Living Psalm 96–Christmas 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.

After so many months of singing alone,

I cannot be the only one to listen to a carol

with tears in my eyes. The pews around me

are not full, of course. We are still masked,

and some weeks, we worship from afar,

in solitude, awaiting a star.

But there is a glimmer, a shining

resilient strand of joy that loops

us together after all these months –

the voices raised, the strains of an organ

or piano, a guitar. It is a flute solo,

or a violin, hesitantly played by fingers

that can barely reach the notes.

It is the choir, projected on a screen above us,

and the sound of my son whispering after each carol

I love that one.

I love that one too. I love them all, even the ones

I used to hate. I lose myself in the familiar melodies,

in the words whispered behind cloth, a secret prayer

for Emmanuel, God with us, God within.

Living Psalm 96—Christmas C was created by Maria Mankin.

.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. Editor, Maren Tirabassi.

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 96–Christmas C Mankin