Welcome to this time of worship.
- Our service begins with the singing of one of two hymns, the more contemporary song being found here and the traditional hymn being here.
- The video and audio-only versions of the service are both located above.
- Following the blessing you are again invited to join in the singing of either a contemporary song or a traditional hymn.
Leading in worship today are: Marilyn, Fiona and Robin.
To view the sermon only, copy & paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/29KcDm4_Emw
‘LIVING PRAISE: OUR CALL TO BE LIVES THAT PRAISE GOD ALWAYS!
(Psalm 149)
SERMON SUMMARY
Psalm 149 calls us not merely to speak praise but to live praise — to become people whose very lives reveal the goodness, beauty, and compassion of God. Contrast this with Machiavelli’s idea that success comes from appearing virtuous rather than being virtuous. Many today still follow that “front-room” strategy: polished religious language, tidy veneers, and spiritual performance. But the psalm invites something deeper. Living praise is not performance; it is participation in God’s life. It is awakening to the Divine presence already within us — remembering together who we are and whose we are. When we live from belovedness, our joy becomes a form of holy resistance against despair, fear, and the false narratives that diminish our worth.
Living praise is embodied, communal, and transformative. It spills into daily life; our washing dishes, conversations we have at work, the gym — where our habits, choices, and posture become instruments of gratitude, attentiveness, compassion, and courage. As the Holy Spirit shapes us, so we become people who carry God’s beauty into the world, partnering with God’s liberating work: speaking truth, defending the vulnerable, resisting injustice, and revealing the Divine humming beneath the surface of ordinary moments. That is the praise we are called to bring. This is not escapism but engagement. Our lives become the “new song” — a quiet offering of awakened, grateful, Love-aligned living that makes God known.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Where in your daily life do you notice yourself slipping into “front-room” faith — saying the right words without embodying them?
What practices help you awaken to the Divine presence already within you?
How might your ordinary routines become instruments of living praise this week?
Where is God inviting you to join God’s healing work — through truth-telling, compassion, or courage?