Hearing These Words - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

My prayer, for my words
the ancient words of Christ
beginning in that upper room
passed down from the saints
to each believer in turn

Hearing these words differently
personally, a message from God
the words not a ritual,
not rote intoning of the words of Christ

Passion instead, power,
tears welling up, crying at the altar rail
feeling the master before us,
as if in that upper room

His blood dripping down,
pouring down upon us
anointing us, washing us
over our beard, our collar
seared into our very hearts

His body, broken,
seeing his hurt in his eyes
knowing the path he would take
our hands touching his flesh
cupped in our trembling hands

Our eyes rising, after eating the bread,
drinking of the cup
meeting His eyes
a glimpse of his love, his divinity
an expression of our thanks and praise

October 7, 2009
in preparation for the message I will be giving tonight
in our worship service
after the Our Family’s Table weekly dinner
1 Corinthians 11:23:32
Communion Liturgy
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
& message by Raymond A. Foss,
“When you have received Communion, Have you ever cried?”
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
10/7/09