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  25—Advent 1 C

It is sophomore year of this pandemic,
and I have to leave my husband at the door, alone,
to go into surgery. I haven’t met his doctor,
will never see his nurse, or the inside of the hospital 
waiting room. He will go in alone, just as my children
enter school each day, just as my sister gave birth,
just as my brother walks his new dog.

I haven’t adjusted to this, not after all these months,
how my joys and grief are mine alone to examine,
how the ones I love wake and eat and go on
with their precious ordinary lives without witness.

I forget, many days, about how much I’m missing,
but today, I am waiting by the phone when I could be
sitting in a room with others doing the same,
placing our trust in what happens behind 
closed doors, and in God. 

Living Psalm 25 for Advent 1 C was written 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.

© Copyright 2021 Maria Mankin, Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.