Joyce Borger

In the face of difficulties let us not lose heart; let us not grow weary of fighting for justice; let us not stop working to build God’s kingdom; let us not lose hope. It is hope that gives us the resilience we need, the strength to continue the work God has called us to do, and the joy to testify to God’s goodness. A great psalm to turn to as an act of resistance to the fear that may be growing around us is Psalm 98. This post includes the psalm adapted from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, and divided between a number of speakers as part of a conversation.

These opening words and a confession and assurance sequence based on Psalm 145 provide us with a helpful balance between two extremes: The first is a myopic view of the world that is only thinking about the here and how, the second is being too concerned about the distant future.

One way to understand Psalm 119:137–144 is to think of it being spoken by Zacchaeus (Luke 19). Zacchaeus was considered less because of his size and occupation, and society as a whole expected nothing good from him. Even religious people considered him too much of a sinner to be seen with him. But Zacchaeus, after encountering Jesus, embraced the law, willing to participate in restorative justice and a spirit of generosity. What about us? How will we respond when we encounter Jesus and the rule of life Christ represents?

Psalm 65 paints a picture of a renewed earth when all that is wrong with the world is set to right. But that vision can only be achieved through prayer and the gift of God’s grace.

This litany is the text of Psalm 100 interspersed with Philippians 4:4–9 for two readers, for a leader and the congregation or for a congregation split into two parts.

“Will God find faith on earth?” Only if we grow a true love for God’s law. That can only happen if we engage with the law more often. To set the stage, Psalm 119:97–104 is incorporated into a confession and assurance of pardon sequence.

A sequence for the opening of worship based on Psalm 66 which provides opportunity for worshipers to offer their own reasons for praise. Particularly appropriate for Thanksgiving Day and RCL Sundays Proper 9C and 23C.

Psalm 137 is a difficult and complex psalm only appearing in the Revised Common Lectionary once over the three year cycle (Proper 22C). This reflection helps us understand it better and provides some background and suggestions for how it might be used in our current context.

The main page for the "Grounded and Growing—A Series for Advent and Christmas." This includes links to service outlines for each week of Advent and Christmas which include an Advent candle lighting as well as additional resources and creative ideas. Ahead of each service you will find a reflection to aid you in your worship and sermon planning.

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me” begins the familiar words of Psalm 139. The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) titles this psalm, “An Inescapable God.” To me the word “inescapable” has negative connotations. We’ve been taught to value freedom and privacy. Being known, really known, is a scary notion. There is a part of each of us that is afraid of being known because we fear the anticipated rejection, certain we aren’t good enough. But yet, God knows us. All of us. Parts of us that we ourselves don’t even want to acknowledge. God knows us. All of us. Even the parts that we manage to hide from others.