Imaginary People in the imaginary Church--poems...

My file name for this small set of poems, fictitious Church attendees, reads "People for blog poems." This unusual construct leads the reader to recognize that these are imaginary Church people, people-ing my Church. Any similarities are in the mind of the reader, should you know these people.

The first poem is about a man who prays, in fact yearns for gifts from God to grant him the ability to read the scriptures, and asks for the blessing of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit will become a part of his life.

I found this to be happily in accord with one of the many definitions by Rowan Williams in his essay"Word and Spirit" in the book "Christian Theology," a collection of his writings. He says this: "We can recognize perhaps more clearly the disturbing confusion of theological language in the New Testament under the pressure of the figure of the crucified Messiah: we can accept more readily the breaking of certain kinds of sacral barrier, so that 'Spirit' ceases to be confined to the extraordinary but becomes a qualificantion of Christian human being." There isn't room in this entry form for more on the poems. So, here they are:

A Man Finds He Yearns for God, the Word
by Peter Menkin

Shall I be personal
about it.
He said, "I have begged
the holy spirit..."Lead me in reading
the Bible."
He said, "I have implored
the spirit of truth..."Reveal to me the Word
of God in the Bible.
I yearn, was this man's
truth.to live the life--so it is called. The promise
goes,
He said, "I want to have
this language
in my heart,
in my mind,on my lips."Is this an earnestness?
A need?
He says, "yearn."God chooses us
first.
Then we go to his
call.










Devotion to the Cross...
By Peter Menkin

The Kingdom of heaven
is like
a mustard seed.
So this parable
leads these two
worshipers to seek
their treasure in God.

Their emotions for the
cross, they carry,
not so evident. No
displays in public, one
wouldn't know
this couple's devotion.

The cross: thing of torture,ignomious end, horrible
death, mean judgment;
their lives embrace eventhis part of living.
Gaining a meaning from
Christ,
saying "yes" in worship.
By attendance
a statement for living
their lives.

So startling large
looms faith.The couple kneel
with bowed head.











The Doctor who asks God...
By Peter Menkin

Dr. P., medical
researcher,
prays questionsto God.
On Sundays he wears
a suit, brings his family,
and sits in the same pew.

A tall man, quiet,
he wonders, queryingt
he Lord with the needs
of his searching mind.

When it comes to Church,
he knows few things
besides the catechism,
which he teaches. Most
of what he know
he learns from his talks
with God.

In the morning, he
and his wife
sing with their small
children before school,
in a circle. This
is preparation for prayer
these days.

So startling large
looms faith.
The couple kneel
with bowed head.






Mother and Baby Feel the Call...
By Peter Menkin

Young mother
with five month old
baby comes to Church,
happy to be present.

There is something special
in the series of words,
the kindness of liturgy,
the hour of the Sunday.

The baby is taken
to the heart of the time,
the community rises in prayer,
"Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed by thy name..."

"This simple act brings
life and people into the place
"Here's the church, here'sthe steeple,
here are all
the people" goes the rhyme.

Mother's with children,
like this young woman,
in her 20s, some older
are shining with hope.

Better life with Christ,
moral teaching, ethical
exposure,

mystery of the communion? These
thoughts fail to tell
of the spirit
of God.

Some are called;
they bring their baby
as does she.






Mr. de Wolf's hope...
by Peter Menkin

Something awakened
his heart,
becoming inner chamber,
place of prayer.

Who could know, even
when it occurred
aware of this--striving with the spirit,
not striving with the spirit.

How could one know?
Mr. de Wolf became
a knowing man of prayer
in Church. Later he
reflects, that was







Quietly Devoted in the Mystery...
By Peter Menkin

Neatly dressed
in tailored suit, she
takes the Eucharist:

"The blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ, Keep you
in Eternal Life.
"Quietly so, she prays,
something uniquely
fervent in her practice,
giving a dignity
and good humor shared
with others.

Church is a regular Sunday time, with Christ,
and we are together
in communion, raised
hearts by hymn and liturgy
imploring a meeting
in the spirit. She shares,

as we all, in the mystery
of the words and music.
There is work of devotion
in her life. Was she one

of those who wait in vigil
before Easter?
At home,
quietly devoted, still.







Long Journey in the Seasons...
By Peter Menkin

T.J. is old,
perhaps 85; she
arrives early to Church
with an attendant.
Blue eyes hopeful.

Infirm, but willing,
what brings her every
Sundayto worship?
Some of it:

can she make it,
did a demon pursue
the Doctor in her youth?
Does she wish
for everlasting life?

The answer is probably
she believes in the Triune God,
wishes to worship
long as she can
in the Church.

The old hold secrets
even to the almost so old,
making us observe
her studied presence.
Many years in following
the seasons havegone by.
T.J. continues
the journey.







These days are good...
by Peter Menkin

He noted the weather,
September comes
to this year. Cooler
temperatures. Peter
grew older, a little,

and he fixed the driveway
of his home. Quiet life.
Sunday, yesterday, was
good. The ritual and words
a comfort. The talk

with friends at Church,warming.
There are the good things
accompanying him these
days. A grandchild,
the peace of prayer

and afterward. So he leaves
after religious services
with his wife. Lucky man
these days.

A kindness has come
into his life. From
years of attending Church,
he thinks. Good thoughts.







Widower in Church
by Peter Menkin

Smallman, ex-marine
always every Sunday
in Church.
Doing
this and that,
lighting candles and etc.in Church.He

an architect doesn't
appear to be a religious man,
even in Church.
Prays
so you couldn't tell,
casual in summer shirt,
in Church.

Warm
man and widower,
he asks is his wife in Hell?

Ever
dutiful in his service
he goes on with God
in Church.