

compiled by Alan Robertson

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Robertson-duck-dynasty/601622119889439

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Robertson/665992033453188

http://duckcommander.com/meet-the-family/al-robertson

https://twitter.com/BeardlessBro

Edited September 1, 2012

“Merely Gloves – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/merely-gloves-v2.html

May 21, 2010

Let me but skin – edited

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-me-be-but-skin-edited.html

as read at the House of Purpose Coffee House

May 21, 2010

Hillsboro, NH

February 14, 2009

Let me be but skin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/let-me-be-but-skin.html

written after posting the Merely Gloves to Faithwriters site

February 21, 2009

Nothing By Myself

http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/nothing-by-myself.html

on posting Merely Gloves and getting feedback

May 10, 2008

Merely Gloves

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/05/merely-gloves.html

Acts 2:1-21

Pentecost

and quote attributed to Corrie ten Bloom,

Christ, Faith, God, grace, hope, love, Methodist, United Methodist Church, Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Colossians 2, Luke 11, Psalm 100, disciples, sheep,

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Nothing Impossible

So hard, sometimes, life, the load we may face
nothing impossible, not in the vocabulary, not in the mind of God
we, human lives, struggle, trying to lift ourselves up
to go our own way, to rely upon ourselves, alone far too often
forgetting the one who made us, who knows us before
before the first cell, before the first breath,
our days numbered before we are,
nothing impossible for God, nothing too great
forgetting to turn our struggles, our aches, our hopes,
our prayers, our sighs from within our beings
to deep for words, but heard by the spirit,
by the living God, the one who was, who is, who will be
before there was, evermore will be
nothing impossible for God

February 12, 2009

email of 2/11/09 from the NRCAT - Tell the Task Force: No Torture, No Exceptions!

Dear Friends:

We recently contacted you to ask you to express gratitude to President Obama for his executive order halting torture. Thank you for doing that.

Now it's time to contact the Special Task Force on Interrogation and Transfer Policies, a group of high-level members of the Administration who will be reviewing U.S. interrogation policies and recommending changes. It is vital that the Special Task Force recommend only those changes that will strengthen, not weaken, the rules against torture.

Please contact members of the Special Task Force and ask them to recommend three things:

that all interrogation techniques be made public - that no agency can use a secret set of interrogation guidelines;

that all approved interrogation techniques comply with the "golden rule" standard - specifically that they would be considered both legal and moral if used upon a captured American;

that Appendix M is either modified or removed from the Army Field Manual. Appendix M currently allows techniques, such as prolonged separation - or isolation - that can be used to torture detainees.

We have created a form email that you can use to contact Members of the Task Force. Please go to (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2162/t/3961/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26669) here to access it.

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

Linda Gustitus, President, NRCAT
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director, NRCAT

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Email 2/3/09 from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Dear Friends,

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is sponsoring two important events in the Washington, DC area in March.

First, NRCAT is a co-sponsor again of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days which will take place March 13-16 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia, across the river from Washington, DC. It is an important gathering of Christians who come to DC to lobby on a variety of issues. To learn more and to register: http://www.advocacydays.org/.

During Ecumenical Advocacy Days, there will be a workshop called "Next Steps in Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture". It will provide an opportunity to talk about the tasks ahead for the religious community as we work to end U.S.-sponsored torture once and for all, including advocating for an independent nonpartisan commission to investigate our torture policies and practices since Sept. 11, 2001.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009, from 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. Speakers include Scott Horton, a New York attorney known for his work in human rights law and legal affairs and national security contributor at Harper's Magazine and Dr. George Hunsinger, founder of NRCAT and Professor of Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Second, the Catholic Leadership Council of NRCAT, the Life Cycle Institute and the Center for International Social Development of the Catholic University of America will sponsor a conference on "Torture, Conscience and the Catholic Moral Tradition" at Catholic University on Thursday, March 19, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will explore the decisions of conscience by Catholics in the public square regarding the use of torture. It will be held in the Moot Court Room of the Columbus School of Law. The speakers include:
Josh Casteel, former U.S. Army interrogator
Steve Colecchi, Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Maryann Cusimano Love, Associate Professor of International Politics, Catholic University of America
Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, Co-Director of the Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University
General Anthony Taguba, Chief Investigator of Abu Ghraib
For more information about this free event and to register for a dinner during the conference click here.

Sincerely,

Linda Gustitus, President, NRCAT
Richard Killmer, Executive Director, NRCAT

Saturday, February 07, 2009

His Pencil

Sitting down, the kitchen table
late lunch, lot going on
His pencil, well, not exactly,
sitting there on the table.

Such a vivid image,
a rich visual memory
a Ticonderoga 2 5/10, medium
that same yellow and green,
same script of the lettering
But this was different than his.

His pencils, Ticonderoga 3, hard.
Always sharpened,
the sharpener screwed to the desk,
always, seemingly, full length,
a full, untrammeled, pink eraser
somehow they always were so,
or so my memory is, clear,
even forty some years on

His pencil, his precision,
desk always neat,
his care for details
a rich flood of the thoughts of him
while sitting down
for a moment of peace, lunch

February 7, 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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Dig out the hydrants

The fire already raging
the land, scorched, charred.
Dig out the hydrants,
clear them, access
send the crews, shovels at the ready
clear away the rest.
The fire raging;
all of them are needed.
Man the pumps, the hoses.
The fire must go out.

February 6, 2009
on shoveling out our church’s roadside sign,
comparing the need for these spiritual “hydrants”
with the fire hydrants so often shoveled out by volunteers.
The fire here is the coarseness of the world.

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 30,810+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

As Night Fell

As night fell, heavy
so did the snow, light
dancing, twirling,
shimmering, flickering,
the street lights,
the light from our back window
catching glimpses, movement
the choreographed ebb and flow
the petals of snow, white, bright
against the graying sky
night falling in our backyard,
outside my window panes

February 4, 2009

5 Year Anniversary of Poetry Where You Life

Today marks 5 years that I have been posting to this blog, with a total of 4,292 postings.

As of yesterday, there were 3,704 poems, of which 1,531 were in the last year, with 125 just in the last week. I am blessed every day with the words God gives me to write.

I just want to say thank you to those who have visited over these 5 years to this site and to the other sites I post to on www.famouspoetsandpoems.com, www.faithwriters.com, www.christianpoetry.com, along with my pages on www.mybloglog.com, www.verveearth.com, www.blogged.com, and www.blogcatalog.com.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks

Ray

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Sermon - "Even Me Lord?", by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church, February 1, 2009

John 13:21-30
ESV Version

There are some Christian traditions that when it comes to communion, they view it in a way that they believe is how God would have them view it. They believe that you need to go through training in order to be “worthy” to receive the Lord’s Supper. They believe that you cannot understand the full meaning of communion unless you have this training and if you receive communion before you are “ready”…well let’s say they get a little upset with that person.

I remember one time…when I belonged to a denomination that had this view of communion…I was at church with my ex-husband and his daughter. Well…his daughter, Jackie, decided when it came time for communion she was going to partake in it. She saw everyone else doing it so she decided that she would too. After the service, one of the congregants (Who by the way loved to make waves) came up to me very upset. He told me that he was “appalled” at the fact that this child thought it was OK for her to partake in communion when she wasn’t even part of the church or baptized by this church and that it better not happen again. She was “unworthy” in his eyes. (Well...I think you guys know me well enough to guess what my reaction and answer to this person was. So…I don’t think I need to get into that part of the conversation).

When I heard the call of God calling me into full-time ministry in the capacity of being a minister…I knew right then and there that one of my greatest joys was going to be presiding at the table of grace. I was going to be able to “feed” sheep in the name of Jesus. This was (and still is) going to be the most exciting part of being a pastor. But…as I think about communion…I think to myself “what is communion really? What does it mean to receive communion? Who is truly worthy of communion? What decides who is “ready” to receive communion?” These questions are the same ones you might even be asking yourself in light of all that you may hear regarding communion.

We, as United Methodist, believe in an open table. ALL are welcome to the table of grace. John Wesley believed (and we as Methodist still believe today) it is through this Sacrament…this means of grace…we receive God’s grace. We believe that it is Christ that invites us to the table. All who love Him…all who repent of sin…all who want to live in peace with God and each other. The open table we believe in is because we don’t judge who is qualified or worthy. We believe that we all need the divine grace that is found in the sacrament of communion. The Wesleyan tradition has always seen communion as an occasion to God’s grace. Communion should not be a barrier but a pathway to the grace of God. But still…there are some who still fell unworthy.

Well…let me try to…give you some insight this morning about communion. (My prayer is that we all will have a new view of communion by the time I am done) The Scripture we read this morning from Luke this morning talks about the institution of the “Lords Supper”. All of the disciples were there and received “communion” from Jesus. After Jesus said that one of them would betray Him they all started to wonder who it was who was going to do this terrible thing! In John 13…we hear a little more about this conversation. It is found in verses 21-30, it reads (and I am reading from the English Standard Version this morning):

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Now here is where my epiphany happened. A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless…Eric) pointed out something that I never really thought of before. I am going to share this insight with you this morning. Even though Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him…Judas took part of…was a recipient of…the institution of the Lord’s Supper. This person…who is probably the most unworthy person I could think of…received the bread and the wine, just as you and I do today when we partake in communion. Makes you really think about the thought that you are unworthy doesn’t it?

I was reading in the book “This Holy Mystery” while I was preparing this sermon. It is a book about communion and the meaning of it. In the book it sums up the means of grace wonderfully. It states that (and I’m paraphrasing) that anyone who answers the invitation to the table in faith is worthy through Jesus Christ to partake in this sacrament. We all come to the table with gratitude towards Christ for His mercy towards sinners. (Now this is the good part) We do not share communion because of our worthiness, we are all unworthy, we come out of the hunger to receive God’s gracious love, to receive forgiveness, and healing. (We are all unworthy but praise God for His mercy that makes us worthy…Amen?)

We are ALL invited to the table. It is by God’s mercy and grace that we are all made worthy to receive…to come to the table of love and feast on the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ who, for our sake, has made God’s grace known to us by His death and resurrection. Praise God from who all blessings flow!

Amen!

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog