As you may well know, I’m wandering through the psalms in this season after Epiphany. Still looking for light and wondering where Christ might lead. All of that and some passionate engagement with these ancient songs. You can read a little more introduction here.
I shared some other ideas for this season in my newsletter for Epiphany and am just about to send out the edition for Lent. If you haven’t signed up, it might help your planning. You can sign up here.
I’m trying to keep things simple in this season so I can work on the wonders I imagine for Lent and what I hope will release next week but there are so many good things out there and it’s my joy to link to them for your worship planning. There are, however, surprisingly few for Psalm 71 — and it isn’t yet included in the Living Psalms project. I suspect it might be soon though. This simple call to worship might be how you begin worship though I think I prefer this call to worship by Joanna Harader. And though not specifically referenced to which prayer links to the psalm, this is a lovely liturgy by Thom Shurman for this Sunday.
Prayers of Confession Inspired by Psalm 71:1-6 Rescue us, O God, from our worst thoughts and our biggest doubts. Rescue us, O God, from our stubbornness and staunch insistence that we can figure it out for ourselves. Allow us to find safety to admit that we don't know all that we think we must know. Loosen our grip from the certainty that we cling to with white-knuckled determination. Release us from the unknown to welcome the love we know in you so that we might sing of your love again and again and again.
I don’t know how you’d use this in worship but I liked it and it fit with the wandering words I offer in this prayer. I also don’t know about permissions but it’s worth a listen and might just be something that you share in your weekly email to the congregation to offer blessing. (I know you want them to read all those things but it might be a grace to you and to them to just offer a song.)
That’s all I’ve got for now.
I am praying for you, dear pastor. I’m praying for you so much.
Cooking with Elsa 
Wonderful!!! Justo’s Psalm just came in so let me share it here:# Living Psalm 71:1-6_The Reverend Justo González
I am exasperated and overwhelmed. Nothing seems to be going as planned. I plead during this time of difficulties – do not let me be humiliated. Take away my shame.
I see no hope other than your loving grace, wrap your love around me. Listen to the sincerity of my soul and rescue me from life as it seeks to devour my faith and understanding.
I need an anchor. A rock that will surely suffice to keep me warm, safe, and out of harm’s way. While circumstances try to make me surrender, I cling to you. You are truly the butterfly that makes me smile experiencing the transformational power of God, as well as my rock and my fortress.
Liberate me from the hands of everything that would cause disruption and destruction. Cruelty and injustice cannot destroy the shimmering but powerful wings that cover and protect me.
It is and has been only you that carried me through my difficult cocooning process. You took the uncomfortableness and what I often thought was defeat within that reality– shined a light on what was to be. I trust in you from the beginning of the uncertain to the majesty of what is.
Centering myself in you from the origin of my life, it was you always protecting me. It is you that I continue to praise and experience as you flutter before me affirming that you always have been there.
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Oh my gosh. This is so good. I presume it’s online now and I’ll update this link. I confess I wrote this several weeks ago… Thanks Maren!
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I am hoping — he got it to me just before I sent it to you. sometimes Friday is a crazy, crazy day in Cleveland. I don’t suppose you would like to join the Living Psalms team (I know that is ‘ask-a-busy-person’
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Oh my gosh. I would be so honored — and don’t rush to post. It’s nearly the sabbath. Rest, dear one.
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That’s wonderful! I would rush, but posting is way above my pay-grade … whoops my grade!
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