Friday, December 19, 2008

Christmas cat - coloring by Erica

Winter scene - coloring by Shanequa 12/18/08

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Rest from Our Burdens

He offered them, He offers us still
rest from our burdens, our trials
our struggles in life
bring them, we who are weary
and lay them at his feet
He will give you rest,
all you who are tired
carrying your load alone
come to the Lord
take his yoke upon you
walk with him
through your days, your journey
with his yoke upon you
the burden is light
the load is shared
with our creator, our brother
our savior, our king

December 16, 2008
Matthew 11:28 and Matthew 11:29

Lay Down Your Burden

Take Up My Yoke

Choices, not thrust upon us
to let go of our troubles,
to turn to Christ, to lay our cares at his feet
to take the yoke of his servanthood
to be yoked with Christ
to walk with Christ
all the days of our lives

December 16, 2008
Matthew 11:28 and Matthew 11:29

Monday, December 15, 2008

Returning to the Manger, to the Cross

Continually,
without ceasing,
prayerfully
returning to the manger, to the cross
returning to Bethlehem, to Calvary
to hold Advent, the manger,
to hold the cross, Good Friday
to return to the empty tomb, to Easter morning
to go into the upper room
to live as he lived, servant
to walk as he walked,
in your ways, Oh God
continually holding Him
in our hearts
walking with him
along the way

December 15, 2008

Antlers of Ice

The water formed antlers of ice
fingers maybe, layered, tallowed,
hand-dipped candles,
bits of frozen magic, in the mist
the splash above the torrent
velveteen antlers, ready for molting
rounded antlers, newborn
growing in the wintry air

December 14, 2008
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/12/antlers-of-ice.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, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,830+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Colored Lights

Colored lights, of the season
no, not the Christmas tree lights,
the lights on the bushes out front,
though we have both
The colored lights of the sanctuary
stained glass windows aglow, active
a living church, busy, doing, being Christ
the work of ministry, of action
Rich, royal colors, projecting light outward
colored lights of the season
burning bright into the darkness

December 15, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Testifying

Speaking, witnessing, testifying to the light
sharing its power, its glow
testifying to the light, bringing light
the love of God, into the darkness
calling out, in the wilderness
proclaim the coming, the light
dwelling, living among us
growing within us, people of faith
seeing the light and sharing its glow

December 14, 2008
John 1:6-8, 19-28
John 1:19-28
John 1:23
Isaiah 40:1-11
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah 61:1-4
And Sermon, “Can I Get A Witness”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church

Minding the Light

Seeing the Light,
minding the light itself
the flickering flame,
the light growing, coming
the light, the word, coming
returning, entering the world
waiting, expectantly, lovingly
the light itself,
not what the light illuminates
seeing the light, for itself

December 14, 2008
John 1:6-8, 19-28
John 1:19-28
John 1:23
Isaiah 40:1-11
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah 61:1-4
And Sermon, “Can I Get A Witness”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church

Witnessing

Witness, testify,
preach, proclaim
shout out, call out
into the world, the wilderness
speaking the truth
testifying to the light
to the coming Christ
the one, who was there
at the beginning, to save
to bring us redemption
all who repent, who accept
to witness to the light
make straight the way
the voice calling
make straight the way of the Lord

December 14, 2008
John 1:1-5
John 1:6-8, 19-28
John 1:19-28
John 1:23
Isaiah 40:1-11
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah 61:1-4
And Sermon, “Can I Get A Witness”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church

Being a Stump

To be a stump, living
waiting, open, aware
underground, yearning
for God’s grace
depending on God, His time
new life, a new purpose
the promise of Isaiah
nascent within us,
when we, like Christ
submit our will
for God’s holy work
growing from out of the stump

December 14, 2008
Isaiah 11:1-9
and sermon, “What Good is a Stump?”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church
December 7, 2008

Called to Witness

Like John, at the banks of the Jordan
like Isaiah, the people in exile
anointed, to be witnesses, to testify
to bring the word, the light
focus on that one light, center
called to witness, carrying
seeing the light, minding the light
out into the darkness
witness to the love of God,
to the birth of the Christ child
to the meaning of this life
for us all, from the beginning
to the end of time.

December 14, 2008
John 1:1-5
John 1:6-8, 19-28
John 1:19-28
John 1:23
Isaiah 40:1-11
Isaiah 40:3-5
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah 61:1-4
And Sermon, “Can I Get A Witness”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church