“Creating God, your fingers trace the bold designs of farthest space;
let sun and moon and stars and light and what lies hidden praise your might.
Sustaining God, your hands uphold earth’s mysteries known or yet untold;let water’s fragile blend with air, enabling life, proclaiming your care.
Redeeming God, your arms embrace all now despised for creed or race; let peace, descending like a dove, make known on earth your healing love.
Indwelling God, you gospel claims one family with a billion names; let every life be touched by grace until we praise you face to face.”
-Creating God, Your Fingers Trace (ELW #684)-
Our skies have been made hazy and the air around us has been deemed to be called of a quality that is not healthy for us to breath…. however, as evening approaches in these mid-June days, there is a spectacular the colors and at times the sun itself is a red fireball of different hues of red. As the evening passes, hues of pink, lavender and violet reflect off the clouds. It is AWEsome. It begs from my tongue a word of thanks and praise and wonder. I went to my hymnal and turned to the hymn above. The text writer based this hymn on Psalm 148. The psalm itself affirms the great tenets of our Christian faith: God the creator of the universe/cosmos; God who sustains the ecology of life; God, redeemer of his people from oppression and death; and God the Spirit which dwells in his people-the church.
I think it is a psalm (148) and hymn (ELW#684), for us to reflect upon during these months of summer. A time when, in theory, we take more time to enjoy the gift of time with family and friends (and solitary time as well), especially in the out-of-doors. Psalm 148 is a “praise the Lord” type of hymn, and text writer Jeffery Rowthorn captured the awe, wonder and mystery of our creating, sustaining, redeeming, indwelling God in this gem of a hymn. It gives us permission to enter into a relationship and “lets” us learn of grace.
In addition to these moments we take, the opportunity begs for us to engage in intentional prayer on behalf of others, and ourselves and our families as in the summer months, travel and time on the road, even back and forth from our homes and the nearest town for activities increases.
As the people of Israel planned trips, more for census and business probably than a vacation per say, there were prayers for sending. These prayers/hymns were known as "Psalms of Ascent". Most of the travel ended in Jerusalem and other cities (strategic planning) were located on the top or side of a hill/mountain--hence "ascent". The Psalms of Ascent are located in the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) from Psalm 120-134. I invite you to check these Psalms out during the summer months (traveling or not!). In addition I include below some prayers for you as we peruse or cruise through the summer months:
Blessings for those who travel:
O God, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve us/those who travel; surround us/them with your loving care; protect them from danger; and bring us/them in safety to our/their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, our beginning and our end, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the magi to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now as we (or substitute the names of travelers) set out to travel. Make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with our Lord Jesus Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Creations Praise:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, who in your self-emptying love gathered up and reconciled all creation to the Father. Innumerable galaxies of the heavens worship you. Creatures that grace the earth rejoice in you. All those in the deepest seas bow to you in adoration. As with them we give you praise, grant that we may cherish the earth, our home, and live in harmony with this good creation, for you lie and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. (Sundays and Seasons @2012 Augsburg Fortress)
Agriculture:
Abundant God, we give you thanks for the fruitful earth, which produces what is needed for life. Bless those who work in the fields and pasture land; grant favorable weather to all engaged in agriculture and ranching; and help us to ensure that all people share the fruits of the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (ELW page 81 paraphrased)
Pastor Carol
