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 124—Pentecost  18B
A song of ascent to Freedom. A psalm of the people.

¹What if Immanuel had not come alongside?
Let all freedom fighters repeat:
²What if God had not been on the people’s side
when white supremacists attacked us?
³They would have consumed our living breath
in their weaponized fear.
⁴The violence would have overtaken us;
a cruelty would have crushed us.
⁵Yes, the calculated billows of their oppression
would have overwhelmed our very existence.
⁶Glory to God,
who did not allow their gnashing to rip us apart!
⁷We escaped like a mockingbird from a jailer’s cage.
The cage is abolished, and we are free to sing!
⁸Our liberation is from God
who made freedom, eternal and today.

Living Psalm 124 for Pentecost 18B was written by Vahisha Hasan.

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 2021 Vahisha Hasan.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.