The Venite and Memory
AM Psalm 95* & 22 • PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)
Jer. 29:1,4-13 • Rom. 11:13-24 • John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10
* for the Invitatory
Such richness to choose from in these readings! But I was gob-smacked by the first psalm. “That’s the Venite!” went off in my head.
Okay, a bit of history. I grew up going to St. Paul’s and singing in the choir. The youth choir always sang at the 8:45 service and it was always Morning Prayer. (Holy Communion was at 7:30 and once a month at 11:00.) When I read the words of Psalm 95, I heard the tune and the words to the Venite as I used to sing them.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the corners of the earth *
and the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it *
and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come, let us worship and fall down *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is the Lord our God *
and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness *
let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth *
and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.
We had just had the confession and absolution—I was much more aware of the things done and left undone than I was of any forgiveness—and run through the Lord’s Prayer, and then there was this wonderful canticle of joy, hope, protection, righteousness, and truth. There is a steadiness and reliability in it. It gave me feelings of safety and belonging. I needed those things!
As I sat with this, I realized I still do. One of the advantages of aging is the remembrance of having gotten through other hard times with God’s help. The strength of the hills is God’s. God comes with righteousness and truth. And I am a person of God’s pasture. I am called to sing, rejoice, and be glad. Even—or especially—when the time is hard.
Written by Jacqui Brandli
So glad to have such memories. So ready to sing in church!
Note: The last two verses of the Venite are not from Psalm 95. They are verses 96:9 and 96:13. Creative license?