The Psalms: Tools for Being & Becoming
The Psalms were the hymnbook of ancient Israel; Jesus himself quoted more from them than any other Old Testament book. For centuries in the Church, they were the primary source for hymns and much of traditional Anglican liturgy is built around them. There is great variety in the 150 psalms which range from poems of wisdom and lament to songs of praise and thanksgiving. Many psalms are written in the first person while others are songs of the community.
The value of the Psalms is that they enable us to channel our emotions (negative and positive) before God, to express our praise and pain, and to receive his word of comfort, hope and challenge. This Lent, St. Stephen's and St. Mary's will have the opportunity to look at six different types of psalms. The psalms themselves will be presented in various and creative ways. The goal is to grow in how we relate to God emotionally and truthfully and to allow the Holy Spirit to form within us the One who is reflected in so many ways within them, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
