Sing to the Lord a New Song – September 10
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 50; PM Psalms 93, 96; Job 29:1,31:1-23; Acts 15:1-11; John 11:17-29
In July 2019, the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing was celebrated. Apollo 11 burst forth from the Earth’s atmosphere and traveled for four days before landing on a region of the moon called the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969. Many hours and years of planning and testing went into the “space race” around the world. The city of Huntsville, Alabama, has played a pivotal role in advancing the field of aerospace engineering.
When we moved to Huntsville after seminary, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center was one of the first tourist stops we wanted to explore. My husband Sam grew up with a deep fascination about space exploration, reading voraciously about the spacecrafts, missions, and technology. Visiting this amazing venue was special, as we got to introduce our kids to the wonders of outer space.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, there were events at the Space and Rocket Center, from weekly conversations with rocket scientists, to a Guinness World Record launch of 5,000 model rockets. My parish at that time, St. Thomas, had a strong contingent of parishioners involved with the engineering, design, and technology that support space exploration. We planned a Eucharist to celebrate the lunar landing, using space-themed readings, hymns, and the “Star Wars” Eucharistic Prayer (“…the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses…”).
Today, the first line of Psalm 96 grabs me and the hymn “Earth and All Stars” runs through my head. “Sing to the Lord a new song!” is repeated twice in each stanza, honoring the many aspects of life for which we lift our voices to say thank you to God. Penned in the 1960s as technology was booming and President John F. Kennedy vowed the US would lead the way to the moon, this hymn names some loud things around us: rushing planets, clashing cymbals, hammers and workers, boiling test tubes, praying members. In all these noises and advances, we sing out the refrain, “God has done marvelous things. I, too, sing praises with a new song.”
As you pray through Psalm 96, accept the invitation to accept a posture of gratitude. Listen for how God is stirring your heart to declare God’s glory and share what of God’s creation reveals joy and wonder. Whether observing a sunset, hearing the crash of waves, or touching the bark of a tree in the woods, join me in singing praises with a new song.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
For what aspects of life do you give thanks today?
What hymn or song from church do you miss? What tunes have been going through your head?
Daily Challenge
Call or write a friend. Share with a friend one of the aspects of your life that sings a song of praise and makes a joyful noise to the Lord.