This Sunday will be week four of Christ in the Psalms, our annual summer series. The Psalms give us a vocabulary and a “hymnal” for relating to God through the full range of human experience and emotion, ultimately pointing us to Jesus.
As a means to engage further with the Psalms each summer, we have a different artist in our community make a piece each week to be displayed in the foyer. Last week our piece for Psalm 92 was done by Benjamin Rogers. Read more about that here. You can also see and read about all past Christ in the Psalms artwork pieces here (they go back as far as Psalm 41). Lastly, be sure to visit the side gallery each week (where you get coffee) to see the originals of all this year’s artwork pieces displayed together.
Here’s how you can prepare for this week:
1. Read through our text, Psalm 93.
We’re no strangers to the chaos of this world, especially when the headaches and hardships of life batter us with rhythmic devastation. Our hearts cope somehow, but often in anemic ways. All the while, Yahweh reigns as King. He rules the brokenness by His word: “This far and no further.” (Job 38:8–11) He does battle with the chaos and knows no defeat, and He is building a house, a dwelling place for His presence among His people. It is marked by His abiding word and perfect beauty and is ruled by Jesus, King over the chaos and Savior of our souls. Here we find hope and rest without ceasing.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 93:1–2, Welcome (From Immanuel Nashville):
To all who are weary and need rest,
To all who mourn and long for comfort,
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares,
To all who fail and desire strength,
To all who sin and need a Savior,
This church opens wide her doors
with a welcome from Jesus Christ,
the Ally of His enemies, the Defender of the guilty,
the Justifier of the inexcusable, the Friend of sinners,
Welcome!
Our Great God (Fernando Ortega, Matt Powell)
God I Look To You (Ian McIntosh, Jenn Johnson)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Based on The Worship Sourcebook:
Righteous God,
you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all.
We confess that we have not bowed before Him
and are slow to acknowledge His rule.
We give allegiance to the powers of this world
and fail to be governed by justice and love.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Raise us to acclaim Him as ruler of all,
that we may be loyal ambassadors,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Based on Revelation 5:5, 9–10:
Do not weep!
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.
With His blood He has purchased people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
He has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
King Of My Heart (John Mark McMillan, Sarah McMillan)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION:
How Majestic (Brian Eichelberger)
Jesus Is Better (Aaron Ivey, Brett Land)
BENEDICTION
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.
Person: Benjamin Rogers
Benjamin Rogers is a Kentucky-born artist that has resided in the Denver area for the last four years with his wife Emma and son Everett. He studied painting and drawing at Northern Kentucky University, Louisiana State University, and Arizona State University where he completed his MFA. He teaches art full-time at Red Rocks Community College. His work has been featured on the covers of “New American Paintings” and “Fresh Paint Magazine” and his work has been exhibited throughout the country.
Piece: Oil Painting
This traditional oil painting combines a few thoughts that are captured in Psalm 92: The mandolin represents the musical worship described in the psalm. The knife represents the lethality of God and how His enemies will perish. The watermelon represents the sweetness of life and what it is to know God, but it also elicits a knowledge of the fragility of the watermelon. People have a physical understanding of the ease in which the knife can move through the watermelon, which is painted in a way that resembles flesh. This demonstrates the fruits of God’s goodness while reminding us that the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
It’s week three of Christ in the Psalms, our annual summer series. The Psalms give us a vocabulary and a “hymnal” for relating to God through the full range of human experience and emotion, ultimately pointing us to Jesus.
As a means to engage further with the Psalms each summer, we have a different artist in our community make a piece each week to be displayed in the foyer. Last week our piece for Psalm 91 was done by Jennie Pitts Tucker. Read more about that here. You can also see and read about all past Christ in the Psalms artwork pieces right here (they go back as far as Psalm 41).
Here’s how you can prepare for this week:
1. Read through our text, Psalm 92.
Psalm 92 celebrates the great, deep works of the Lord, specifically in His distinction between the righteous and the wicked. God’s people are called to respond with joyous worship. Additionally, Psalm 92 is recorded as a “Psalm for the Sabbath.” God intends for our day of rest to be one of worship and contemplation.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
See full blog post here for a playlist of the songs.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 92:1–4, Welcome (From Immanuel Nashville):
To all who are weary and need rest,
To all who mourn and long for comfort,
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares,
To all who fail and desire strength,
To all who sin and need a Savior,
This church opens wide her doors
with a welcome from Jesus Christ,
the Ally of His enemies, the Defender of the guilty,
the Justifier of the inexcusable, the Friend of sinners,
Welcome!
It Is Good (Psalm 92) (Joel Limpic)
We Will Feast In The House Of Zion (Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Based on The Worship Sourcebook:
Lord, we are like sheep, and we get lost.
We are like Martha, and we busy ourselves
with technology and various activities,
refusing to rest and sit at your feet.
We forget the needs of our neighbors
and do not love you above all else.
We need a Savior, so we long for Jesus.
Come, fill our lives, Jesus. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Psalm 92:12–15
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
Establish The Work Of Our Hands (Cunningham, Keyes, McCracken, Palmer, Vice, Wardell, Zach)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION:
O Come To The Altar (Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye)
VOCATIONAL COMMISSIONING: ART, MEDIA, & DESIGN
Your Labor Is Not In Vain (Wendell Kimbrough, Isaac Wardell, Paul Zach)
BENEDICTION
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.
Person: Jennie Pitts Tucker
Originally from Austin, Texas, Jennie graduated with a BFA from Baylor University in 2012. She started her own art business in 2014, “Jennie Lou Art,” and now works as a full-time artist in Denver. She specializes in live wedding/event painting and custom pieces. Learn more at jennielouart.com or on Instagram at @jennielouart.
Piece: Acrylic Painting
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (v.1)
Last year, I went through a long season of depression and anxiety. In the midst of the ever-present darkness in my mind, I often felt alone and afraid. I came across Psalm 91 in my desperation, and found the words comforting and soothing to my fears. Although it took many months (and doctors) to help me come out of depression, I always held on to a sliver of faith. I had hope that God would restore my joy and help me out of this miserable mindset. All I had to do was dwell in the shelter of my Savior, and trust I was safe in His shadow. Today, the Lord has brought me from darkness into the light again, He has restored my joy. Looking back, I can see how the Lord was with me, even when I felt so alone in the darkness. Despite what I saw and felt, He was working out my redemption and salvation, even in the dark, making me more like Himself.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways. (v.9–11)
This painting is an abstract illustration of the very real conflict that arises within us when our emotions tell us one thing and the Truth of God’s Word assures us of another. The dark parts of the painting represent how we can so often feel like we are alone in the darkness and sin consumes us as we wander in the wilderness—we feel trapped and desperate for a way out. The bright colors rising beyond the cave represent the reality that our Father is working out salvation in the depth of our darkness. Although the figure is physically in a dark space alone, praying for God’s help, there is something happening just beyond what she can see—Eden is arising out of the darkness. Life rises from the darkness, and Jesus rose to bring us life. This painting is a picture of our Savior, Jesus, and how his death assures us of life and purpose, even when we cannot see.
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation. (v.14–16)
This is our second week of Christ in the Psalms, our annual summer series. Over the last eight years we’ve gone Psalm-by-Psalm, finding ourselves in Psalm 91 this Sunday. But why the Psalms? The Psalms give us a vocabulary and a “hymnal” for relating to God through the full range of human experience and emotion, ultimately pointing us to Jesus.
As a means to engage further with the Psalms each summer, we have a different artist in our community make a piece each week to be displayed in the foyer. Last week our piece for Psalm 90 was done by Bruce Butler. Read more about that here. You can also see and read about all past Christ in the Psalms artwork pieces right here (they go back as far as Psalm 41).
As for this Sunday at Park Church, here’s how you can prepare:
1. Read through our text, Psalm 91.
Psalm 91 promises that God is a shelter for His people in the midst of the storm. He is like a suit of armor in the face of attack. He is like a protective bird who hides His young under the shelter of His wings. These images are meant to be encouraging, yet we and other Christians around us are still facing suffering and difficulties of all kinds where we feel unsheltered, unarmored, and unprotected. How can God say that He will protect His people from evil?
This Psalm brings us into the complexity and comfort of God’s covenant love—a love that is thoroughly secure for all who call on His name.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 62:5–8, Welcome (From Immanuel Nashville):
To all who are weary and need rest,
To all who mourn and long for comfort,
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares,
To all who fail and desire strength,
To all who sin and need a Savior,
This church opens wide her doors
with a welcome from Jesus Christ,
the Ally of His enemies, the Defender of the guilty,
the Justifier of the inexcusable, the Friend of sinners,
Welcome!
Rock of Ages (Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull, arr. Charlie Hall)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Psalm 51:1–3, 9–10
Your Name Is Good (Psalm 54) (Joel Limpic, Scott Mills)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Peter 2:9–10
Who You Say I Am (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE
Always (Jason Ingram, Kristian Stanfill)
COMMUNION
Psalm 3:1–4 (John Petterson)
The Lion And The Lamb (Brenton Brown, Brian Johnson, Leeland Mooring)
BENEDICTION
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.
Person: Bruce Butler
I am a graphic designer and musician from the East Coast. In 2012, I moved to Denver from Buffalo, New York to be closer to family and began designing for WorldVenture, a missions organization in Littleton. Now I create brands and digital artwork as a freelancer and work in the specialty coffee industry through Sweet Bloom Coffee in Lakewood. I co-lead a Gospel Community in the Sloans Lake neighborhood and, in my free time, I enjoy playing music, cooking with friends, and spending time with my nieces and nephew. You can see more of my work on Instagram at @madebybruce or by visiting madebybruce.com.
Piece: Digital Artwork
In Psalm 90, Moses writes about the brevity of life and God’s provision therein, charging his readers to pray with him, “Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (v.12) The piece depicts a human life, starting on the far left with the silhouette of an infant, maturing progressively to become an old woman on the far right. In each increment, a different image is shown, starting coherently in the center and losing its stability as it drifts away toward the top and bottom edge of the piece, becoming almost dreamlike. Rhetorically, this first seeks to illustrate that each season of life is greatly variable from the next—more complex than “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,” but no less diverse. Second, though it seems clear in the moment, every season is hardly discernible at its edges, and for each human life as a whole, Moses writes, “You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream…” (v.5)