Over the last eight weeks, we’ve had a great opportunity to dive deeply into the Scripture by reading and singing the psalms. We’ll conclude the series this Sunday with Psalm 8 preached and sung, along with four other complete psalm settings (100, 29, 21, and 110), excerpts from 3 others (118, 95, 51), and a reading of another (111). If this deep dive into the psalter has blessed you, I’d like to recommend a few resources for psalm singing. Three of this morning’s settings come from the 2010 Book of Psalms for Worship published by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America—a denomination that sings psalms exclusively in worship. This collection includes many familiar tunes (the setting of Psalm 7 to SLANE/“Be Thou My Vision” that we sang last week was from it) which can make it a good introduction for those just getting into psalm singing. Two others from this morning’s service, O Come Before The Lord, The King—Psalm 95 and God Be Merciful To Me—Psalm 51, can be found in the wonderful 2018 Trinity Psalter Hymnal published by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the United Reformed Churches in North America. That publication includes over 400 hymns and a complete psalter—though the psalm section does use a hefty dose of tunes from the 17th century Genevan Psalter that tend to be more difficult for contemporary congregational singing. We’re also singing two psalm settings by our former music director Nathan George, who gave us a great repertoire of psalm compositions written specifically for our congregation from 2011-2018. Whatever method you choose, I hope that you’ll make singing the psalms a part of your devotional life. —Henry C. Haffner
Posted by Henry Haffner
Categories: Worship Notes