Living Psalm 146 – Pentecost 16C

Living Psalms Book

Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

American Indian Ministries and United Samoan Ministries Sunday

Praise for God’s Help
Praise God, O my soul
my soul gives thanks and praise for God
our divine protector and help
the One who is with us
God who led and guided us
from generation to generation.

We will praise God as long as we live
we give God praise for the land
we give God thanks for the rivers, the lakes and the trees
we praise God who is present and with all creation
we praise God who helped us
from generation to generation.

In God our ancestors trusted
when they welcomed new visitors to the land
God kept us through the killings of our people
through the disregard for our lives
through the indignities and suffering
from generation to generation.

In God we trusted
when our children were taken from our homes
when our elders were mocked for their wisdom
when we were labeled as heathens
when we were told we did not know the Living God
from generation to generation.

We will sing praises to God
though mortals betrayed and deceived us
though mortals stole land none of us ever owned
killing the buffalo, polluting the rivers
overwhelming the land with greed
from generation to generation.

We praise God in whose image we are made
we give thanks for our traditions
for the presence of the Great Spirit
we give praise for the healers and the healing
for the promise to lift our oppression
from generation to generation.

We praise God for bringing justice and mercy
from generation to generation.

Living Psalm for Pentecost 16 C – American Indian Ministries and United Samoan Ministries Sunday – Psalm 146 was written by Karen Georgia Thompson.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.