Created for worship
Gordon Kennedy
October 05, 2020
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Listen to this daily worship
Psalm 19 (NRSV)
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
A dark and empty desert sky is richly crowned with the sparkling lights of heaven, the sliver of a hunter’s moon. A grey and forbidding rocky coastline is smashed with dancing waves, covered with creamy foaming spray. Autumn misty mornings are suffused with gentle pale light when even though unseen sunrise shouts aloud of the glory of our creator God.
PRAYER:
God the builder,
you have built it; you can fix it!
Fulfilling our created purpose, we worship you.
Your words like nails holding all things together,
Your phrases like tools shaping mountains and rivers,
Your sentences like scaffolding support every planet and galaxy.
Like an excited child holding up their Lego construction you display what you have made.
Too often we are like distracted parents who do not notice, who cannot see the wonder and glory brought into being in every creative act.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see your glory.
To reach out and touch it, to know in all you have made, your love for us.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen,
to hear the wordless song of creation,
pouring out your glory.
Eyes that see sparkle with wonder,
ears that hear pulsate with praise.
Inspire our worship by your captivating creation.
Our words like crowbars pull apart,
our phrases like sledgehammers break to pieces,
our sentences like wrecking balls reduce and diminish.
In the abundance of your creation we see only resources.
Things we can use, things we can use up until they are no more.
Objects to hoard and deny to others. We assign price and ignore worth.
In the mystery of your creation we see only questions.
What is it made of? What is inside it? How does it work?
Our exploring questions do not lead to wonder but control,
if we can explain it, we are masters over it.
As we diminish your creation, we diminish ourselves.
You can fix it! In Jesus you have fixed it!
Forgive our exploitation of your creation. Forgive our reduction of your mystery to explanation. Restore to us the joy of your creation, the wonder of your mystery.
Renew in us your creation purpose for us,
show us all you have made and fill our lives with wonder,
free our tongues to sing your praise,
God the builder.
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