Living Psalm 30 – Pentecost 4C

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 want to sing. I want to break forth in song to God for things that I don’t understand because nothing feels certain.

Everything feels precarious and tentative, like a wolf might attack at any minute and there is no one to help.

We are a world at war. Again.

Massive amounts of weapons are being sent to the people of Ukraine in the hope of peace. I cannot even comprehend it but anger has not been just a moment. It has persisted as furiously as hate and greed. And I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to claim other than joy.

So I will sing for my joy in the struggle because the dust of this war will linger just as it has for other wars, large and small. It will cling to our feet through every protest and still we will struggle. Together, we will sing for things that we can’t quite explain but still believe to be possible.

We will sing because God is that good. God will be my joy in this struggle and the next. God will always be my joy.

Living Psalm 30 – Pentecost 5C was written by Elsa Anders Cook, who is part of a military family living in Germany.

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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