Psalm 77

I will cry aloud to God; *
I cry aloud to the One who will hear me.
In the day of my trouble I sought after God; *
my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;
I refused to be comforted.
I think of God; I am restless; *
I ponder and my spirit
You will not let my eyelids close; *
I am troubled and I cannot
I consider the days of old; *
I remember the years long past;
I commune with my heart in the night; *
I ponder and search my mind.
Will you cast me off for ever; *
will you no more show your favor?
Has your loving-kindness come to an end for ever; *
has your promise failed forevermore?
Have you forgotten to be gracious; *
have you, in your anger, withheld your compassion?
And I said, “My grief is this: *
the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.”
I will remember the works of God *
and call to mind your wonders of old time.
I will meditate on all your acts *
and ponder your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy; *
who is so great a god as our God?
You are the God who works wonders *
and have declared your power among the peoples.
By your strength you have redeemed your people, *
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God; the waters saw you and trembled; *
the very depths were shaken.
The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; *
your arrows flashed to and fro;
The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; *
the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was in the sea, and your paths in the great waters, *
yet your footsteps were not seen.
You led your people like a flock *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Holy Week begins this Sunday, April 13, with the story of the Passion of Christ. We will mark this holiest of weeks with the reading of the Passion according to Luke at both services. As we have done in the past, the liturgy for the 10:30 service will interweave with the story of the last days of Jesus’ life, inviting us to live into the story and think about its significance for our faith lives a little differently this year.  I invite you to follow the story of the Passion throughout the week, and attend the Maundy Thursday service, one of the Good Friday services (noon and 7 pm) and the Easter Vigil and/or Easter Sunday services, for the full experience of the richness of our liturgy and the profound, life changing meaning of the last days of Jesus, his death on the cross, and the remembrance of his Resurrection.

I am meditating on Psalm 77 this Holy Week. The version printed here is from the St. Helena’s Psalter, which we use in our Sunday liturgies. The Psalms are inviting me to a renewed interest in them this year, because of their very “human-ness” of emotions from anger to despair to joy and delight.  As we enter into the profound events of Holy Week, I encourage you to find a piece of poetry, psalm, music, or scripture to use in your times of prayer and meditation.

A blessed Holy Week to you.
Beth+