A Psalm of praise becomes a Psalm of lament as the City of Seattle cites and fines our congregation for the humans who have found refuge on our property after relentlessly being swept from public parks and lands. As our friend Rachael Weasley so poignantly sings, “How can our anger give life?” Of the many names for God, right now I need these most of all: God is Warrior Protectrix. God is shelter. God is good news for the poor. God is love. ~Pastor Megan
Sermon begins at minute marker 6:02
Psalm 89
Resources
- Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church (Year W): A Multi-Gospel Single-Year Lectionary, Wilda C. Gafney, Church Publishing Incorporated (2021). Specifically: “Introduction” (xii), “Appendix: God Names and Divine Titles” (329-330), and Psalm 89.1-8, 14 (322-323; text below).
- “How Can Our Anger” by Rachael Weasley, Songs of Contemplation for Activists and Christians, now also published in Voices Together, 792 (MennoMedia, 2020).
- “Daughters of Hope” by Rachael Weasley, Songs of Contemplation for Travelers and Troublemakers; includes this quote from Augustine, 354-430 C.E. “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”
- “If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving.” James Baldwin, posted by blackliturgies (Cole Arthur Riley) on Instagram, August 2023.
- Austin Channing Brown, in an Instagram post on August 6, 2023: “Every woman has a well-stocked arsenal of anger potentially useful against those oppressions, personal and institutional, which brought that anger into being… Focused with precision it can become a powerful source of energy serving progress and change… Anger expressed and translated into action in the service of our vision and our future is a liberating and strengthening act of clarification.”
- Seattle Mennonite Church Congregational Covenant
- Image: “A (partial) name tag for God” - created in worship by Seattle Mennonite Church.
- Hymn: VT 134 Bring Many Names (WESTCHASE) ©1989 Hope Publishing Company.Text: Brian Wren Music: Carlton Young Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-726929. All rights reserved.
Psalm 89.1-8, 14 (trans. Rev. Dr. Wilda C. Gafney)
I will sing of the love of the FOUNT OF LIFE forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness from across the generations.
When I declare that your faithful love is established forever;
your faithfulness is established in the heavens,
[and you responded,] “I have inscribed a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn an oath to the descendants of Bathsheba:
“I will establish your line forever,
your throne that I will build, will be to all generations.”
The heavens confess your wonders, O WOMB OF CREATION,
and to your faithfulness in the congregation of the holy ones;
For who in the skies can be compared to the WOMB OF LIFE?
Who is like the MOTHER OF ALL among the children of the gods?
A dread God in the council of the holy ones,
great and terrible above all who surround her.
WARRIOR PROTECTRIX, who is mighty like you?
YOU