"A Time to Praise"
Sermon Presented July 27, 2008
Psalm 98:4-9a
(A service of commitment for Kay Hubbard & Ulf Neidhardt)
We sense God's presence in the beauty of the earth, the goodness of people, the birthday celebration of a 90 year-old saint, the joy of a newly wed couple and the touch of a child. But we also sense God's presence in the streets of the inner-city, grief at the death of a loved one, the diagnosis of malignancy, and the struggles of family life. Sometimes we are able to praise audibly - as we are doing today, and other times we realize only much later that God was with us in loving presence at our time of grief - and then to speak our praises to God.
I sometimes use psalms as sermon texts, but usually the psalms I choose are lament psalms - those that give a person permission to yell at God when you feel that everything around you is crumbling. Not so today! This morning I am offering a psalm of pure praise because today is a day that calls for pure praise. Please hear Psalm 98:4-9a.
This morning, we aren't speaking of praise; we are praising God through music, prayers, Scripture and the spoken word. We are praising God with the piano, organ, violin, flute, cello and our voices. We are praising God for the life-long commitment made by Kay and Ulf. We are praising God for Frances who will soon observe her 90th birthday, but is celebrating today when her family is present. We are praising God for love and service. We are praising God audibly - as did the psalmist who wrote Psalm 98 - in the best ways that we can - believing that God knows our hearts and accepts even the off-key praises of someone like me. Our praises today - and always - are acceptable to God.
I am delighted that Wilanna chose our opening hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee". The words by Henry Van Dyke and the music by Beethoven evoke joy in those who offer this music to God and to the ones who listen in. This is a prayer to God - a psalm put to fantastic music.
I was thrilled with the violin and piano selections Les and Wilanna presented and am looking forward to hearing the instrumental music of Dorothy, Bill and Bob Skidmore and the vocal selections by Carol and Wilanna. We are off to a rousing start in the praise department!
The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because God is present and worthy to be praised! That summons is offered to us this morning. May we join that vast congregation as we offer our praises to God!
PASTORAL PRAYER
God, we praise you this morning - confident that you hear us and that
you accept our praise offering to you. We are most grateful for your
love to us and for the love that we feel for one another. Thank you
for your many gifts to us. Thank you for each person who is present
here this morning. We are blessed and we know it!
And yet Lord, we know that there are those here who are grieving an illness - either their own or that of a loved one. There are others who are grieving their loss of independence or a need to make changes in their lives. There are those who are unable to sense their purpose in life. There are those who struggle to complete tasks. God, come to them and allow them to experience your presence and your love. Fill them with joy in the midst of their struggles.
Lord, we lift up those who are personally affected by the wars that rage throughout the world. Minister to them and to the world leaders who determine their fate; and bring peace and cooperation to our world.
We also lift up those who are facing economic crises in our uncertain times. May those who have much, share with those who have little! May those in need find a ray of hope for their future.
For we offer our praises and these requests to you in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen
07/27/2008
