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.

Living Psalm 145—Pentecost 9B

A conversation between an ant, a leaf and a child on a warm psalmer afternoon

Ant: I and my friends are God’s works, the world’s parable for workers
and we give thanks to God ... well, except when we are too busy.

Leaf: I and my friends are God’s faithful, from bud to leaf to falling,
and we bless God for sun, rain, sweet photosynthesis.

Child: What can you tell me about God’s glory and power?
Can you show me splendor greater that my first computer?

Ant: People always come to us when they need God,
even a storyteller named Aesop and a DIY Proverb scribe.

Leaf: People have fallen in love under our shade.
People rake us up and wonder what their own lives mean.

Child: I tried talking with the ocean but it was too noisy. 
I tried climbing a mountain but my legs are too short.

Ant: God gives us ant hills, by teaching us how to make them.
God gives people the ability to make vaccine even for the Delta variant.

Leaf: God gives us roots that feed us though we never see them.
God gives people wisdom to save the ice caps, to heal the heating seas.

Child:  But what about just me and my family?

Leaf: God is always there if you are falling.
Last year’s leaves rustle that up to me.

Ant: God finds food you can carry even if it’s bigger than you,
if you share it with all your hill ... I mean community.

Leaf: God looks down with warm sun and gentle rain.

Ant: As long as Leaf doesn’t try to be a pine cone
and I don’t pretend to be a butterfly.

Leaf: God is always near, even when I think God is on a branch far away.

Ant: God is near to me and my many-times-removed cousin ... anteater.

Child: Thank you, God, for your works that “bug” me to trust you.
Thank you, God, for your faithful who green-up my summer
and let go gently when the time comes.

Living Psalm 145 for Pentecost 9B was written by the Rev. 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.

© Copyright 2021 Maren Tirabassi.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.