The Shepherd Psalm

The first Sunday of each month at Sheepscott Community Church we observe the sacrament of Holy Communion. This past Sunday among the lectionary readings for the day was Psalm 23, the Shepherd Psalm. Since the days of the early primitive church it has been a custom in many congregatins to say the 23rd Pslam during the communion service. At the conclusion of my message yesterday I told the following story I read a few years ago. During the height of World War II worshippers had gathered in one of the great cathedrals outside of London, England. As was their custom, before receiving Communion, the congregation said the 23rd Psalm together. As they repeated the words of the Psalm bombs hit the church. The congregation didn't miss a beat, but said the Psalm through to its conclusion. Turning around after saying the words, "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever," they saw that the back part of their sanctuary had been destroyed. Their House of the Lord was in ruins. But, the altar had not been touched and not one person had been injured and they continued on to share the Lord's Supper. They felt God's love in the midst of violence and they committed themselves to live by that love in their war torn world. May we find God's love in the midst of our own difficulties. See you in church Pastor Hal Tucker