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The latest at Irvington United Methodist Church

Stay up to date with the happenings of Irvington United Methodist Church by visiting our blog. You'll find information such as announcements, sermon notes and thoughts from our pastor to encourage and challenge your walk with the Lord.

Psalm 136: His Love Endures Forever

by: Denise Robinson

09/25/2020

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Today's psalm may seem familiar. Whether sung or chanted, the priest would say a few words and all those present would respond, "His love endures forever." It is a call to worship, a responsive reading, and it repeatedly affirms God's unending love. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever.
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Psalm 135: Praise the Lord!

by: Denise Robinson

09/24/2020

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While we are finished with our traveling songs for the road ("Songs of Ascents"), today's psalm is another song, this one of praise to God. What a wonderful way to start - or end - our day!

Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; give praise, O servants of the Lord, you that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for he is g...
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Psalm 134: Come, Bless the Lord

by: Denise Robinson

09/23/2020

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Our psalm today is another song for the road, this time a (very) short one to be sung at night. It is the last song of ascents, the last song of our pilgrimage. In our church service today, we would call this a benediction. The words are simple:

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord. May the Lord, maker of heaven and e...
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Psalm 133: Living Together in Unity

by: Denise Robinson

09/22/2020

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Today's psalm is another song for the journey to Jerusalem. Yesterday we learned that just as the Jews of the psalmist's time journeyed to Jerusalem (Zion) we are also making our own pilgrimage to New Jerusalem (also called Zion). There's even a hymn you may have heard called, "We're Marching to Zion." So, let's continue to sing....

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! ...
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Psalm 132: The Lord Has Chosen Zion

by: Denise Robinson

09/22/2020

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Today's psalm is another "Song of Ascents" (Ps. 120-134), sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the three festivals where Jews were expected to make their way to the famed Holy City. This psalm is a song about the Holy City (Zion), but its words don't end with Jerusalem. We, as Christians, look forward to the day when a new Zion will be created by God and we will be called to worship in that new heavenly city. 


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Psalm 131: A Calm and Quiet Soul

by: Denise Robinson

09/18/2020

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I don't know about you, but for some reason I am getting an early start this morning. But the wonderful thing about posting is that you can catch up with this meditation at 8 am, 8 pm, or any time in between. Anyway, today's psalm is another song, one of 15 "Songs of Ascents" (Ps. 120-134). These songs were used by pilgrims to Jerusalem coming from various outlying areas. There were three required pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year - times when ...
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Psalm 130: Out of the Depths I Cry

by: Denise Robinson

09/17/2020

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Have you ever cried out to God and questioned whether God heard your cry? I think at some time or another we all do. We don't know what today's psalmist was facing when he or she wrote the psalm, but it is a cry from the depths of the soul for God's help which closes with a strong affirmation of faith and trust in God.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice o...
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Psalm 129: I Am Being Attacked

by: Denise Robinson

09/17/2020

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The times are becoming perilous. Enemy nations/empires such as Persia, Assyria and Babylon are rising; but for now, smaller enemies are harassing at Israel's borders, sometimes crossing over and attacking outright. The time is coming when Israel's enemies, one after another, will conquer - but this psalmist lives in the times of Israel's mighty kings, David and Solomon. Israel is still powerful, but times are uncertain.


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Psalm 128: Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord

by: Denise Robinson

09/15/2020

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Today's psalm is a "Song of Ascent." What does that mean? It was one of the songs sung by travelers on their way to Jerusalem usually for one or more of the three yearly feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). The message of the psalm is that one can never be happy until he or she is truly walking with God.

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your...
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Psalm 127: We Need God

by: Denise Robinson

09/14/2020

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Today's psalm is a reminder that all of our human efforts amount to nothing without God's blessing. This psalm considers the need for God's blessing in four areas of life: building a house (a family), guarding a city, working long hours, and having children. The basic message: unless God is in it, it will amount to nothing. While the Hebrew word that is used is translated as "son," the word is one which encompasses s...
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Psalm 126: The Lord has Done Great Things!

by: Denise Robinson

09/11/2020

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Today's psalm is a song of joy to the Lord. When good things happen in your life, do you pause to give thanks to God? Sometimes we need to be reminded that God wants us to have joy in this life he created for us. Don't get so busy in daily life that you forget to truly live!

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; ...
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Psalm 125: Surrounded by God

by: Denise Robinson

09/10/2020

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Today's psalm is a song, affirming God's sure protection of the community which remains faithful to God. While the psalm celebrates God's protection over Israel, we could sing these same words today when it comes to the faith community. 

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem,     so the Lord surrounds his people, fro...
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Psalm 124: The Lord is On Our Side

by: Denise Robinson

09/09/2020

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Today's psalm asks the question: What would life be like if the Lord was not on our side? The context may be different for this psalmist than for us today, but it's still a valid question. What would your life be like without God?

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side —let Israel now say—if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up ...
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Psalm 123: Have Mercy

by: Denise Robinson

09/09/2020

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We have discussed several times how urgently we need God's mercy. We don't always want justice, because of our shortcomings; but we want mercy and forgiveness. The fact that the psalmist asks twice for mercy shows the seriousness of the request. 

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her ...
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Psalm 122: Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

by: Denise Robinson

09/07/2020

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Happy Labor Day! Did you know that it was in 1894 that Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday to celebrate the contributions American workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country? Today's psalm is a song of praise for Jerusalem and a prayer for the city's well-being and for peace. After reading the psalm, try reading it again and changing "Jerusalem" to "Indianapolis."...
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