Sunday, November 08, 2009

Misuse Happens 

Misuse happens
our resources, our vision
focused on the wrong
our temporal, urgent
society-driven desires
instant gratification
excess, and hangover
the pain of loss, misuse
estrangement from God
from our neighbors
in our drive to be better
to have more
all of our possessions
in the way
keeping us apart
little islands, bumper cars
driven, alone

Step back from the edge
turn from the world
idols, false gods
on the altar of society
consumerism,
materialism
passions without feeling
all a cancer, keeping us
held hostage
Turn, return home
to our family, our father
seek him, a better way
and his loving arms
ever waiting for us


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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Biblical Economics 

So many stories, lessons, out of his love
the son, come to earth, to bring us home
to mend the breach created, our estrangement,
our distance from God, the creator, our father
So many tellings, of one story
our wanton desires, serving other god
chasing after our wealth, after power
losing sight of our neighbor, our brothers,
our sisters on this earth
focusing on the lesser things,
the things that rust and turn to dust
when we should treasure eternal life
and walk more humbly on the way
Caring for our neighbors,
those who need our love, our help
storing treasure in heaven
for a future, walking the streets of gold


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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The Forgiveness of God 

Our mistakes, our sin
washed clean, as if gone
the forgiveness of God
arms open wide for our return
when we turn from the world
coming home to him
Met, on our road home
before we are back
or father coming to us
arms open wide
bring us back to him


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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Consumers 

We are told to be something
counter to our faith
consumers, not stewards
to use the precious earth
to feed as we may choose
leaving none left behind
going to the edge
and going far beyond
like a plague or war on the land
the prodigal we have become
wasting what we have
caring not for our father’s love
Taking what we can
gorging on our wealth
leaving nothing in our wakes
but debt, and hurt and ache


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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God or Money 

A harsh question
looking at our checkbooks
to see our priorities
a challenge from the pulpit
on the focus of our lives
serving God or money
in the way we spend our wealth
serving our neighbors
or gorging on ourselves
There can be only one master
money or our loving God
we each are free to choose
and account when our master calls


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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Consumers 

consumers, not stewards
like plague, war on the land
Taking what we can
leaving nothing in our wakes
but debt, and hurt and ache

November 8, 2009 – Twitter version
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
and Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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Underwater 

The term “underwater”
describing so well the start of the world
so many of us, looking up at the surface
wondering what went so wrong
how our world, our economy
our own lives
drowning
Our lives, our priorities
so out of whack, disjointed
chasing the allusion, wealth, position
losing sight of important relationships
a simpler life, with lasting reward
following a false god, lost
missing inner peace
meaningful lives
greater riches
than we can
imagine
eternal life
following the true God
walking with our savior
living closer to our brother
seeing him in our neighbors
offering them a hand, hope, life
rising above the waters
up onto the waves
walking to our future
seeking our treasure in the Lord


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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A Famine on the Land 

So much like the prodigal,
our whole society, that foreign land
away from the loving father
seeking other gods, false, human ambitions
wealth, power, pleasure
overextending, consuming,
all that we have

A famine on the land,
jobless, without our wealth
our home, our property gone
eating the pods with the pigs
wanting to go back home
Turn from the world
going back, to his open arms
all are welcome
in the father’s loving embrace


November 8, 2009
Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son”
Proverbs 21:5, 21:20
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
& sermon “The Saints and Their Checkbooks”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 8, 2009

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Power – haiku – 1 

By the flames, his breath
Holy spirit filling them
empowered to speak


November 7, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
& hymn, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”,
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh420.sht
United Methodist Hymnal, #420
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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Autumn – haiku – 1 

Leaves falling, spinning
slowly tumbling to the ground
caught by blowing wind


November 7, 2009

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Autumn Leaves – haiku – 1 

rust, rose, canary
the green color dying, lost
in brilliant death


November 7, 2009

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Tumbling – haiku – 1 

a cascade of leaves
frolicking in the autumn
mischievous fall winds


November 7, 2009

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Saturday, November 07, 2009

Christian – haiku – 1 

Follow the master
where the savior leads, going
out into the world


November 7, 2009

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Christian – haiku – 2 

Walking with the Christ
follow our loving shepherd
be his hands, his feet

November 7, 2009

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Christian – haiku – 3 

Pick up your cross, go
be Christ out into the world
share God’s love, his grace

November 7, 2009

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Christian – haiku – 4 

Loving our neighbors
doing the work of the Christ
be his messengers

November 7, 2009

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Christian – haiku – 4 – v2 

Loving our neighbors
doing the work of the Christ
be his witnesses

November 7, 2009

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A prayer, entering in 

Like those first disciples
gathering, confused, afraid
seeing the risen Christ
feeling the breath of God
falling upon them,
bodily transformed
by the gift of Christ
new life begun

So we entered in
into our time of reflection
of worship, calling us
closer to thee, oh God
open to the spirit
speaking from deep within
calling us to your ministry
in this church, in this time
our place in your creation
to go, reborn, as they were
to do your work
in this troubled world


November 7, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
& hymn, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”,
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh420.sht
United Methodist Hymnal, #420
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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Waiting with Wonder 

Waiting, with wonder
how they must have been
even in the struggles
the journey they were on
going to the home,
to Bethlehem town
wondering what God
had planned for them

Waiting, with wonder
so we are now
at the birth of the holy child
the life he would live
so that live he may give
for each one of us living and dead

Alive in the Lord, at the end of this coil
when our days here on earth are done
going to our reward, paid for by the Lord
to walk with our savior again
On the streets paved with gold
in the new Jerusalem
where crying and death are no more

All of this from, the birth of the babe
Christ come into the world
Born and swaddled, laid
in that manger bed,
watched by the animals
the shepherds, long, long ago

Waiting, in wonder
in our hearts and our lives
walking as followers of Christ
sharing his story, his message of love
so all may enter in
Choosing with us the way of the cross
to pick up and do our part
bringing God grace
his love for the world
to everyone we meet


November 7, 2009
on seeing someone searching on Google,
“"waiting with wonder" advent”,
and finding this poem to access my blog
November 7, 2009
----
The Advent Journey

Following the star,
we all, like them, following the star
the light, the Word
coming into the world
living with us, to be among us
a journey of waiting, with wonder
experiencing anew
that which they beheld
the star of his rising,
his bright birth star
Bringing that light
into the sanctuary, into our hearts
preparing ourselves, awake, on watch
for the babe in the manger
the king on the clouds
that is our Advent journey

November 30, 2008
Matthew 2:11
Isaiah 64:1-9
Mark 13:24-37
and sermon, “Anticipation”
Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church

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Friday, November 06, 2009

Giving Her All 

Out of her faith
giving her all
all that she had
nothing held back
offered to the Lord
a worthy gift
fragrant to God


November 6, 2009
Luke 20:45-21:4
The scribe and the widow’s offering
part of the sermon, “The Widow’s Might”,
by the Reverend Peter Hey,
http://www.concordwumc.org
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
November 18, 2007

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The Widow’s Faith 

The coins, but a metaphor
so small compared to the other offerings
but so huge, in metaphor
giving all she had,
because of her faith
loving dependent
trusting in God alone
so much more than all the others
giving all, out her poverty
not a tithe out of their wealth


November 6, 2009
Luke 20:45-21:4
The scribe and the widow’s offering
part of the sermon, “The Widow’s Might”,
by the Reverend Peter Hey,
http://www.concordwumc.org
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
November 18, 2007

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Living Church 

Not a an adjective and a noun
living church an adverb and verb
our lives different
doing worship, in our daily lives
Monday to Saturday
going, being Christ
loving our neighbors
Sabbath rest, in the knowing
living church beyond the walls
outside the boundaries
out into the world
going, doing, church as way of living
open to the holy spirit
and wherever it may call


November 6, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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So I send you 

What must those disciples have thought,
hearing these words of the risen Christ
coming to them, into the room
even though the doors were locked;
Entering into their presence
breathing the spirit upon them
offering them peace
and sending them into the world

As the father sent me, so I send you
the words of the risen Messiah
just as had been prophesized
standing in their midst
Sending them out
to offer the love of the father
sharing his message of hope
to all who would lend an ear
Bringing the Christ
into each town, each place
the servant king dwelling within us
the spirit of the risen Lord
a smile upon our face

Going out into the world
from that start that day
to the ends of the earth
right up to this present time
Waiting for his return
his promise yet to come
In the waiting time,
sharing Christ in our time
in our own gifted way
Being the hands and feet of Christ
a voice in the wilderness
calling all of us sinners home

November 6, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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Open to the Spirit 

We must be, each one of us
open to the spirit’s call
as the first disciples were
on that fateful night
The breath of God
the saving on that day
the spirit filling each eager heart
to carry the savior’s call
Out into the world
hungry for the word
Seeking peace in other gods
needing the truth of Christ
The savior’s path, the way of the cross
loving our neighbors instead
this is the way of peace
of love to lead us home


November 5, 2009 and November 6, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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When We Find Our Voice 

When we find our voice
when we feel the master’s call
the spirit being the one
who gives us words to share
A willing vessel let me be
open to the savior’s breath
fill me with your spirit Lord,
let me do your will

Going where I am led
to share your loving word
a message of hope for the world
in your grace, your sacrifice
your promise fulfilled on Easter day
Going to the ends of the earth
a world to be made whole
telling all the world
in him we may see the love of God
as scripture had foretold


November 5, 2009 and November 6, 2009
Annual Church Conference
moderated by Reverend John Blackadar
& John 20:19-22
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 5, 2009

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© Raymond A. Foss 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. All rights reserved.


Written about and in New Hampshire
All of the poetry presented on the site and its archives were written by me. If you want to use them, please contact me at: Ray Foss

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