Posts Tagged Psalms

Sing praise …

July 7, 2009 at 10:30 pm · Filed under Old Testament ·Tagged , , ,

Emphasize the phrase “sing praise” in this responsive reading:

 

Pastor:            Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. – 1 Chronicles 16:8-10

All:  O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. – Psalm 59:17

 

 

Pastor:            All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.”  - Psalm 66:4

All:  I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. – Psalm 7:17

 

Pastor: Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him. – Psalm 68:4

All:  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. – Psalm 9:2

 

 

Pastor: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,  – Psalm 68:32

All:  Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day. – Psalm 1:8

 

Pastor: Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. – Psalm 135:3

All: My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed. – Psalm 71:23

 

Pastor:  As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. – Psalm 75:9

All:  I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. – Psalm 104:33

 

 

Pastor:  I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. – Psalm 101:1

All:  I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. – Psalm 146:2

 

Consider following this responsive reading with a praise song  that includes the phrase “sing praise”.  “Forever” by Chris Tomlin, based on Psalm 136 is a good one.

 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

 

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The LORD Reigns

March 15, 2009 at 10:43 pm · Filed under Acclaimation, Book IV: 90-106 ·Tagged ,

Psalms 93, 97 and 99 all begin with the acclamation ”the LORD reigns.”   The following responsive reading draws attention to this Old Testament proclamation of praise.

 

P: The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.  The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.   (PS 93:1)

C: The LORD reigns; you are from all eternity.  (93:2)

 

 

P:  The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.   (Ps97:1)

C:  The LORD reigns.  For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;

       you are exalted far above all gods.  (Ps 97:9)

 

 

P: The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.   (Ps 99:1)

C:  The LORD reigns.  Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.  (Ps 99:9)

 

I would follow this up with the singing of one of these worship songs to make a powerful worship moment:

1.  “Ancient of Days” by Gary Sadler & Jamie Harvill

2.  “Lord, Reign in Me” by Brenton Brown

3.  “He Reigns” by the Newsboys

4. “Come Thou Almighty King” by Charles Wesley

5.  “We Will Glorify” by Twila Paris

6. “Beautiful Savior” by Stuart Townend

7. “Amazing Grace” (My Chains are Gone) by John Newton & Chris Tomlin

8. “Awesome God” by Richie Mullins

 

Here’s a video of the Newsboys singing “He Reigns.”   I’ve never sung this in worship, it’s a bit too progressive for our tastes,  but I’m thinking of using it at a future teen event. 

 

 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

 

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A Thanksgiving Litany

November 12, 2008 at 9:33 pm · Filed under Thanksgiving ·Tagged , , ,

A Thanksgiving Litany

 

Instructions: The following is a responsive reading for a Thanksgiving service which starts out being thankful for the ‘big picture items’ but  progresses down into some close and personal items that we need to be thankful (to God) for.  I wrote this for use at our local church, but it could easily be modified to your local needs.  The congregational responses are all based on scripture.

 

Pastor:  God, today we are thankful, most of all, for YOU.  Without you, we cannot even breathe.  You provide rhythm to our hearts and lives.  You are our protector, our guide, our strength, our creator and our redeemer.  We are thankful for your very presence at this time.

All: We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near.  (Ps 75:1)

 

Pastor: God, you created this wonderful terrestrial ball known as the planet Earth and the entire galaxy that surrounds it.  You are the provider and the sustainer of all life, for all time and in all continuums.

Men: I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. (Ps 9:1)

Women: All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.  (Ps 66:4)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for this great Nation – the United States of America.  We are thankful for our liberties, for our freedoms; and especially the ability to worship You as guided by your very WORD without being hindered by our government or other adversaries.

All: May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.  (Ps 67:4)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for the leadership of this great Country.  Continue to guide our leaders and keep us safe.

All: Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.  (Ps 4:6b)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for the state of CT, for the wonderful changing of the seasons, and for the bountiful harvests and plentiful jobs.

Men: You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.  (Ps 65: 9)

Women: You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.  (Ps 65:11)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for community services; for community shelters, food banks, nursing homes, police and fire protection, churches, schools, hospitals and libraries.

All: You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.  (Ps 68:35)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for our local church and our governing Synod.  Keep us true and steadfast to your Word.

All: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under his care.  (Ps 95:6)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for all who serve in our church, our Pastor, the secretary, the Church Council, the Altar Guild, the Sunday School teachers, the Ushers, those who clean and maintain the property, those who provide music for our worship services, those who pray, those who need our prayers and all those who attend this church.

All: I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.  (Ps 111:1)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for each other, for our families and for our homes.

All:  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.  (Ps 30:12b)

 

Pastor: We are thankful for the many blessings which you have provided for each one of us; food, shelter, clothing, employment , health and an education.

Men: I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  (Ps 4:8)

Women: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.  (Ps 23:1)

 

All: I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.  (Ps 7:17)

 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

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Parallel Poetry

September 24, 2008 at 8:33 pm · Filed under Composite, Poetry ·Tagged , , , ,

Here’s a responsive reading that teaches your people about Hebrew poetry while worshipping at the same time.
 
Pastor:           In synonymous parallelism the second line of a verse expresses similar thoughts and sentiments as the first.
 
Pastor:           The heavens declare the glory of God;
All:                the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  (Ps 19:1)
Pastor:           Day after day they pour forth speech;
All:                Night after night they display knowledge.  (Ps 19:2)
 
Pastor:           In antithetic parallelism a thought expressed in one line contrasts in the next line with an opposite truth.  
 
Pastor:           For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
All:                but the way of the wicked will perish.  (Ps 1:6)
 
Pastor:           My flesh and my heart may fail,
All:                but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 
(Ps 73:26)
 
Pastor:           In synthetic (or climactic) parallelism subsequent verses build on that which has been stated in previous verses.
 
Pastor:           When I consider your heavens,
Women:        the work of your fingers,
Men:             the moon and the stars,
Pastor:           which you have set in place,
Men:             what is man that you are mindful of him,
Women:        the son of man that you care for him?  (Ps 8:3,4)
 
Pastor:           Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
All:                Who may stand in his holy place?
Pastor:           He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
All:                Who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 
(Ps 24:3,4)
 
Pastor:           Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
All:                Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
Pastor:           Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
All:                yet I will rejoice in the Lord,  will be joyful in God my savior. 
(Hab 3:17,18)
 
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

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Welcome to Worship! This morning’s music will be sung…

September 17, 2008 at 4:23 pm · Filed under Composite, Worship Music ·Tagged ,

…With stringed instruments (Ps 4, 6, 54, 55, 61, 67, 76)

…For flutes (Ps 5)

To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” (Ps 9)

To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning” (Ps 22)

A song for the dedication of the Temple (Ps 30)

To the tune of “Lilies” – A Wedding Song (Ps 45)

To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks” (Ps 56)

To the tune of “Do Not Destroy” (Ps 57)

To the tune of “Do Not Destroy” (Ps 58)

To the tune of “Do Not Destroy” (Ps 59)

To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant” (Ps 60)

To the tune of “Lilies” (Ps 69)

To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant” (Ps 80)

 

Sometimes I wish that the Bible came with an inspired CD for the accompaniment of these Psalms!  What did these tunes sound like?  The words have been preserved but the music has not.  They were probably accompanied by flutes, lyres, harps and tambourines.  I think it would help us immensely when it comes to musical style.  Or, maybe God is trying to tell us something else.  Maybe the lyrics are more important than the music.  Maybe we shouldn’t get hung up on the style or the instrumentation.  Maybe the music can be in any number of formats; that change with time and culture.  Maybe the music is only meant to serve the words; to draw attention to the words; to affect us and draw us closer to God.

 

In fact, if you think about, these Psalms are inspired song lyrics from God.  The following therefore, is typical of a song inspired by God:

 

Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD.

 

You’ve just read Psalm 117 in its entirety.  Musically, it appears to have at least a verse and a chorus.  The chorus is “Praise the Lord.”  It starts and ends with it.  The chorus is a response to a truth expressed in the verse.  We are to praise him “for his great love toward us and because his faithfulness endures forever.”  There’s also what appears to be a bridge which describes who this is for: “all nations and all peoples.”  It’s a simple song, with at lest one important lesson for us – Keep It Simple!

 

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Psalm Benediction

August 11, 2008 at 10:22 am · Filed under Benediction, Composite ·Tagged ,

Here’s a Benediction based entirely on the Psalms:

 

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.  (Ps 4:6)

The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Ps 121:7,8)

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Ps 29:11)

Praise be to the LORD forever!  Amen and Amen.  (Ps 89:52)

 

All scripture text is from the NIV Translation

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From the lips of children…

July 14, 2008 at 4:51 pm · Filed under Children, Composite ·Tagged , ,

Different Religions – Physical Expressiveness

 

I came across this list of physical expressiveness for various Christian denominations.  I suppose that its comical.  As a Lutheran, especially a WELS Lutheran, I can vouch for the fact that we are very stoic and reserved in our worship expressiveness.  But this past Sunday; something happened.  See what happened during our worship after reading the following:

 

•   If you’re Lutheran, you don’t show anything, but you move your toes in rhythm with the music lest anyone find out that you really do have a beat.

•   If you’re Reformed Church in America or Christian Reformed Church, you can do anything you want to with your hands with one unbreakable rule: No hands above the waist.

•   If you’re Roman Catholic, you make the sign of the cross.

•   If you’re Episcopalian, you thrust your hands nervously in your pockets and dig, scratch, or scrape.

•   If you’re nondenominational, you clap.

•   If you’re Wesleyan or Evangelical Free, you cry.

•   If you’re Nazarene, you laugh.

•   If you’re Seventh-day Adventist, you sway slightly with eyes shut.

•   If you’re United Methodist, you extend your hands, palms upward, but arms are never raised above the belly-button.

•   If you’re United Church of Christ, you stand erect with arms crossed and face scowled.

•   If you’re Presbyterian, you place one hand under the chin, a la Rodin’s The Thinker.

•   If you’re Unitarian Universalist, you go on and pretend nothing has happened.

•   If you’re Southern Baptist, you hold hands with people across the aisle.

•   If you’re American Baptist, you tap your feet.

•   If you’re United Church of Canada, you clasp your hands behind the back.

•   If you’re Salvation Army, you lift your hearts to God and your hands to whoever’s around you.

•   If you’re Quaker, you get real quiet.

•   If you’re Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), you raise one hand to the heavens as if you’re hailing a bus or waving a hankie.

•   If you’re Pentecostal, you lift both hands high above the head and make the wave. (By the way, do you know how they vote at Pentecostal conventions? They put their hands down.)

•   If you’re postmodern, you’ve done all of the above at one time or another.

Source- unknown

 

Well this past Sunday was a wrap –up worship service to conclude a week long Vacation Day Camp (VDC).  To our utmost joy, a few visiting families with children, who attended our VDC, showed up at worship.  During the week, these children learned several contemporary Christian songs and really got into it – hand motions, clapping, stomping, etc.  During worship, our Pastor showed a clip of the children singing “Lord I Lift Your Name on High.”  And us stoic, conservative, traditional, liturgical Lutherans watched as a young girl, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, in the front of the church, lifted her arms in praise as she was taught during VDC.  And the funny thing was that the Mother (who was also a visitor) realized that this was a bit out of place for us; so she tried to stop the little girl – but the girl was persistent!  Mom would put her hands down, and up they came again and again.  Arms up in a WELS service; who would have guessed!

 

“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” Psalm 134:2

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Ps. 8:2

 

 

 

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A Responsive Reading using the Breadth of Emotions Conveyed in thePsalms

June 30, 2008 at 10:55 am · Filed under Composite ·Tagged , ,

Pastor’s Introduction:

Psalms are songs or poems. That’s what the word “psalm” means. They are meant to be read or sung as poetry or songs. The point is that poetry or singing is intended to stir up and carry the affections of the heart.

If you read the Psalms only for doctrine, you’re not reading them for what they are. They’re musical, and the reason human beings express truth with music and poetry is to awaken and express emotions that fit the truth.

One of the reasons the Psalms are deeply loved by so many Christians is that they give expression to an amazing array of emotions. More explicitly than all the other books in the Bible, the Psalms are designed to awaken and shape our emotions in line with the instruction they give. What happens when you read and sing the Psalms the way they are intended to be read and sung is that your emotions and your mind are shaped by these psalms. We will now read responsively (as noted) the breadth of expressions contained in the Psalms; starting with anguish and wailing and ending with gratitude and peace.

Pastor: “Anguish” as expressed in Psalm 6:3
Congregation: My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?Pastor: “Wailing” as expressed in Psalm 30:11
Congregation: You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Pastor: “Grief” as expressed in Psalm 6:7
Congregation: My eye wastes away because of grief
Pastor: “Anger” as expressed in Psalm 4:4
Congregation: Be angry, and do not sin
Pastor: “Groaning” as expressed in Psalm 6:6
Congregation: I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
Pastor: “Pain” as expressed in Psalm 69:29
Congregation: I am afflicted and in pain
Pastor: “Sorrow” as expressed in Psalm 31:9
Congregation: Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
Pastor: “Brokenheartedness” as expressed in Psalm 34:18
Congregation: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit
Pastor: “Loneliness” as expressed in Psalm 25:16
Congregation: I am lonely and afflicted
Pastor: “Distress” as expressed in Psalm 18:6
Congregation: In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.
Pastor: “Fear” as expressed in Psalm 2:11
Congregation: Serve the Lord with fear
Pastor: “Discouragement and turmoil” as expressed in Psalm 42:5
Congregation: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Pastor: “Shame” as expressed in Psalm 44:15
Congregation: Shame has covered my face
Pastor: “Regret” as expressed in Psalm 38:18
Congregation: I am sorry for my sin
Pastor: “Contrition” as expressed in Psalm 51:17
Congregation: A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise
Pastor: “Desire” as expressed in Psalm 10:17
Congregation: O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted
Pastor: “Hope” as expressed in Psalm 33:22
Congregation: Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you
Pastor: “Confidence” as expressed in Psalm 27:3
Congregation: Though war arise against me, yet I will be confident
Pastor: “Zeal” as expressed in Psalm 69:9
Congregation: Zeal for your house has consumed me
Pastor: “Love” as expressed in Psalm 18:1
Congregation: I love you, O Lord, my strength
Pastor: “Awe” as expressed in Psalm 33:8
Congregation: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him
Pastor: “Exultation” as expressed in Psalm 21:1
Congregation: In your salvation how greatly he exults
Pastor: “Marveling” as expressed in Psalm 118:23
Congregation: This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes
Pastor: “Delight” as expressed in Psalm 1:2
Congregation: His delight is in the law of the Lord
Pastor: “Joy” as expressed in Psalm 4:7
Congregation: You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound
Pastor: “Gladness” as expressed in Psalm 9:2
Congregation: I will be glad and exult in you
Pastor: “Gratitude” as expressed in Psalm 35:18
Congregation: I will thank you in the great congregation
Pastor: “Peace” as expressed in Psalm 4:8
Congregation: In peace I will both lie down and sleep

Note – all scripture text is from the NIV (Zondervan Publishing)

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