by Kamala Moore
At this time of harvest it is easy to see you in creation.
It seems as if the whole world is in love.
Help us to know that we are part of this web of life.
Help us to care for Earth our mother;
for we depend on her wellbeing.
Let us be mindful of our responsibility
to protect and not destroy.
Let us co-create the garden of Eden again.
with all the integrity we can employ.
The meadows clothe themselves with flood
The valleys deck themselves with grain,
They shout and sing together with joy.
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salm 66
1.Make a joyful noise to God all the earth.
2.Sing the glory of his name, give to him glorious praise.
4.All the earth worships you they sing praises to your name.
Winds in the grasses whisper your name.
Oceans roar it in their thunder.
Crickets praise you in angelic chorus.
Birds adore you in their song.
All creatures are grateful for their birth
Make a joyful noise to God all the earth.
Trees raise their branches in adulation.
Flowers drink the blessing of your rain.
There is nothing that does not belong to you;
whose name is written in our hearts.
All creatures know your soundless name.
In other’s eyes we recognize your gaze.
Sing the glory of his name.
Give to him glorious praise
All beings have life because of you.
You are their life.
Through many forms you speak.
You say, “Here I am in flower and in field;
“I am, in floating cloud and sighing sea.
Even the stones know your name.
Teach us to walk the world in wonder.
Help us give up the habit of hate and blame.
All the earth worships you
Sing praises to your name
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salm 72
12. For he delivers the needy when they call ,
the poor and those who have no helper
13. He has pity for the weak and needy
14. From repression and violence he redeems their life
and precious is their blood in his sight
Those who are intimate with the Creator
and trust in his ways will receive what they need.
Those who have no expectations
and make no demands will be helped.
For only those who are open can accept the form in which grace comes.
The divine one within inspires us to act with compassion.
Working through us, she feeds the hungry and cares for the sick.
Our hands and our feet are her instruments.
Grace works through the humble to show compassion.
The needy also must find their inner redeemer.
For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper
When we see the homeless person;
do we look away?
Are we afraid of such need and vulnerability?
Or do we give of what we have knowing
that inside our souls we are all the same.
Our bodies suffer the same.
We are all afraid.
Let not our fear of loss make us greedy.
He has pity for the weak and needy.
Those who know themselves know peace.
They cannot be moved away from their center.
Regardless of circumstance, their way is clear.
They are the eye in the hurricane;
the calm port in any storm.
The universe works through them
to manifest the wonders of grace.
Their life is dedicated to the sanctity of all life
of which they know they are a part.
War may wage all around them;
but they remain open channels of light.
From repression and violence he redeems their life
and precious is their blood in his sight
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salm 85
8.Let me hear what God, the Lord will speak
for he will speak peace to his people to his faithful,
to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9.Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Holy One, yours is the only voice I listen to
for only you speak the words I can trust.
Your truth is simple and full of love for creation.
You speak in the rustling leaves,
and in the gurgling stream.
You speak in the silence of a stone
and through the voice of friend or stranger.
You speak from the depths of our hearts
And you always speak peace
for that is what you are.
Source of peace; help us to be the peace that you are.
Help us to hear your voice
which always speaks peace to the nations.
Open the ears of our leaders to your voice of compassion.
Guide them to govern with the justice your love imparts.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful,
to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Let us not worship false idols
the idols of wealth and of power.
Let our leaders not put these idols before us
Let fear and greed cast no shadows
on your flame of justice.
May your love and compassion replace the fear of scarcity.
Fill us with your spirit.
Help us release the need to accumulate more possessions.
Let us recognize when we are blessed with enough.
Help us to know that our happiness
is connected to the happiness of others.
May our leaders write your law of compassion into legislation.
May they respect their Creator above all others
and manifest his will for justice
which existed before time began.
Surely his salvation is at hand
For those who fear him
That his glory may dwell in our land
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salm 119
1. Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the way of the Lord.
2. Happy are those who keep his decrees
who seek him with their whole heart;
3. who also do no wrong but walk in his way.
Teach us to walk your path of love and peace;
to see each other the shining face of Christ.
Let us look beyond first impressions, beyond judgments.
Help us to source within ourselves
the loving center where you abide.
For in that center is the path of happiness
which leads to the open door of freedom.
Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the way of the Lord.
Your law is loving and impartial.
If we feel punished, we are punishing ourselves.
We have freedom of will.
We choose our thoughts and acts.
All creatures carry your direction in their hearts
a map that can be known but not written;
a law that can be understood, but not spoken.
From the beginning we have known our part.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart
Bless us to know our innocence,
and release us from our guilt.
Let us not cover the light you gave us
with judgments against ourselves or others.
May we
forgive and be forgiven.
In our dependence on you all our fears are allayed.
Blessed are those who do no wrong,
but walk in his way.
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salm 135
15. The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
16. They have mouths but they do not speak;
17. They have ears but they do not hear.
The world values wealth above all else.
It esteems money more than your peace.
The decisions of nations are based on greed.
Thinking riches will bring happiness, they plunder the earth.
Her life is bought and sold.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold.
But silver and gold are neutral.
Slaves to human will.
These idols cannot speak for the homeless,
or those who are starving
They can be slaves to our will to help,
or slaves to our greed.
We cannot look to these idols for meaning.
Silver and gold idols belong under our feet.
They have mouths but they do not speak
Those who worship them cannot hear the cries of those in need.
They cannot answer the innermost longings of the people.
They cannot hear the wind in the trees,
or the crashing of the ocean on the shore.
They can only hear the voice of their greed
which promises satisfaction but never delivers.
They accumulate and hoard, year after, year
They have ears but they do not hear
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salm 139
14.I praise you for I am fearfully
and wonderfully made.
15. My frame was not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret;
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book was written all the days
that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
When I consider my body and all its parts
which function in harmony without my thought;
I am in awe of your creative power.
When I consider the Earth
where all your creatures have their place
and the rivers , the sea, the wind.
all serve the life of earth
like the organs serve the systems of my body;
I am amazed at your creation.
We, your children can not improve on it,
though your laws we would trade.
I praise you for I am fearfully
and wonderfully made.
You have been with me from before time began.
You knew me before I was embodied.
You made me a child of earth,
composed of her elements.
Her rivers run in my blood.
My body cannot be separated from nature.
You established my living conditions
before my birth.
My frame was not hidden from you;
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
You know my beginning and my end.
Why should I worry about the future?
You hold me in the palm of your hand.
When I let you guide me,
I am led down garden paths.
When I lead, I wander into thorns.
Therefore I place all my days under your care.
I am content to follow
The days I led myself were wasted
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance,
In your book were written all the days
that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
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salm 142
1. With my voice I cry to the Lord;
with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
2. I pour out my complaint before him:
I tell my trouble before him.
3. When my spirit is faint;
you know my way.
I cry to God like a child;
like a child cries to its mother.
I humble myself.
I go down on my knees
and bow my head , for I am at a loss
to know what to do.
I have nowhere to turn.
There is no one who understands me.
Therefore I turn to the one I adore.
With my voice I cry to the Lord;
with my voice I make supplication
to the Lord.
I express my feelings to my God.
I hold nothing back.
I vent my anger and my rage.
I let loose my grief and my tears.
I rail at injustice and cruelty,
I cry for myself and for the world.
My heart goes out to all beings who are suffering.
I empty myself till all is still within.
I pour out my complaint before him.
I tell my trouble before him.
When I am confused and feeling weak,
I trust in the Divine One to show me the way.
When I am empty and quiet,
I listen within for his still quiet voice.
I wait for his guidance which speaks
from inside a quiet and trusting heart.
After I have released my burden to my God,
I can wait in peace for his answer.
For I know my feet are made of clay.
When my spirit is faint you know the way.
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salm 143
6. I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
7. Answer me quickly, O Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go
down into the Pit
8. Let me hear your steadfast love in the morning;
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
My hands are open to you to receive your blessing.
I have felt separate from you for such a long time.
Fall on me like the rain
For I have been living in a desert for too long.
Make me fertile and green and blooming.
I open myself to receive the gift of your grace.
Without it I am as barren as the desert sand.
I stretch out my hands to you;
My soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
I cannot survive without your companionship
for what is the body, without the spirit?
What is my life without your love.
Open my heart so I may feel your grace again.
Restore me to the flow of life which I cut off
through my willfulness.
Open my ears again, to hear your voice.
Without you, I stumble in darkness.
Let the lamp of my heart be lit.
Answer me quickly O Lord.
My spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down into the Pit.
I will sleep now.
I will place my life in your care.
Teach me in my dreams.
You are my only hope.
Hear my prayer.
To follow in your way is my only goal.
Let me hear of your steadfast love
in the morning.
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go
for to you I lift up my soul.
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145
11. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell you of your power.
12. to make known to all people your mighty dee
ds,
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
13.Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
Those who know you,
know the place where you reside.
They have found the center of peace
inside their hearts.
There is no greater mastery than this.
to know the Self and know it is
inseparable from you.
These are the people who dwell in your land.
They practice your peace.
Your love they honour.
They shall speak of the glory
of your kingdom
and tell of your power.
They will teach their children
how to find the peace within.
They will make known the way to the inner kingdom.
They will manifest your peace on earth.
They will teach that all are one.
The lion will lie down with the lamb.
Innocence and strength will be seen together
and this will be the second birth of your son;
to make known to all people
your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is not of this earth.
Your kingdom can never be destroyed.
It abides in the souls of your people.
It is the light that gives life to all things.
Nothing can live without your governance.
For it is your law that holds the stars in their places
and keeps the sun from falling to earth.
The universe may pass away,
but your laws will remain forever.
You are the indestructible part of all beings,
their rock and their salvation.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures
throughout all generations.
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salm 147
7. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.
make the melody to our Lord on the lyre.
8. He covers the heavens with clouds;
prepares rain for the earth;
makes grass grow on the hills.
9. He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
Let us live in gratitude to God,
for he is the life in all things.
and the quality of life is joyfulness.
Therefore let us praise him with our voices
and make music in his honour.
