After Pentecost 12B – August 11

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.

Out of the depths …of loneliness,
diagnosis, body-shaming,
of family damaged,
grief that seems endless,
five unforgiveable things I said,
the bitter strugglish days of election,
the burning down of a home,
or burning up of a friendship
meant to last a lifetime.

Out of the depths, of the dog’s death,
embarrassed it means so much
in a world of desperations,
or a child not being included
on a team for the fall,
or of needing to act unaware
of others’ comments
about my clothing, the one I love
where or if I was educated,

all my wrong stuff as obvious
as toilet paper on my shoes.

Out of all the depths,
you listen, even to my exaggerations
about how I will drown,
even to my failing to name
my part in how things happened.

Your forgiveness is like atmosphere,
offered to all who breathe.

You ask that I wait
when I do not want to give a minute
to reflection on what happened,
or how I could help … just a little,
everyone to live
with consequences of consequences,

accept night as on the way to dawn,
and then embrace night
as the beautiful time of your stars.

Living-Psalm-130_Tirabassi-for-August-11-2024 Download

Living Psalm 130 was written by Maren Tirabassi.

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.