Mercy versus Retribution - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

In the face of change
the cries of the people
so much we can learn
in the ways of the Father
and the ways of the Madman

The tyrant killing
killing his own people
the Father sending his son
to die on the cross for us

So much of our calling
our calling as Christians
to love our neighbors
in our walk on the earth

Crying for those dying
standing up for freedom
the shackles of their chains
that they would be cast off

Praying for the peoples
the innocents in the street
crying for their freedom
that they would know peace

February 20, 2011
Matthew 5:38-48 (The Message Bible)
Love Your Enemies
Psalm 119:33-40 (God’s Word Translation)
Leviticus 19:9-18 (The Message Bible)
Psalm 25:8-10 (God’s Word Translation)(Call to Worship)
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (New Living Translation)
Prayer of Adoration (UMBOW #461)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD)
James 4:8 (“Just a Closer Walk with Thee (The Faith We Sing #2158)
Luke 2:29 (“Go Now in Peace”, UMH #665)
Worship Theme: “God’s law versus Human Law”
and sermon, “Mercy versus Retribution”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 20, 2011
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
&
on the transformations since the beginning of January -
all the protests in Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya,
Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Djibouti, Mauritania, Senegal, etc.
and
especially the resignation of Hosni Mubarak
February 11, 2011
&
and the jubilance in Tahrir Square
versus the bloodshed in Bahrain and Libya, etc.
February 18, 2011
&
hearing claim by President Obama 2/15/2011
in a news conference that when history books tell it
we will be seen as being on the right side of history
in how the United States responded
&
Post on Twitter by Wael Ghonim
http://twitter.com/Ghonim
“Our Revolution was like Wikipedia”
http://twitter.com/Ghonim/status/37306340103688192
http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/ghonim-our-revolution-wikipedia
February 14, 2011
&
Post on Twitter by Wael Ghonim
http://twitter.com/Ghonim
“This is Revolution 2.0: No one was a hero because everyone was a hero.”
http://twitter.com/Ghonim/status/36708161440190464
February 13, 2011
and see
http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss#!/notes/safiyah-fosua/a-prayer-for-the-people-of-egypt-february-3-2011/10150134548244274
A Prayer for the People of Egypt (February 3, 2011)
by Safiyah Fosua
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719089081
&
Matthew 5:21-37 (Common English Bible)
Law of murder
Law of adultery
Law of Divorce
Law of Oaths
Matthew 5:17 (Common English Bible)
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (New Living Translation)
Psalm 18:1-3, 46 (God’s Word Translation) (Call to Worship)
Prayer of Invocation
Prayer of Dedication
Exodus 16:13-15, Psalm 34:8, John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 5:8
(Centering Hymn: “All Who Hunger”, The Faith We Sing #2126)
Romans 14:7
(Lord, Speak To Me”, United Methodist Hymnal #463)
Acts 2:42
(“Let Us Break Bread Together”, United Methodist Hymnal #618)
Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 5:6, Matthew 11:28
(“You Who Are Thirsty”, The Faith We Sing #2132)
1 John 1:7
(“Trust and Obey”, United Methodist Hymnal #467)
Worship Theme: “God gives life . . . sin gives death”
and sermon, “A Life or Death Situation
(Aka . . . A fine line between Heaven and Hell)”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 13, 2011
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
&
Matthew 5:13-20 (NRSV)
(and Matthew 5:1-12, Beatitudes)
John 6:51 (Call to Worship)
Isaiah 58.6-12 (NRSV)
John 13:34-35 and Ephesians 4:4-6
(“They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”, The Faith We Sing #2223)
Micah 6:8
(“We Are Called”, The Faith We Sing #2172)
Call to Worship (John 6:51)
Prayer of Confession
Prayer of Dedication
Worship Theme: “A Meal for All People”
and sermon, “Salty Christians”
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 6, 2011
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.