Psalm 67-- Celebrate and Thank God!

This past Sunday's Psalm was Psalm 67.  The title was "Celebrate and Thank God!"  We talked about how we don't always feel like celebrating and thanking God, nor did Jesus do so in the difficult times.

Life isn't always easy.  Yet, we are given opportunities to encourage one another in those difficult times.  How we offer encouragement is huge.  I didn't get in to that, really, in the sermon, there wasn't lots of time.... though I did go over my normal time of speaking and went about 22 and 23 minutes, respectively at the two different churches.

Jesus' example that I share is a decent one, one of walking with and being present.  But that wasn't really the focus, so I won't delve deeper here.

The Psalm Prayer came from re:worship.  It was shared as an insert at the second church, so you don't hear it at the end of the sermon, like you do at the first church.  I decided to not use it again.  Things change during the sermon and from church to church, as always.

In both churches, I share about my friend Pagiel, who is different from me.  He is tall, he plays guitar, and he is blind.  I shared about him because he came in to my life unexpectedly a couple of years ago.  And, to all who know his story, we didn't know that he would still be around today to make us laugh and smile, but he is.  He has a special place in my heart and I enjoy hearing him share and sing.  Though he is different from me, we have things in common.  Sometimes it just takes spending time with people to know what those commonalities are.  Pagiel may not be the best example for differences because I wasn't prejudiced against him.  His differences didn't turn me away.  Yet, it was the example I felt led to share.  I am so glad to know this young man, his family, and his "framily".  By the way, if you want to get to know Pagiel and/or check out his music, he works for Sidewalk Stages by Soundcorps and you can catch him at the Walnut Street Bridge, on the corner of Main Street, or probably other locations too.

Both recordings are below the transcript, if you want to listen to one or both of them.

Peace,

Debra

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“Celebrate and Thank God!”

Psalm 67 (CEB)

May 26, 2019 (6^th Sunday of Easter)

Fort Oglethorpe UMC/Simpson UMC

Psalm 67 (CEB)

¹Let God grant us grace and bless us;
    let God make his face shine on us, Selah
²     so that your way becomes known on earth,
    so that your salvation becomes known among all the nations.

³ Let the people thank you, God!
    Let all the people thank you!
⁴     Let the people celebrate
        and shout with joy
        because you judge the nations fairly
        and guide all nations on the earth. Selah
⁵     Let the people thank you, God!
    Let all the people thank you!

⁶ The earth has yielded its harvest.
    God blesses us—our God blesses us!
⁷ Let God continue to bless us;
    let the far ends of the earth honor him.

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THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

THANKS BE TO GOD.                      

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Today is the 6^th Sunday of Easter and we continue our journey through the Psalms.  Today’s Psalm allows us to celebrate and thank God for all in our lives.  We can be thankful for that which has happened, what is going on in the present, and that which is to come.

As you listened to the Psalm today, what stood out to you?  What words or phrases caught your attention?

We read it in the CEB version today.  If we had read in the NRSV or a few different other ones, “let” would be “may” in verses 1, causing us to likely remember the pastoral benediction that we use and hear from time to time from Numbers 6:24-26:  “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, volume 2 480)

As we move on in the Psalm, verse 2 reminds us of the purpose that God grants us peace, blesses us, and shines his face on us (what we read in verse 1).  The “so that” in verse 2 gets our attention for the upcoming purpose, which is for God’s way to be known on the earth and God’s salvation to be known among all nations.

That’s the reason, the purpose that God does what God does.  Does that bring to mind anything?  Maybe, just maybe, it brings to mind for you the mission statement of the United Methodist Church?  We are to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  In doing so, God’s way WILL be known on the earth and God’s salvation will be known among all nations.  If we share the good news from John 3:16-17 (¹⁶ God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. ¹⁷ God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.)

and if we live out our lives as disciples of Christ who seek to make other disciples of Christ, then we are living into God’s purpose.  And then, we have reason to celebrate and thank God as is stated in verses 3 and 4.

Yet, we don’t always “feel” joyful or celebrating, do we?  Life is difficult, there are circumstances that come our way—whether it is health, finances, conflict, death, any loss or grief, we are not always able to joyfully celebrate. Nor do we have to.

There are many other Psalms that show the darker side of questioning, hurt, pain, etc. 

If that is where we are, then so be it.

A Psalm like 67, during our difficult times, can remind us that there are times of joy and celebration, as well as giving thanks, even when we might not be able to bring ourselves to do it. 

Are we alone in our struggles?  Do you think Jesus understands?  When I wonder these things, I go to Gethsemane to see how Jesus responded there:

Matthew 26:36-39--³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” ³⁹ Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”

Jesus was burdened, sad, anxious.  He wanted the cup of suffering taken away.  As he was on his face before God, he wasn’t in that moment joyful or giving thanks to God for the blessings, the harvest, or the salvation.  Jesus was struggling with the pain. 

On this 6^th Sunday of Easter, Psalm 67 is a reminder for us to continue to make a way to give thanks, to sing our praises to God, to celebrate, to have joy.  Yet, we do so recognizing that we are likely going through difficult times. We are even going through difficult times in the United Methodist Church, aren’t we?

“The message of this psalm is critical in a world full of injustices and divisions--- and in a church that often seeks to limit who is acceptable to God.” (Keeping Holy Time, Year C, 184)

We may argue that we limit who is acceptable to God, but if we are honest with ourselves and God, we are constantly setting limitations for God.  I wonder why it is so hard for us to love those whom God created?  Notice that I am using first person plural pronouns here, therefore including myself.  It continues to be an ongoing journey of learning and growth for me to love God’s creations.  There are so many people different from me—there are folks that speak different languages, folks that look different, think different, act different, eat different foods… some that are deaf, blind, use wheels to get around, some who …..

Is there any group of people that you were taught was different when you were little?  Any race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, learning difference? 

What happened when you made the time to get to know the person?  Did you learn that they were human, just like you? 

I did.  And, for that, I am thankful.  And I celebrate.  I still have a long way to go.  I still find racism and prejudices crop up in my life.  I still struggle to not be an “us vs. them” person. 

In the kin-dom of God, it’s “we”.  “We the people.”

And because of that, I can thank God.  I can celebrate.

As we open our hearts to the transforming love and grace of God, then we can join with the Psalmist in saying “Thank you, God”.

What are you thankful for today?  For whom are you thankful today?

Think about that for a moment.

As if you are talking one on one with God at this very moment, tell God something you are thankful for.  Outloud.

How does it feel to thank God outloud for something for which you are thankful?

Look around you.

Thank God for the people next to you and in this building.  Without them, you wouldn’t have a community of faith in which to worship, to grow in your discipleship, to serve, to help make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Do we tell each other thank you enough for showing up to worship?  For doing the hard work of discipleship in order to grow into the likeness of Christ?

It isn’t easy to be a disciple of Christ, to do things God’s way. 

If we thanked each other for being on this faith journey with us, maybe folks would feel more connected.

I am thankful for each of you here today and those who aren’t able to be here today.  You continue to help me grow in my journey as a follower of Christ.  Thank you for the opportunities to love, serve, and lead you as Christ has directed me over these past four years. 

As we continue to grow as individuals and as a community, may God bless us. 

Psalm 67 is a communal Psalm of Thanksgiving.  As such, let us close with the Prayer that we have already shared, reminding ourselves how we might live in response to God.  Let us read this time in unison the Psalm Prayer from re:worship:

God, mark us with grace and blessing!

Let our lives reflect your light and your goodness,

so that the way in which we live might bring others

to an awareness of your presence and your love.

Teach us to trust You with our whole heart,

and to praise You in every circumstance,

so that your grace and mercy might reach out through us

to the entire world.  Amen.

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Fort Oglethorpe Recorded Sermon

Simpson Recorded Sermon