Giving away, more than our excess - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

true understanding, the messages of the scripture
what we must give up, more than our excess
from the story of the widow, and her small coins
the story of the rich man and the call to sell and give away
so much of our lives, measured in our abundance
our claim that it is our sweat, that brought about our wealth
forgetting the lesson, the truth of the psalmist
and the story of the people
God alone is the source of all we have
giving away, more than our excess
an act of love and faithfulness
loving our neighbor
and trusting in the Lord

November 22, 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