Psalms of Ascents

Songs for the Sojourn

The Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) were songs that God’s people sung as they sojourned to worship God in Jerusalem. As they sang them, they experienced a deep longing to worship God in Jerusalem.

The Psalms of Ascents are songs that we now sing as we sojourn to worship God in our eternal home. As we sing them, we experience a deep longing to be with God.

Their sojourn was a pilgrimage. Our sojourn is our life.

We invite you to join us as we engage with these songs for the sojourn, through sickness, sorrow, pain, and death. We invite you to engage with these songs for the sojourn through health, happiness, comfort, and life.

During 2009-2010 we spent the Fall walking through Psalms 120-126 and the spring looking at Psalms 127-134 in both our worship service and community groups. 

 

News & Observer article - Recently, the features Religion writer for the Raleigh News & Observer, Yonat Shimron, spent some time with us to explore the Psalms of Ascents. You can read her article here.

Byfaith article - Byfaith Magazine, our denominational periodical recently highlighted our congregational journey through the Psalms of Ascents this year.  You can read it here.

 

Devotional Guides

As part of our series we created journals for our congregation to use during our service, as part of our community group ministries, and to assist in personal devotion.  Please feel free to download and use these as well.

Psalms of Ascents Journal - "Songs for the Sojourn"

Psalms of Ascents Journal for Children - Psalms 120-123 | Psalms 124-126 | Psalm 127-134

Holy Week Devotional - with Psalms of Ascents

Fasting and Prayer Guide based on Psalm 125 - Fasting and Prayer

 

Worship Guides

Below are our bulletins from this series that will eventually cover Psalms 120-134. They are helpful to reflect on how we connected songs, the scripture reading, and other liturgical elements to the psalms and series as a whole.

Psalm 120 | Psalm 121 | Psalm 122 | Psalm 123

Psalm 124 | Psalm 125 | Psalm 126 | Psalm 127

Psalm 128 | Psalm 129 | Psalm 130 | Psalm 131

Psalm 132 | Psalm 133 | Psalm 134

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Maundy Thursday Service (based in Psalms of Ascents)