Isaiah 25: 6-10; Psalm 23: 1-6; Matthew 15: 29-37

a banquet

before us

our spirit

restored

we see

the love

of the Lord

and feel

His saving power

there is nothing more

we shall want

His goodness

and kindness

pursue us

and feed us

the blind see

the lame walk

the deaf hear

death is destroyed

every tear

 wiped away

we rejoice

and praise

as we put our hope

in Him

Do you experience God’s love?

Do you experience his saving power?

Do you rejoice?

Readings Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 7: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10: 21-24

spirit resting

upon us

a child

to guide us

we see

we hear

what prophets

longed for

his love for all

a justice

that flourishes

into a time

of peace

spirit of wisdom

and understanding

spirit of counsel

and strength

we are in awe

as wolf and lamb

lion and calf

lie together

and no ruin comes

the cries

of the poor

are heard

as a shoot sprouts

from the stump of Jesse

a bud

a blossom

we rejoice!

 Do you see?

Do you hear?

 Do you rejoice?

Readings:  Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122: 1-9; Mt 8: 5-11

instructed

in His ways

walking

 His path

we beat our swords

into plowshares

our spears

into pruning hooks

we walk

 in His light

no longer

training for war

no longer

raising our sword

we go rejoicing

to the house

of the lord

a house

of peace

feeling unworthy

He brings

worthiness

and healing

by our faith

in His word

Do you walk in His light?

Have you put down your sword?

Do you have faith in His word?

Do you have peace in your Heart?

 

Readings: Isaiah 63: 16-19, 64: 2-7; Ps. 80: 2-3, 15-19; 1 Cor 3-9; Mark: 33-37

stay awake

be prepared

for the one

we have longed for

is coming

He shall turn

His face to us

and we

shall be clay

in His potter’s hands

no longer

wanderers

with hardened hearts

we shall hear

what no ear

has ever heard

see what no eye

has ever seen

He will

strengthen us

and give us new life

so that we will

no longer be carried

on the winds of guilt

but always

mindful

of His ways

we will watch

we will be awake

for his coming

Are you awake?

Are you on guard?

Are you prepared for his coming

Readings: Ezekiel 34: 11-17; Psalm 23; 1-6; Corinthians 15: 20-28; Matt: 25: 31-46

scattered sheep

we are lost

hungry

thirsting

naked

ill

in need

of a shepherd

a guide

crushed in our

loneliness

our tangled webs

we are found

by his gentle hands

refreshed

overflowing

we face

the enemy

in our self

and

are raised

to life

we feed

we clothe

we care

we tend

as we

were

cared for

spreading

and nurturing

the kingdom

of love

Do you see your need?

Do you see the needs of others?

Do you care for these needs as you have been cared for?

Readings: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thess 5:1-6; Mt 25: 14-30

people

of light

we turn

from darkness

awake

to God’s

power

in

our life

the work

of our hands

his love

reaching out

to the poor

the needy

we give

generously

not hiding

our gifts

but

sharing

with joy

Are you awake?

Do you live in the light?

Do you share your gifts generously?

Readings: 1Ez: 47:1=12; Psalm 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-0; Cor: 3:9C-11, 16-17; John 2: 3-22

we are

the temple of God

risen with Him

Spirit in-dwelling

cleansed of all

that would defile

we flow

with God’s living water

that all

from this sanctuary

that is His

should live

and flourish

our food

and medicine

provided

our refuge

our strength

our ever-present help

with God in our midst

we shall not

be disturbed

our help

at the break

of dawn

we rejoice

at the astounding things

God has wrought

upon the earth

Do you experience yourself as the temple of God?

Do you experience God in our midst?

Do you experience God’s ever-present help?

Readings: Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 23; Romans 5:5-11; John 6: 37-40

in peace

in the hand of God

the souls

of the just

rest

His will

fulfilled

in Love

poured out

into their hearts

they experience

mercy

and grace

 

reconciled

they are guided

to paths

where fear

is no longer

there is no want

only goodness

and kindness

 follow

they shine

in the light

of His love

Do you see those who have died at peace?

Do you experience his mercy and grace?

Do you experience his love poured out into your heart?

Readings: Exodus 22: 20-16;  Psalm 18: 2-51; Thess 1: 5-10′ Mt. 22: 34-40

our

whole

heart

our

whole

soul

our

whole

mind

in love

with God

living

and breathing

in God’s

strength

we love

one another

from

this wellspring

showing

justice

and

mercy

and

compassion

as we

have been

shown

Do you  love God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind?

Do you love your neighbor as yourself?

Readings: Isaiah 45: 1-6; Psalm 96: 1-10; Thess 1: 1-5; Mt. 22: 15-21

rising

and setting

sun

we live

in the light

of you

laboring in

your love

living in

your power

Holy Spirit

in your breath

upon

our lips

we speak

your love

with conviction

rendering

all to God

as all

is God’s

not acting

for human favor

but for

the love of God

the love

of all

Do you give to God what is God’s?

What is God’s?