The psalmist encourages just about everything in creation to praise God. Psalm 148 is a psalm of exuberance, giving voice to a joy that cannot be contained. The source of that joy: gratitude. The psalmist echoes the gratitude of Isaiah, and connects with the only place in Paul's letters which mentions Jesus' birth. How wonderful that on the first day of a New Year, we are invited to be grateful!

Psalm 29 employs the imagery of a powerful thunderstorm to reflect on the glory and power of God's voice. This is by no means a literalist reflection: the thunderstorm becomes metaphor for the power of God's voice. The glory too. Worship will celebrate God's glory (and explore the meaning of that word). The installation of officers is an occasion for honoring the truth and challenge of a strong principle of Presbyterian governance: "Leaders are not simply to seek the will of the people, but to find and represent the will of Jesus Christ." We are called always to listen for God's voice. When we do, the result is: GLORY!

In one respect the Psalmist's words are comforting; in another respect they are disturbing. They are comforting in the sense that God is present with us, and God knows us. Our hopes, dreams, fears, failures, and successes are known to God. And God knew us even as we were being formed in the womb. The psalm is disturbing in that we have to wonder if we want to be known that well. Still, God's knowing is grounded in God's grace, mercy, and love. A question: Did Jesus come in order for God to know us or because God knows us?

Can God be too gracious? Can God be too merciful?

Need has a way of interrupting the best things we do. An interruption in a worship gathering became the occasion for learning what such gatherings are really about.