Welcoming Prayer (Spiritual Discipline)
Confession and Self-Examination Guide (Posted for Week 2)
Weekly Lenten Prayers (Collects) (Posted for Week 2)
Overview (Posted for Week 1)
Prepared for Psalms Group, February 28, 2021
Psalm 130 focuses specifically on the chaos churned up in our lives by our own sins. The 7 penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51,102,130, 143) offer an honest portrayal of the damage done to humans by their own sins and by the sins of others. These psalms combine that truth about sinful human people and systems with the amazing truth of YHWH’s character. I sometimes think of YHWH as the “ideal parent” we humans long for: all-powerful yet unfailingly loving and merciful, all-knowing and wise yet overflowing with grace and forgiveness, consistently just and fair in discipline, and 100% committed to what is best for each one of us.
Prepared for Sunday, April 26, 2020
The fifteen Psalms of Ascent are placed in the Psalter after Psalm 119, Israel’s love letter to YHWH for his Torah, his instructions for life in YHWH’s mercy, grace, steadfast love, and faithfulness. (See Exodus: 34:6.)