Living Psalm 78 – Pentecost 23
Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.
Living Psalm 78: 1-7
For the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (A)
Holy Wisdom persists—
wrests a word in edgewise,
interrupting the din and confusion:
“Tell the truth in all the ways you know how–
news reports, stories, parables:
don’t hide the pain or the struggle.
Take the long view,
pore over stories the ancestors have told:
You will find me at work among the people,
deep in all you have heard and known.
Remember the ‘Ways made out of no way….’
Search recent days for signs of my presence:
Justice-longing, hope-empowering, peace-planting.”
Generations yet to come will need these stories,
how God’s glory may be sought
in depths of struggle.
Our children and their children and those yet unborn
must know the faithfulness of our God,
whose law, long established,
is new every day.
Bequeath Wisdom to the children:
Let them set their hope in her,
and recognize her works for what they are:
community built and hospitality practiced;
injustices named and overcome;
Love flowing from the Holy returned to the Holy,
and poured out for each other—neighbor and stranger.
Living Psalm 78 for Pentecost 23 A was written by Susan A. Blain.
Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor
Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.
© Copyright 2020 Faith INFO, UCC. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
