Scripture Text (NRSV)
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c
104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
104:2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens
like a tent,
104:3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the
clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind,
104:4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your
ministers.
104:5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be
shaken.
104:6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood
above the mountains.
104:7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take
to flight.
104:8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the
place that you appointed for them.
104:9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might
not again cover the earth.
104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made
them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
104:35c Praise the LORD!
Comments:
Nice water images - I'm baptizing a three week old baby Sunday - he
has never missed a Sunday being in church - any ideas with this week's
lections? kbc in sc
Yes, KBC on Sc-how about this--concerning the lectionary, Mark says
that the greatest will be the servant. The infant baptism service of
the United MEthodist Church instructs the parents and the congregation
to adot the baby, be constantly aware of the growing child in their
midst and order their lives according--ex. live as loving Christians,
not as haggling church members, go out of their way to relate to the
child, and learn about him/her as the child grows in their
midst.Parents should serve the child by raising the child in a
Christian home, brining the child to church, involving the child in
the life of the church. When I take part in the confirmation of a
child, I thank the congregation for fulfilling their vows made at the
child's baptism--to surround the child with Christian love, Christian
faith, Christian examples. As far as I can see it, the work of the
parents, godparents, grandparents, congregation is just beginning with
the baptism of the child. THIS will be some of their greatest work.
Does that help? What do you think? STAN in TN
Stan - Yes! Good. Thanks ... kbc in sc
Also, Stan (if I can digress - it's nice here on the Psalm site, not
worrying about taking up space) - the whole "Yes, we are able!"
business of the disciples always makes me laugh - especially in Mark.
Sure they are. They are about as able to follow Jesus into his baptism
as our congregation's three-week-old Matthew is!
How do dpssers use the Psalms in worship?
kbc in sc
KBC,
In my UCC congregation, we sing the Psalms most weeks ... but how they
work into the sermon varies from week to week.
Squeeze
Dear KBC and Squeeze,
I usually use the Psalm as a call to worship. I would love to sing
some of them. What resource do you use to sing them,squeeze? John
Michael Talbot has some great songs that are mostly Psalms.
Susan in Wa.
Susan in WA,
We sing from the psalter in the back of the New Century Hymnal. Prior
to my call to the church, their previous pastor served as cantor most
of the time, but now we usually sing responsively with one side of the
congregation answering the other.
Hope that helps,
Squeeze
