Living Psalm 50:1-6

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.

God speaks to the earth in every bright place,
“from the rising of the sun to where it sets.”
But what of places where the sunlight does not touch?
Deepest ocean trenches in Mariana and Puerto Rico,
glorious caves bearing the names Verëvkina and Son Doong

-these too are perfect in beauty like Zion,
worthy of God’s presence.

God shines in these deep homes,
making them full with the glory of God’s love.
God calls out relentlessly to every bright and shadowed place –
above-below-between –
To make glad and bright our human hearts.
Listen, God’s faithful people!

I was inspired by the specificity of place in this Psalm – where the sun sets, the skies above, Zion “perfect in beauty” and it made me wonder about other hidden places where the brightness of God may yet be found.

Elizabeth Dilley

Living-Psalm-50-1-6_Dilley-for-Transfiguration-Day-Feb-11-due-January-29-2024 Download

Living Psalm 50:1-6 was written by Elizabeth Dilley.

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.