Stopping a Brushfire - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

What could they say, what could they do
to silence these men, untrained, ordinary men
they who walked with Christ
Their miracle, healing the lame, witnesses in the Temple
within the gate, called Beautiful, a healing
undeniable. In Christ’s name, without training
they could never have done it on their own.
What could they do, to stem this tide,
to stop the brushfire growing, feeding on the hunger
the hope of the people, the witness of the Messiah
He who was handed over, who submitted to sacrifice
he who was without sin, taking on sin
carrying our shame, our cross.
Rising on the third day.
Never to be silenced, the disciples emboldened
spirit-filled they rose, defiant.
This fire would burn, would spread
beyond their realm, beyond their reach
never ending, never dying
burning today, just as now.
Feed the flames, taking up his light
his fire, his message.
Carry it in this place, in our world
to the ends of the earth

September 21, 2008
Psalm 8,
Acts 4:13-17,
Call to Worship, from Book of Common Worship,
Unison Prayer, from The Worship Sourcebook,
and sermon, “Every Day People”, by
Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church