Poetry by Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea
We are the Herald to mend the broken
We Are God’s People
We are God’s people
I know you by name
Revelation, known, enlightenment, authority, miracle, foot of the mountain, wilderness
We are God’s people
My presence will go with you
Human desire, inquiry, yearning, knowledge, quest for God, self-understanding, God in Exodus, self, real, roots, find favour, recognition, God’s character, God identity, human identity, destiny
We are God’s people
The word of God sounded forth from you
Personal, encounter, expectations, give thanks, advent, remembering, labour of love, creator, heaven, earth, turned to God, living God, service, free humanity, faith, hope, love
We are God’s people
Teach the way of God
Difficult, nature, relation, obedience, to the state, to God, civil religion, ethos, politics, Jesus, coalition of surrogates, name truth, tribute Caesar vs God
We are God’s people
Give to God the things that are God’s
Conscience, tapped, rendering, silent, face of Wars, torture, marriage for all, choice of women marijuana now, what to expect, actions of justice, faith in action, called to humanity
We are God’s people
We are the people, God knows us by name. Called to kick ass today.
We Are the Grace
We are the Grace
Be the open door, the porch at the Manor
God is bringing you
Good land, flowing, springs, waters, hills and valleys
We are the Grace
God leads through the wilderness
Land of olives and honey, stones are iron, eat, take care, keep commandments, eat, build,
Through wilderness, remember God
We are the Grace
Sow bountifully, reap abundance
Sparingly, bountifully, give, mind, compulsion, cheer, give, blessings, share, work, with poor, scatters, generosity, thanksgiving, render, testing, grace
We are the Grace
Jesus, have mercy on us
On the way, region between lepers, keeping their distance, mercy, go and show, made clean, praise God, get up and go
We are the Grace
Get up and go on your way
And he was Samaritan, the unlikely, the chosen to be, The return, your faith made well
We are the Grace
We are the Grace. Be the open door, the porch at the Manor.
We Are the Sabbath
The year was 2011. 60 on Pilgrimage, three Sabbath Friday, Saturday and Sunday
God Spoke these words
Challenge, commands, preach the commandments, preach the gospel, do not engage in war, your sins are forgiven, proclamation, risk, courage YES
We are the Sabbath
Remember the Sabbath
Attitude, commands, forgive, command, radical, heart of good news, name mangled human nature,seek God’s healing
We are the Sabbath
Become like Christ
Reflection, life, transforming, Saul to Paul, observance,gift of the Torah, conversion, before and after, take on, liberation, freedom, partners, with creator of the universe, covenant
We are the Sabbath
Listen to another parable
Parable, guiding, reflection, unlock, unhinder, the reign of Christ
We are the Sabbath
The Stone has become the chief cornerstone
The stone, build up, removes pride, prejudice, sin, selfishness, greed, guilt, equip us with love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, self control, “The world you desire comes not by chance but by change.“
Strive to live together, peace
We are the Sabbath
We Are the Water
I remember a 20 km cattle drive in the month of July, all we had was a Canteen of warm water, it was delicious
Give us water
Is God with us? Read in the bible, experience, in the desert. Are we alone?
We are the Water
Strike the Rock
People made demands of Moses, out in the desert, beyond the wilderness, no water in sight, give us water to drink! We feel so abandoned or alone or despondent, we find God beside us.
We are the Water
Make my joy complete
Speak the intensity, testing in extremes, strategy, communicate with urgency, kenotic, participation in the spirit, consolation from love, fellowship, compassion, sympathy, koinonia.
We are the Water
Go in the work today.
Seek to understand, enter the city on a donkey the day before, the temple the centre of religious life.
We are the Water
Going into the kingdom
Engaging Jesus, identity, call to faith, bear witness to Jesus, call us to join the people at the edge
We are the Water
We are the water of courage.
We Are the Bread
Learned to make bread from scratch in Grade 6 Home Economics Class
It starts with yeast/ then Harrington Harbour
I am going to rain bread from heaven
God Provides for needs., Manna Is Not Enough, grumbling, complained, lamented, God’s deliverance, freedom from fleshpots, fill of bread
We are the Bread
The Lord heard your complaining
Fleshpots, liberated, relationship with God, griper, murmurings, rain bread, gather for the day, 6th day, 7th day the Sabbath day, fill of bread in the morning, salvation in the Exodus, manna, glory of God
We are the Bread
Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel
Eager expectation, hope, exalted body – soma, hope for heaven, comfort, flesh, fruitful labour, freedom
We are the Bread
The usual daily wage
Early workers, left everything, follow, converts, relationship to Israel, perennial struggle, lions share of God’s work, carry the weight, what kind of God, same reward
We are the Bread
The last will be first
Work, out of work, inferior, waited all day, long hours of work, demanding jobs, secure necessities of life, complaint of the day long workers, made them equal, God’s new order, unmaksing and envisioning, create possibility something new
We are the Bread
We are the bread, of hope.
We Are the Hand
Palm touching palm, We are the Hand
The Angel of God was going before them
Escape, great promise, take on the world, prepared, emerge, encamped, surrounded, on the brink, way of faith
We are the Hand
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea
Alone, self-determined, the story, deliverance, harden hearts, purpose, reveal, humanity, presence
We are the Hand
God welcomes all
Judgement, weak, strong, pivotal, protects, fellowship, controversy, issues, passionate, confused, uniting
We are the Hand
How often should I forgive?
Theological, nature of God, time to forgive, servant, brewing, perennial, quest, Forgive always
We are the Hand
Forgive seventy seven times
Story, shock, startle, awakens, consequence, gratitude, ridiculous, turn on, perspective of grace
We are the Hand
We Are the Day
The Lord Said to Miriam and Moses
Miracle, Exodus, God looked, God noticed, liberation, take action, crying oppressed, God Listens, set free.
We are the day
This Month shall mark the beginning of months
Groaning, proving, Moses, shepherd, keeping, flock, rebellion, guide, slavery no more, confront power
We are the day
Owe no one anything, except to love one another
Owe love, Agape-Love of the other for the sake of God, identity, love defines attitude, love has two feet, love God, love neighbour, God has become the neighbour
We are the day
Listen to every word that you speak to each other
Jesus, life in the church, lead as a child, serve, boundless forbearance, forgive, nature of church, welcome me, welcome a child, each member, great value
We are the day
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Forgive, teaching, restore, repent, reconcile, power, bind, loose, care, divine identity, sense of Call, seek to care
We are the day
We Are the Fire
The Angel appeared in a flamer of fire
Miracle, Exodus, God looked, God took notice, God saw, oppression, suffering, God, Liberation
God observation, Construction, Moses, Action, Moses was groaning, slavery, oppressed, crying out to God, God set them free
We are the fire
The place on which you are standing is holy ground
Groaning, providing, experience, shepherd, keeping, flock, rebellion, Pharoah’s army, constructs of power, search for the God Mountain, led flock, hinder part, Moses goes on pilgrimage, warning sign, shepherding, seeking guidance
We are the fire
Let love be genuine
Ekklesia, community, called out, set apart, mission, relation to the world, narrative, way of living, inner life, surrounding world
We are the fire
Jesus went to Jerusalem
the cross, from that time on, martyrdom, misunderstanding, confession, redeem, climax, hope
We are the fire
For those who lose their life will find it
Transition, from that time on, dependent, embarks, long journey, passion, launches suffering, divine idenitity, fulfill divine missions, nature or mission of Christ
We are the fire
We Are the Midwives
Call the midwives
Opening, exodus, potent, portents, people, chosen, relationship, become a nation, midwives, Shiprah and Puah, baby Moses, preserving life, set free
We are the Midwives
The Midwives feared God
Threat, king does not know, Joseph saved Egypt from famine, bearer of the God spirit, Joseph was great now forgotten, weak king, shallow leadership, strength is in retelling the heritage, equal footing, the king rejects God, panic, live under duress, force to be reckoned
We are the Midwives
Be the living sacrifice
Apostle, teacher, confession, voice, nature, life and death challenge, voice of faith, community, faith in action
We are the Midwives
Blessed are you
Peter, affirmation, foreshadow, prophet, Jesus, who am I? Messiah, teacher, son of David, Samaritan, other and us and all, woman at the well, today
We are the Midwives
I will give you the Keys of the Kingdom
Identity, authority, preaching, divine, revelation, binding, loosing, interpret, understand, wrestle with truth, faith meets the world, tell no one, tell all
We are the Midwives
We Are the Preservers
We are the preservers
God sent me before you to preserve
The story, betrayal, surprise, forgiveness/ tears/ shame/ open future
We are the preservers
Joseph wept
Forgiveness, welcoming words, promise, new life, tears of joy, healing for the weary eye, promise of life and love
We are the preservers
The gifts and calling of God are here
Power, separate, together, chosen, new covenant
We are the preservers
Listen and understand
The man born to be the promise, deliverance, silent words, God’s mercy
We are the preservers
Let if be done for you as wish
Language, affirmation, humanity, radical grace, voice, inside the story, our story, truth
We are the preservers
Here Comes the Dreamer
Seeking the dreamer
Origin, land of Canaan, wandering, wilderness, destination, consequences, envy, roots, Joseph, hatred comes, shepherd, long robe, favoured status, dreams, bowing to the ground
Go now and see if all is well
Misery, offering, consequence, fugitive, wanderer on the earth, prohibited, violence, envy, desire, possessions, talents, violence, favoured position, unfair, purpose of God, envy, rebellion, Lord of the universe, God’s economy
WE ARE THE DREAMER
The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart
Wrestling with fate, Christ is the fulfillment of the law,reconcile us to God, uniting us with God.
WE ARE THE DREAMER
Get into the Boat
God’s deliverance through waters, he came walking toward them on the sea, appearance of Jesus, in the storm
WE ARE THE DREAMER
Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.
Lord save me, Jesus reached out his hand, why did Peter doubt?, a little faith is all that is needed, to transform/ terror becomes courage on the way
WE ARE THE DREAMER
We Are the Wrestlers
We are the wrestlers
Wrestling with thought, life, day and night
Jacob wrestled till daybreak
Forgiveness, rehabilitation, crossing, a challenging river, nature of blessing,11 children, Leah and Rachel, wrestling with the road
We are the wrestlers
You have striven with God
Capitulates, violence, persistence, draw near to God, slake a thirst, compelling, restoration community, running toward his brother and weeping, gift of grace, baptism of desire divine recognition
We are the wrestler
I am speaking the truth in Christ
Paul’s existential struggles, steadfast mercy of God, reconciliation with God
We are the wrestlers
He withdrew from there in a boat
Miracle to gladden, trick with bread, spiritual power, hungry crowd, stranded, lonely are fed, craving for Christ, meal for the masses stones into bread
We are the wrestlers
He blessed and broke the loaves
Think nothing, yet possibilities are infinite, look up to heaven, give them something to eat, powerless no more, redemptive drama, teaching and miracle, Jesus story is the grand story.
We are the wrestlers
We Are the Guarantee
We are the Guarantee
I will serve you seven years
Appears, journey, fleeing, threat, travelling, pivotal, encounters, birth, tribes of Israel
We are the Guarantee
Jacob loved Rachel
Treachery, failure, human plans, providence, narrative, affirmation, divine message, bethel, omnipotence, reversals, fortune’s, power, human love, reveal, God love
We are the Guarantee
The Spirit helps us in our weakness
Debtors, account, live,hope, hiddenness, relieve suffering, wait, patience, weight, salvation, for knowledge, calling, response, action, living compassion
We are the Guarantee
The kingdom is like a net
Subversion, sorting, sorting, fish, God’s empire, mustard seed, preparation, fermenting, heaven, within the world
We are the Guarantee
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls
Mustard seed, invades, soil, boundaries, something new, hidden within, give church, chance
We are the Guarantee
We Are the Ladder
We are the Ladder,
The angels were ascending and descending
Promise, rock for a pillow, awakes, fathers and mothers, standing above the ladder, God is at the top and bottom of the ladder, heaven and earth, theophany’s, meet at the top
We are the Ladder,
all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Dwells in you, spirituality unleashed, mysticism, seek unity, transcend, ill fated Icarus, fixing the spirit life
We are the Ladder,
When do the weeds come in
Seed, sown, disciples, challenges of planting, the enemy, ecclesiology, anthropology
We are the Ladder,
Let anyone with ears listen
We are the ladder
Mixture of weeds, growing together, judgement at the end of time, good and evil, faith and faithfulness, look at the hurting and impatient world, God’s realm completed, this realm thriving in us
We are the Ladder.
