Joyce Borger

Psalms were not written in a vacuum; they emerged from specific historical contexts for distinct purposes. Psalm 78, classified as a wisdom psalm, encourages the intergenerational passing of faith. It does this by recounting God’s faithfulness and by teaching what it means to worship God, to be a faithful disciple, and to obey God’s commandments. Following the example of scripture, we must continually rehearse our faith and renew our covenant—not for God’s benefit, but for our own. Doing so helps us to remember who we are and to whom we belong. This same action serves as a testimony to those younger in the faith or curious about it. Drawing inspiration from Joshua 24, one of the most dramatic covenant renewals in scripture, this opening of worship collapses time. By weaving ancient scripture with newly written words, those gathered are invited into the biblical drama to experience a covenant renewal ceremony for our lives today. Readers Needed: Narrator: can be the pastor or worship leaderJoshua: best portrayed by an elderly man. If you opt to have Joshua place a stone somewhere on stage, this person needs to be strong enough to lift and move it, if you are using a real stone. Psalmist: try and find a contrasting voice to the narrator or Joshua. This is a great opportunity for middle schoolers or teens.  Congregation: preferably spoken by those gathered but could be assigned to a smaller group. The congregation’s text is in bold font arranged in shorter lines to better enable unison reading. Note that for all the readings the scripture portions are in quotations and appear in brown font with the references to the right. The text in square brackets in the midst of scripture are additions or changes to the scripture. Any text not in quotes is newly written. All scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE).To help the congregation enter into the drama do not project all the text. It may be easiest to insert blank or black, slides for the narrator, psalmist, and Joshua, then project only the congregation’s text when they need to speak. Props:Bible: This needs to be easily identifiable as a Bible and large enough to be seen. Stone: This should be a substantial stone or rock that is visible to the congregation. If using a real stone, make sure that it isn’t too heavy for Joshua to move. You can find fake ones for sale that are made out of plastic or search online for how to make a fake rock and you will find many ideas for doing so with paper-mâché or cardboard and chicken wire. If using a lighter, fake stone, have Joshua act as if it is heavy. Call to WorshipNarrator:“Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people,” Joshua 24:1Joshua:“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many.” Joshua 24:2–3Congregation:As God’s people, adopted children of Abraham, these are our ancestors— this is our story! The God of Abraham  is the same Godwho gathers and calls us to worship.   God’s GreetingIndeed, not only did God save our spiritual ancestors, from slavery and wandering in the wilderness,God has saved us from our own wilderness. As God’s gathered children, God greets us with these words: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,  to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." —Galatians 1:3–5 NRSVUESongs of Praise Choose your own song(s) of praise and thanksgiving or consider using one of the following. By the Savior’s Power Wilson, Vasquez, Cashwell God, We Sing Your Glorious Praises Polman        Here I Am to Worship Hughes Oh, To Be Like You Baloche, Ryan, Wilson Praise to the Lord (Joyful, Joyful) Neander, Van Dyke, Barnard, Everett Praise the Father, Praise the Son TomlinWe Will Extol You, God and King ScheerCovenant RenewalJoshua:You have just praised God for his goodness and grace. “Now, therefore, revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away [other] gods…and serve the Lord.” Ditch the god of ego—the mindset that says you are the center of the universe, sparking toxic comparisons and tearing down others. Walk away from the god of the hustle that says it is ok to step on others for money, status, or clout. Reject the selfish god that hoards success instead of lifting up the community, and the ruthless god demanding dominance at all cost. Don’t buy into the lie that it is ok to cheat and lie, to steal and destroy just to get ahead.    Joshua 24:14    “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the god [of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, or sloth.]  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15Psalmist:“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;    incline your ears to the words of my mouth.I will open my mouth in a parable;things that we have heard and known,    that our ancestors have told us.We will not hide them from their children;    we will tell to the coming generationthe glorious deeds of the Lord and his might    and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78:1–4Congregation:“Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lordto serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight…”It is our Lord, Jesus Christ, who saved us from our sins and promises us salvation— a new heaven and earth.Joshua 24:16–17 “Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” Joshua 24:18Psalmist:“[The Lord] established a decree in Jacob    and appointed a law in Israel,which he commanded our ancestors    to teach to their children,that the next generation might know them,    the children yet unborn,and rise up and tell them to their children,   so that they should set their hope in God,and not forget the works of God,    but keep his commandments;” Psalm 78:5–7Narrator: And what is the greatest commandment?   Congregation:“‘You shall love the Lord your God      with all your heart      and with all your soul      and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”   Matthew 22:37Joshua:Do you really think you can do that?  “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”  Joshua 24:19–20Congregation:“No, we will serve the Lord!”  Joshua 24:21Joshua: “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.”  Joshua 24:22Congregation:“We are witnesses.”  Joshua 24:22Joshua:“Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”  Joshua 24:23Congregation:“The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.”  Joshua 24:24Narrator:“So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, [lifts up a Bible] and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord.”(Optional: Joshua moves a large stone underneath a cross or another visible place.) Joshua 24:25–26Joshua:“See, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you if you deal falsely with your God.”  Joshua 24:27Congregation:This is how we will live as we await the return of Christ, the Son of God.  Narrator:“Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:13Song of Faith and Commitment        As For Me and My House Getty, Getty, Cochren, Fowler         Christ Our Hope in Life and Death Boswell, Getty, Kauflin, Merker, Papa  Open Your Ears, O Faithful People Jabusch People of the Lord Scheer Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Laurenti, tr. Borthwick FindlaterView the Present Through the Promise TroegerRevised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 27 (32) 

The following reading is from Revelation 7:9–17 interspersed with Psalm 34:1–10, 22. Throughout the reading, the verses from the psalm are read by the congregation. Revelation 7:9–17 could be read by a single voice or dramatically as laid out below. For the dramatic version you will need the narrator, John, and the elder. You will also need a group of people to be the multitude. The angel portion (Revelation 7:12) could be sung by a choir or read by a second group of people or even the same group as used for the multitude.  John: After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.  They cried out in a loud voice, saying,  Multitude:“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!”  Congregation:I will bless the Lord at all times;    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.My soul makes its boast in the Lord;    let the humble hear and be glad. John: And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,  Angels:“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honorand power and mightbe to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Or sing, “Here from All Nations” stanza 5 Revelation 7:12, Christopher Idle Congregation:O magnify the Lord with me,    and let us exalt his name together. John: Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,  Elder:“Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” John:  I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me,  Elder:“These are they who have come out of the great ordeal;  Congregation:I sought the Lord, and he answered me    and delivered me from all my fears. Elder: they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Congregation:Look to him, and be radiant,    so your faces shall never be ashamed. Elder:For this reason they are before the throne of God    and worship him day and night within his temple, Congregation:This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord    and was saved from every trouble. Elder: and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.  Congregation:The angel of the Lord encamps    around those who fear him and delivers them. Elder:They will hunger no more and thirst no more;  Congregation:O taste and see that the Lord is good;    happy are those who take refuge in him. Elder:the sun will not strike them,  Congregation:O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,    for those who fear him have no want. Elder:nor any scorching heat,  Congregation:The young lions suffer want and hunger,    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Elder:for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  Congregation:The Lord redeems the life of his servants;    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  ALL:“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honorand power and mightbe to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revised Common Lectionary Year A: Season after Pentecost—All Saints Day

Recently our media feeds in the United States have been filled with stories of sexual abuse and rape. Unfortunately, this isn’t unusual no matter where we live. Sometimes though, the stories are so horrific that it finally gets people talking. At the same time it raises up traumatic memories for many individuals who have been abused, including those in our worshiping communities. In situations like these what is our response as worship leaders and pastors? Some might say that worship is not the place to address topics of sexual abuse. But if we don’t speak up in worship when the community is gathered then when do we? If we don’t address difficult topics in the presence of our holy God then are we suggesting that God is not interested in such things? If we don’t create space for lament in worship do we suggest that there is no place for uncomfortable truth and do we become complicit in the silence? While sexual assault is in the headlines at the moment, it is ever present in our communities including our churches. Below I offer a prayer and two sermon ideas to begin making room in worship and the life of your community for more conversation and awareness. This should not be a once and done activity but rather become a part of our normal conversation and posture. We need to create a space where it is clear that every human is loved and valued, that there is no allowance for any kind of abuse, and that worship is a safe place to bring our deepest wounds, as well as our confessions. (For more on trauma and worship see my article “Trauma-Informed Worship: A Priestly Act”) The Jane and John Doe’s of this world cannot be ignored. It isn’t enough to lament only when one becomes a headline. You grew up with them. They reside in your neighborhood, are your colleagues, attend your church, and are part of your family. The church cannot remain silent because scripture isn’t silent. The church needs to do more because God demands it.A Prayer of Lament for The AbusedFeel free to use this entire prayer, excerpt portions of it, or adapt it to reflect your context. If you choose to use the “hear our prayer” as a communal response you will need to provide some sort of cue as there is no consistent way to introduce it textually. While the whole prayer could be projected with the responses in bold, that may be too distracting. I suggest utilizing some sort of chime. Before beginning the prayer introduce it by saying something like: “Today, we pray for the known and unknown individuals in our midst who have been sexually abused and raped, and for our communities, institutions, and ourselves in our complicity. You are invited to vocally join in the prayer by responding “hear our prayer” whenever you hear this sound [play sound]. Let’s try that. When you hear this sound [play sound] you say “hear our prayer. [Play sound] “hear our prayer”. Let us pray.” God of justice, whose anger burns red like molten lava,whose tears co-mingle with our own, and whose arms reach out in comfort, hear our lament. We pray for those of us who have experienced abuse, including sexual assault and rape. For those who cannot speak    because the despair is so deep,   hear our prayer. For those who cannot speak    because the wounds are so raw,    hear our prayer. For those who do not speak   because they were not believed when they spoke before   or do not trust that they will be believed now,   hear our prayer. For those who do not speak   because their memory is fuzzy,    or they’ve been told their memory is false,   hear our prayer.For those who do not speak    because they do not know what to say,    or who they can trust to say it to,    hear our prayer. For those who do not speak   because they do not believe themselves,   are trying to forget,    or have buried their memories,    hear our prayer. God, whose heart is broken because of the evils that have been done,    hear our prayer. Bring comfort where comfort is needed, courage to those frozen in fear, clarity to those who wonder if their story is worth telling,    or if they have all the facts right, light to those whose lives are enshrouded with dark memories, and your healing breath to those who feel they cannot breath. God of truth and justice,    hear our prayer. Help us to be safe people and our community to be a safe place where those who need comfort can find it. Help us to learn to listen with patience, understanding, and nonjudgement. Clear our vision so we can see injustice. Release our voices to speak out and raise alarms. Enliven our hands and feet to work against injustice.  God of truth and justice, shine your light on our own complicity and ways we contribute to the abuse of others. Change us so that we can be used to support others in their journey. God of all goodness and righteousness,    hear our prayer. We confess that we have not done enough to protect those who are vulnerable. We confess that too often we have not stepped up and done what is right    because we had other things to do,    because it wasn’t our place,    because we were afraid to challenge       someone in leadership or our close circles,      someone who we respected.We confess that too often we have not stepped up and done what is right    because we figured someone else would,      so perpetrators remained free to continue their abuse. We confess that we have not demanded justice and accountability    from institutions and leadership. We confess that we have excused inappropriate behavior, saying,    “boys will be boys,”    “we did the same when we were young,”    “they didn’t mean it,”    “we don’t want to ruin their lives,”     “you need to understand the other side,”    or "It's just a joke.” We confess that we have laughed at inappropriate jokes    because we wanted to belong or we simply weren’t thinking. We confess that we have blamed the victim    as if the perpetrator did not have autonomy over their actions. We confess that we have failed to teach the next generation    what true respect and love looks like. We confess that we have not believed the stories we have heard    and sometimes made sure we never had to hear them. We confess that we have not done enough. Forgive us for our complicity. God of justice, whose anger burns red like molten lava,whose tears co-mingle with our own, and whose arms reach out in comfort, hear our lament. —Joyce Borger © 2026 ReformedWorship.org CC BY-NC-SA 4.0Sermon Ideas In forming the right culture around sexual intimacy, it is also important that the subject of sexual intimacy and abuse is addressed in preaching. This doesn’t necessarily require an entire sermon on the topic but rather being alert to opportunities that texts naturally present. To change a culture requires repeated engagement not a once-a-year reminder. To that end, here are two passages that can be used.  2 Samuel 11: Bathsheba, David, and the Abuse of PowerAs I understood it growing up, the story was that Bathsheba was brazenly bathing on the roof of her house for all to see when David happened to see her, found out who she was, called her to the palace, and then impregnated her. While I understood that David was at fault, I also grew up with the notion that Bathsheba was in part to blame for bathing so publicly—she was looking for attention. But that take isn’t supported by the Bible itself. First of all, the text doesn’t say Bathsheba was on the roof. She was likely in her walled courtyard. The palace being set up above the rest of Jerusalem and David being on the roof gave him a vantage point that invaded Bathsheba’s privacy. Bathsheba was actually engaged in a Biblically mandated ritual of purification following her menstrual cycle. Given that there was no indoor plumbing it was typical for bathing to occur in the privacy of a courtyard. Bathsheba was also the granddaughter of one of David’s advisors and her husband was a leader in David’s military, so it was likely that they had met before, and Bathsheba might have responded without worry to the palace summons. David on the other hand, was in the safety of the palace while his men were at war, and already had six wives. He knew the law and felt he was above it. He had power and he abused it by calling Bathsheba to the palace and then raping her. He further abused his power by having her husband killed and then marrying her so his actions wouldn’t be found out. We need to name this what it is: abuse of power and rape. And while God loved David, he did not let David go unpunished. While he confessed and God forgave him it didn’t change the punishment David felt the rest of his life as he experienced the negative impact of his cruel actions.  Luke 1: Zechariah’s Challenge vs. Mary’s Consent It would be interesting to do a compare/contrast between how Zechariah and Mary responded to the angels’ announcements. Zechariah asked for proof that it would happen while Mary, believing it would happen, asked about the mechanics. But most interesting is Mary’s response where first, she identifies herself as a servant of God, like Abraham, Moses, and David, and secondly, gives her consent. Note that when Gabriel spoke he did not give a command but rather spoke of a future certainty. Mary was never commanded to become pregnant, she wasn’t already pregnant, nor did she become pregnant without knowing she would be. She wasn’t impregnated by the Holy Spirit until after she consented, so God being all knowing and knowing Mary’s answer spoke through Gabriel with future surety.  Even God waited for consent. The Lord of the Universe, the ruler of all, the all powerful, still waited for Mary’s agreement. This detail should not be overlooked. I am grateful that this was not missed by hymn writer Richard Leach who wrote the hymn “Told of God’s Favor” which highlights that Mary said “yes” to God. Yes to the waiting, yes to the labor,yes to the hurting, yes to the birth.Yes to the baby, yes to the future,yes to the holy, yes to the world. —Richard Leach, “Told of God’s Favor” A choral arrangement of this text and tune by Russell Schulz-Widmar entitled “Mary Said Yes” is available through the Selah Publishing Company. Final NoteSexual abuse should be mentioned regularly in pastoral prayers and times of confession. A call to healthy relationships and respect for others needs to be a constant theme in our calls to holy living. Occasions for lament ought to occur regularly along with explorations of the psalms of lament. Hard preaching passages should not be avoided including the abuse of Hagar by Sarah and Abraham, or the injustices that created the need for Tamar to trick Judah. Abuse doesn’t just reside outside marriage relationships either; married couples need to be reminded of the faithfulness, mutuality, and respect called for in scripture. The Jane and John Doe’s of this world cannot be ignored. It isn’t enough to lament only when one becomes a headline. You grew up with them. They reside in your neighborhood, are your colleagues, attend your church, and are part of your family. The church cannot remain silent because scripture isn’t silent. The church needs to do more because God demands it.

While it is true that we are sinners, there are times when we can honestly say that we did nothing to deserve the evil inflicted upon us or the slander directed at us. In our innocence, we turn to a loving God and plead our case, seeking vindication and justice. This is the context for Psalm 17. To read this psalm in worship without unpacking it in a sermon may leave the worshiper perplexed. One helpful approach to make it more easily understood is to study the psalm and rewrite it in your own words. Below I have done just that. You are free to use or adapt it for use in worship or your own devotional life. In my rewriting, I preserved the psalm’s original structure and imagery. Because injustice is often an embodied experience, I also retained the references to various parts of the body. Psalm 17 in My Words God, it isn’t right. I haven’t done anything to deserve this. You’ve got to listen to my side of the story —my lips don’t lie. You’ll see I’m in the right, and you’re going to stand up and clear my name. Feel free to dig deep into my heart.Go ahead, burst into my house unannounced— even in the middle of the night. You can search all you want, but you won’t find a shred of evidence against me. My mouth doesn’t lie.The world is consumed by violence. Many people think violence is the only way, but I haven’t bought into that lie. I have always followed your commandments. My feet have been glued to the straight and narrow; I haven’t drifted off the path. That is why I know you will answer me when I cry for help.Lean close, listen to what I am saying. Show me evidence of your relentless, fierce love—because in a world full of monsters, I need you to be my safe place. I know I am precious to you, so protect me. Keep me safe in your presence and hide mefrom the vicious people trying to tear my life apart, from the circling predators who want me dead. Despite all of that, this is what I know to be true: because I have done what is right, I’m going to look you in the face.  When I wake up from this nightmare, I will see you.  I’ll see you in the world around me,and I will find peace.Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 13 (18)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 27 (32)

Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving for a God who, though he is above all Gods and is worshiped by even the greatest of kings, still cares about each and every one of us. In this litany, the psalm is divided between three voices. You can choose to have the portions marked as “all” to be read by all three voices or by the congregation.

There are many ways of interpreting Psalm 45 but this litany is leaning into a christological interpretation where the main speaker is the bride of Christ, the church, Christ’s beloved, who is speaking to Christ.

Psalm 86 is the psalmist’s prayer to God for help during a difficult time. This litany includes a sung refrain as well as a place to include a prayer of supplication, intercession, and lament.

Encouragement to consider non-song related ways to express joy in worship with a litany based on Psalm 100 re-imagined to provide such an opportunity.

A responsive reading of Psalm 93 celebrating Christ’s ascension and reign

The following originally appeared as part of "Worship Resources for Eastertide and Ascension Day"God's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1