Merry Christmas Everyone!

Me & Gary at Mayfels, a local restaurant.

I wish everyone a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.  Here's hoping we can learn to love one another a little bit more, cultivate a spirit of kindness when we dialogue with those who are different from us, and come to the realization that we are all children of God, no matter what letter of the alphabet we attach to ourselves.  Peace!  [I'll be posting again in the new year.]

Joseph & Mary: Caretakers of the Gift of Love

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. [Luke 2:1-6, NRSV]

Maybe you don't identify with any of the characters I've mentioned already [see previous posts]. Perhaps it is the story of Mary and Joseph that most captures your heart. If this is the case, then you are the kind of people whom I call CARETAKERS OF THE GIFT OF LOVE. You understand and embody the magnificent word "incarnation." You can see God, not only as the almighty creator of the universe, but also as a baby who needs his diaper to be changed. You can hear the otherworldly song of the angels, but your ears are also attuned to the cry of an infant.

Those who identify most strongly with Joseph and Mary are often parents who have the awesome responsibility of raising a child in a sometimes difficult and challenging world. There are a number of folks in the LGBT community who fall into this category and have decided to raise children through adoption or artificial insemination. You know what it means to be responsible for that child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can only imagine what Mary and Joseph must have gone through as they tried to raise their little boy.

Those who identify most strongly with Joseph and Mary are CARETAKERS OF THE GIFT OF LOVE. They have shown us that "family" has nothing to do with blood but everything to do with love. They challenge all of us, gay and straight, to form relationships that are nurturing, committed and lasting.  They give us all something to aspire to whether we choose to have children or not, and remind us that the bonds of relationship we have with each other are far more precious than any material gifts we can give to one another.

Magi: Star Gazers, Followers of the Light

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." [Matthew 2:1-2, NRSV]

Maybe you don't identify with the story of the angel or the shepherds [see previous posts]. Perhaps it is the story of the Magi that fills your heart with joy. Those who identify most strongly with the Magi are people whom I call STAR GAZERS. I mean this in every good and wonderful sense of the word! Contrary to the popular hymn "We Three Kings" most of us realize that the Magi were not kings, but were astronomers and astrologers; followers of the stars. It is they who discerned Jesus birth from afar. It is they who undertook great personal sacrifice to reach him, crossing the desert, facing a menacing King Herod, and finally reaching their longed-for destination.

To me the Magi represent the faithful disciples of Jesus who have been following the light for quite some time. They are STAR GAZERS who sacrifice their time, talent, and treasure; giving their very best for the sake of the Christ Child. There are a number of us in the LGBT community who fall in this category.  We have been faithful followers of Jesus, even when the church told us we were not welcome. We continued to serve as pastors, church musicians, and leaders in the church even if we had to do so quietly. Increasingly, however, our lights have been able to shine more brightly thanks to gay friendly churches and denominations such as the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. If you identify strongly with the Magi, I hope you will continue to not only follow the light but also call the LGBT community to join us on the journey. It is one of the reasons why I write this blog.

If you identify most strongly with the Magi, I have good news for you as well: You are welcome at the manger, too! You, the faithful followers of the light, are welcome to join the outcast shepherds in hearing the angels' song, holding the Christ Child in your arms, and singing him a song fit for kings: "Oh, come, let us adore him. Oh, come, let us adore him. Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Shepherds: Welcomed Outcasts

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. [Luke 2:15-18, NRSV]

Maybe you don't identify with the angel [see Friday's posting]. Perhaps this time of year leaves you feeling like you're outside of the circle; slightly detached from the events and festivities happening around you. If this is the case then you probably identify most strongly with the shepherds. Shepherds, as many of you know were considered to be heathens and rogues, outcasts in first century Jewish society. It was not considered to be a noble profession.

Part of the reason for this is that shepherds, because of the kind of work they did, were unable to fulfill all the requirements of the Jewish Law. They had to work on the Sabbath. They could not always follow all the ritual purities of the day. Therefore, shepherds were considered to be people outside of the religious circle; heathens and outcasts.

Placing this in a modern context those who identify most strongly with the shepherds are those who feel like outcasts in church and society; people who don't always fit the mold of what others think they should be; people who feel somewhat detached from others for a host of different reasons. Needless to say, there are many in the LGBT community who feel or have felt this way because they have been rejected by their church, their families or both.

If you identify most strongly with the shepherds, I have some good news for you. The shepherds were Jesus' first worshiping community. The heathens and the outcasts were the first to hear the angel's song and run into Bethlehem to find the babe lying in a manger. It wasn't the kings and societal elite. It wasn't the upstanding, synagogue-going religious folks. It was the shepherds who first worshipped our Lord

This is most certainly good news indeed. It reminds us that everyone is welcome at the manger. No matter who we think is worthy to receive God's good news, it is offered to all. Everyone is welcome to see the babe; to hold the Christ Child in their arms, and sing him a sweet lullaby. This is what the shepherds' story tells us. It is most certainly good news for outcasts like you and me.

Angels: Joy Bringers

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus." [Luke 1:26-31, NRSV]

This coming Sunday, my congregation does its annual Crèche service where we do a series of readings and carols that take us through the story of the birth of Jesus. Along the way we place the figures of the story on the altar until everyone is assembled. It is one of my favorite worship services of the year.

Over the next few days I'd like to offer a few meditations on the players in this divine drama and see how they speak to us today. Perhaps you identify most strongly with the angel in the Christmas story. If this is the case then you are what I would call a JOY BRINGER. You are the kind of person who, during this holiday season, has holly growing out of their ears and mistletoe in their hearts! You know a JOY BRINGER in a second. Their presence lights up a room.. They are quick to share a hug, sing a carol or make a special handmade gift, Those who identify most strongly with the angel realize that in the midst of the craziness of this holiday season only one thing really matters: The birth of Jesus Christ. It is this knowledge that fills them with great joy and keeps them focused on what's really important this holiday season.

The LGBT community has more than its fair share of joy bringers. Our creative community keeps this holiday sparkling bright! Do you think Paula Dean or Martha Stewart can pull things off without a few gays helping them long the way? I think not! Our world is in short supply of JOY BRINGERS so if this is your gift, don't be afraid to shine. It's true, there is much darkness in our world. I see it all the time in my work as a hospital chaplain. But we angels need to keep reminding people that there is something to celebrate this season no matter how difficult life may seem.

As a side note you might find it interesting to know that the Greek word for evangelism is "euaggelion."  The root of this word is "aggel" which means "angel" in English. Thus angels are evangelists who proclaim the Good New of Jesus' birth to all who would hear their song: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will to all"

Family Gatherings: Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

It's that time of year...ARGH! Time for all of us to visit those folks we sometimes don't want to see: family! Needless to say, for a number of LGBT people spending time with their biological relatives at Christmas is not exactly their idea of having a good time. Some couples are forced to sleep in separate beds. Others are dis-invited altogether. Some couples spend the holiday apart from each other and visit their families separately. What's a queer couple to do?

Well, I can only share from my experience. From the very beginning of our relationship, Gary &  I didn't give either of our families the option of treating us as anything but equal to other family units. Things were fine with my family for the most part. However, Gary's family is Southern Baptist and we had a rough road to travel...for a while. The first Christmas I showed up it didn't seem to be a problem. They probably figured it was just a phase and Gary would grow out of it. However, after I started showing up for the third and fourth Christmas [we're on our 18th now!] tensions began to mount. It was apparent I was not going away any time soon so they'd have to deal with me! 

Long story short, tensions became so unbearable that we let his family know that we loved them but if this is the way they were going to treat us, we'd opt out of family gatherings altogether and visit them as individuals instead.

Believe it or not, this was the turning point in the story. His sister basically read the rest of the family the riot act and, slowly, things began to improve. His brother also hand built us a porch swing and gave it to us one Christmas which was a symbol of his support for both of us. These days, I feel as much a part of Gary's family as any other brother-in-law.

I guess the point of my story is that sometimes we have to be very patient with our families. Many of us have had years to struggle with the issue of our sexuality. Our families need time to sort through their feelings as well. I know that not everyone out there will have a happy ending. But, if we love our families long enough some of them might surprise us!

P.S. For those of you out there for whom family gatherings are not an option, remember that all of us can create our own sense of family. We can surround ourselves with people who love and support us unconditionally. So, here's hoping you find "family" this Christmas season. It's really not the same without them.

Make the Yuletide Gay

This is one of my new annual holiday traditions:  Watch the move "Make the Yuletide Gay."  My husband and I first rented it through Netflix and ended up watching the movie twice. I then bought my own copy of it to support those who made the film.  So, how is the first gay-themed Christmas movie? Well...it's quite good. The good news lies in the performances of the two male leads, Keith Jordan and Adamo Ruggiero, whose scenes together are well acted and believable. The soundtrack is also sweet, especially the songs by Jake Monaco and Jen Hansen that have a genuine warmth and joy to them.

The further good news is that the movie deals with a number of situations gay boys find themselves in while going home for the holidays: deciding if and when to come out to parents, enduring our parents trying to fix us up with a girl, censoring our conversation and how much affection we show our significant other. There is much to laugh and cry about here. Most of us will see ourselves in at least one scene portrayed in this movie.


Kudos to the cinematographer as well.  "Make the Yuletide Gay" looks really beautiful with its skillful use of the bright, vivid coors of the holiday season.  This film has a "visual warmth" to it that is cozy and inviting to the viewer.

The bad news lies in the peripheral characters who come across like caricatures of real people. [Olaf's parents.]  With a better script, this movie could have gone much deeper than it did. The acting talents of Alison Arngrim [OMG, Nellie from Little House on the Prairie] and Gates McFadden [Star Trek: The Next Generation] are wasted here as well.

Overall, the good news far outweighs the bad news. "Make the Yuletide Gay" is a sweet film with lots of heart.  It's now a welcome addition to my yearly Christmas celebration.

John the Baptist, Part Three

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." [John 3:4b-6, NRSV]

Finally, the third thing we learn from the person and message of John the Baptist is preparing the way of the Lord means we are called to challenge existing power structures and patterns of behavior in our world so that mountains of greed may be leveled and valleys of despair may be filled. This was the core message of John the Baptist. All four gospel writers agree on this detail. Each of them has John quoting the words of the prophet Isaiah which are a call to do justice in our world. It is a call from the outsiders to challenge the powers that be in both church and society to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

As LGBT people of faith the challenge is to be justice-makers not only for our community, but for other oppressed people as well. We have to take the time to discover what others issues we are passionate about. Some of us care deeply for the homeless and hungry. Others are concerned about immigration and health care reform. We must broaden our scope and become agents of change for all of God's people. They may care more for us if they know we care passionately for them.

John the Baptist, Part Two

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." [John 3:10-14, NRSV]

The second thing we learn from the person and message of John the Baptist is that comfort often gets in the way of living a prophetic life. John's ministry was conducted in the wilderness. In ancient times, many people saw the wilderness as a dangerous and lonely place; isolated from the comforts of civilization, vulnerable to the violence of others. Being a member of the Qumran community, among a people known as the Essenes, John lived a simple, monastic lifestyle that was quite different from the world around him: His clothes were a simple camel's hair tunic with a leather cord wrapped around his waist. His diet was locust beans and wild honey which is the better rendering of the gospel texts. Locust beans were the diet of desert Bedouin monks who were not bug eaters as we might think but vegetarians.  Being an Essene, John also had no possessions of his own. Whatever resources were at his disposal were owned by the community. In this simple lifestyle John was able to devote his life to the work of God.

If John the Baptist teaches us anything, I hope it is that simplicity, conservation and sharing are good things. Sometimes our possessions can possess us. Sometimes our need for comfort and security can be a hindrance in our relationship with God and our relationship to the world. It doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight, We Americans are all a bit materialistic and need to become better stewards of all that God has given us. Perhaps the best thing we can do this Advent season is to follow John's example and simply our lives a bit. It's also important that we look beyond the gift lists of our friends and families and turn our attention to the needs of the impoverished and homeless. These are the best ways to "make room" for the Christ Child to dwell more fully in our lives.

John the Baptist, Part One

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" [Luke 3:1-4, NRSV]

This past Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent, we found ourselves immersed in the world of John the Baptist. It is a strange and foreign world to us that is far removed from our cell phones, iPods, Blackberries, E-mails and 24 hour news coverage on CNN. John's world is a much simpler one with clothing made of itchy camel's hair and locusts and wild honey for breakfast. It is a world of wilderness living and people being dunked in the Jordan River with a solitary voice crying out "Prepare the way of the Lord,; make his paths straight"

What do we make of this strange and unusual world that is so far removed from our experience? Can the person and message of John the Baptist still speak to us even though we are far removed from it by both culture and centuries of time?

Over the next couple of days I'd like to offer a few observations about John the Baptist. The first is that the Word of God rarely comes from the establishment. The Word of God comes from outsiders. As Luke introduces the story of John's ministry, he goes out of his way to place John in the midst of the movers and shakers of both church and society. He lists emperors, governors, rulers, and high priests. These are the power people. These are the ones who are in charge of keeping the machinery of church and society humming along They represent the establishment, the status quo.

And yet, Luke tells us that the word of God does not come through these people. The Word of God comes through "John son of Zechariah in the wilderness." John, most likely, was a member of the Qumran community. They were desert people. Monks who lived in community with one another and shared everything in common. They were outsiders who lived on the fringes of society and viewed society from that perspective. Luke tells us that the Word of God came to John, one of these outsiders. It did not come from the movers and shakers of church or society.

My queer brothers and sisters, this is most certainly good news for us who often feel like outsiders. Our gift is that of perspective. Because we are outsiders we see things differently and are able to offer insightful commentary on the injustices of our society that make many people feel excluded and discriminated against. LGBT people of faith also have a prophetic word to offer the Church that is often more interested in maintaining the status quo than being a radical voice for change in our world. Perhaps we have more in common with John the Baptist than we may first realize!

Sunday Sermon - Psalm 85

2 Advent B    Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13    David Eck

12/04/11

I.  Last week's psalm was a psalm of lament

---Whose sad refrain echoes in our ears

---And resonates in our hearts:

---"Our tears are the only thing that feeds us these days."

---The Psalmist prays "Our cup overflows with sorrow." [Ps 80:5]

The central image in this psalm is a vineyard

---That was once safe and secure

---But now feels like it has been pulled up by its roots

---And is vulnerable to attacks from wild animals.

This vineyard is symbolic of the times

---When we feel uprooted and vulnerable,

---Open to attack from within and without.

This psalm, however, ends on a hopeful note

---With a refrain that becomes our Advent prayer: 

---"God, draw us closer to you,  

---Smile on us once again.

---Show us your kindness and keep us safe

---Within your love."  [Ps 80:7]

Now, in today's Psalm, God promises to act.

---God promises that our Advent lament

---Will soon be over.

God is at work, even as we speak,

---Sowing seeds in our spiritual garden

---That will produce a bumper crop

---Of lovingkindness and trustworthiness,

---Of equity and peace,

---Of fidelity and justice [Ps 85:10-11]

Psalm 85 is a hopeful Psalm

---That speaks of transformation and regeneration.

---It is a Psalm that fits in well

---With our first lesson and gospel

---That also speak of God on the move:

Valleys are being filled in,

---Mountains and hills are history,

---Uneven ground is being smoothed out,

---Rocks are being cleared away.

It sounds like a construction project to me!

---A "holy highway" as the prophet Isaiah declares,

---That is fit for our God to travel on.  [Is. 40:3]

John the Baptist echoes Isaiah's words

---Pleading with the people to 

---"Prepare the way of the Lord,

---Make his paths straight."  [Mk 1:3]

But we can also look at this construction project

---As yet another image for a garden

---Where God is at work, tilling the soil,

---Getting it ready for seeds to be planted.

Isaiah hints at this gardening imagery

---In the verses that follow his initial declaration

---Of a highway for God to travel on.

He says that the garden God is planting is the Word.

---Other crops will fail and falter,

---People will disappoint us and let us down,

---Grass will wither, flowers will fade,

---But God's Word is the one sure crop we can count on.  [Is 40:6-8]

Therefore, it leads me to believe

---That Isaiah had gardening on his mind

---More than a road construction project

---When he wrote the words of our First Lesson!

We're going to go with this gardening imagery,

---Both from Isaiah and Psalm 85,

---And see where it takes us this second week of Advent.

II.  The first place I'd like to stop is Word War I.

---This might seem like an unlikely place to venture

---But during this time period the concept

---Of a "victory garden" was born.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term

---Victory gardens, also called "war gardens or "food gardens for defense,"

---Were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens.

---They were planted at private residences and public parks

---In the US, UK, Canada and Germany during World War I and II.

Their purpose was to reduce the pressure on the public food supply

---Brought on by the war effort. 

In addition to indirectly aiding the war, these gardens

---Were also considered a civil "morale booster."

---Gardeners could feel empowered

---By their contribution of labor

---And be rewarded by the produce grown. 

This made victory gardens

---Become a part of daily life on the home front.

III. In March 1917, Charles Pack

---Organized the National War Garden Commission

---And launched the war garden campaign. 

During World War I, food production had fallen dramatically,

---Especially in Europe, where agricultural laborers

---Had been recruited into military service

---And remaining farms were devastated by the conflict. 

Pack conceived the idea that the supply of food

---Could be greatly increased without the use

---Of land and manpower already engaged in agriculture,

---And without the significant use of transportation facilities

---Needed for the war effort. 

The campaign promoted the cultivation of available private and public lands,

---Resulting in over five million gardens

---And foodstuff production exceeding $1.2 billion by the end of the war.

Eleanor Roosevelt even planted a victory garden

---On the White House grounds

---To show her solidarity with the rest of the nation.

Victory gardens were planted in backyards

---And on apartment-building rooftops,

---With the occasional vacant lot "commandeered for the war effort!"

---And put to use as a cornfield or a squash patch. 

During World War II, victory gardens appeared again.

---Including large public gardens in Hyde Park in London

---Riverside in New York City

---And San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Thus the victory garden became an important symbol of the war effort.

---It was something that everyone could do

---From the youngest to the oldest.

---You didn't even need to have a big piece of land

---To grow a victory garden.

---Any small patch of soil could do just fine.

---You could even grow a victory garden in a pot

---That sat on the fire escape of your apartment.

IV.  The reason why I bring up the victory garden this morning

---Should be rather obvious by now.

I believe God desires to grow a victory garden in us.

---Let's be honest, sometimes life feels like a war.

---We find ourselves fighting an unstable economy,

---Shrinking paychecks and diminishing retirement benefits.

Any of us who has faced or is facing a serious illness

---Knows that this is the greatest war department of them all

---As we fight for health and wellness.

Sometimes our relationships with family and friends

---Feel like we're fighting a war.

---Then there are the challenges of our daily lives

---Such as school, our jobs, 

---Or simply trying to figure out

---How we're going to pay the bills this month.

Life can sometimes feel like a war

---As we make our way through valleys of despair

---And mountains of problems.

Life can sometimes feel like a war

---With it's ups and downs,

---Roadblocks and obstacles.

However, the good news we hear this morning

---From our Psalm and the prophet Isaiah,

---Is that God desires to plant a victory garden in us.

This victory garden will help us with the "war effort" of life

---And sustain us through all the battles we will face.

God promises to be the farmhand who will

---Fill in all the valleys and level the hills.

God promises to smooth out the uneven ground

---And remove any rocks that stand in our way.

God also promises to plant a victory garden in our lives.

---The list of seeds planted in this garden is a glorious one!

They include God's Word, 

---Which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

They include lovingkindness and trustworthiness,

---Equity and peace,

---Fidelity and justice [Ps 85:10-11]

V. Brothers and sisters in Christ

---This is most certainly good news indeed!

In the midst of our Advent lament and feelings of loss

---It is the promise of hope we need to hear.

God is on the move.

---God is tilling the soil.

---God is planting seeds

---In our lives and in our world.

Often times this is done

---Without any help from us whatsoever.

---It is God's gift of grace to us.

However, we can also help with the "war effort."

---We can do a bit of soil preparation ourselves

---So that a bountiful harvest is insured.

How do we do this?

---Well there are many ways we can answer this question.

---This morning I'd like to answer the question

---By focusing on this particular season we find ourselves in.

Black Friday was literally a war

---As people pepper sprayed each other,

---Used fists and elbows, guns,

---And even trampled one another,

---In order to get their hands on the latest piece of electronic crap

---That will find its way into a landfill in a few years.

Does this strike you as horrifying?

---Does this strike you as a nation with a weird set of priorities?

One of the ways people of faith

---Can begin to plant a victory garden this season,

---Is by distancing ourselves from the materialistic machine

---Our nation has become

We can opt for simpler celebrations

---We can focus on family and friends

---On giving simpler gifts

---And also giving to those who are in need

We can take back Christmas

---And celebrate it in a way

---That I think Jesus would prefer.

Another way we can begin to plant a victory garden

---Is by spending time with the Word and in worship.

---Isaiah got this one right:

---The grass withers, the flower fades,

---But God's Word lasts forever.

Mountains of plastic stuff quickly finds their way to a yard sale,

---Electronic equipment either breaks or becomes outdated;

---But faith, love, family, friends,

---These are the things that make life worth living.

Therefore, in order to help with the "war effort"

---We need to be intentional in developing our spiritual life.

We need to be as dedicated to growing our faith,

---As those crazed Black Friday shoppers are

---In trying to find a bargain.

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

---This can truly be a season of peace on earth

---And good will to all people,

---But this won't happen without any effort on our part.

Let us all take the time this December

---To begin tilling the soil of our lives

---So that God can plant a wonderful victory garden in our midst.

Let us choose to define this holiday differently

---Than the rest of the world,

---Distancing ourselves from the consumer machine

---And plugging ourselves into the work that God is doing,

---To prepare a highway for the Christ Child to travel on.  Amen.

----------

Psalm 85:1-2, 9-13

Refrain: God, plant a garden in our land where peace and justice grow.

L: God of Abundance, you blessed Israel

And returned the exiles to their homeland.

C: You forgave the disobedience of your people

And covered all their sins. R.

L: Therefore, we will listen carefully

To what you are saying, Almighty One.

C: Your voice speaks a word of peace to those who follow you;

Wholeness and happiness to those who remain faithful

And do not return to their foolish ways. R.

L: Your saving power is near those who worship you;

Your glorious presence takes up residence in their land.

C: Lovingkindness and trustworthiness are bosom buddies;

Equity and peace embrace each other.  R.

L: Fidelity sprouts and yields a bumper crop;

Justice rains down from heaven.

C: The Lord of the Harvest grows

A garden of good things in their land.  

The yield is unimaginable.

L: God's virtue and justice lead the way,

Clearing a path for us to follow.  R.

Psalm paraphrase from The Psalms: Remixed by David Eck, © 2011.  Used by permission.