Sing a New Song: The Psalms in the Sunday Lectionary (Michael Glazier Books) [Paperback]

Irene Nowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 1993 | Series: Michael Glazier Books

The Hebrew Scriptures relate many instances of the people of God breaking into song when they experience the presence of God in their lives. Where is that song of praise in the Christian's life today?
The responsorial psalm of the Sunday liturgy both summarizes the Word of God for the day and invites the community to join, mind and spirit, in affirming their part in that Word. Many books have examined the readings of the Sunday Lectionary. Sing a New Song focuses on the psalms (1991 NAB translation), grouping them by genre, then considering each in its relationship to the set of readings it accompanies.
While the insights of scholarship are used, the intent of the work is to inspire more insightful and imaginative celebration of God's Word. It will therefore be of service to those who preach the Word, those who plan the liturgy and provide music, and most of all to everyone who prays and is nourished by the Sunday readings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This one-of-a-kind resource examines the psalms as they appear and are structured in the Sunday lectionary, with rich connections for music directors and cantors." ---Ministry & Liturgy

Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (November 5, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814620434
• ISBN-13: 978-0814620434
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,040,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sunday Psalms for Praying and Preaching, August 15, 2008

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William B. Jones - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sing a New Song: The Psalms in the Sunday Lectionary (Michael Glazier Books) (Paperback)

This is one of two worship resources I turn to regularly in planning worship (the other is "Forbid Them Not," by Carolyn C. Brown). Organized around the Psalms recommended for each week's worship, Irene Nowell's "Sing a New Song" also includes tantalizingly rich reflections on the rest of the readings given for any given week as well.

Thus, for example, one finds for one of the (four) weeks in which Psalm 85 is used in the church calendar, both a note that the psalm "promises a restoration of the covenant relationship between God and the people" in which "God's justice guarantees the right relationship between all parts of creation" (p.51), and the observation that the gospel reading for one of those weeks, Matthew 14:22-33, moves Jesus' disciples "from non-recognition to a confession of faith" as Peter, stepping out on the water at Jesus' command, "recognizes not only Jesus, but the power of God working within himself" (p. 54). If that doesn't get your sermon started, I don't know what will!

My only caveat: Given that the psalms in this book are not arranged sequentially, nor according to the church year, but rather according to the author's classification of their type (historical, lament, thanksgiving, etc), the lack of a scripture index requires one to search the contents for a particular psalm. Apart from this lack, which is more an impediment in searching out the non-psalmic Biblical references not listed in the contents, I recommend this volume for anyone working, reading or praying the psalms in concert with the rest of scripture.