Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 is one of the suggested scripture readings for October 23, 2011 (Proper 25A, Ordinary 30A). On her excellent website, Worshiping with Children, Carolyn Brown offers a number of approaches to the reading of the psalm in worship. Here they are:
1. Note that this psalm is credited to Moses and invite worshipers to imagine Moses praying it as he looks out over the Promised Land before he dies. Then invite an elderly man forward to read the psalm.
OR
2. Since this a psalm that speaks to God who is Lord of all generations, have it read by readers of at least two generations. A white haired reader could be paired with an older elementary school reader with each reading alternate verses. The older reader goes first and reads verses 5 and 6 as one reading.
OR
3. Or, to involve more readers of a variety of ages and sexes, use the five reader script below. Include an older child, a teenager, a young adult, a middle aged adult, and an older adult. It doesn’t matter in what order they stand and read, but I would mix them up rather than go youngest to oldest or the reverse. They could stand around a central microphone each stepping to the mike to read from a script they hold or each could wear a lapel mike. A rehearsal before the service is essential for all to feel comfortable and thus project the faith of all generations that underlies the psalm.
1: Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2: Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3: You turn us back to dust,
and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
4: For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
5: You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
1: Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
2: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
3: Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
4: Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
5: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!
— Carolyn Brown, on her site Worshiping with Children.
For more worship resources related to this text, click on Proper 25A or Proper 28A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
For other readers’ theatre settings of scripture, click on Readers Theatre in the list of “Labels” at the right.
