Scripture – Psalm 30 NRSVUE
1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment;
his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
From Rev. Heather Leffler
The Psalmist in Psalm 30 reflects on a life filled with challenges. He has known fear, been surrounded by enemies, and felt the weight of his own mistakes. He has experienced sorrow and dismay, and in his distress, he cried out to the Lord. And the Lord was there.
More than that, the Psalmist affirms that even the darkest moments in his life did not last—because of God’s steadfast presence. God turned his mourning into dancing, replaced his sackcloth with garments of joy. In response, he offers unending thanks to God.
This past weekend, Liz Guthrie, Lisa Leffler, and I attended the Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council Spring Meeting. Through our congregations—Rockwood and Stone—and the wider United Church, we are nurtured in our faith and called to follow Jesus. Together with other churches in the WOW Regional Council, we offer praise and thanks to the God who lifts us up and surrounds us with love.
In our United Church family, we seek to be affirming, to pursue reconciliation with our Indigenous siblings, and to care faithfully for all of God’s creatures and creation. Whatever may be happening in our personal lives or in the world around us, we hear the Psalmist’s words and are reminded of the One who is Holy Mystery and Wholly Love. And we give thanks—grateful to be God’s beloved children.
Contemplation and Conversation
When have you experienced God turning your sorrow into joy,
or felt lifted up in a difficult time?
Prayer
Loving God, We give you thanks and praise for being with us in our mourning and our dancing,
in our sadness and our joy. Help us to care for one another, to share your love in real ways,
and to be a community that brings hope and healing to the world. Amen.
If you missed Sunday’s worship service, visit our Rockwood Stone YouTube page.
