Not Our Clothes - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Rent our hearts
not our clothes
hidden from the world
known to God

Open our hearts
ripped from the world
entering in
to hear his word

His message for us
spoken in the silence
heard by our hearts
not by our ears

Only in silence
in entering in
able to hear his message
our life to begin

Answering his call
by our words and our feet
raising ourselves up
going where he leads

March 9, 2011
Joel 2:12-17a
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
John 20:11-18
(“In the Garden”, United Methodist Hymnal, #314)
Prelude
Call to Worship
Prayer for Peace
Communion
Distribution of Ashes
and Ash Wednesday Meditation
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
March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=16&mid=6710
article, “When did United Methodists start the "imposition of ashes" on Ash Wednesday?”
Season of Lent
&
Facebook message
by Barack Obama
March 9, 2011
http://www.facebook.com/#!/barackobama/
“Michelle and I join with millions of Christians
here and across the world to mark Ash Wednesday.
As we observe the season of Lent, we receive
with thanksgiving this opportunity for grace and repentance,
recommit ourselves to our faith, and
remember our obligations to one another.”
http://www.facebook.com/#!/barackobama/posts/10150107573326749
&
earlier poem:
“Rend Your Heart”

Not in ashes or sack cloth
not in torn garments only
God calling to us
to rend our hearts
to turn from our ways
repent and turn to Him
walking in His ways
drenched in His love
all the rest of our days.

October 11, 2010
Joel 2:12
Joel 2:12-14
Hosea 10-14
Joel 1:1-2:17
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/reading.cgi?plan=straight&ver=NAS
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for September 28, 2010,
read October 11, 2010

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.