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.

Canticle:  Hannah, Show Us the Way
1 Samuel 2: 1-10—Pentecost 25C

We enter Hannah’s life at the moment she leaves her baby son with Eli at the temple.  She had longed for years for a child. She prayed and prayed to God for a child. She had put up with humiliation and abuse for her barrenness. Yet when she is gifted with a child, Samuel, she does not cling to him. She keeps her vow to her God and brings the Samuel to the temple to “give him to the Lord“ (1 Samuel 28) knowing she will not be with him as he grows up.

How could Hannah be praising her God so vividly and robustly in her moment of separation from the young child she had waited so long for? As a mother I find that really difficult to accept.  Having had my children in my 40’s I too longed, despaired and I prayed. I hoped and I talked to God. And after waiting so long and having difficult pregnancies, I was blessed with two healthy babies, two years apart. I just cannot imagine “giving them up“ even for such a noble cause. Now as my children are young adults and they are leaving home to make their own way in the world, I find it difficult not to cling to them; it is challenging to spontaneously celebrate their decisions that take them away both physically and spiritually. So I pray.  I pray and look for inspiration. Hannah is that inspiration and she invites us to take the focus off our losses, our wishes, our plans for the future and our despair and to dive deep into the reality of our God- “Nothing and no one is holy like God, no rock no mountain like our God.  God takes measure of everything that happens…. God will set things right all over the earth.”

The vivid language of Eugene Peterson’s translation The Message helped me enter into Hannah’s experience.  The responses for today’s prayer are taken from Peterson’s work.

Today we are all invited ‘try on’ Hannah’s Song- to step into her God-news and experience her “dancing her salvation” and know what it is to be “bursting with God News.”
As we turn to God with our concerns and prayers for our others,  Let us take time to let God  “protectively care for us faithful friends so step by step God can refresh our faith and our hope.”

After each petition, please feel welcome to offer your prayers and concerns out loud or if you prefer, in the silence of your hearts.

Leader		For the gifts from God that we name here 
that we now joyfully offer to our God.  
Including__________________________________
Hannah, show us the way as we pray:
All: 		“I am bursting with God news; I’m dancing my salvation.”

Leader: 	For all those who live without hope, 
and for those who are burnt out in mind, spirit and or body, 
Especially__________________________________
Hannah, show us the way as we pray:
All:		”God rekindles burned out lives with fresh hope, 
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives”

Leader: 	For all the people, places and events that we are worried about, 
Especially__________________________________
Hannah, show us the way as we pray:
All:   		“God will set things right all over the Earth.” 

Leader:  	For the courage and the willingness “to burst with God-News”
In all situations
Especially__________________________________
Hannah, show us the way as we pray:
All:   		“Nothing and no one is holy like God…. 
For the structures of earth are God’s. 
God has laid the earth’s operations on a firm foundation.”

Closing prayer:
“God, you protectively care for your faithful friends, step by step, 
But leave the wicked to stumble….”  
Help us to accept your care and remind us  
“No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!”

Rejoicing in God our savior, may we leave this worship service today 
and join Hannah in “dancing our salvation!”
Amen.

Living Psalm  for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost Year C:  Hannah’s Song: 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 was written  by Mary Christine O’Connor-Thomsen, St Peter’s Roman Catholic Parish, Manhasset, NY.
 .
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 2021  Mary Christine O’Connor-Thomsen. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.  

Scripture text from: 
The Message (MSG)  1 Samuel 2:1-10 
Copyright@ 1993, 2002, 20018   by Eugene H. Peterson 
The language has been adapted for inclusive language.
Full text linked here: 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+samuel+2%3A+1-10&version=MSG

1 Samuel 2:1-10
The Message
2 Hannah prayed:
I’m bursting with God-news!
    I’m walking on air.
I’m laughing at my rivals.
    I’m dancing my salvation.
2-5 Nothing and no one is holy like God,
    no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
    not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
    He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
    while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
    while the mother of many is bereft.
6-10 God brings death and God brings life,
    brings down to the grave and raises up.
God brings poverty and God brings wealth;
    he lowers, he also lifts up.
He puts poor people on their feet again;
    he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope,
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives—
    a place in the sun!
For the very structures of earth are God’s;
    he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.
He protectively cares for his faithful friends, 
step by step,
    but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark.
    No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!
God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky,
    crashed in a heap and burned.
God will set things right all over the earth,
    he’ll give strength to his king,
    he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!