December 15, 2012
Vol. 12, Issue 4
It’s all about…The Lamb
Maude Carolan Pych/Quarterly Poetry Letter
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and
glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB
It’s all about…The Lamb is a quarterly publication for lovers of the
Holy Lamb of God, who also enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the
lover of our souls…
FIRST THINGS FIRST. Precious Lord, I call
upon your name for an outpouring of your love and mercy upon the people of
Newtown, Conn. and all the grieving people nationwide and worldwide who have
been stunned by yesterday’s tragic killing spree. Lord, comfort the
brokenhearted and help us to know how to prevent so great an evil from ever happening
again. Amen.
POETICALLY SPEAKING, IT HAS BEEN A VERY EXCITING TIME...In October I was invited to be interviewed on
video by a dear poet/friend of mine, Gloria Rovder Healy, at Seabrook in Tinton
Falls, NJ. The program will be available via closed circuit television to the
approximately one thousand residents of the retirement community in January.
During the interview I spoke about my life as a writer of family and inspirational
poetry and was pleased to read several, some old favorites and a few from my
new chapbook, A Pilgrim’s Quest—A Poet
Visits the Holy Land. It was a lively exchange, a very interesting
experience and great fun, too. I look forward to seeing the finished video
soon.
Then, last month, I
was invited to speak at a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting at Bible
Baptist Church in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. The topic was The Pearl of Great Price. I spoke to a group of young moms, some
with babies bouncing on their knees, about motherhood, grandmotherhood and
faith in Jesus Christ, with plenty of family and inspirational poetry woven into
the message. Thank you, Jane Sparling, for asking me to speak. It was truly a
delightful evening.
PASTOR/RABBI JONATHAN CAHN OF BETH ISRAEL WORSHIP CENTER and author of NY Times best-selling novel, The Harbinger, has been invited to be
the keynote speaker at The Inaugural Prayer
Breakfast, January 21st in Washington, DC.
Many members of our
congregation plan to travel from New Jersey to our nation’s capital to attend
the breakfast and to join our beloved pastor in praying for the United States
of America.
WITH CHRISTMAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, I made a few revisions to a poem written
last year during the holidays, and then arranged it decoratively on paper that
has a bright red border and mailed the poems to family and friends. This is one
of my favorite holiday traditions and a definite labor of love. I carefully
penned a greeting on each page in my very best handwriting, thinking about each
person as I did, sometimes stopping to offer up a prayer on their behalf. I folded
each one neatly and placed it in a hand-addressed envelope. Bob sealed every
envelope (about 200) and affixed a Christmas stamp and an address label embellished
with an angel design, specially ordered to compliment this year’s poem. The title
is, The Winged Ones. I’ll include it
in this poetry letter. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
FEATURED POET: ANN CREDIFORD
At the annual
Christmas Brunch of The North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG), held
recently, we went around the table reading our Christmas writings. Ann
Crediford delighted us with a very timely poem. I’m pleased that she so readily
granted me permission to share it with you. It is entitled, The Day Before Christmas. I’m sure it
will make you smile and that it will reach you with its deeper sentiment.
+++ THE POEMS FOLLOW +++
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS
On the day before Christmas the tree is not trimmed.
Not a stocking is hung, not a package is wrapped,
Not a cookie is cut, not a pie is prepared.
But Mom does computer, while Dad loves TV.
Today his fifth show is The Price is Not Right.
Son Jimmy lies prone on the living room couch
while he texts to a friend and plays music he likes.
Little Suzy has earbuds with wires to her IPod
and types on a laptop to play a new game.
Zing zing goes the doorbell but no one gets up.
At last Mom says to Dad, “Will you please see who’s
there?”
When he opens the door, it’s Grandma and Grandpa,
Who enter the house with their smiles and good cheer.
But mom keeps on computing with, “One minute, please,”
so Grandma hails Suzie with “Hi! How are you?”
Her granddaughter smiles but she misses the question,
then lowers her eyes and keeps playing her game.
So Grandma sits down by herself in a corner,
and Grandpa greets Jimmy, who gives him a high-five.
But that’s all he has for him. Texting comes first.
Frozen out Grandpa sits down next to Grandma.
And Dad goes on watching The Price is Not Right.
Then all of a sudden Mom looks at the floor
where the wire to her PC is burning with fire.
All screens go to black and it gets very quiet.
She unplugs the cord and the fire fizzles out
but the cable is dead and the gadgets don’t work.
Since the power is on, they all start to feel festive.
Grandpa and Jimmy put trim on the tree,
Grandma and Suzy make pies and some cookies,
while Dad wraps the presents and Mom cooks a meal.
By the end of the evening the stockings are hung,
the mess is cleaned up and the dishes are done.
That night in his room Grandpa falls to his knees
and thanks God for a non-electron Christmas eve.
Ann
Crediford
©
2012
THE
WINGED ONES
As Zacharias tends
the temple altar of incense
there’s a sudden swirl
of fragrance and smoke
Lo! A resplendent angel
appears before his very eyes—
It is Gabriel
who stands in the presence of God
The winged one startles the old
priest
by proclaiming—
Your
wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son…
He
will be the forerunner of Messiah
Astonished at the announcement
(for his wife is advanced in years)
Zacharias dares question
God’s messenger
and is duly struck dumb—
and will not utter another word
until the Heavenly proclamation
comes to pass
As grey-haired Elizabeth blossoms
with approaching motherhood
Gabriel alights again
all wings and gleam and glory
in a visit to Mary, a Nazarene maiden
He foretells that she, too, is with
child—
chosen to be the virgin mother
of the Holy Son of God—
Breathless, Mary runs
to Joseph, her betrothed
eager to tell of the angelic
visitation
and Gabriel’s marvelous word to her
but it is too much for him to
comprehend—
Feeling deceived and disheartened
he considers ending their engagement
until one night, while tossing in
sleep
an angel of the Lord appears in a
dream
to assure him
Mary is indeed pure and righteous—
miraculously overshadowed
by the Holy Spirit of God
so Joseph marries her
and together they await the coming
of The Savior of the World
and when that wondrous event occurs
a multitude of angels fill the
Heavenlies
with most glorious splendors
The Bethlehem night becomes
brilliant
startling lowly shepherds
reclining in fields with their
flocks
and all the beautiful celestial
beings
with wings and robes and gladness
proclaim good news of great joy
for all people:
Glory to God in the Highest—
Jesus, The Messiah, is born!
Maude Carolan Pych
© 2011
Permission to forward or copy is automatic and encouraged as
long as credit is given.
Comments are welcome and appreciated.
Look for the next edition of It’s All About…The Lamb, March 15, 2013
A FEW CLOSING WORDS…
Dear Subscriber,
I wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas surrounded
by people who love you. May it be tenderly reflective of the spotless and holy
precious Lamb of God Who was born to save us…Jesus/Yeshua.
O Praise Him!
…And Happy Hanukkah to those of the Jewish faith…
God be with ewe,
Maude
After God’s Own Heart Publishing
P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
