Opening Song:

Psalm 29 by Poor Bishop Hooper

Lyrics:

every angel honors you

for your glory and your strength
wrapped in endless holiness
and the glory of your name
wrapped in endless holiness
and the glory of your name

the voice the voice

the voice the voice of the lord
the voice the voice
the voice the voice of the lord

the voice the voice of the lord

echoes above the sea
the voice the voice of the lord
is power displayed
the voice the voice of the lord
falls forests and trees
the voice the voice of the lord
is thundering

the voice the voice of the lord

flashes flames of fire
the voice the voice of the lord
shakes barren the wilderness
the voice the voice of the lord
is writhing with new life and
the voice of the lord lays waste his creation

all the people

every one
in his temple
cry glory glory glory glory

they cry glory glory glory glory glory

Passage:

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

(Psalm 29 ESV)

Musical Reflection:

Bless the Lord, My Soul by Jacques Berthier

Reflection Notes:

A contribution to the Taizé tradition, this tune by Berthier provides a reverent foundation for the text: “Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.”

Prayer:

Lord, if I want your power in my life, I must listen to your Word. Enable me to “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” (From Thomas Cranmer, “The Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent.”) the Scriptures and therein encounter you, my living Lord. Amen.
-Timothy Keller