Living Psalm 31: 9-16 – Creation Justice – Passion Sunday
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 Psalms for Creation Justice
Lent, 2020
(To accompany Journey Toward Hope)
Living Psalm 31: 9-16—Creation Justice– Passion Sunday
Be gracious to the earth, O God, for it is in distress;
the ice caps melt away from the warming of rampant industrialization,
the soul of the trees of the field,
which once clapped their hands, are scattered
and the bodies of creatures are endangered.
The life of soil is spent in single-crop farming,
and years of care for national parks
and all the sacred places of God’s children
are just sighs to those who mine them.
The strength of pollinators fails
in the midst of their migration,
and the bones of the mountain tops
are choking the waterways.
The earth’s body is the scorn of the powerful,
a horror is the rainforest become a savannah.
It has become an object of dread
even to those who long to repair its damage.
On the streets or in the sky —
those who monitor carbon emissions
long to flee, but there is nowhere to go.
The earth has passed out of mind of the wealthy.
It has become a broken vessel.
Those without grandchildren
or whose grandchildren mean nothing to them
or who do not know
that children everywhere are their progeny
scheme together, plotting to be rich now
and escape somewhere, someday.
They take the life of the earth.
But we trust in you, O God, and know that you trust in us.
Our times are in your hands, and your times are in our hands.
Deliver us from all who scheme destruction.
Let your light shine upon us and teach us to be savers for you,
to become the doers of your steadfast love.
Living Psalm 31: 9-16 for Passion Sunday in a Lent of Coronavirus 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 2020 Faith INFO Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
