Living Psalm 104:24-34 35B

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.

Psalm 104:24-34, 35B: Renewing the face of the earth

Reimagined by The Rev. Justo González, II

O Senor, how beautiful and rich the tapestry weaved by your works and the road yet travelled. In splendid bright and unexpected colors you have made them bloom. Everything is your creation, what has been the past, and all that you are making anew. The earth is full of your creatures. Use us , your human ones, as you will.

There is water throughout the world. The waves are calm or difficult to navigate at times. Oceans are vast, indeed often too vast for us to fully absorb. There is an infinite number of marine life that lives, breeds, brings food and scares your people within the waters of life. On the oceans are vessels great and small and creatures, your spectacular sport which bring us all that is necessary.

All faces lift to you, God of mercy and grace. Provide us the bread of life (El pan de la vida), and do not forget us. May your seasons provide for all when they need it most. May your people of the earth not only gather up your provisions for themselves but gather for our siblings at home and abroad. We are all connected to each other. Help us to experience that in times of both calm and distress you provide good things.

When you turn your face away from us, we are all disoriented and confused; when your breath no longer nurtures us, we die. In that time, “from the dust we were created to the dust we shall return” we go home to you throughout eternity. As the ruach (spirit) of God breathes upon us, we are created and you bring life to the lifeless. La gloria del señor (the glory of the Son of Man) endures para siempre (forever). May the gift of love celebrate these works within us even as we look at the world we see through human eyes.

Yet, with Messiah, the creator of all that was and is, the earth trembles. Mountains smoke as the Holy one touches them. Lead us to the Lord our God as lifegiving energy continues to flow within us. Let us join the celestial and human choir as we sing praise to God whose Son gave himself up freely out of unconditional love. May our meditations be pleasing to your eyes, for we rejoice in you, LORD. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Alabado sea Díos (Praise the LORD) for the embraces we have not earned nor expected but that come through God’s compassion and unflinching love.

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# Living Psalm 104_Gonzalez for Pentecost Download

Living Psalm for 104:24-34, 35B was written by Justo González, II.

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.