Living Psalm 27:1, 4-9 – Epiphany 3A

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.

I am singing it, singing it, singing it:
God is light; God is salvation,
but there is war in Ukraine,
there is terror in Myanmar,
grieving in Africa, in Yemen,
insurrection in Brazil,
memory of insurrection in US.

I am singing it, singing it:
God is both a stronghold and beauty,
but there is XBB.1.5 everywhere,
RSV among children, among elders,

I am singing it, singing it:
God is a shelter –
bear-proof tent, unscalable rock,
but all around are storms or fires,
bomb-cyclone, hurricane,
mudslide, earthquake,
disasters from the change of climate.

I am singing it, praying it, crying it:
Come God, let me experience your face,
my heart seeks you.
Do not hide from us,
do not turn away from us in anger,
do not cast us off, do not forsake us.

I am glimpsing it, discovering it,
unloosing my hands, opening my life –
for I have found your face.

Your face is on friend and stranger,
your face is on child and elder,
your face is on the doors I don’t want to open,
your face is in my broken mirror.

You do not hide from us,
you do not turn away from us in anger,
you do not cast us off, or forsake us,
for your face is among us and beside us,
suffering with us and strong-holding us,
so we become beauty, light,
tent-flap, high butte,
a source of your salvation.

Living-Psalm-27-14-9_Tirabassi Download

Living Psalm for Epiphany 3A – Psalm 27:1, 4-9 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.