Psalm 1 – Epiphany 6C

Living Psalm 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.

The Path of Actualized Promise

1 A just God blesses those image bearers
   who rebuke evil maneuverings
   and reject resourcing doers of destruction
   or singing in the corrupt chorus against a loving God.

2 Counter culturally, the precepts of God
   bring them joy,
   and they revel in God’s actualized promises
   in times of light and in times of murkiness.

3 These image bearers are like roots
   feeding from the nearest water source,
   plants that bear
   fruit when its fruit is needed
   and consistently sprout new growth.
Those image bearers thrive
   in all they bring forth

4 That is not the substance of those
  who have chosen evil over goodness
  because they are like holograms
  without anchoring matter/actual bodies.

5 Evil doers will be without shield or political party
   when they come before their Creator,
   and they will have forfeited eternal spiritual community
   just as they have forsaken the earthen community of goodness on this side of the Jordan.

6 The God of love covers everyone
    who loves God
    But the anti-lovers follow a path
    that is already dead and leads to greater death.

Living Psalm for Epiphany 6C: Psalm 1 was written by Rev. Vanisha Hasan.
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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.

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