Psalms and Solas

In the biblical book of Psalms, often called “the Christian’s songbook,” one finds a wide range of human experience in our walk with God, from sorrow, lament, self-searching, and confession to joy, praise, trust, and expectation. Of the psalms Ambrose wrote, “A psalm is the blessing of the people, the praise of God, the recommendation of the multitude, the applause of all, the speech of every man, the voice of the Church, the sonorous profession of faith, devotion full of authority, the joy of liberty, the noise of good cheer, and the echo of gladness” (quoted in John D. Witvliet, The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship, Eerdmans, 2007, pp. 4-5). It is no surprise that there are psalms appropriate for every liturgical action, from the call to worship to the benediction.

The psalms chosen for this service include Psalm 84 (as a preparatory song), Psalm 150 (as a song of praise), Psalm 75 (for a song of reconciliation), Psalm 65 (for the dedication of God’s forgiven people), Psalm 43 (as a sung prayer for illumination), Psalm 46 (as the sermon text), and Psalm 134 (as response to the benediction).

Careful not to introduce too many new tunes at once, for most songs the planners of this service chose tunes they knew to be familiar to most of the worshipers. One tune new to this body of worshipers was that of Psalm 150, which has an exuberant new setting in Psalms for All Seasons. Also new was the setting of the Doxology tune: OLD HUNDREDTH in a new rhythm. (Upon review, however, the planners felt that, placed as it was at the end of the service, a less adventurous setting would have been wiser.) In the service, the singing of the new songs was assisted by the leadership of the choir.

The liturgy here also emphasizes the Reformation’s return to the confession of the Christian’s sins directly to God rather than through an intermediary; the service included confession of sin and God’s assurance of pardon.

Gathering for Worship

Prelude

Welcome

Song of Preparation: “Almighty Lord, How Lovely Is That Place,” based on Psalm 84 (st. 1, 3, 4, 5) ^{PfAS 84D}

Call to Worship

Leader: People of God, from whom does your help come?

People: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

People: Amen!

Psalm of Praise: Psalm 150 “Sing Praise to the Lord, You People of Grace,” based on Psalm 150 (st. 1 & refrain: choir; st. 2-4: all, refrain after st. 4) ^{PfAS 150A}

Reconciling with God

Prayer of Trust to the God of Grace

Leader: Sovereign God, in your mighty acts you revealed your justice and truth. With all your saints we sing your praise, for you bring down the tyrant and raise the poor from the dust.

People: May your Son be our confidence and strength, as you judge the world in righteousness. Amen.

Psalm of Reconciliation: “O God, Your Deeds Are Unsurpassed,” based on Psalm 75:1-3 ^{PfAS 75A}

Silent Prayer

Psalm of the Evening: Psalm 65:1-5

Leader: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,

People: O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.

Leader: When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.

People: Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

Leader: By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Singing the Psalm: “Every Heart Its Tribute Pays,” based on Psalm 65:1 ^{PfAS 65E}

Choral Anthem: “Let the Redeemed of the Lord Give Thanks” based on Psalm 107 (composed by John Purifoy, published by Brookfield Press [Hal Leonard])

Proclaiming the Word

Prayer for Illumination: “Send Out Your Light and Your Truth,” based on Psalm 43:1-2 ^{PfAS 43A}

Reading of Scripture: Psalm 46

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Reformation: Be Still and Know—I Am God”

Responding to the Word

Evening Prayer

Offertory

Offering

Statement of Faith (from “Our World Belongs to God,” par. 37 and 43)

Pastor: In our world, bent under the weight of sin,

Christ gathers a new community.

Satan and his evil forces

seek whom they may confuse and swallow;

but Jesus builds his church, His Spirit guides,

and grace abounds.

People: We grieve that the church

which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,

and spans all time, place, race, and language

has become a broken communion in a broken world.

Pastor: When we struggle for the purity of the church

and for the righteousness God demands,

we pray for saintly courage.

When our pride or blindness blocks

the unity of God’s household,

we seek forgiveness.

People: We marvel that the Lord gathers the broken pieces

to do his work,

and that he blesses us still

with joy, new members,

and surprising evidences of unity.

We commit ourselves to seeking and expressing

the oneness of all who follow Jesus.

Receiving God’s Blessing

Doxology: “Come, All You Servants of the Lord,” based on Psalm 134:1-2 ^{PfAS 134A}

Benediction

Postlude