For many of us, as people of faith, in times in our lives when we know we need to pray, but we may not know how or what to pray, we can always rely on the 23rd Psalm. 

The 23rd Psalm is tried and true, guiding generations through all the changes that life can bring. 

And, here we are: As the pastor of this dear church, I have just announced a big change in our near future. For the sake of my family, I’ve discerned, through quite a lot of prayer and exploration, that it is time I leave this call and move to accept the call from God to serve another church community closer to our family. 

So, in this season of transition, let me recommend to all of us, Psalm 23.

This is a timeless song of the trust and guidance we find with our Holy Creator, Beloved God. The wisdom of these words leads us to know and to hold the precious times when the Eternal Spirit has led us to green pastures for rest, for nourishment, 

Led us to still waters to quench our thirst and renew our souls.

How have you in your life of faith, and how has this community of faith known green pastures of abundant life and beauty?

How have you and how have we known still waters, holy stillness of great depth, living waters whose taste satisfies our greatest yearning?

How have you and how have we known the valley of the shadow of death? How have we encountered fear? How have we traveled through uncertainty? 

How have you, how have we known God to be with you through that, guiding, goading, comforting, strengthening, protecting?

How have you and how have we felt the presence of enemies, who would wish us harm and wish us fear? And how have you experienced in the face of such threats, tremendous abundance and overwhelming blessing? 

            How have you and how have we discovered that goodness and mercy have been pursuing us all along? Not just following us, but seeking us out, hunting us down, if we wander or flee or find ourselves lost … how have you known that to be true, in your lives of faith and in your lives together as a community of faith?

            Such is the goodness and mercy of our God, to always be there, like a good shepherd, to lead us, to guide us, to goad us, to strengthen us, to comfort us, to bless us, to renew us, as we go on this way of Holy Love. 

The ways we have known this are all by the Grace of God. And such shall it be, all the days of our lives, until we come to dwell eternally in the Heart of our Beloved Creator.

Psalm 23 – version by Nan C. Merrill

O my beloved, you are my shepherd, 

I shall not want;

You bring me to green pastures

For rest

And lead me beside still waters

Renewing my spirit, 

You restore my soul. 

You lead me in the path of 

Goodness

To follow Love’s way. 

Even though I walk through the 

Valley of the shadow 

Of death,

I am not afraid;

For You are ever with me, 

Your rod and your staff

They guide me, 

They give me strength 

And comfort. 

You prepare a table before me

In the presence of all my fears;

You bless me with oil, 

My cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy will

Pursue me 

All the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the heart

Of the Beloved

Forever. 

(You may view livestream of the service in which I share this sermon, here)

(Image: “Autumn leaf on still water” by blinkingidiot is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0)