Joyce Borger

I wonder if we aren’t too nonchalant about worshiping God. “Going to church” on Sunday is often little more than a routine, something we do—a habit. It happens to be a good habit, but we don’t often give it much thought. We are churchgoers. On Sunday we go to church and worship God. Psalm 15, however, suggests that our entering into God’s presence isn’t necessarily a given. “O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” the psalmist asks. Nancy deClaissé-Walford in her commentary on the Working Preacher points out that it is a resident alien or foreigner who requests permission to abide. Such a person wouldn’t have an inherent right to residence. Therefore, the implication of Psalm 15’s opening questions is that the psalmist has no right to entrance and by wondering who gets access is requesting entrance. More than that, the psalmist desires a place to dwell, a place to call home. The psalmist is approaching the Lord as an outsider without any assumptions of a positive response.What would change if we began worship with this question? Too often those who have a history of attending worship consider themselves the insiders who welcome outsiders. Somehow we believe that we, the “belongers,” get to be the gatekeepers and discern who gets to abide and eventually dwell in our church’s presence. Psalm 15 challenges this perspective with the two opening questions. We all start outside the tent. The answer that follows in the remaining verses is not meant to be prescriptive as much as descriptive. The person who may dwell in God’s presence is a lover of justice for all people. If we are honest, we quickly realize that this description only perfectly fits one person: our Savior, Jesus Christ. The only reason we can enter the “tent,” to worship our God, the only reason we can be at home in God’s presence is through our unity with Christ. Recognizing our dependence on God’s grace, we should approach worship with a deep sense of gratitude and privilege rather than as a mindless habit. When we gather, we must recognize that, at our core, we are no better than those who might not yet belong but are still beloved and invited in. When we gather, we are also confronted with the call of Psalm 15 to emulate Christ in living lives marked by justice. Psalm 15 says more about how we act than about what we believe. It is in our actions that we will find strength and a foundation that will make us unmoveable. While Psalm 15 can be an “entrance hymn,” it also functions as a call to holy living which is how it is used in the litany below. In this case, that call to holy living happens within the context of a prayer of confession for a leader or reader and congregation. The text of Psalm 15 is found in the brown font. A Prayer of Confession with Psalm 15AllO Lord, who may abide in your tent?    Who may dwell on your holy hill?LeaderThose who walk blamelessly and do what is right    and speak the truth from their heart;AllForgive us, Lord. We are not blameless. We have not done what is right. Too often we have spoken half truths and told outright lies. Too often we have failed to challenge falsehoods and remained silent. LeaderThose who may abide are those who do not slander with their tongue    and do no evil to their friends    nor heap shame upon their neighbors;AllForgive us, Lord,  for using our tongues to slander and shame others on our socials and in conversations. Forgive us for not loving our enemiesas you have called us to. Forgive us for our participation in the evil done to neighborsthrough our actions and our inaction. LeaderThose who may dwell are thosein whose eyes the wicked are despised    but who honor those who fear the Lord;who stand by their oath even to their hurt;AllForgive us, Lord, for counting the wicked as a friend, for desiring to be like them, for rationalizing or dismissing their actionsrather than despising their evil ways. Forgive us for being so worried about what following you might cost us that we are willing to dishonor you, to turn our back on you and those you love. LeaderThose who are welcomed in the Lord’s presence are thosewho do not lend money at interest    and do not take a bribe against the innocent.AllForgive us, Lord,for taking advantage of those in need and failing to protect them from those who prey on them. LeaderThose who do these [acts of justice] shall never be moved.—Psalm 15 NRSVUEAll Lord, we have failed and do not deserve your mercy. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to perfectly fulfill your law in our place. Thank you that by believing in Christ as our Savior, we are united with him, and are counted as your children. Help us to live a life worthy of this grace that we have received. LeaderUnited with Christ, we dare pray for forgiveness. United with Christ, we desire to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. AllHoly God, forgive us and welcome us into your tentto dwell with you forever. Amen. Revised Common Lectionary: Epiphany 4A, Season after Pentecost Proper 17B, Proper 11C 

I can’t read Psalm 27 without Lillian Bouknight’s versification playing in my mind. In the hymnal, Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, (Faith Alive, 2013), of which I served as editor, it appears in the “Difficult Times” section of the hymnal (LUYH #431). Some have thought it a strange place even though the song talks about trouble. “Isn't it a bit too upbeat?”,  they query. I respond  that not only does Bouknight’s arrangement, when played correctly, capture the tenor of the psalm, its placement in the hymnal and in our lived hymnody is spot on. Sometimes you need to look difficult times in the face with defiance, speaking truth to evil, resisting through your proclamations of faith. Sometimes you need to boldly declare what you believe in order to claim it for yourself, standing firm amidst the chaotic storm swirling around you. When led correctly, Bouknight’s arrangement of Psalm 27, “The Lord is My Light,” has an unobtrusive steady marching pulse; there is a firmness to the melody itself. In Bouknight’s hands, the words of Psalm 27 become bold declarations, bolstering the soul during times of much faith and times of fear, doubt, questions, and grief. If you have a moment, listen to this recording which exemplifies this so well. It was recorded at the 2015 Calvin Symposium of Worship with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s dear departed friend, Dr. Jimmy Abington, at the piano. As pastors and worship leaders, one of our tasks is to prepare our people for difficult times and support them through it. One way of doing that is to make sure that they have a sung repertoire to pull from in those moments, whether that moment be a funeral or an act of resistance against the evil powers of this world. I encourage you to make this particular arrangement of Psalm 27 one of those songs that can play as the backdrop for the difficult times that your people do and will face. Psalm 27 for Two Voices and InstrumentsHere is the full psalm with Bouknight’s versification woven throughout. It will take a bit of rehearsing for the musicians and readers to get the timing and feeling right, but with the Spirit’s leading, the extra effort will amplify the message of the psalm. ReaderTextDirections  Begin playing just the melody of Lillian Bouknight’s Psalm 27, “The Lord is My Light” softly in the background playing under the spoken word.  Reader 1The Lord is my light and my salvation;    whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life;    of whom shall I be afraid? Speak a bit timidly with the emphasis on the question.Reader 2There is much to fear. Haven’t you been paying attention? [List a few fears facing your people, thinking of their different ages and stages.]  Reader 1The Lord is my light and my salvation;    whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life;    of whom shall I be afraid?When evildoers assail me    to devour my flesh—my adversaries and foes—    they shall stumble and fall.Though an army encamp against me,    my heart shall not fear;though war rise up against me,    yet I will be confident. Begin with the emphasis on the statement of faith that begins the first two questions then spoken with increased confidence  as the music accompaniment begins to fill out adding chords below the melody line.  All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 1, no refrain) Bouknight For now keep the music reserved.  Reader 2Sometimes I feel like I am surrounded, like there is no escaping all the scary things in this world. In times like these I need to hold on to the truth that despite every evidence to the contrary, good will triumph. One day evil will be overthrown, and all will be well.   Reader 1One thing I asked of the Lord;    this I seek:to live in the house of the Lord    all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the Lord,    and to inquire in his temple.  All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 2, no refrain) Bouknight   Reader 1For he will hide me in his shelter    in the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;    he will set me high on a rock.  Reader 2So, we stand here with courage and confidence, knowing that God is with us. God will keep us safe; we will experience redemption.   All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 3, no refrain) Bouknight   Reader 1Now my head is lifted up    above my enemies all around me,and I will offer in his tent    sacrifices with shouts of joy;I will sing and make melody to the Lord.  All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 1, with refrain) Bouknight  Grow into the refrain. Reader 2Yes, this is my testimony, but still my heart is heavy, and so, as an act of faith, I bring my prayer to God.   Reader 1Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;    be gracious to me and answer me!“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”    Your face, Lord, do I seek.  Reader 2Your face, Lord, do I seek.  All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (refrain only) Bouknight  With confidence. Reader 2I seek the Lord; I trust God, but still there is so much that is wrong in this world!   Reader 1    Do not hide your face from me.Do not turn your servant away in anger,    you who have been my help.Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,    O God of my salvation!If my father and mother forsake me,    the Lord will take me up.Teach me your way, O Lord,    and lead me on a level path    because of my enemies.Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,    for false witnesses have risen against me,    and they are breathing out violence. Prayerful pleading.   With realization.   With desire. Firmly. Reader 2Lord, hear my prayer. Hear the words of my lament. Hold my faith firm even as I face all that is wrong in this world. [Add specifics if appropriate.]Still I believe!   All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 1 with refrain) Bouknight  Defiantly and at full volume. Reader 1I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord    in the land of the living.Wait for the Lord;    be strong, and let your heart take courage;    wait for the Lord! Spoken with great faith. All Sing“The Lord is My Light” (st. 2 with refrain) Bouknight With firmness and courage. Revised Common Lectionary: Lent 2C, Epiphany 3A

Most often psalms of lament move from lament to praise. Psalm 40 changes the order around: It begins with praise and then, starting at verse 11, moves into lament. It is an interesting change in perspective and reflects a common experience. In this world praise is often interspersed with lament. In fact, at any one time we may be holding the two in tension. Sometimes knowing the goodness that exists in this world makes us lament the evil we see and experience—it’s not the way it was meant to be. But on the other hand, it is often our remembrance of the good things that God has done for us that helps us during darker timesThe good gifts of God not only bolster us personally, they are meant to be shared with others, to point to our gracious God. This psalm then gives us a great opportunity for sharing some of our own testimonies. You might want to invite your worshiping community, young and old, to send in one sentence answers to where they have seen God at work in their lives and the world around them recently. Then share a few of them where indicated in the litany below. This litany is written for one voice. The text in regular font is meant to help the listener understand the psalm and its movements. The psalm itself is in the brown font. There is an optional communal response in bold at the end.  A Conversation with Psalm 40Listen to my testimony of the wonders that God has done for me. I waited patiently for the Lord;    he inclined to me and heard my cry.I waited and waited with hope and trust and then…He drew me up from the desolate pit,    out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,    making my steps secure.He put a new song in my mouth,    a song of praise to our God.Have you ever experienced such desolation? Maybe you are feeling like you are in the pit of despair right now. If God did this for me, surely God can do the same for you. This is my hope for all of you, thatMany will see and fear    and put their trust in the Lord.Once you put your trust in God you will find contentment forHappy are those who make    the Lord their trust,who do not turn to the proud,    to those who go astray after false gods.Listen, to this truth about our God. You have multiplied, O Lord my God,    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;    none can compare with you.Were I to proclaim and tell of them,    they would be more than can be counted.We can’t share all that God has done or we would be here all day, but listen to just a few testimonies from our community… [Insert short sentence testimonies collected from congregation members.] How might we respond to these wondrous testimonies? [O Lord,] Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,    but you have given me an open ear.Burnt offering and sin offering    you have not required.Instead you desire all of me rather than empty rituals. A proper response is a life dedicated to you, to be your disciple, committed to inviting others to follow you, to come see and hear.  [So,] I said, “Here I am;    in the scroll of the book it is written of me.I delight to do your will, O my God;    your law is within my heart.”I have told the glad news of deliverance    in the great congregation;see, I have not restrained my lips,    as you know, O Lord.I have not hidden your saving help within my heart;    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness    from the great congregation.But life is full of ups and downs, so I continue to pray. Do not, O Lord, withhold    your mercy from me;let your steadfast love and your faithfulness    keep me safe forever.—Psalm 40:1–11 NRSVUEDo not, O Lord withhold your mercy from any of us; let your steadfast love and your faithfulnesskeep us safe forever. Amen. Revised Common Lectionary Epiphany 2A, Annunciation

This litany with Psalm 29 (NRSVUE) at its center is for three readers and percussion with quotes from Isaiah 43:1-3 (NRSVUE) and Matthew 3:17 (NRSVUE). The cumulative message of this litany is that though God is a God of immense power, who has control over all creation, we do not need to fear. God has sent God’s beloved son to redeem us. Do not be afraid. Peace will come.

Psalm 72 appears in the Revised Common Lectionary on Epiphany along with the story of the Magi and Herod from the beginning of Matthew 2. The two passages present a stark contrast between the king of this world, Herod, and the king spoken of in Psalm 72. Herod is only concerned with his own well-being, while the king of Psalm 72 uses his power and authority to seek the flourishing of all people and creation. Which king do you follow?

Psalm 148, a litany of praise for two readers and congregation. While it may be intuitive to use this psalm as a call to worship, consider instead using it as a statement of faith following the preaching of a passage like Matthew 2:13–23, or as part of the service of sending.

The text of Psalm 98, NRSVUE and John 1:1–5, 14, NRSVUE are arranged here as a Christmas call to worship for four readers. The reading is interspersed with the lighting of the Advent wreath and Christ candle.

A Christmas call to worship from Psalm 97 for four readers

A Christmas call to worship from Psalm 96, Titus 2:11, 14, and Isaiah 9:6 for five readers and congregation, and it includes candle lighting.

[The text of Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 NRSVUE is found in the brown font. The portion in bold could be read by the congregation with a leader reading the rest of the call to worship. Alternatively you could have a second reader read the psalm. This litany could be used as part of the opening of worship with or without the candle lighting. If used with the candle lighting, the first three candles should be lit before the service begins.]Call to WorshipOur God of love calls us to come and worship him, for “we love because he first loved us.”— 1 John 4:19 NRSVUEAnd God gave us a sign of that love. “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.”—Isaiah 7:14  NRSVUEAnd so we come to worship with our loveand because we are assured of God’s love for us. We also come with lament, aware of our need of salvation. The psalmist says, Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,    you who lead Joseph like a flock!You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.Stir up your might,    and come to save us!Restore us, O God;    let your face shine, that we may be saved.O Lord God of hosts,    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?You have fed them with the bread of tears    and given them tears to drink in full measure.You make us the scorn of our neighbors;    our enemies laugh among themselves.Restore us, O God of hosts;    let your face shine, that we may be saved.Advent Candle LightingToday we light the candle of love.  As we await the coming of the Messiah, we do so as a people who journey for love, from darkness to light, towards justice and peace. We journey for love, for Christ loved us first and is coming to set the world a-right. [Lighting of the fourth Advent candle.]Sung Response“Lord, You Were Rich Beyond All Splendor” Houghtonor“Hope Is a Candle” (st. 1, 2, 4, 3) LeachPsalms in Worship: Advent and Christmas Psalms with Candle LightingAdvent 1—Psalm 122Advent 2—Psalm 72Advent 3—Psalm 146Christmas 1—Psalm 96Christmas 2—Psalm 97Christmas 3—Psalm 98