It’s Christ in the Psalms week five at Park Church. We study the Psalms for about ten weeks each summer, because they 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. This week, we’re in Psalm 94.
As an additional means to engage with the Psalms, 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 94 was done by Lou Ann Summers. 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 Sunday this week:
1. Read through our text, Psalm 94.
In Psalm 94, the people of God are oppressed by ruthless enemies—the kind of people who attack the vulnerable and weak (the widow, the sojourner, the fatherless). In the midst of this oppression, they are reminded of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love, even as they long for a day when the oppression will cease.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 94:16–19, 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!
Rejoice The Lord Is King (Joel Limpic, Charles Wesley)
Joy (Pat Barrett, Tony Brown arr. VaShawn Mitchell)
CONFESSION OF SIN: Based on The Worship Sourcebook:
Loving Father and King,
together we grieve the brokenness and darkness
we find in the world around us.
We lift our voices and say, “How long?”
We also acknowledge the deep brokenness
found in each of our hearts.
We confess that often we have failed to be an obedient church:
we have not done Your will;
we have broken Your law;
we have rebelled against your love;
we have not loved our neighbors;
we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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.
Is He Worthy? (Andrew Peterson, Ben Shive arr. Shane & Shane)
One Thing Remains (Christa Black Gifford, Brian Johnson, Jeremy Riddle)
GREETING, SERMON, RESPONSE & COMMUNION:
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm, William Marion Runyan)
YOUNG LIFE NORTH HIGH
Establish The Work Of Our Hands (Cunningham, Keyes, McCracken, Palmer, Vice, Wardell, Zach)
BENEDICTION
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.
Person: Lou Ann Summers
My name is Lou Ann Summers. Brent and I have been married going on 40 years. I am a mother of four and grandmother of six. I am a self-taught painter, in the truest sense of the word amateur—meaning “for the joy of it”. I feel God’s joy as He works through me to create artwork of many various kinds.
Piece: Watercolor on Yupo
Yupo is a synthetic “paper” which does not absorb water but lets the water simply evaporate, leaving the paint.
Psalm 93 speaks about God being robed in majesty. I thought of the fact that He Himself made a perfect picture of this in the sky—the mighty sun, firmly surrounded by a robe of many colors. The Psalm also repeats the “lifting up” of the sea; its pounding breakers mightier than thunder. I think the thing that impressed me most when painting this was the endless variety of colors God made in one drop of water, let alone the breaking waves of the sea! Overwhelmingly beautiful! It makes my heart surge with joy!
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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)