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 147:1 5-18  Christmas 2B

This is my winter fragment of a psalm,
when all the Christmas words have shone so brightly
and it is time to return to old songs,
the earth songs of the new year,

the “in the beginning was the Word” 
fragment of a psalm,
reminding us that before the pandemic,
before the injustices of racism,
and replacing of welcome with hell-come
to the migrants of the earth,
before the melting of ice caps,
the warming of the oceans, 
destroying of the rainforests …

and before even the manger,

God sends out a blessing to the earth 
for the Word is born and lives and gives,
and runs swiftly among us.

God gives snow like wool, scatters frost like ashes,
and they can be beautiful and deadly,
as humans can be kind and killers,
and, coldest of all, indifferent.

God hurls down hail like crumbs,
reminding all that only crumbs 
are the diet of many,
the education of many,
the medical care of many.
Who can stand against the cold of self-interest?

God sends a Word, but the day after New Year,
we have forgotten the story till it comes again,
on our Advent agenda, 
and yet God melts our hearts.
God makes the Spirit blow, 
and all the waters of our tears
flow in compassion, flow in compassion.

Living Psalm   147: 15-18—Christmas 2B was written by 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.  

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