Poetry Where You Live

Understanding Creation

2009-11-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

not something to use up
to discard/throw away
the world, creation
needing our loving care

walking more lightly
sure of what is left behind
a world for our children
better than yours and mine

scars on the planet
in the seas, land, the warming skies
needing our attention now
that time is at hand

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334

The caring for the earth

2009-11-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

All of us together
charged from the very beginning
dominion and stewardship
a caring for the earth
capacity, the burden finite
needing to conserve, to give back
to treat our earth with reverence
caring for our earth
as each of us ought

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334

God as our Mother

2009-11-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

In our relationships
to one another, to the creator
all of creation, the world
what would it matter,
would there be a difference
understanding creation,
love, stewardship;
God as our mother,
creating, nurturing, caring
projecting these images
on patriarchal society,
on our present age
would our perceiving,
our caring for this precious earth
our perspective change
the moral choices altered
if we saw the maker
God as our mother?

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Giving of Our Hearts

2009-11-24T12:13:00.003-05:00

not merely out of our abundance
the bounty beyond our needs
giving joyously, ever
out of our hearts, our care
to offer hope to others
through giving from our faith
all we have for the Lord’s command
for God is love
giving all there is

November 24, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Mark 10:17-31
Mark 1:16-20
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“What is Your Footprint, Where is Your Treasure,
What is in Your Silo; Whom Will You Follow”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/11/09
&
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
John Wesley’s sermon, “On Riches”
&
Faith In Action newsletter,
Word from Winkler, 9/28/09
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5489299&ct=7532533&tr=y&auid=5386346
Congregational malpractice
By Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
& Alive Now daily devotional
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-28-october-4/
for September 30, 2009
“An Uncomfortable Nudge”,
by Roland Rink
&
Mark 10:17-31
Alive Now Daily Reflection
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 10, 2009
&
Alive Now Daily Reflection
“All of You”,
by James Schwarzlose
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-october-5-11/
for October 11, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:17-27
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 10, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Mark 10:28-31
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for October 11, 2009
by Soozung Sa Rankin

Creation in Our Hands

2009-11-24T11:51:00.002-05:00

God gave us creation
into our trembling hands
to nurture, to cherish
a sacred trust to man
our dominion balanced
to love the blessed land
We are here, a brief candle
from the dust and
to the dust returning
rising on feet of clay
to the earth again
a cycle of life enduring
Only our spirits
the breath of God within
eternal, returning
to the creator
once again

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Purposeful

2009-11-24T11:26:00.000-05:00

Purposeful, mindful
in the way we walk this earth
temporary residents are all we are;
Not owners of the world
to use, destroy,
leaving nothing in our wake

Going lightly through this life
holding our possessions loosely
giving more away
to those in need
spending less on our wants
our day to day

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334

Mindful

2009-11-24T11:17:00.004-05:00

Ever must we be mindful
the consequence of our actions
the ripples spreading outward
washing on distant shores
What we consume matters
the depletion of the resources
the ash, the waters, washing upon the land
the air warmer, the seas rising
because we thought about the immediate
gratification for our own

The world waiting,
wondering what we will do
cherishing our planet
as we are supposed to do
the resources, the treasures
the joy of this earth
ours to be stewards over
not consumers, taking
leaving nothing in our wake

November 24, 2009
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
&
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

In Our Hearts

2009-11-24T11:01:00.002-05:00

In our hearts, the seeds of God
of life, the creator’s breath -
alive within us, animating the clay
rising with us, through our days
guiding us, if we listen to the voice
the indwelling spirit speaking
calling us to the service
Loving us, our neighbors
each of us worthy
life by the creator
in relationship to be

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young

Fully Reconciled

2009-11-24T10:31:00.003-05:00

No other test to pass,
no other offering needed
God fully reconciled to man
by the offering of Christ
His death, and his resurrection,
the only sacrifice required
our sin, our stain, washed away
on the throne of Calvary

But, like the Christ,
our turn, our sharing
the joy of our new birth
in accepting this gift
the amazing grace of God
returning the our father
each one of us
the prodigal child

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 13, “A Meeting of Hearts”
&
Revelations 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
2 Samuel 23:1-7
&
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-november-16-22
Alive Now Daily Reflections
for November 16-20, 2009
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for November 16-20, 2009
“If Jesus Shall Reign”,
by Pastor Laurie Hays Coffman
&
Hebrews 10:11-25
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-november-9-15/
Alive Now Daily Reflection
&
Upper Room Disciplines for 2009
Hebrews 10:19-25
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=531844
for November 12, 2009
by Heather Morris
&
Hebrews 10:19-25
Matthew 18:20
Upper Room Daily Devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=10&day=24&year=2009
for October 24, 2009,
“The Lord’s Presence”,
by Yakub L. Mekwan
&
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
His sermon is the second of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334

Holding onto our Brokenness

2009-11-24T10:20:00.001-05:00

our brokenness, our estrangement
lost in a sea, adrift in our independence
trying to make our own way
lost in our stuff, our issues
ignoring the love,
God’s open wide
his grace, his provision
sufficient, abundance overflowing
our cups, our lives rich
a bounty, more than enough
when we turn to the Lord

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 13, “A Meeting of Hearts”
&
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Love without Condition

2009-11-24T09:58:00.003-05:00

Understanding love,
true love, in its nature
without condition
nothing in the way
no matter the hurt, the history
no agenda, nothing expected
love given freely, ever freely
from deep within our hearts

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 12, “In the Belly of the Beast”

In the People

2009-11-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

in the people, the reality of the church
the bride of the savior,
each one of us a part
not the buildings,
the institutions
only the loving,
the beating hearts

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
Chapter 12, “In the Belly of the Beast”
&
hymn, “We are the Church”,
United Methodist Hymnal
# 558

Embedded in the Dust

2009-11-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

embedded in the dust
the lives of the saints before us
part of our forefathers, mothers
in the soil from which we rise
our seeds growing,
our faith abiding
moving in the clay,
our lives shaped and molded
the saints within us
given life by God

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
(see page 178)
&
Ecclesiastes 12:7b
and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
Genesis
and Day 98, “From Dust to Destiny”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read November 21, 2009
&
Ecclesiastes 3:11
and Day 97, “Eternity in Our Hearts”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read 11/20/09

Embraced by the Saints

2009-11-24T09:26:00.001-05:00

The soil, the good soil of our lives
the seeds, our faith,
growing within us
embraced by the saints
those who have turned to dust
part of the good soil
the nourishing earth
the clay from which we are formed
part of us, within our physical selves
embraced by the saints
all of our days

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young
(see page 178)
&
Ecclesiastes 12:7b
and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
Genesis
and Day 98, “From Dust to Destiny”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read November 21, 2009
&
Ecclesiastes 3:11
and Day 97, “Eternity in Our Hearts”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read 11/20/09

Instantly

2009-11-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

So much of our troubles
the defining term, instantly,
wanting it now, more, more, ever more
things, gadgets, ways of doing this or that
the religion of the new, the better
claiming our joy, sapping our energies
losing our focus on the important
the urgent, false gods that they are,
blinding us to the worthy,
the lasting, the divine

November 24, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Letting Go of Our Anger, Giving Forgiveness

2009-11-24T08:58:00.001-05:00

Letting go of our anger, giving forgiveness
the shackles keeping us from life
pain of our past
so long ago, remembered
carried through too many of our days
life more richly, brighter, worth living
opened up when we let go of our pain
The past cannot be changed
we must go onward
the forgiveness we give
gives us new life

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young

Dancing

2009-11-24T08:38:00.002-05:00

The thought of God dancing
three partners, like ribbons
flowing to the music
the song of creation,
ringing, singing
all around, dancing,
flowing, spinning
creating, saving, guiding
all love, all divine,
together, one, whirling
twirling, to the dance of love

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young

In the Three

2009-11-24T08:29:00.000-05:00

The dance of love
three faces, manifestations
together one, in relationship
equal, sharing, abiding
connected in ways
we cannot understand
a glimpse of meaning

God is love, not merely loving,
God is father, son, holy spirit
each love, loving, one another
symmetry, dancing, singing,
laughing, love divine

November 24, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young

The Manifestation

2009-11-24T08:24:00.001-05:00

The manifestation, fulfillment
the embodiment of what we call love
even our meager understanding
caught in the humanness, our balancing
limitations of sight, agape
giving, being love, an essence
being without creation, I Am
God immortal, almighty
Love.

November 24, 2009

Not the Religion

2009-11-23T18:15:00.002-05:00

not the religion, not the name we claim
proof of our humanity, our belief in love
in the way we life, in what we do
how we walk on this earth
humble, good to our neighbors
reaching out to those in need
no label, no denomination
nothing to set us apart
part of our family
the whole human race
offered grace by the creator
in relationship
we all find our place

November 22, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young

Cares of this Earth

2009-11-23T16:13:00.001-05:00

nibbling, whittling
cares of this earth
echoing in our ears,
the buzz, buzz
remanding attention
the tugging on our shirttails
ever wanted more
our lives, our hearts
pulled in the distraction
gnats of the mind
buzzing in my ear

November 23, 2009

Our Footprints on the Earth

2009-11-23T15:50:00.001-05:00

We, humankind
footprints on the earth
global consequences to our choices
whether divinely made
of cosmic dust
coalesced into our shape
footprints, in the ground,
the water, the air
rippling down through time
ending we know not where

November 23, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Stewards of the Earth – 2

2009-11-23T14:52:00.003-05:00

Stewards, noble, watching over
not consumers, eating, using
plunder, pillaging, rape
the land, the earth, ours
given to nurture and cherish
so we must be, ever
watchful, vigilant
creation given
a holy trust
a little
lower
than
God
Man.

November 23, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
Call to Worship
(taken from United Methodist Book of Worship, page 76)
Luke 6:37-38
Psalm 92:1-4
Hymn: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come”,
by Henry Aford,
United Methodist Hymnal, # 694,
based on Mark 4:26-29 (Parable of the Growing Seeds)
and Matthew 13:36-43 (Parable of the Weeds)
& sermon “Defined by Generosity”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 22, 2009
His sermon is the final of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)
&
Luke 12:15-21
and Psalm 16
and “The Prayer of St. Francis”,
United Methodist Hymnal #481;
and sermon, “I Want It All . . .”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 15, 2009
Her sermon is the third of a four-part series based in part on
Reverend Adam Hamilton (http://www.cor.org/about-resurrection/adam/)’s book,
“Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” (http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=9781426702334)

Sermon - "I Want It All”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, November 15, 2009, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH

2009-11-23T11:37:00.000-05:00

Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook UMC
Sunday November 15, 2009
Luke 12:15-21
ESV Bible

“I Want It All!”

Reading from Luke 12:15-21
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray. . .

Creator, sustainer, Loving God, you who spoke to your children through your prophets of old and still speak to your children today through your Spirit and your Word. We pray for your spirit to be with us gathered here this morning. Speak to us Lord in ways that we will understand and see your message for us today. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that are open to your voice so that we may draw ever closer to you. Speak Lord. . . your friends are listening. . .

Have you ever thought to yourself “I’ m so glad that I have this or that; but it would be even nicer if I had this or that?” I mean it’s nice to have stuff. . . a place to live. . . food on the table. . . nice clothes. . . a car that works. . . a good job. . . but there are times we think how much nicer life would be if we had something a little better, a little more up to date, something that suits us better. Why do we tend to think that “the grass is greener on the other side?” I mean just the other day I was looking around at my office at the house and thought to myself “I really love this office. It has a nice fireplace, it is so warm and cozy, and it is beautiful. But. . . it would be so cool if it went out into the yard about another 6 feet and was about another 7 feet wider, maybe even a porch so that I could go out and sit on it and do my work.” Now. . . I had just said to myself that it was a beautiful office and it was nice and cozy. . . why did I think it would be even better if. . . ? I mean everyone who has seen it talks about how nice it is. Why did I think it needed to be improved upon? What was I not content with what it was. . . not what I thought it should be?

The rich man in Luke’s parable had the same type of problem. He was so happy about having so much, he didn’t have to worry about tomorrow, and he had all that he could want and then some. But he had another problem on top of it. . . he didn’t want to share what he had. God had provided him with and “over abundance” and all he could think about is how to keep a hold of that over abundance. Why should he give it away? He worked hard for what he had. . . he put in his time and now he deserved to reap in his reward! Let those other people around him work for their own stuff. If they worked as hard as him they could have the same abundance. Why should he have to share with those “slackers” around him? Let them get their own stuff!

This poor rich fool. . . he was not content with the barns that he had, well of course not. . . they weren’t big enough for all the stuff he had, so he felt that in order to keep all his stuff he needed to have bigger and better barns. And all of this was for nothing because the Lord came to him and told him that he was doing this all for nothing and that he was going to die that night and all that stuff. . . all that excess was going to be no good to him or anyone else. All his stressing about what to do with his stuff was all for not because he couldn’t take it with him. Does this story sound a little familiar? It seems to be the story of the society we live in. the Bigger the better. . . the more stuff the more successful we are. . . and don’t think about sharing, we have to accumulate as much stuff as possible in this life even though, like the rich man, we can’t take it with us. Why can’t we be content with what we have and share the abundance that God blesses us with? Why do we not see our brother, our sister, right next door who could use a helping hand?

Contentment. . . why is so hard for us? Jesus tells us that our lives are not what we have but it’s the relationship that we have with him and God that matters. But the world around us tells us that this is not true. It is what you have, what you can achieve, how much stuff you have is what matters most in life. I mean look at the ad’s that are on the TV. . . if you have this car you would have a chance with the beautiful girl in the ad. . . if you buy this product you could look like this instead of how you look now (which of course we are not content with). . . you will be happier than you are now if you have this or that (why are we unhappy to begin with. . . is it because you don’t have enough stuff in yours or societies eyes? It’s a vicious circle in which we live!)

Our hearts are restless within us. Even though we may believe what Jesus says, we still struggle with that “worldly” part of ourselves. . . we are still trying to get more stuff. We may say that it’s not our possessions that define us but we live as if it is. Oh what blessings we miss because of our restless heart within us! In the book by Adam Hamilton “Enough”, he calls this “Restless heart Syndrome” (or RHS) and it works in the same way as Restless Leg Syndrome but it is our hearts that is affected. We are never satisfied with what we have or are. Once we have something we are off to acquire the next thing. . . and he claims (and I agree) that this condition can destroy us.

Adam does go on to say that there is a discontent that God intends for us to have though. God has wired us to be discontent with things that cause us to seek the only thing that can satisfy us and that one thing is a relationship with Him and in having that relationship we want to do his will and not our own (now that’s a discontent that I can live with. . . to be discontent with my life in a way that makes me want to be closer to what God has envisioned it not what the world envisions. . . ) It is not what we have but who we are that really counts. When we decided to live as the world would have us our vision becomes distorted. . . we become distorted. Let me give you an example. . .

When I was a child, I always liked the tinsel on the Christmas tree. It was so shiny and pretty (although my mom thought, and still does, the more tinsel the better and that’s all that you could see was the tinsel). The tree just shined as the lights reflected off the silver color of it (kind of the light of Christ shining from each of us giving light, color and beauty to the world around us). Now. . . take a piece of the tinsel that my lovely assistant Vanna has given you and stretch it out. What happens to the tinsel? It becomes stretched out and loses it’s shine (kind of like what happens to us when we become discontent with what God supplies and get all stressed our because we are reaching for more stuff instead of reaching for the One who gives us peace). When we are content with what we have we are happy and our light shines like the noon day sun. . . this light refracts off us. . . kind of a kaleidoscope effect. . . so that others see our light and peace and want this in their own lives. When we are content with what we have, we are willing to share our abundance with others (kind of like what the first church did in sharing all they had). And our lives become much less complicated because we aren’t worrying about our stuff.

I would like to end my sermon with a Dr. Seuss story called “Yertle the Turtle”. . . I think it works well with what we are trying to understand about contentment this morning. . .

Read “Yertle the Turtle”. . .

I see the moral of this story being “If you’re not careful and be content with your supply. . . you just may end up with mud in your eye.”

Beloved we have a choice to make. . . which tent will you decide to live in. The tent of discon-tent-ment and be stretched out like that piece of tinsel of the tent of con-tent-ment and shine like the noon day sun. Which will you choose? By choosing contentment, we can reclaim the joy of contentment and simplicity.

AMEN!

A Disciple of Christ

2009-11-22T21:29:00.000-05:00

Not a Christian, not other label
a disciple of Christ, in how we show love
caring wholly, for the needs of another
holding nothing back
giving of ourselves
caring for our brothers, our sisters
for we are all children of the father
entering in to relationships
out of unmerited love

November 22, 2009
http://www.theshackbook.com/
The Shack, by William P. Young