Living Psalm 8-Trinity C

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 8 – Trinity Sunday Year C

And what are you, O God
painting the sky with the beauty of sunrise,
offering us delight
in the pantomime of clouds,
choosing the words of children
as the soundtrack of the spirit,
for they play with syllables of wonder,
translating the smallest joys
long before the intricacies
of technology
try to define the values of life?

You point us to learn from the moon,
that is never the same,
fearlessly waxing and waning
from night to night,
and happily willing
to reflect the light of others,
so unlike our fevered desires
to be in control,
to be desperately ourselves.

You teach us the treasure of twinkle,
in the old, old light of stars
that may no longer exist
but still shines,
while we insist on the prison
of now, now, now.

And what are we,
crowned with responsibility
for plankton, puppy and porpoise,
for the roots of great trees
and the gossamer of butterfly wing,
for the life-giving nourishment,
of yam and peanut,
for the drying of the oceans
the rising of wild winds,
above the tinder of over-building?

Be-calmed and be-psalmed,
we are awed and afraid,
and we wait
in the waning of vanity
for the waxing
of the universality of majestic!

Living Psalm 8 for Trinity Sunday Year C 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.

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.

Living Psalm 8 – Trinity Sunday Year C Download