Psalm and Prayer of the Day August 27

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Lou Ellen Hartley

Psalm 81

God’s Appeal to Stubborn Israel

To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph.

¹Sing aloud to God our strength;
    shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
²Raise a song, sound the tambourine,
    the sweet lyre with the harp.
³Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
    at the full moon, on our festal day.
⁴For it is a statute for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
⁵He made it a decree in Joseph,
    when he went out over^[a] the land of Egypt.

I hear a voice I had not known:
⁶“I relieved your^[b] shoulder of the burden;
    your^[c] hands were freed from the basket.
⁷In distress you called, and I rescued you;
    I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.Selah
⁸Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
⁹There shall be no strange god among you;
    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
¹⁰I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

¹¹“But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel would not submit to me.
¹²So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
    to follow their own counsels.
¹³O that my people would listen to me,
    that Israel would walk in my ways!
¹⁴Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,
    and turn my hand against their foes.
¹⁵Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
    and their doom would last forever.
¹⁶I would feed you^[d] with the finest of the wheat,
    and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Prayer:

Gracious and attentive God: We begin our day with thanksgiving and praise because we know you hear and answer our prayers, love and care for all you have created.
Especially we thank you for the gift of loving and supportive relationships with family and friends…
For the beauty of this world and great diversity present in it…
For the opportunity to serve you today as your Spirit guides us….

We also begin this day knowing the world is suffering natural disasters as well as human-made disasters. It seems this beautiful world and what is in it can be both tough as nails and resilient while also being delicate and fragile. We pray for the world today and those who suffer.

We pray for those who are affected by the virus Covid 19 – those who are ill, those who grieve their dead loved ones, those who are separated from their loved ones, those who are now without jobs…
We pray for those who are involved in education along with students and their families…
We pray for those devastated by the hurricane now hitting the gulf coast and those who will be offering aid even before the storm goes away…
We pray for those suffering from the hands of injustice in its many forms; for those who are turning to violence, for those condoning violence, for those who suffer due to the violence, for those whose job it is to quell the violence….

We pray for Kenosha, Portland, St. Louis, and other communities in need of reconciliation and healing…
We pray for those we love and for your peace to grace this world today. Amen.

Psalm and Prayer of the Day August 26

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by Lou Ellen Hartley

Psalm 65

Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty

To the leader. A Psalm of David. A Song.

¹Praise is due to you,
    O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
²    O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
³When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
    you forgive our transgressions.
⁴Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
    to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    your holy temple.

⁵By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
    O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas.
⁶By your^[a] strength you established the mountains;
    you are girded with might.
⁷You silence the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    the tumult of the peoples.
⁸Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

⁹You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
¹⁰You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
¹¹You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
¹²The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
¹³the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

Reflection:
Today’s Psalm is one we might normally read around Thanksgiving, in the fall during a traditional harvest time. Given the upheaval in our country today, a harvest and thanksgiving prayer may seem out of touch. But this psalm is more than that – it is a reminder of God’s goodness. Beginning in verse 5 we read of God’s power to deliver, to bring hope to all the peoples in creation. God is mighty enough to calm the seas and raise the mountains, give life to the earth, and forgiveness to the sinful, deliverance to the suffering. Our God cares about this earth and what fills it. God cares about the people rising up and demanding justice. God cares about those who sin against God and neighbor with hatred toward others. God cares about those who suffer at the hands of sinful systems which keep us from being able to sit at the table of grace together, without fear, without jealousy, without prejudice. God’s goodness is more than enough for this world, as our psalm tell us. We are the ones who limit it. God’s power is more than enough to repair what is broken and reconcile the lost relationships. We are the ones who would wield God’s word for our own purposes. Our psalm reminds us that this earth belongs to God, we are stewards of what God has given to us. This includes the plants, the animals, and one another. May we find ways to work for God’s purpose as we are awed by the signs of God’s presence.

Prayer:
Powerful, creative, blessing God, we pray today for your world and all the places which are torn apart by violence. Instead of meeting that violence with our own, give us your heart for those which are broken by unjust treatment, raging and erupting, unable and unwilling to bear that burden any longer.

We pray for those who are in authority over others. For police officers, mayors, and governors who are working within a broken system, who face violence, who work for peace, who desire to protect all citizens. Watch over them and help them make sound decisions in the face of unimaginable stress, fear, and hatred.

We pray for those who have authority over others who make poor decisions which result in harm to others. We pray for those who are angry, who do harm to others. We pray that the people in this country will find a path to justice and peace. We pray that your church will be a voice and force for reconciliation, hope, and healing.

Our hearts are reeling. Our fears are overwhelming. Our stability is shaken. Help us to find a way to courageously love one another through this time. Take our fears and transform them into hope and answer our prayers. Amen.

Psalm and Prayer of the Day August 25

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 by Lou Ellen Hartley

Psalm 54

Prayer for Vindication

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “David is in hiding among us.”

¹Save me, O God, by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
²Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.

³For the insolent have risen against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they do not set God before them.Selah

⁴But surely, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of^[a] my life.
⁵He will repay my enemies for their evil.
In your faithfulness, put an end to them.

⁶With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
⁷For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Reflection:
There are times when I read the psalms and wonder how many enemies could the psalmist possibly have? But then again, this psalm is credited to David who many. He was chosen to be king, but Saul already wore the crown. In this psalm David, who had been on the run from Saul, had been betrayed by the Ziphites who revealed to Saul where David was hiding. He had enemies everywhere. Sadly, even after David became king, he found enemies within his own inner circle, his friends, and even his family. And of course there times when David was his own worst enemy.

David’s prayers for justice against his enemies seem harsh, but they were the prayers of a hunted man. Still, even in the most fear filled time of his life, he was relying on God’s justice to prevail and God’s will to be done. He found in his heart a way to hold onto the goodness of God and still offer thanks and praise.

While we may not feel the same urgency as David did, (I hope none of you are hiding in in the wilderness on the run from someone) we still may have enemies, people against whom we hold grudges. People we fear, we loathe, we may even hate. Today, may we pray for our enemies and ourselves. May we pray for peace between us, changes of heart, God’s true justice to prevail and God’s kingdom to be present where peace is made. May we live into the hope of God’s presence and guidance into our lives. May we pray that those who work against God’s kingdom know God’s justice, have changes of heart, learn a new way of living in the world. May we pray for our government officials that they might be more influenced by God’s will than by their own, by deceit, by power, by fear of losing what they have. May we cling to God, as David did, as the upholder of our lives. Amen.

Psalm and Prayer of the Day August 24

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2020 by Lou Ellen Hartley

Psalm 57

Praise and Assurance under Persecution

To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

¹Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    until the destroying storms pass by.
²I cry to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
³He will send from heaven and save me,
    he will put to shame those who trample on me.Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

⁴I lie down among lions
that greedily devour^[a] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶They set a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
    but they have fallen into it themselves.Selah
⁷My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
⁸    Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn.
⁹I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
¹⁰For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
    your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

Reflection
This psalm speaks of such resilience in a time of great difficulty. Relying on God’s steadfast love during adverse times sounds like the right thing to do, but it is not always easy. We know it is the right church answer, but it is not always the easiest answer. Even the psalmist seems to know this struggle. He seems to call on his own soul to wake up and sing praises. Now is not the time to give up, but to get out the instruments and sing a new song. Wake up! Remember the steadfast love of the Lord and receive the comfort and strength it brings. Today, remember that love. Awaken your soul if need be and hold to the promise of God’s never ending love.

Prayer:
Awaken our souls so we can witness you never ending love. As we remember all you have done, are doing, and will do for us and your creation, help us find courage and strength to sing your praises. Help us to encourage others, not with trite sentiment, but deep faith and trust in you. Amen.

Sermon Podcast – August 23, 2020 – Having What It Takes

Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2020 by Jonathan K

Preached by Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley. Based on Isaiah 51:1-6; Matthew 16:13-20; Romans 12:1-8.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Worship Podcast – August 23, 2020

Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2020 by Jonathan K

Bulletin 20200823

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Psalm and Prayer of the Day August 18

Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 by Lou Ellen Hartley

Psalm 30

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.

¹I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
    and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
²O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
³O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
    restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.^[a]

⁴Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
⁵For his anger is but for a moment;
    his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

⁶As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
⁷By your favor, O Lord,
    you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

⁸To you, O Lord, I cried,
    and to the Lord I made supplication:
⁹“What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
¹⁰Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

¹¹You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
¹²so that my soul^[b] may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Reflection:

This psalm is so rich in its portrayal of God who rescues us, comforts us, hears our confessions, and our cries for help. In this psalm God answers our prayers with mercy and compassion. What is contained in verse 5 is something to which many of us cling:
“For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a life time.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.”

Today, confess the sin which may invoke God’s anger. Then offer thanks to God’s holy name for those blessings which you treasure. Offer praise to God simply for who God is. Pray for yourself, if you feel you are in the night, longing for the morning. Pray for others who are there as well. Hold fast and know that God is with you, and know that morning will come. God will be with your there too. Today, may you know peace and share peace.