Shows
Psalms for the SpiritEaster Psalm #3Happy Still-Easter! Yes, it is still Easter and will be until the first week of June this year, with Pentecost. But, this will be my last Easter Psalm.This song pulls together the last three Psalms and weaves them with some of the words of the traditional song Happy Are We All Together. It’s a song full of life and joy, and it speaks especially to the pleasures of life. I’ll never forget when, after we sang this song at a gathering, someone said, “We don’t often sing about the pleasures of life in...2025-05-0705 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: You're the Hope/Psalm 65This Psalm, set to the tune Rathlin Island by Brian Connors, is written from the farthest oceans and the ends of earth and seeks a reminder of hope out of a place of despair. Wondering if God will listen when facing a difficult situation, and remembering God as Creator of the mountains and silencer of storms, the Psalmist takes strength in God’s great salvation and redemption of even the greatest sorrows.Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice.Paid su...2025-05-0506 min
Psalms for the SpiritEaster Psalm #2In this week’s Easter Psalm, we hear a song of praise to the healer of our souls. It’s a Psalm that creates a vibrant image of earth, moon, and stars singing praise together to the God of Love. Following the season of Lent, this Psalm takes on a deeper meaning. This is a song of joy in the God who doesn’t ignore our laments, but offers solace for the soul. And at the end of the song, we hear the words of the Doxology woven in, thanking God for provision and ca...2025-04-3004 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: O God, You Are My God/Psalm 63Written by Ireland’s great composer Turlough O’Carolan, Eleanor Plunkett is a cascading tune, set here to a Psalm of yearning and praise. It begins with longing like a “dry land,” acknowledging our deep desire to be in God’s presence, through which we can be “satisfied” as though our thirst is quenched.Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice.Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/boo...2025-04-2806 min
Psalms for the SpiritEaster Psalm #1Happy Easter, listeners!I can’t lead a Lenten series without marking its culmination in the joy and hope of Easter. For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the Psalms of joy and hope that come at the end of the book of Psalms. What I love about those Psalms is that the hope they offer doesn’t ignore the suffering and brokenheartedness of the world ~ they tend to those hurts and pains, and they recognize the God who offers healing and hope in the midst of life’s challeng...2025-04-2304 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Hear My Cry, O God/Psalm 61This arrangement, set to the wordless tune ‘Caisleán an Óir,’ portrays the urgency and energy with which the psalmist may have written these words. In this Psalm, we find numerous images of the various ways God can provide refuge and shelter for us when we feel we are at the “end of earth.”Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice.Paid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores...2025-04-2106 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #7In this final week of Lent, Holy Week, we really settle into what we’ve been preparing ourselves for since Ash Wednesday: the silence of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The questions that, for a time, went unanswered. The injustice and cruelty that couldn’t be undone. The cavern of grief and loss, of betrayal and failure. The abandonment, the forsakenness. All this we find in the brutally honest questions posed in Psalm 88. Jesus may have prayed the words of Psalm 22 on the cross, saying “Why have you forsaken me?” but his words also allude to this other Ps...2025-04-1606 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Wings of a Dove/Psalm 55Telling the story of a person hurt by human relationship, this Psalm captures the desire to find shelter in the midst of turmoil. Exploring the concept of home being a place where our hearts can be at rest, this Psalm set to the moving Irish traditional melody Ned of the Hill, addresses that yearning we all have for a place where we can be truly ourselves, fully accepted, safe from the tempests and storms of life.Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice.2025-04-1407 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #6Lent is a time in the church year when we look inwardly at our own betrayals, small or large, our own missteps or wrongdoings, our own culpability and responsibility in the dynamics of the structures of the world we live in. This can leave us feeling uncomfortable and exposed. It’s hard to admit and acknowledge where we ourselves have gone wrong, where we ourselves need to seek forgiveness ~ from others, from God, or possibly from ourselves. In the words of Psalm 130, which meets us in the depths, we hear the reminder that with God, forgiveness can be found. Be...2025-04-0906 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Create in Me/Psalm 51This Psalm is known for its messages about a clean heart, forgiveness, and a renewed spirit, and is often used during Lent. Set here with the Irish traditional tune Logan’s Lament, this paraphrase focuses on the imagery of a parent kindly and gently washing away the layers that “hide” us, or that cover up the God-given beauty each one of us possesses, thereby allowing us to be restored to the joy that God intends.Continue your reflections with the accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice.Paid s...2025-04-0706 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #5As we come a little closer to the part of Lent in which we follow Jesus to the cross, we remember the loneliness of betrayal and the weariness of his suffering. With this season of the church year in mind, perhaps we hear Psalm 102 a little differently. This is a Psalm written from the experience of someone whose life is cut short before its time. The loneliness and weariness of that particular suffering is evident in the heartrending words of that Psalm. And in this arrangement, we hear echoes of the haunting Irish lyrics, “Táim Cortha ó Bheith im'Aonar i Mo...2025-04-0207 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The God of Jacob/Psalm 46The lyrical air ‘Dawning of the Day’ (Fáinne Geal an Lae) conveys this Psalm’s message of courage and hope. Through the imagery presented in this Psalm, we see mountains falling into the sea, and the world in upheaval ~ yet, we are also presented with the assuring image of a river that brings joy, and the message that we might be still and know that God is the ultimate ruler over all.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free...2025-03-3107 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #4The Psalms help us express a wide range of emotions, but one form of expression they are well known for is Lament. Lament is a cry out against injustice, it’s a complaint against the way things are, it’s an expression of deep sadness or anger. Lament is all that ~ but that’s not all it is. The Lament form of prayer found in the Psalms follows a template that holds all those things in their raw, bare honesty, in the light of hope. Psalm 13, “How Long,” is a perfect example of this. A beloved professor of mine wrote, “La...2025-03-2706 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: As the Deer Longs for Streams/Psalm 42This psalm of longing is set to the relatively well-known traditional melody, ‘Down by the Salley Gardens.’ Its iconic imagery of the deer panting or longing for streams of water, as our souls thirst for God, leads us into this depiction of someone whose soul is “cast down” and needing to be reminded of something to hope in.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website...2025-03-2406 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #3This may not be your typical Lenten Psalm, but at a time when the world is springing to life and the days are becoming longer (in the hemisphere I live in, anyway), this week we’ll be hearing Psalm 19. We might think of Lent as a time for more sombre reflections - and while it is important to do that, and we will be allowing space for that in this series - Lent can also be a time to find inspiration in the world around us, to see the beauty that is in our midst, to increase our awareness, to...2025-03-1907 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Rock of Refuge/Psalm 31This prayer for strength, courage, and refuge during a time of distress is combined here with the Irish traditional song Spancilhill. The Psalm resolves by transitioning into a testament to God’s help in the past, and an encouragement to those in distress as it offers the words “May courage fill your hearts.”Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs...2025-03-1706 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Lent #2During Lent, we create a space to listen to our longings. Many of us heard scripture passages this last Sunday about wandering in the wilderness this past Sunday, and in today’s Psalm we hear about our souls longing for God like a dry land. We often ignore our longings, push past them, resist them. And we might even think that Lent is the time to do just that - to fast from things that are unhealthy for us, or to refrain from things we love maybe a little too much. But if we go further under th...2025-03-1206 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: You Have Turned My Sorrow/Psalm 30Proclaiming God’s power to transform sorrow into ‘dancing and song,’ this Psalm is sung to the uplifting Irish melody, “Green Grows the Laurel.” It’s a testament to coming through a time of sorrow and mourning, and finding dancing, song, and joy once again.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for You Have Turned My Sorrow2025-03-1007 min
Psalms for the SpiritLenten Psalms and Practices: Ash WednesdayWelcome to Psalms and Practices for Lent, a new series in Psalms for the Spirit.In this series, there will be a weekly podcast that will come out on Wednesdays throughout Lent. And for paid subscribers, on Fridays, you will receive a short video leading you through a practice each week, as well as an mp3 of the Lenten Psalm.Toward the end of Lent, I will also be offering a Lenten Practices Workshop live on Zoom, and I would love for you to join me. If you'd appreciate a chance to go...2025-03-0508 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Lord is My Light/Psalm 27The air ‘Down in Yon Banke’ is originally a wordless Scottish country dance song, and in this rendition becomes a prayer for God’s eternal presence, especially in times of turmoil and fear. The Psalm speaks of enemies stumbling and falling in the midst of raging war, and expresses that longing to behold God’s beauty and to see God’s face.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit...2025-03-0307 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: For I Wait/Psalm 25In this Psalm of discernment, the writer expresses the longing to hear God’s guidance in the stillness of prayer. Set to the traditional Irish melody “For Ireland I’ll Not Tell Her Name,” this song sits with the longing to know how to walk in the right paths of truth and love.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, m...2025-02-2406 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Lord's My Shepherd/Psalm 23This beloved Psalm, describing God shepherding us through green pastures and dark valleys, is set to the well-known traditional Irish air ‘The Parting Glass.’ In this Psalm, we hear themes of restoration for our souls, accompaniment through challenging times, and the hope of a feast and a future of goodness and mercy.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s...2025-02-1706 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: My God, My God/Psalm 22Set to the Irish air ‘Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore,’ this song captures the lament of the Psalm while adding a drive and energy that brings to light the hope offered at its conclusion. This Psalm typically accompanies reflections on Good Friday, though it is an important accompaniment to any time in which we struggle with a sense of forsakenness.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit...2025-02-1007 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Heavens Declare/Psalm 19This soaring Irish traditional melody, ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ brings a lightness to this Psalm about God’s revelation in both creation and scripture. The words of the Psalm remind us that the skies tell a story of who God is, and teach us important things, without words.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purchase a paperback versionVisit the Celtic Psalms website for scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos...2025-02-0307 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: How Long/Psalm 13These ancient words of lament, combined with a haunting medieval traditional Irish melody, express the human longing to see God’s face in times of sorrow. The original tune ‘The Lament of the Three Marys/Coaineadh na dTrí Muire’ depicts the three Marys’ cries of sorrow at the tomb of Jesus - a moving complement to this prayer expressing sorrow and abandonment, and the yearning for signs of hope.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal PDF, or you can purch...2025-01-2707 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Majestic/Psalm 8A Psalm of praise to the Creator of the wonders of nature, this Psalm also contains a call to action - that in our status “underneath the angels,” we need to take responsibility for caring for creation. Set to the Irish tune ‘Far, Far Beyond the Mountain,’ and through the slightly ominous tones of the arrangement, we hear anew the sobering reminder to show respect and dignity to the world we live in.Get your accompanying journal, which includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practicePaid subscribers receive a free journal P...2025-01-2005 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Their Delight/Psalm 1The very first Psalm, set to the tune ‘Bán Chnoic Éirann Ó,’ speaks of following the “law” of God – and so we remember the greatest commandment: to love God, neighbor and self. When we grow in connection to this love, we can flourish and thrive like trees planted by streams of water. In times of weariness and anxiety, grief and loss, anger at injustice, longing for peace, we can plant ourselves in what is life-giving, with what allows us to experience and express love, with what taps us into the wellspring of true delight. Get your accompanying journal, whic...2025-01-1307 min
Psalms for the SpiritCourse Overview VideoHello Friends,I just wanted to send out a little video to let you know more about the Habits for the Spirit course that’s starting up this week.So many of us fit into the cliché of getting all ramped up at the beginning of the New Year, only to feel deflated soon afterwards.Believe me, I fall into that category too, which is why I felt drawn to offer this course.Here are 3 things I’ll be focusing on throughout the course:1) Small and manageable habits: Identifying very...2025-01-0604 min
Psalms for the SpiritA Psalm for Christmas EveA Psalm for Christmas Eve: Sing to the Lord (Psalms 98, 99 and 100). View the Celtic Psalms Facebook page for clips of Advent Psalms to raise funds for our nonprofit, Celtic Pilgrims. Click here for our mashup of Sing to the Lord with the Wexford Carol. Read a winter reflection on my spirituality newsletter, Bless My Feet. I’m offering a new online course beginning in January: Habits for the Spirit - a way for us to stay rooted, nourished, and inspired in 2025. The course will be about habits and spiritual pr...2024-12-2406 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalms for Advent #2This Advent, I’ll be sharing four Psalms for the season leading up to Christmas. We may not think of Psalms during Advent, but they have been part of Advent liturgies for generations. Today’s Psalm is Psalm 85: Love and Mercy. Pick up a free printable journal when you become a paid subscriber, or order a paperback version copy here. For a deeper exploration of this Psalm, listen to Ep. 11 with Paul Hutchinson. Paul will be a guest facilitator on our next Resilient Spirit 6-Day Retreat in May 2025. Read a winter reflection on my s...2024-12-1306 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalms for Advent #1This Advent, I’ll be sharing four Psalms for the season leading up to Christmas. We may not think of Psalms during Advent, but they have been part of Advent liturgies for generations. Read a winter reflection on my spirituality newsletter, Bless My Feet. I’m announcing a new online course beginning in January: Habits for the Spirit - a way for us to stay rooted, nourished, and inspired in 2025. The course will be about habits and spiritual practices we can incorporate into our daily lives to promote wellbeing in body, mind, and spir...2024-12-0605 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: May We Rise/Psalm 148, 149, 150This song evokes praise with all our heart, soul and body ~ with all of creation, with all instruments, with all aspects of who we are. Indeed, praise includes what brings us pleasure, joy and delight ~ something we don’t often sing about in hymns, and yet which are such an important aspect of living as fully and vibrantly as God intends. Set to the Scottish tune with Irish words, this paraphrase maintains some of the original language in the refrain of the song ‘Happy are We All Together.’You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Ma...2024-11-2907 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow/Psalm 147In this Psalm, all creation praises the God who heals the broken-hearted. It is combined here with the words from the Doxology and the rousing melody ‘Mo Ghile Mear.’ A song of joy at the outpouring of God’s blessings, this Psalm also tends to the outcasts, the forgotten, those longing for peace in home and hearth ~ that all creation will sing when such blessings are extended to all people.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen...2024-11-2206 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Hallelujah/Psalm 146This joyful song praises the true ruler of the earth: a God of justice and compassion who stands with the vulnerable of this world. Set to ‘Here’s a Health,’ it is a jubilant song of praise, but one that recounts various forms of suffering ~ oppressive power, poverty, false imprisonment, injustice, bereavement, refugees ~ and continually places hope in the goodness and mercy of the one who will ultimately see us through such earthly struggles.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Hallelujah on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran...2024-11-1506 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Come, Spirit, Come/Psalm 144This is a Psalm about the transformation from a call to battle into a prayer for peace, and is set to ‘The King’s Shilling’ by the Scottish musician Ian Sinclair. The desire for peace is hard won, after facing the realities of war. In the same way, our prayers for people also become more fervent when we encounter the dreadful realities of war, and our hearts are softened as we utter our prayer of blessing on the next generation, that they will become “trees full grown” and “pillars firm,” and that our streets may not be filled with sorrow any lon...2024-11-0808 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: You Have Searched Me/Psalm 139Combined with the lyrical air, ‘The Banks of Claudy,’ this beautiful Psalm professes faith in a God who knits us together and knows us intimately. Whether we like it or not, God knows our every thought and movement, but this Psalm continually reminds us that God’s constant presence is one that is loving and accepting of who we are at our best and our worst moments, and that God will continue to lead us in the way that is everlasting.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for You Have Searched Me on the Celtic...2024-11-0108 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: By the Waters of Babylon/Psalm 137Set during the Babylonian exile, this Psalm mourns what was left behind in the homeland. The refrain, inspired by the traditional song ‘The Emigrant’s Farewell,’ echoes the request that God remembers those who grieve and those whose wounds have not yet been healed.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for By the Waters of Babylon on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxThe journal is available in paperback format on Amazon!Here’s the link to the paperback journal...2024-10-2507 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: God’s Love Endures Forever/Psalm 136With the antiphonal refrain “God’s love endures forever,” this Psalm, set to the sea shanty ‘Bold Riley,’ speaks of the story of the Hebrew peoples’ journey into the promised land and of God’s love that endures through the generations. Like a heartbeat, the refrain is a continual reminder that amid the dramas of our lives and of history, God’s loving pulse is the life force behind it all.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for God’s Love Endures Forever on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celti...2024-10-1804 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: How Good It Is/Psalm 133Comparing harmony between kindred with the holy oil used for anointing in the temple of Jerusalem, the Psalm claims that such experiences of community bring fullness of life. Set to the Irish tune ‘A Fig for a Kiss,’ this paraphrase chooses the word “harmony,” which is a synonym for unity in the Hebrew and expresses the possibility of harmonious relationship amid diversity, rather than the homogeneity of uniformity.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for How Good It Is on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms o...2024-10-1103 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: From the Depths/Psalm 130, 131These Psalms, sung to ‘The Quiet Land of Erin,’ share hope in a forgiving God who is with us always, even when we are in the depths. Putting these two Psalms together back to back, this song connects the concept of forgiveness with the deep rest of an infant in its mother’s arms ~ loved unconditionally as a beloved child and held with tenderness and compassion.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for From the Depths on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxT...2024-10-0407 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Peace be with Jerusalem/Psalm 122A Psalm of ascendance to Jerusalem, this would have been sung as a part of a collection of pilgrimage Psalms. Set to the upbeat Irish melody ‘A Fig for a Kiss,’ this evokes the joyful lightness of nearing the pilgrimage destination, almost like a festive dance. It creates the image of peace between all peoples, nations, kindred ~ a peace that seeks the good of all.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Peace be with Jerusalem on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDx2024-09-2704 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: I Lift My Eyes up to the Hills/Psalm 121Set to the 18th-century Scottish air ‘MacPhearson’s Lament,’ this Psalm reflects on the comfort of God’s everlasting protection. It begins with the iconic image of the hills or mountains that remind us of where we can find our help, and it continues to unfold the image of God watching over us, never slumbering, offering us shade and shelter, and blessing us as we “come and go,” both now and forever.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for I Lift My Eyes up to the Hills on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)L...2024-09-2007 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: I Love the Lord/Psalm 116The writer of this Psalm praises God for responding mercifully to the cry of the suffering: in return, this individual offers to serve God faithfully. Set to the uplifting Irish melody ‘Galway Shawl,’ this is a Psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance from suffering, a testament to the transformation that can come through God’s help, and a commitment to faithfulness in response.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for I Love the Lord on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxThe journa...2024-09-1306 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: O Give Thanks/Psalm 107Testifying to God’s power to redeem us in times of trouble, this Psalm is set to ‘The Meeting of the Waters.’ It tells story after story of God redeeming people from various situations ~ wandering in deserts, imprisoned by misery and grief, stormy waters ~ and it continues to return to the encouraging message passed on from those who have experienced redemption: “From trouble, God will redeem us still.”You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for O Give Thanks on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDx2024-09-0607 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Banks of the Nile/Psalm 106Recounting the story of the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, this song is set to the English tune ‘The Snow it Melts the Soonest’ proclaims God’s compassion despite the people’s continued rebellion and doubt. Telling the tale plainly and with a slightly ominous tone, this Psalm invites us to confess our own propensity to turn away, even when God has done great things for us.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Banks of the Nile on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)...2024-08-3006 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Praise the Lord All the Earth/Psalm 104This Psalm praises the God of creation and is based on an old version of the air ‘Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn,’ rediscovered by singer Pádraigin Ní Uallacháin, which marks the arrival of summer. It moves through various aspects of the natural world, considering how God is behind it all, and as the Psalm concludes, we are led into thankfulness for all of life’s “good things,” for life and breath, for which we might sing our undying praise.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Praise the Lord All the Earth on the C...2024-08-2306 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Bless the Lord, O My Soul/Psalm 103This Psalm is sung to the air ‘I Wish My Love was a Red, Red Rose,’ and praises God’s compassion and mercy. A song that is sweet and simple in some ways also explores the theme of forgiveness (“far as the east is from the west, so far God removes our sins”) and the finitude of our lives (“though all our days are like the grass that flourishes, then blows”), it remains grounded in the steadfast love of God that will remain far beyond our earthly existence.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Ble...2024-08-1604 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: I am Weary/Psalm 102This Psalm tells the story of one who is ill in mid-life and of the particular struggles of that experience. It is joined here with Irish words of the original song ‘Taim cortha o bheith im’Aonar mo lui,’ and the refrain “I am weary from being alone.” Both the Psalm and the Irish song contend with grief, loneliness, and the depth of life’s sorrows, yet they take some consolation from simply being able to express that experience in the context of prayer to a God whose “years are forever.”You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for I...2024-08-0908 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Sing to the Lord/Psalm 98, 99, 100‘Willy Taylor’ is the inspiration for this song of praise to a steadfast God. The Psalm tells the story of the Exodus, of the Hebrew people’s liberation from slavery, and of the joyful thanksgiving through which we can sing a new song, with the accompaniment of musical instruments and along with the rest of creation.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Sing to the Lord on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxThe journal is available in paperback format on Ama...2024-08-0306 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: All Who Dwell in the Shelter/Psalm 91A prayer of protection for a loved one, this Psalm makes the hopeful claim that God will provide ultimate redemption from the evils that threaten us. Set to the Irish tune ‘Dearthairin Ó Mo Chroí,’ it is a fervent prayer for safety, despite the perils of this world, and it expresses a faith that in the end, God will protect us in a way that this life cannot.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for All Who Dwell in the Shelter on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic...2024-07-2607 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: From Dust We Came/Psalm 90A Psalm of recognition of the fragility of life as well as God’s eternal nature. Combined here with the Irish traditional song ‘Casadh an t’Súgain,’ it broaches the subject of how we might live with “wise hearts,” recognizing that from dust we came and to dust we return. Importantly, this paraphrase emphasizes that we return to God ~ our maker, to whom we belong in life and in death and who will redeem all of our brokenness.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for From Dust We Came on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www...2024-07-1908 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: God of My Salvation/Psalm 88A Psalm of abandonment, full of questions without any attempt at resolution, this Psalm presents a heart-rending, honest portrayal of someone in the midst of deep difficulty. Combined with the lamenting tones of the Irish tune ‘Bean Dubh a Ghleanna,’ this song holds a space for the most forsaken experiences of humanity, while continuing to retain a relationship with the God to whom it asks these questions.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for God of My Salvation on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on T...2024-07-1207 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Love is Lord of All/Psalm 86The haunting melody ‘My Lagan Love’ accompanies this Psalm’s plea for the listening ear of the loving God who is “Lord of All,” words kept from the original lyrics by Joseph Campbell. This Psalm expresses lament from a place of weariness deepest longing to be saved from the grave, and turns to God for guidance on the way forward, recalling also God’s deep love and goodness.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Love is Lord of All on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalm...2024-07-0506 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Love and Mercy/Psalm 85Depicting a vision for what this world could be, this Psalm, set to the Scottish tune ‘Lovely Molly,’ imagines love and mercy (or truth or faithfulness, in other translations), justice and peace coming together to greet and kiss. This rendition of the Psalm continues to unfold that vision of the future as one in which God’s goodness and kindness are evident, healing takes place, and the people will sing.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Love and Mercy on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic...2024-06-2806 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: How Lovely/Psalm 84Set to the beautiful air ‘Carrickfergus,’ this Psalm depicts the pilgrimage of faith. It recounts the ways we can enter into God’s courts of dwelling, such as through the birds who sing their praise, or through the desert valley that becomes a place of flowing streams, and gain strength for our journey towards our heavenly home.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for How Lovely on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)The journal is available in paperback format on Amazon!Here’s the link to the pape...2024-06-2108 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Save Me, O God/Psalm 69This moving Psalm speaks of someone overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, who cries out for salvation and receives deliverance. Set to the tune ‘The Streets of Derry,’ it tells of the distress the psalmist is facing, the weariness from calling out, and the request for God’s face not to be hidden. The Psalm ultimately turns towards the hope that God will rebuild the broken people and that all will dwell in peace.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Save Me, O God on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)List...2024-06-1407 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: May God Be Gracious/Psalm 67The tune for this song is the Scottish air ‘Ae Fonde Kiss,’ and the Psalm acts as a benediction prayer. Asking God’s gracious blessing on all people and all nations, it also recalls God’s kindness and sustaining presence and asks for God’s face to shine on us all.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for May God Be Gracious on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxThe journal is available in paperback format on Amazon!Here’s the link t...2024-06-0705 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Sing a Joyful Song/Psalm 66Set to the Irish tune the Old Cross of Ardboe, this is a Psalm of joy and thanksgiving, having come through a trying time and experienced God’s listening ear, leading, and help. This is no trite expression of praise ~ it emerges out of a deep and real experience of God’s kindness and support, compassion and love, and ignites a genuine desire to give heart, life, and soul in return.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Sing a Joyful Song on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kira...2024-05-3106 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: You're the Hope/Psalm 65This Psalm, set to the tune Rathlin Island by Brian Connors, is written from the farthest oceans and the ends of earth and seeks a reminder of hope out of a place of despair. Wondering if God will listen when facing a difficult situation, and remembering God as Creator of the mountains and silencer of storms, the Psalmist takes strength in God’s great salvation and redemption of even the greatest sorrows.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for You’re the Hope on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Li...2024-05-2406 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: O God, You Are My God/Psalm 63Written by Ireland’s great composer Turlough O’Carolan, Eleanor Plunkett is a cascading tune, set here to a Psalm of yearning and praise. It begins with longing like a “dry land,” acknowledging our deep desire to be in God’s presence, through which we can be “satisfied” as though our thirst is quenched.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for O God, You Are My God on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxAs you probably now know, the journal is available i...2024-05-2306 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Hear My Cry, O God/Psalm 61This arrangement, set to the wordless tune ‘Caisleán an Óir,’ portrays the urgency and energy with which the psalmist may have written these words. In this Psalm, we find numerous images of the various ways God can provide refuge and shelter for us when we feel we are at the “end of earth.”You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Hear My Cry, O God on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxAs you probably now know, the journal is available...2024-05-1006 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Wings of a Dove/Psalm 55Telling the story of a person hurt by human relationship, this Psalm captures the desire to find shelter in the midst of turmoil. Exploring the concept of home being a place where our hearts can be at rest, this Psalm set to the moving Irish traditional melody Ned of the Hill, addresses that yearning we all have for a place where we can be truly ourselves, fully accepted, safe from the tempests and storms of life.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Wings of a Dove on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms...2024-05-0307 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Create in Me/Psalm 51This Psalm is known for its messages about a clean heart, forgiveness, and a renewed spirit, and is often used during Lent. Set here with the Irish traditional tune Logan’s Lament, this paraphrase focuses on the imagery of a parent kindly and gently washing away the layers that “hide” us, or that cover up the God-given beauty each one of us possesses, thereby allowing us to be restored to the joy that God intends.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Create in Me on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)List...2024-04-2606 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The God of Jacob/Psalm 46The lyrical air ‘Dawning of the Day’ (Fáinne Geal an Lae) conveys this Psalm’s message of courage and hope. Through the imagery presented in this Psalm, we see mountains falling into the sea, and the world in upheaval ~ yet, we are also presented with the assuring image of a river that brings joy, and the message that we might be still and know that God is the ultimate ruler over all.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for The God of Jacob on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Li...2024-04-1907 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: As the Deer Longs for Streams/Psalm 42This psalm of longing is set to the relatively well-known traditional melody, ‘Down by the Salley Gardens.’ Its iconic imagery of the deer panting or longing for streams of water, as our souls thirst for God, leads us into this depiction of someone whose soul is “cast down” and needing to be reminded of something to hope in.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for As the Deer Longs for Streams on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxListen to the podcast...2024-04-1206 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Rock of Refuge/Psalm 31This prayer for strength, courage, and refuge during a time of distress is combined here with the Irish traditional song Spancilhill. The Psalm resolves by transitioning into a testament to God’s help in the past, and an encouragement to those in distress as it offers the words “May courage fill your hearts.”You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Rock of Refuge on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxI wanted to share some news ~ the journal is now available in pap...2024-04-0506 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: You Have Turned My Sorrow/Psalm 30Proclaiming God’s power to transform sorrow into ‘dancing and song,’ this Psalm is sung to the uplifting Irish melody, “Green Grows the Laurel.” It’s a testament to coming through a time of sorrow and mourning, and finding dancing, song, and joy once again.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for You Have Turned My Sorrow on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxPaid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal e...2024-03-2907 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Lord is My Light/Psalm 27The air ‘Down in Yon Banke’ is originally a wordless Scottish country dance song, and in this rendition becomes a prayer for God’s eternal presence, especially in times of turmoil and fear. The Psalm speaks of enemies stumbling and falling in the midst of raging war, and expresses that longing to behold God’s beauty and to see God’s face.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for The Lord is My Light on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality...2024-03-2207 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: For I Wait/Psalm 25In this Psalm of discernment, the writer expresses the longing to hear God’s guidance in the stillness of prayer. Set to the traditional Irish melody “For Ireland I’ll Not Tell Her Name,” this song sits with the longing to know how to walk in the right paths of truth and love.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for For I Wait on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180...2024-03-1506 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Lord's My Shepherd/Psalm 23This beloved Psalm, describing God shepherding us through green pastures and dark valleys, is set to the well-known traditional Irish air ‘The Parting Glass.’ In this Psalm, we hear themes of restoration for our souls, accompaniment through challenging times, and the hope of a feast and a future of goodness and mercy.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for The Lord’s My Shepherd on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal...2024-03-0806 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: My God, My God/Psalm 22Set to the Irish air ‘Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore,’ this song captures the lament of the Psalm while adding a drive and energy that brings to light the hope offered at its conclusion. This Psalm typically accompanies reflections on Good Friday, though it is an important accompaniment to any time in which we struggle with a sense of forsakenness.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for My God, My God on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms f...2024-03-0107 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: The Heavens Declare/Psalm 19This soaring Irish traditional melody, ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ brings a lightness to this Psalm about God’s revelation in both creation and scripture. The words of the Psalm remind us that the skies tell a story of who God is, and teach us important things, without words.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for The Heavens Declare on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for refl...2024-02-2307 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: How Long/Psalm 13These ancient words of lament, combined with a haunting medieval traditional Irish melody, express the human longing to see God’s face in times of sorrow. The original tune ‘The Lament of the Three Marys/Coaineadh na dTrí Muire’ depicts the three Marys’ cries of sorrow at the tomb of Jesus - a moving complement to this prayer expressing sorrow and abandonment, and the yearning for signs of hope.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for How Long on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s s...2024-02-1607 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Majestic/Psalm 8A Psalm of praise to the Creator of the wonders of nature, this Psalm also contains a call to action - that in our status “underneath the angels,” we need to take responsibility for caring for creation. Set to the Irish tune ‘Far, Far Beyond the Mountain,’ and through the slightly ominous tones of the arrangement, we hear anew the sobering reminder to show respect and dignity to the world we live in.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for Majestic on the Celtic Psalms webpage (www.celticpsalms.com)Paid subscribers to Bless My...2024-02-0905 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalm of the Week: Their Delight/Psalm 1This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.comThe very first Psalm, set to the tune ‘Bán Chnoic Éirann Ó,’ speaks of following the “law” of God – and so we remember the greatest commandment: to love God, neighbor and self. When we grow in connection to this love, we can flourish and thrive like trees planted by streams of water. In times of weariness and anxiety, grief and loss, anger at injustice, longing for peace, we can plant ourselves in what is life-giving, with what allows us to experience and express l...2024-02-0207 min
Psalms for the SpiritAwakening to our Belovedness, with Ruth Patterson [REVISITED]Journey the Psalms with me in 2024… ***Introducing a new series with accompanying journal***How do the Psalms speak into our lives? How can they help us get in touch with our deeper emotions, and to better understand ourselves? How can they lead us to live fuller, more honest, more authentic lives? What can they show us about who God is and who we’re invited to be in the world? Starting in early January 2024, I’ll be going through - in numerical order - the 44 Psalms I’ve arranged and recorded with my...2023-12-2047 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 23 Imagining a Listener for our Deepest Selves, with Pádraig Ó TuamaToday’s guest is Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian, host of On Being’s Poetry Unbound, and member and former leader of the Corrymeela Community. Pádraig doesn’t need much of an introduction, as his gifts for writing, and reading, and reading into poems have become widely known and admired. With his keen sense for the meaning behind a poem, his interest in language, violence, power, and religion, and his background in conflict mediation and peacebuilding, Pádraig has a way of seeing deeply into the soul of a poem, and into the people who created them, and i...2023-10-0451 min
Psalms for the SpiritHolding the Adversity and the Joy, with Sara Cook [REVISITED][This podcast first aired in February 2021]Today’s conversation is with Sara Cook – a social worker who has worked in conflict response, peacebuilding and mediation in Northern Ireland and internationally for the past two decades. Sara and I are both Americans living in Northern Ireland and have become friends through being members of the Corrymeela community. Just before Covid in 2020, I had the good fortune of taking a training from her in the Community Resiliency Model, through the Trauma Resource Institute, and it had a huge impact on me as I entered, along with the rest of the...2023-09-1947 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 22 Giving Language for our Pain and our Hallelujahs, with Edward BuriTODAY’S GUEST is Edward Buri, Kenyan pastor, columnist, television host and founder of the Institute of Ethics and Youth Affairs. Along with pastoring a congregation within the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Edward Buri writes a weekly column for one of the leading newspapers in Kenya, and hosts a program called “Hope TV,” which is the leading Christian media house in Kenya, and through these platforms champions good values as well as youth advocacy.Buri [pronounced Furi], as he is known, was a bright light on the Princeton Theological Seminary campus in the early 2000s, when our pa...2023-05-1141 min
Psalms for the SpiritPsalms for the Spirit Ep. 21: Fighting Back Against the Storms of Life, with Martin TelFOR OUR FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON THREE, TODAY'S GUEST is Martin Tel, Director of Music at Princeton Theological Seminary. In his role at the seminary, he directs the choirs, plans and leads music in daily worship, and lectures in the area of church music. Martin was senior editor of the impressive musical compilation “Psalms for All Seasons,” in which he highlights the amazing breadth of genres in which we can sing and use Psalms for worship, prayer and reflection.Martin and I go way back – and he is a constant for many of us alumni who re...2023-03-0950 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 20 How Do We Pay Attention and Not Lose Hope? with Rebecca DudleyFOR OUR FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON TWO, TODAY'S GUEST is Rebecca Dudley – ordained minister and advisor with the New Zealand Red Cross on legal frameworks protecting people in humanitarian emergencies, speaking in a personal capacity for this podcast. Here, we discuss her "Hope Project,” in which she explores the question: how do we pay attention without losing hope? As wave after wave of bad news rolls in, it’s clear that this theme is as timely as ever, and essential for our wellbeing as we take in and respond to horrific news on a daily basis. In our conversation, we talk...2022-06-0247 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 19 Persistence as a Sign of Deep Faith, with Munther IsaacTODAY'S GUEST is Munther Isaac - Palestinian theologian, Lutheran minister, author and academic. This holy week many of us will be thinking of the holy land as we journey towards Easter, and in this conversation we listen to a voice we don't often hear – the voice of a Palestinian Christian, reflecting here on the role of the Psalms in his own life and the affinity his community has for the Psalms – especially as they express complaint and lament on Good Friday, and as they point to a vision of a shared, peaceful future in his land. Born and raised in Bethle...2022-04-1441 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 18 Awakening to our Belovedness, with Ruth PattersonToday’s guest is Ruth Patterson – Presbyterian minister, writer, retreat leader - recognized internationally for her deep spiritual insight and her gently powerful work in peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The organisation she founded and led for 30 years, “Restoration Ministries,” brings people together across community divides in Ireland around their shared spirituality, and draws on the image of restoration depicted in the Psalms. In this conversation, which we had in the heart of Advent, we talk about the link between the Psalms and the history of Ireland, about the importance of hospitality – towards ourselves, God, others – in moving into a future of r...2021-12-2345 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 17 Delivering us through the Pains of Life and Death, with John BellFor some, Advent is a time of grief and loss. Today’s guest is John Bell – hymnwriter, author, and broadcaster and a guiding light from the Iona Community as he has for decades created resources for the global church in music, worship and spirituality, including his recent book Living with the Psalms. In this conversation we talk about how the Psalms – much like the incarnation we celebrate in this season – speak of God’s solidarity with us in our vulnerability, how the Psalms give us permission to express doubt and anger when we come face to face with suffering and injustice...2021-12-1650 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 16 Lament as a Sacred Act, with Peace LeeToday’s guest is Peace Lee – spiritual director, preacher, andeducator on decolonial and feminist perspectives. In this conversation, wereconnect over our mutual love for the Psalms: how they can be imprinted on ourhearts and come to us when we need them most, how we can read them afresh as weconsider new language for them, the importance of lament in finding healing andwholeness, and how the Psalms can nourish us in building a more just andequitable world.https://kiranyoungwimberly.com/2021/12/08/psalms-for-the-spirit-ep-16-lament-as-a-sacred-act-with-peace-lee/ (More about this episode ) This...2021-12-0856 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 15 Hope is Stronger than Fear, with Denise BradleyToday’s guest is Denise Bradley, an expert in trauma theory who has spent decades helping victims of violence find healing. I know Denise from her current work with Corrymeela in which she works with marginalized groups, particularly refugee and asylum seekers in Northern Ireland, and I wanted to learn more from Denise about how the theory of trauma relates to the Psalms. In this conversation we talk about using the Psalms for support in times of fear or traumatic stress, finding inner safety that helps us move forward even when under threat, how the Psalms express all three stages of...2021-07-0946 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 14 Listening in the Silence for What is True, with Brother ThierryToday’s guest is Brother Thierry, a French Benedictine monk who is based at the Holy Cross Monastery in Northern Ireland. I was delighted when Bro. Thierry agreed to talk with me about the Benedictine rhythm of prayer, which includes a swift cycle of daily Psalm singing. In this conversation, we talk about finding happiness in a life of prayer, about being called to pray when others can’t, about how prayer is the only place we can be who we truly are, and about how silence is a listening relationship. I was grateful to get an inside perspective on mona...2021-07-0344 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 13 Transformed by Grief into Agents of Change, with Sunder John BoopalanToday's guest is Sunder John Boopalan, a professor specializing in political theology and ethics, with a personal focus on Dalit theology and social justice. Along the same lines as the prominent book "Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson, John has written a powerful book called "Memory, Grief and Agency," in which he highlights the marginalization of the Dalit community in India - those who are considered to be outside the caste system, sometimes derogatorily referred to as untouchables or outcastes. In this podcast, we hear about John's personal background with the Psalms, about caste-based violence and humiliations that Dalits endure on a...2021-06-2454 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 12 Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, with Sarah Griffith LundToday's guest is Sarah Griffith Lund, a minister and author who has focused her life's work on breaking the silence about mental illness. With her generous and gracious spirit, Sarah talks me through the stark realities of mental illness today, made even more extreme because of the pandemic, and how the themes of the Psalms speak to that life experience shared by so many. In our conversation, we talk about walking through the valley of the shadow of mental illness, sitting at table with mental illness, and finding ways to speak into the silence about mental illness. I felt grateful...2021-06-0746 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 11 Loved in Our Unfixed State, with Paul HutchinsonToday’s guest is Paul Hutchinson, mediator, therapist, author and brilliant storyteller. A former Director of the Corrymeela Peace and Reconciliation Centre, Paul has distilled his memories and learnings from that time in his delightful book “Between the Bells.” In this episode, Paul shares about his spiritual journey from seaching teenager to reflective Quaker, and how his background as a therapist and mediator informs his reading of the Psalms. In our conversation, we talk about being drawn to sing a new song, the importance of hosting all our feelings, how we can know when reconciliation is close at hand, and how we...2021-05-2854 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 10 Leaning into the Cycles of Darkness and Light, with Barbara Brown TaylorToday’s guest is Barbara Brown Taylor – author, speaker, Episcopal priest, retired professor, and all-around-delightful person. Barbara Brown Taylor has long been a highly regarded preacher, and she has written a number of compelling books on the spiritual life, including Altar in the World, Holy Envy, and Learning to Walk in the Dark. In this conversation, we talk about the bird psalms, the bed psalms, and the difficult psalms, and we muse together on what they tell us about our humanity and how God sees us in that. We reflect on making friends with the dust, living gratefully on the eart...2021-04-0452 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 9 Speaking to Each Other Across Our Depths, with Avivah ZornbergToday’s guest is Dr Avivah Zornberg, renowned Torah scholar, teacher and speaker based in Jerusalem. I first became aware Dr. Zornberg’s work when I heard a lecture she delivered in Belfast, and I was immediately mesmerized by her deep insights into Hebrew scripture – her studies are based on Midrash, literature, psychoanalysis and philosophy. She really brought Moses and other Biblical figures to life for me in a new way. With Passover in mind this weekend, I wanted to explore the use of Psalms in recounting the story of the Exodus, and I was absolutely delighted when Avivah agreed to spe...2021-03-2655 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 8 Uncovering Deep Grace in a Year of Turbulence, with Karen CampbellToday’s guest is Karen Campbell, minister and musician, originally from Northern Ireland and currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Karen and I met first when we were both serving Presbyterian churches in the Belfast area, but our friendship has extended into our shared love of music, the Psalms, and spirituality – as well as some fun times and good laughs along the way. Here, Karen shares about her connections with the Psalms throughout her life, leading up to the creation of an album she and her husband David put together during the pandemic period of 2020. I’m grateful to the Campbe...2021-03-2151 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 7 Shepherding through the Rugged Terrain of the Valley, with Kate WiebeToday’s guest is Kate Wiebe, founder of the https://www.ictg.org (Institute for Collective Trauma and Growth). We both entered seminary only days after 9/11, an event that influenced many of us as we began our theological studies not far away from the areas that had been traumatized by those events. It wasn’t until years after we’d graduated that I found out that she’d gone on to do doctoral work on how people come through times of crisis, and that her studies led to the founding of ICTG, an organization focused on helping groups respond to large sc...2021-03-1453 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 6 Building Bridges of Salaam (Peace) through Song, with Eric SarwarToday’s guest is Eric Sarwar, a minister, musician and academic, from Pakistan and currently based in California. I first met Eric many years ago when he was visiting Northern Ireland, and I remember my kids and I dancing around the kitchen to some of the music he left behind for us to listen to. A few years later, Eric and I met again at a conference in the States, and shared music across our traditions, which shows just how universal music can be. Eric has a deep personal love for the Psalms and has studied the history of the Ps...2021-03-0754 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 5 Creating Rivers of Resilience in Wearying Times, with Erin Hayes-CookToday’s guest is Erin Hayes-Cook, a Presbyterian minister based in Rahway, New Jersey – a short commute away from New York City. I’ve known Erin for about two decades now, and I was interested to get back in touch to hear about some of her current work around building resilience in her congregation’s spiritual lives as well as the broader community during these wearying times. In this conversation, we explore marking time through rituals, creating space to meet with God, and poetry as a creative process in understanding who we are. Serendipitously, this podcast coincided perfectly with the launch o...2021-02-2851 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 4 Examining Our Spirits in the Mess of Everyday Life, with Pádraig SwanToday’s guest is Pádraig Swan, trained in the Jesuit tradition and serving as the Director of Faith and Service Programmes at Belvedere College in Dublin, Ireland. Pádraig and I would usually get into interesting conversations about spirituality while our families are visiting each other – kids racing around the room or climbing on us while we talked, amid good food and cups of coffee and tea. Not only that, but when Pádraig brought a group to the Corrymeela residential center on their annual retreat, I had the privilege of leading them in a Taizé evening worship that was alwa...2021-02-2147 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 3 How Singing Together Makes Us Better, with Brian HehnToday's guest is Brian Hehn, the Director of https://congregationalsong.org/ (The Center for Congregational Song) with the Hymn Society in the United States and Canda. He is an accomplished song leader and musician, and has a huge heart for getting people to sing together. Here, he reflects on the power of singing to transform us into better people, and how not singing together through COVID has been difficult but may lead to some necessary shifts in our singing culture. Episode Notes:Brian refers to "Be Still and Know" by John L. Bell https://hymnary.org/tune...2021-02-1452 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 2 Holding the Adversity and the Joy, with Sara CookToday's guest is Sara Cook – a social worker who has worked in conflict response, peacebuilding and mediation in Northern Ireland and internationally for the past two decades. Sara offers trainings in the Community Resiliency Model through the Trauma Resource Institute, and here, she draws connections between resilience, spirituality and the psalms, providing practical tools to balance the adversity and the joy in our lives. This episode features the following songs by Celtic Psalms (Kiran Young Wimberly & the McGraths):https://www.celticpsalms.com/portfolio/psalm-144-come-spirit-come/ (Come Spirit Come (Psalm 144/The King's Shilling)) https://www.celticpsalms.com/portfolio/ps...2021-02-0757 min
Psalms for the SpiritEp. 1: Finding Our True Home, with Amy Ruth SchachtToday's guest is Rev. Dr. Amy Ruth Schacht – a Presbyterian Church USA minister who has served in Laurel, MD for the past 20 years. Amy has studied neuroscience and its connection to the life of faith.Trigger warning: Amy briefly mentions the topic of sexual abuse by members of the clergy.Amy talks about a book that was influential to her: The Archaeology of the Mind, by Jaak Panksepp and Lucy Biven.This episode features the following songs by Celtic Psalms (Kiran Young Wimberly & the McGraths):Come Spirit Come (Psalm 144/The King's Shilling)You Have Searched Me...2021-01-3148 min