Living Psalm 100

Living Psalm 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.

Living Psalm 100_Tirabassi (a reading in three voices)

Reader 1: Listen and live into our favorite psalm of all time: Psalm 100.
“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!”

R2: Personally, I have no joy today and I can never sing!

R1: God only asks for noise … a cough, a whisper, not opera.
and God asks you to ‘make’ joy even when you don’t feel it.

(clearing throat) "Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!"

R3: The earth is being destroyed, land and water poisoned,
and so many creatures are extinct.
Before you order the earth to be joyful,
you’d better start taking care of it.

R1: I don’t know how to answer you, but …

R2: How about turn those old psalm words inside-out …
‘Make a hopeful noise for earth, so God can feel joy.’?

R1: Do you think we can get past the first line? The second one is easy:
“Serve God with gladness; come into God’s presence with singing.”

R2: Serve God? Since when is God on the menu?

R3: I’ve got that one! Communion, right?

R1: And fish on the beach, which is a lot like a free meal in the church basement.
You two didn’t ask about the singing this time?

R2: We got the part about noise being enough.
It includes a rattle to quiet a baby and the baby’s fussy cry,
opening a creaky old door, even a church door,
even a door on something I want to forget.

R3: Also clapping at a recital and telling someone about bird song.
Also, lots of ‘thank-you’s.’ Also SIGN language.
Also, the tap of a white cane. Maybe the Serenity Prayer.

R1: (Deep breath) “Know that God is the One who made us, and we are God’s;
we are God’s people and the sheep detectives who can find all lost ones.”

R2: Searching is harder than making noise,
but I remember when I was lost.

R3: I was, too. Isn’t that a coincidence?
Or maybe everyone is lost some time.
I’m no good searching,
but maybe just telling my story can be somebody’s map.

R1: Are we ready to move on?
“Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God’s food court with praise.
Give thanks to God; bless God’s name.”

R:2 I’m pretty sure that God is loving enough that we can enter God’s gates
even with our complaining, our weeping, our guilt, our distractions.

R1: Love, yes! You’ve got it! It’s in the next line:
“For God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever
and God’s faithfulness is to all generations.”

R3: I believe God’s faithfulness is right
now holding tight onto the grandma
I didn’t get home soon enough to tell ‘good-bye,’
and even the ex-spouse I remember loving,
and even the teenager I don’t understand.

R1: Make a joyful noise!

R2: Embrace all your ‘noisy joys.’

R3: Make loud “green” noise everywhere
until the earth itself can feels some joy!

#Living Psalm 100_Tirabassi (for June 14)Download

Living Psalm 100 was written by Maren Tirabassi.

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.