For St. Paul’s this weekend is one of celebration, and so this reading is quite appropriate on which to be reflecting. With 185 years as a community of faith, St. Paul’s is looking to the future even as it celebrates the past.
Like any church though, there is concern about the climate of society, and people’s attitudes towards church. Nevertheless, we should continue to turn to this Psalm with hopeful hearts, to hear the call and to live into it, to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
As we celebrate 185 years we should also take to heart the words of the last verse, that the steadfast love of God endures forever, and God’s faithfulness extends from generation to generation. In other words, God has carried is to this place, will walk with us today, and will carry us into the future as well.
Let us pray.
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
You, O Author of creation, weave stories of love and hope in the face of hate and tragedy. As we look back on our own story, help us to be keenly aware of those times where we best reflected your love light. Help us also to see the darkness that lies in our past, not that we might dwell in it, but that we might recognize it should it ever start to enfold us in the future. Move in our hearts this day and in every day to come and empower us to be light bearers, love bringers, kingdom builders in this place. This we pray in the name of Christ our Lord. AMEN