In this song I combine Psalms 120 and 121, the first two Psalms of Ascent. They are really two prayers, very poignant for the days we live: “I am crying out to God in my anguish, and He has heard my cry…” Verse two of the song makes a turn into hope, the prayer of Psalm 121: “I will lift my eyes to the mountains…”
En éste salmo, combino salmos 120 y 121, los primeros Cantos Graduales en el Salterio. Realmente son dos oraciones muy profundas para los días que vivimos: “Al Señor clamé estando en angustia. y él me escuchó…” La segunda estrofa nos torna hacia la esperanza del salmo 121: “Alzaré los ojos a los montes…”
Para mas información sobre el himnario bilingüe, ver aquí (for info on bilingual hymnal).
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has posted some videos where I introduce settings from the Psalms of Ascent, and also one song of exile – very appropriate for the moment.
Come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand. (Ps. 95: 6-7)
(You may use the light/bold print to take turns at readings if there is more than one person)
Hymn suggestions: Fairest Lord Jesus / Holy, Holy, Holy / Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Praying with the Psalmist
PSALM 121
Levavi oculos
1 I will lift up my eyes unto the hills;
from whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who has made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved,
and he who keeps you will not sleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord himself is your keeper;
the Lordis your defense upon your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not burn you by day,
neither the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
indeed, it is he who shall keep your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth for evermore.
The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Silence
New Testament Reading
From the Gospel of John From Colossians
In the beginning was the Word. He is before all things.
The Word was with God . . . is God. In Him all things hold together.
In Him was life. All things were created by and for him.
The Word became flesh. God’s fullness dwelt in him.
He was in the world. To reconcile all things.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Prayers of Intercession
Leader: Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well beloved son that when two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, you will also be there.Grant now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.
(A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom, 4th& 5thCenturies)
We bless you, O God most high and Lord of mercies, you who works great and mysterious deeds for us, glorious, wonderful, and numberless; who provides us with sleep as rest from our infirmities and as a repose for our bodies tired by labor. We thank you that you have not destroyed us in our transgressions, but in your love toward humankind you have raised us up, as we lay in despair, that we may glorify your majesty.Amen.
Carlos Colón 