Opening Song: Draw Near (Psalm 69) by Wendell Kimbrough and Sandra McCrackenLyrics:The flood around me is risingThe water’s up to my neckMy voice is worn out from cryingO Lord please send me your helpDraw near to my soul O LordDraw near to my soul O LordMy flesh and blood no more own meMy family’s no more my homeThey hide their eyes from my grievingThey stop their ears from my groansI asked them all for some comfortI begged but there was no breadThey gave me food that was poisonWith wine they left me for deadPassage: 1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.(Psalm Musical Reflection: O Lord, Hear My Prayer by Jacques BerthierReflection Notes: This song from the Taizé community contains a series of pleas: “O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer; when I call, answer me.” The repeated notes emphasize the insistence of the sung prayer, while the descending lines indicate a deep, almost despairing desire to connect. Prayer:Lord, you have said that anyone who lives a godly life will be persecuted. Don’t let me be so cowardly that I never take any heat for my faith. But don’t let me actually fall into the self-righteousness and hypocrisy that merits disdain. Amen.-Tim Keller