Four Presbyterian congregations in central New Jersey will host a four-night series focusing on the use of the Psalms in prayer, celebration and grief.
“Psalms for All Seasons: An exploration of the Psalter as teacher of song and prayer” will run July 8-11.
Led by Martin Tel — director of music at Princeton Theological Seminary and senior editor of Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship — participants will sing through the many settings of the Psalms as they have been used by cultures around the world. Among the selections will be Psalm settings from Scotland’s Iona community and African, African-American and Asian churches and cultures.
“Much of the Psalms’ wealth comes in their ability to give voice to the voiceless,” said the Rev. Ken Good, pastor of the Stockton church. “Whether one cannot find language to express joy, sorrow, doubt, or faith, one can always turn to the Psalms for help. We look forward to broadening our faith’s vocabulary through Dr. Tel and his music.”
Started in 2009, the Delaware Valley Summer Institute is a joint effort between churches in Stockton, Lambertville, Titusville and Mt. Airy, N.J.
“The historic collaboration among our four churches has enabled us to provide for our congregations and our communities something far deeper and richer than we could have done on our own,” said the Rev. Peter Gregory, pastor of the Lambertville church.
The series is free and open to the public. All presentations will begin at 7 p.m. and be followed by light refreshments.
For more information, call any of the four churches:
- Stockton, 609-462-5737
- Lambertville, 609-397-0650
- Titusville, 609-737-1385
- Mt. Airy, 609-397-2086
Information for this story furnished by a press release from the Delaware Valley Summer Institute.