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 148: Sources of Praise
First Sunday after Christmas

1Let we who believe in freedom shout praises to El Shaddai!
 Shout El Roi’s praises to heights beyond the limitations of this world.

2All of you liberation bearers, and all who are dedicated to the heart of God, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise.

3The brightest star and the dense celestial, and all of you shiny constellations, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise.

4Highest elevation, and the flow above the highest elevation, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise.

5Let every neutralized and ionized atom praise the Creator, 
because they were formed and fashioned at the command of the Conceiver.
6El ‘Olam designed them to extend beyond our concepts of time, 
and no amount of oppressive distortion can alter the plans of God.

7All heartbeats of this third heavenly body from the brightest star, 
be compelled by El Rohi’s agenda, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise. 

8Giants of the water and the way down deep of the sea, 
flame and thunders’ hailstones, frozen flakes and frost, 
and every strong motion of air, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise. 

9All raised landforms of earth both high and low, 
bearers of fruit and windbreakers, 
10every unrestrained and domesticated animal, all reptiles and winged aves, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise.

11Every privileged body with greater access to 
and distribution power of resources, 
all imagined communities, 
12every gendered and non-binary form, all those navigating the span of life, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise. 

13All made possible by the imagination of God, 
offer movement and praise, move and praise. 

Praise the Name you know. 
The glorious nature of that Name far exceeds anything found 
from the highest elevation to the lowest depth. 

14Like a warrior with vigorous determination, 
Jehovah Nissi shields those who move in faith 
because they are in uninterrupted relationship with the movement of the Divine. 

Let we who believe in freedom shout praises to El Shaddai!

Living Psalm 148, Sources of Praise for First Sunday after Christmas, was written by Minister Vahisha Hasan, M.A., Ed.S., M.Div., Assistant Professor of Human Services at Memphis Center for Urban & Theological Studies (MCUTS), and Executive Director of Movement In Faith working at the intersections of faith, social justice, and mental health.

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.

© Copyright 2018Vahisha Hasan.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.