Life in many places has often been pretty rough over the years; people fight, wars arise over land, resources or power grabs. Days are very dark for ordinary people feeling the consequences of conflict. When things fall apart like that, community rulers try new ways of patching them up and preventing recurrence. The charter shown here is one such attempt. … Continue reading Psalm 130, 28 June 2015
Category: Psalms
Berlin Bach +
When in Germany one expects to hear a little of Bach's music. It's an added delight when it is beautifully presented by a small group of young Indonesian singers, members of the Martin Luther Church Indonesian community in Neukölln, Berlin. Here they are warming up for the 10 am worship - any congregation would be … Continue reading Berlin Bach +
Psalm 23, 26 April 2015
Well, who needs an intro to Psalm 23 and the still waters? Over the years this Blog has taken several angles, from the quiet waters to the light-hearted. Do you remember Things that comfort me? Two previous entries on this lovely psalm appeared in 2014, and it's tempting on this year's appearance to just say: 'Yep, the post for … Continue reading Psalm 23, 26 April 2015
Psalm 4, 19 April 2015
This psalm is full of angles. (I nearly typed 'angels' having in mind the fine crew of harmonisers singing psalm and song with me last week, thank you all; and now having just seen a tweet on a choir of angels) Each verse seems to switch to a new idea, like a train track with many splits … Continue reading Psalm 4, 19 April 2015
Psalm 133, 12 April 2015
A beautiful old Anglo-Saxon manuscript in the British Library from the 8th Century, shown above, records the psalms in Latin in an insular uncial script (capital letters) in common use around 700 CE. The British Library's description of this manuscript, titled Cotton MS Vespasian A 1, is simply: A Roman Psalter (‘The Vespasian Psalter’), including prefaces, canticles, … Continue reading Psalm 133, 12 April 2015
Psalm 118, Easter Sunday 5 Apr 15
Visitors to ancient cities like York enjoy discovering quaint and remote features: the Shambles; archaeological remains of successive eras under the cathedral; hidden misericordiae within, saints and gargoyles without. The Shambles area provides just a hint of the chaotic life in early times; narrow alleys, stalls, clamour, smells and all sorts of behaviour, seen and unseen. Fairness … Continue reading Psalm 118, Easter Sunday 5 Apr 15
Psalm 31, 29 March 2015
Two psalms are listed for Palm Sunday, for the liturgies of the palms and of the passion. In recent years we have sung both; Psalm 118 on the way in and then Psalm 31 during the scripted service. This Sunday we confine our song to Psalm 31, with a response from Psalms for all seasons, no 31C. But reading … Continue reading Psalm 31, 29 March 2015
Psalm 51, 22 March 2015
Completely side-stepping the set Psalm 107 last week (yes, and St Patrick's Day too although I did have a Celtic style song up my sleeve), we leapt forward to preview that well-used Psalm 51 that comes up this Sunday, Lent 5. Well-used it is; for centuries it has been sung during Lent particularly Ash Wednesday, Tenebrae services, and … Continue reading Psalm 51, 22 March 2015
Psalm 107 and 51, 15 March 2015
A scary story of serpents in the wilderness from Numbers in the previous lectionary reading is a good precursor to the psalm's theme of divine mercy experienced in time of stress. The selection from Psalm 107 invites the reader to be thankful for everlasting mercies. An additional dimension is added in the next reading: By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is … Continue reading Psalm 107 and 51, 15 March 2015
Psalm 22, 1 March 2015
What was Psalm 22 thinking? Here it is popping up well before Good Friday where, as happened last year, it seems permanently consigned by virtue of Jesus' quoting it on the cross: 'Why have you forsaken me?' Ah, I see. We draw this week on verses 23 to 31 (click here for lectionary readings), a selection which … Continue reading Psalm 22, 1 March 2015
Psalms in the South 