Dear Friends,
         One of the joys of this summer has been spending Sunday mornings together in
the Book of Psalms. Week after week, these ancient prayers and songs have
reminded me why they have been cherished by God's people for thousands of
years.
The Psalms are unlike any other book in Scripture. They are both humanity's
words to God and God's words to humanity. They give voice to the deepest
longings of the human heart while revealing the heart of God.
What strikes me most about the Psalms is their honesty. They never pretend that
faith means having all the answers or always feeling joyful. Some Psalms
overflow with praise, while others cry out in grief or confusion. Some celebrate
God's abundance, while others ask difficult questions in seasons of waiting. The
Psalms remind us that every part of our lives belongs before God.
The Psalms are not meant to remain on the pages of our Bibles or within the
walls of the sanctuary. They are meant to become part of our daily lives. They
can shape our prayers when words come easily and - perhaps most especially -
when they do not. They remind us that we are never the first to experience joy
or sorrow, confidence or doubt. Countless generations before us have prayed
these same words, trusting that God was listening. We join that great chorus
every time we open the Psalms.
As August unfolds, I invite you to spend a few quiet moments each day with
one of the Psalms. Read it slowly. Listen for a word or phrase that captures your
attention. Let it become your prayer. You may discover that these ancient
prayers speak into your life in surprisingly fresh ways.

My hope is that, through these weeks together, we all come to know more
deeply the God whom the Psalms proclaim - a God who is faithful in every
season, present in every circumstance, and whose steadfast love endures
forever.