Poetry Where You Live

sermon blog

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/06/like-interlocked-arms.html

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2012

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 26,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

like interlocked arms – v2

the roots of the giant redwoods

not deep, like you might imagine

vulnerable to the wind,

their roots near the surface

intertwined with their neighbors

strong cords together

like interlocked arms

hands on another’s forearm

stronger together

in service to one another

bound with Jesus

alive in the vine

Edited October 19, 2013

like interlocked arms – v2

June 26, 2012

like interlocked arms

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Upper Room Disciplines for 2012

http://bookstore.upperroom.org/cart/upperroom/p-17131.htm

June 25, 2012 to July 1, 2012

“Health and Healing”

by C. Michael Gibson

for June 28, 2012,

read June 26, 2012

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 26,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Quickly – v4

Quickly, at once, now

the motion repeating

words of power, urgent

without any delay

urgency in this message

the coming of Christ

His work important

no time to waste

power in the now, this moment,

now handed down to us

the work of the ages

sharing his gift of grace

The words explosive, seemingly as if

today were the only day to share, to do,

to offer them God’s grace

needing to share, to shout

needing to hurry, to run

that all would know Christ, the Son

The incredible gift, grace

an urgent message, present

for the whole world

fulfillment of scripture

leave everything, to go, to follow

and come to Christ

Quickly, at once, go,

now, this moment,

the motion repeating

without any delay, going,

the message of Jesus

coming now, coming today

Edited October 19, 2013

Quickly – v4

Edited September 13, 2013

Quickly – v3

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

Edited September 2, 2013

Quickly – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/quickly-v2.html

October 27, 2010

Quickly

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/10/quickly.html

The Gospel of Mark

Mark 1-3

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS

Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study

for October 19, 2010,

read October 27, 2010

Facebook status

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=154305444611811&id=1265235435

of David Abbott

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1265235435

“Is it already 1/2 way through the week? Wow!

And in the sixties in late October!!! How great is that!

If we only had today to enjoy, what would we do

to make it an amazing day?”

October 27, 2010

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 26,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Seeing the Words – v6

Writing is so much about the magic

the being present, silent, open

seeing the words, the constellations,

points of light against the black sky,

the mind’s eye of unconsciousness

dreams retained, written

knitting the words into the tapestry,

the fabric they were meant to be

Gossamer wings and steely gravitas

blended or plucked from the ether

gathered upon a permanent page

such is the process of inspiration

finding the words, already stitched together

written in heaven, upon stones

woven tight with strong bonds

phrases and thoughts tied together

Already formed, ready to be discovered

seen and scribed, printed onto the page

the words of the poems, the stories

already formed by the Creator

only ours to remember, to conjure

to write down upon the page

the writing only a formality

bringing forth the work of God

-----

merged / edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v29

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v29.html

(merging edits to version 28, version 15, version 16, version 17,

version 18, version 19, version 20, version 21 version 22, version 23,

version 24, version 25, version 26, and version 27)

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

edits of individual poems

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v28

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v28.html

(editing version 14)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v27

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v27.html

(editing version 13)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v26

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v26.html

(editing version 12)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v25

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v25.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v24

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v24.html

(editing version 9)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v23

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v23.html

(editing version 8)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v22

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v22.html

(editing version 7)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v21

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v21.html

(editing version 6)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v20

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v20.html

(editing version 5)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v19

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v19.html

(editing version 4)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v18

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v18.html

(editing version 3)

edited January 9, 2016

seeing the words – v17

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v17.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v16

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v16.html

(editing original)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v15

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v15.html

(editing version 11)

edited April 10, 2015

seeing the words – v14

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/seeing-words-v14.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 31, 2015

seeing the words – v13

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v13.html

(editing original)

edited January 31, 2015

Seeing the Words – v12

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v12.html

(editing original and version 11)

edited May 28, 2014

“Seeing the Words – v11

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/seeing-words-v11.html

edited February 15, 2014

“seeing the words – v10”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/seeing-words-v10.html

(editing version 4)
Edited October 26, 2013

“seeing the words – v9”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v9.html

(editing version 7)

Edited October 25, 2013

“seeing the words – v8”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v8.html

(editing version 3 again)

Edited October 23, 2013

“seeing the words – v7”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v7.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 19, 2013

“seeing the words – v6”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v6.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 12, 2013

“seeing the words – v5”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v5.html

(editing version 4)

Edited October 11, 2013

“seeing the words – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v4.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 5, 2013

“seeing the words – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v3.html

(editing the original again)

Edited July 22, 2013

“seeing the words – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/seeing-words-v2.html

December 4, 2007 12:25pm

“seeing the words”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/seeing-words.html

about writing poetry, when it is a gift of God,

transcribing the words God already wrote

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 40,600+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God forgives our sin – v3

Repentant of our past

when we have gone astray

crying out in prayer

humble in our ways

God forgives our sin

answering our prayers

if we are repentant

God meeting us there

Edited October 19, 2013

God forgives our sin – v3

(editing original again)

Edited October 11, 2013

God forgives our sin – v2

February 23, 2012

God forgives our sin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/02/god-forgives-our-sin.html

Worship Theme – “Ash Wednesday”

Prelude

Unison Prayer

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (CEB)

Joel 2:12-17a (CEB)

Prayer of Confession (Psalm 51:3)

Pastoral Prayer

Word of Assurance (GBOD 2012)

Thanksgiving over the ashes

Distribution of the Ashes

hymn, “Sunday’s Palms Are Wednesday’s Ashes” TFWS #2138

and Ash Wednesday Meditation,

“The Math of Lent”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2012

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 26,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Extravagant Love – 2 – v2

The friends of the man

showing extravagant love

out of their faith in Christ

lifting him up

Risking injury, pain

carrying him to the roof

lowering him down

right in front of Christ

Sharing with their friend

the truth that he could heal

believing enough, going

bringing him to Christ

Christ responding

to their extravagant love

healing him in an instant

causing him to praise God

So much meaning, depth

when we share Christ’s love

carrying our friends, our neighbors

to the very feet of God

Edited October 19, 2013

Extravagant Love – 2 – v2

June 28, 2010

Extravagant Love - 2

Luke 5:17-26 (New Living Translation)

Galatians 5:1, 13-25 (Contemporary English Version)

Worship Theme: “How do we know when it’s our time”

and sermon, “For a Time Such As This. . .”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/04/extravagant-love.html

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

June 27, 2010

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

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 26,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Extravagant Love – v2

Of Man, of Woman

of the King, the Creator

We see the prodigal son,

the fatted calf, sacrificed

we see the fragrant oil

washing of his feet,

anointing his head,

a gift of her heart

The washing with tears,

wiping with her hair

Uncommon, extravagant gifts

poured out in love

Lessons before the sacrifice

of the lamb

that Passover

Long ago

Edited October 19, 2013

Extravagant Love – v2

March 28, 2007 and April 4, 2007 19:56

Extravagant Love

Based on the sermon,

“Extravagant Love” by

the Reverend Lori Eldredge,

Wesley United Methodist Church,

Concord, NH on March 25, 2007

John 12:1-8 & Luke 15:11-32

See also Mark 14:3-9 and Matthew 26:6-13

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 26,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

That none would know hunger – v5

That the world would be at peace

that war would be no more

that no one would be without water

that none would know hunger

starvation forgotten

Praying on this day

for a change to come about

all the world’s people

acting as one

The world would be united

to offer their abundance

giving from the heart

that none would know hunger

each of us doing our part

Edited October 19, 2013

That none would know hunger – v5

(editing original again)

Edited October 5, 2013

That none would know hunger – v4

Edited August 27, 2013

That none would know hunger – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/08/that-none-would-know-hunger-v2.html

October 16, 2011

That none would know hunger

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/10/that-none-would-know-hunger.html

Matthew 25:31-40

Blog Action Day 2011 – Food

http://blogactionday.org/

October 16, 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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 26,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Three Gardens – v2

Three gardens

defining God’s love

the prayer of the faithful

surrounded, from above

The Creation,

Gethsemane,

and outside the empty tomb

God holding us

as a mother in the womb

Three gardens

revealing so much

a glimpse of heaven

here on the earth

Edited October 19, 2013

Three Gardens – v2

September 12, 2011

Three Gardens

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/09/three-gardens.html

on seeing earlier poems,

before posting it to

www.christianpoetry.org

on September 11, 2011 and September 12, 2011

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

March 4, 2010

Matthew 26:36-46

Psalm 461:11 (Call to Worship)

Psalm 130:1-8

Psalm 138 (Prayer of Dedication)

Worship Theme: “Our Times of Personal Trial”

and sermon, “With Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane”

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson

the second 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

March 7, 2010

Third Sunday in Lent

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 26,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Giver of All Knowledge – v2

God the Creator

the source of everything

giver of all knowledge

the plan, the design

the flow of creation

in order and rhyme

a grand schema present

Moving with us

the Spirit within our hearts

guiding us when we stumble

through the struggles of our lives

Edited October 19, 2013

Giver of All Knowledge – v2

July 25, 2011

Giver of All Knowledge

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/07/giver-of-all-knowledge.html

Unison Prayer

“Loving, Merciful God, giver of all knowledge,

we thank you for your Spirit, here among us.

We ask for eyes to see you at work in our lives

and the lives of others, ears to hear the words

you have for us, and a heart that is open to

your love and grace. It is truly good to be in

the house of the Lord! Amen.”

Genesis 1:1-8

Matthew 22:16b-17, 21b-22

Worship Theme: “God’s Wisdom”

Children’s Time

and sermon: “We don’t know everything?”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

July 24, 2011

Seventh Sunday of Pentecost

church sign, “Hanging Out with Jesus”

July 17, 2011

Luke 15:1-2

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (GOD’s WORD Translation)

Psalm 92:1-2 (GOD’s WORD Translation)(Call to Worship)

Worship Theme: “What kind of people did Jesus hang with?”

and sermon: “When Christians Are Un-Christian”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

sermon blog

http://adamhamilton.cor.org/

meditation blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

July 17, 2011

Sixth Sunday of Pentecost

Sermon series by the Reverend Adam Hamilton

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

http://www.abingdonpress.com/adamhamilton/forms/default.aspx?pageid=554&id=106

“When Christians Get It Wrong”

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Rev-Hamilton-When-Christians-Get-It-Wrong-1298797.htm

http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=6223

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY

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 26,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Who will be first – v6

The metaphor, the lesson

of Mary, these others

Christ’s judgment upon them

hanging in the air

not exactly the same, precisely

but the question who among us

will stand in judgment, who

will cast the first stone

Already complicit

blood on the streets, in the gate,

the pain already started

years of secrets, accusation

of stones already thrown

The blood upon us

on the lintels, our heart

slowly growing

spreading, our judgment

heading for another trial

in the courts of the Lord

a judgment on us

for casting the first stone

Edited October 19, 2013

Who will be first – v6

(editing original again)

Edited September 28, 2013

Who will be first – v5

(editing original again)

Edited September 18, 2013

Who will be first – v4

June 12, 2011 and June 13, 2011

Who will be first

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/who-will-be-first.html

June 12, 2011

A time to come together

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

June 13, 2011

Looking down at my hands

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/looking-down-at-my-hands.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

Matthew 10:40-42

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16

Psalm 13

Worship Theme: “All Are Welcome”

and sermon: “Ambassadors for God”

by Pastor Ruth L. Foss