Living Psalm 32 – Lent 1A

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.

Seminary Sunday/ Church Vocations Sunday

God, when folx are right with you, right with themselves and right with their community, all is well.
When all can witness the echoed rightness, there is peaceful stillness.

God only knows when my vibes were off, so too was my spirit, my body, my being.
With you, Holy One, I had to get right, again!

I had to go deep, get authentic, and find where my faith and values did not align with my actions.
And there you were! Ready to hold me close again and show me the Way.

So let me proclaim how I know you. Let me show up in authenticity.
Let me be an example in teaching, in learning, in humility, and in faith.

Let all who follow you offer their real prayers of the soul.
Let them find the calm eddy in the rushing river of anxieties, complexities, and injustice,

Offer us all the stillness of the womb, the hope of deliverance,
The soft place to grow stronger in faith and works,

And to you, witnessing this psalm, I will testify:
My growth comes with softness and relationship, challenge, and recovery.
My community holds me accountable, teaching, calling in, and pushing further.

My prayer for you in witness is this learning of softness.
When you cease up into defense, when the challenge activates your fragility,
Listen: God is speaking to you, too, in that place.

Steadfast love is for those who trust in the Wonder of Our God.
Testify. Witness. Teach. For God loves us into our Growing.
And here, in this moment, as we are: Joy, Joy, Joy!

Living-Psalm-32_Davies Download

Living Psalm for Lent 1A – Psalm 32 was written by Rev. Dr. Chris Davies.

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.