A homily from the Christmas carol service at Barnet United Reformed Church, 19 December 2021 Whisper it, murmur it, tell it, and yell it, post it or podcast it, let people know!Snap it and screenshot it, Instagram-story it;Facebook it; WhatsApp it; let people know! Like it, and Share it, and retweet it, TikTok it,blog it and …
Category: Poetry
A Haiku Psalter: Psalm 150 and Doxology
Psalm 150 As you live and breathe, let your "Hallelu" resound: Praise, praise, praise the LORD! Doxology Glory, triune God, then, now, evermore: Amen! (Here ends the Psalter.)
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 145-149
Psalm 145 God's justice, God's grace cascade through generations; I will praise the LORD! Psalm 146 Mortal trust expires, God keeps faith eternally; therefore praise the LORD! Psalm 147 Though all earth is blest, we bear the divine mandate; thus we'll praise the LORD! Psalm 148 Sun, moon, stars above; earth and seas; tribes and nations: as one, praise the LORD! Psalm 149 …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 140-144
Psalm 140 LORD, you are my God: protect me from wrongdoers, let their plans backfire! Psalm 141 Guard my words, deeds, heart, lest I fall in with sinners. LORD, be my defence! Psalm 142 I cry to the LORD: here I have no help but you, my refuge, my right. Psalm 143 Though I'm in the dark, memory still testifies to your steadfast …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 135-139
Psalm 135 With praise, serve the LORD: vanquisher of every foe, unrestrained in might! Psalm 136 Give thanks to the LORD! This the theme of all God's works: endless steadfast love. Psalm 137 “Sing!” our captors crow; but the cruellest dissonance fills our homesick hearts. Psalm 138 LORD, I give you thanks: answered prayer fortifies me, bringing you renown. Psalm 139 No secrets, …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 130-134
Psalm 130 From the depths I cry to the LORD, in whose mercy my soul dares to hope. Psalm 131 LORD, I know my place: my soul rests in your embrace like a suckled child. Psalm 132 Come to dwell, O LORD, here in the appointed place, then we'll rest secure. Psalm 133 Anointed with grace, let our shared life overflow, nourish, beautify. …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 125-129
Psalm 125 As Mount Zion stands, so the LORD holds and secures. Can mountains be moved? Psalm 126 This the LORD's doing: joyful now the harvest-home which was sown with tears. Psalm 127 Cease your vanity, learn instead it is the LORD who'll provide and bless. Psalm 128 Home and household blest, long life and gladness for those who walk the LORD's way. …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 120-124
Psalm 120 O, the tongue's deceit: slander's sting, belligerence! LORD, deliver me! Psalm 121 I shall lift my gaze: Israel's keeper - my keeper - shades me, shields me, saves. Psalm 122 Stride with rejoicing up to the house of the LORD. Peace, Jerusalem! Psalm 123 Look upon us, LORD - though should we make eye-contact, servants as we are? Psalm 124 Without …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalm 119
Every letter counts: Law shapes life - a life-shaped Law! Count every letter. Note: In Psalm 119, which is an extended meditation on God's Law, the poetic structure reflects the all-encompassing nature of God's decree. It's an acrostic: within each 8-line stanza, every line begins with the same Hebrew letter, and the stanzas progress through every letter …
A Haiku Psalter: Psalms 114-118
Psalm 114 It was like a birth. Waters broke, you drew us forth. One people. One God. Psalm 115 Idols won't help you. Heed the One who shapes and shields: trust the LORD, be blessed. Psalm 116 The LORD heard my prayer - saved me, set my feet secure. Freed, I'll serve with praise. Psalm 117 All you nations, praise! Praise the …
Gates In Us Day And Night 