Fall Psalm Series

New Preaching Series

This Fall, we are engaging the Old Testament hymnbook of the people of God – the Psalms.  150 lyrical poems that exalt and lament, that scold and delight.  So many different moods but, in all of them, God speaks and God’s people listen and then, remarkably, God’s people speak and God listens!  A conversation for the ages.

Learning the Psalms in Pew

By absorbing the various moods of the Psalms, we better learn the character of God who invites us into this open dialogue, this covenant relationship.  By learning the various moods of the Psalms, we better learn what it is to be human and to stand in solidarity with those who grieve and those who rejoice.  And then we might ask: 

By singing these songs on Sunday, what sort of people will we become Monday through Saturday?  

What does hearing the conversation between God and God’s people teach us about the mission of God for the world?

Learning the Psalms Beyond the Pew

But hearing something for 20 minutes on Sunday morning is not enough to let it sink deep into our bones. It is not enough to enable us to change our lives. That is why I am challenging you choose ONE way of learning the Psalms beyond the pew.  Here are a few options:

·         Sunday School

-          2 Adult classes -- one studying Prayer, the other the Psalms (beginning September 8.)

-          Each children’s class will have at least one opportunity to creatively engage the Psalms.

·         At Home

-          Memorize a Psalm

-          Rewrite a Psalm each week.

-          Using an old hymnbook, learn a Psalm-song on your instrument of choice.

-          Paint a picture, create a sculpture or a collage or a banner with one Psalm in mind.

-          Follow along with weekly readings provided in the bulletin and online.

-          Listen to sermons on the Psalms (located at www.cep.calvinseminary.edu, click “Audio Sermons.”)

-          Read through the book of Psalms during the month of October (5 Psalms a day x 30 days = 150 Psalms + 1 day to spare)

·         At Church

-          Opportunities to learn a little more during our Fall monthly potlucks.

-          A few “writer’s workshops” for those interested in learning how to write a psalm or would like to share their writing with others.

-          Let me help you start a new small group! There are a lot of great materials on the Psalms out there.

Psalm-Fest

The culmination of our series in the Psalms will be a Psalm Fest on November 24.  This will be a chance to share our learning with one another and celebrate the conversation between God and God’s people that occurs each week in worship. Consider whether you’d like to contribute a drama, a reading, an art piece, special music, a video or powerpoint presentation!