Caution. Mind at work.
Proceed at your own risk; no
knowing where you'll land.
Thus wrote Timothy Cole of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford and the poets dared to proceed.
POETRY SUNDAY, June 14, 2015, challenged the poets to read the Gospel, Mk 4:26-34, and create a sermon on its teachings written in haiku. Poets from 9 parishes responded. They (or readers for them - we are very busy on Sunday mornings!) projected or were miked and read the Connecticut written haiku verses you see below from various places in the nave at St. Mark's Church, New Britain during the 7:45 and 10 am Sunday Eucharists as the sermon.
Poets stayed for lunch and a read around of more of our poetry with discussions about it.
Poets will next meet at St. Mark's, New Britain, late Sunday afternoon on July 26th with Bishop Laura Ahrens for a cookout, a lesson on reading theologically, and a read around. Look for more details and how to make a reservation in about 2 weeks.
Peace,
Barbara A. Campbell, Connecticut's Diocesan Poet
May the words of our mouths and the ponderings of our hearts bring us ever closer to you, O God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen
In a mustard seed
lies a promise of ball parks
hot dogs and home runs
(Mary
Elizabeth Lang
Christ Church, Norwich, CT)
Experimenting
trying new combinations
corned beef, glaze for ham.
(Dorothy
Mahon
St. Mark’s Church, New Britain, CT)
Feeling congested
mustard poultice is applied
comfort returning
(Dorothy
Mahon
St. Mark’s Church, New Britain, CT)
Unpretentious seed,
Grow! Grow to
alarming size!
Grow hot! Grow
pungent!
(Wendy
Lyons
Holy Trinity Church, Enfield, CT)
With seeds finely ground
The mustard is prepared:
The taste buds are not
(The
Rev. Mark Santucci
St. John’s, Church, East Hartford, CT)
And
thus we are reminded of mustard seeds and the statement of Jesus “if you have
faith the size of a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you.” But that’s not the parable for this
morning.
Just
when you thought you knew about that mustard seed, Mark’s Gospel changes it a
little. Mark gets us out into the
garden and wondering about how things grow, how big they get.
A gardener says
what do I know about seeds
my Lord has planted
(Mary
Elizabeth Lang
Christ Church, Norwich, CT)
Pouring hope on the ground
Ten days pass
Tiny green spears stand at attention
(The
Rev. Bevan Stanley
St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield, CT)
Planting done
faith the coming storms
will nourish
(Merrill
Gonzales
St. Paul’s Church, Plainfield, CT)
tree not small not large
yellow blossomed mustard shrub
spice buds pungent punch
(Elizabeth
T. Massey
St. Mark’s, Church, New Canaan, CT)
Tiny bits of grain
can grow horse and rider tall
in just one season.
(Paula
Lathrop
St. Mary’s Church, Manchester, CT)
seeds sprout while I sleep
mystery’s moonlit garden
blooms morning glory
(Mary
Elizabeth Lang
Christ Church, Norwich, CT)
Tiniest of seeds
Dies in nurturing darkness.
The Kingdom rises.
(Wendy
Lyons
Holy Trinity Church, Enfield, CT)
Now
we find ourselves talking about the Kingdom of God.
“tiniest of seeds
dies in nurturing darkness
The Kingdom rises.”
That
line “dies in nurturing darkness”.
The tiniest of seeds being nurtured in darkness. Perhaps we feel a darkness, not knowing
what is going on, not knowing what is to come.
What
am I supposed to do, to be?
What
is this church supposed to do, to be?
And
from that darkness, God’s Kingdom rises.
Thriving over time,
the delicate mustard seed
heeds the Will of God.
(Edward
Zagorski,
Trinity Church, Wethersfield, CT)
As the seed evolves,
so blooms the Kingdom of God
with nurture of Faith
(Edward
Zagorski
Trinity Church, Wethersfield, CT)
Lest ye remain small,
pray, learn, feed – and be fulfilled
to grow in God’s love.
(Edward
Zagorski
Trinity Church, Wethersfield, CT)
Bright cross, touch of grace,
we flower, beyond reason;
we answer his call.
(Paula
Lathrop
St. Mary’s Church, Manchester, CT)
Possibilities
Not daunted by the unknown
Explore with courage
(Dorothy
Mahon
St. Mark’s Church, New Britain, CT)
Listening
to the poets, it took time for the will of God to be heeded.
It
was a process of evolution which caused the blooming of God’s Kingdom.
The
seedlings were nurtured, There was
prayer. There was learning.
With
grace, we flower beyond reason as we answer God’s call.
The
unknown offers possibilities if explored with courage.
Amen.
