Psalms for the Spirit

The 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)Listen to Kiran and Celtic Psalms on TEDxI wanted to share some news ~ the journal is now available in paperback format on Amazon! I had a bit of a thrill when I opened the package and felt it in my hands. I’ve never made a book before!Here’s the link to the paperback journal (on amazon.com, though it is available globally), and if you would be so kind as to leave a review on the Amazon platform in your region, that will help other readers find it!For the time being, paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit still receive the free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 with Avivah ZornbergI wanted to share some news ~ the journal is now available in paperback format on Amazon! I had a bit of a thrill when I opened the package and felt it in my hands. I’ve never made a book before!Here’s the link to the paperback journal (on amazon.com, though it is available globally), and if you would be so kind as to leave a review on the Amazon platform in your region, that will help other readers find it!For the time being, paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit still receive the free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 paperback format on Amazon! I had a bit of a thrill when I opened the package and felt it in my hands. I’ve never made a book before!Here’s the link to the paperback journal (on amazon.com, though it is available globally), and if you would be so kind as to leave a review on the Amazon platform in your region, that will help other readers find it!For the time being, paid subscribers to Bless My Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit still receive the free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

Proclaiming 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 ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.A paperback version is now available too! Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

The 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 newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A paperback version is now available on Amazon! An interactive PDF version is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

In 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 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A paperback version is now available on Amazon! An interactive PDF version is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The journal ebook is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website A paperback version will be available soon Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

Set 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 for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The journal ebook is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website A paperback version will be available soon Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom check-ins with others sharing this Psalms journey.Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The journal ebook is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website A paperback version will be available soon Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

These 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 spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom checkins with others sharing this Psalms journey.The journal ebook is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website A paperback version will be available soon Listen to Kiran’s recent TEDx talk on the Psalms This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

A 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 Feet (Kiran’s spirituality newsletter) or Psalms for the Spirit receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) with further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. You will receive a weekly email with a downloadable mp3 of the song and journal pages, and occasional invitations to Zoom checkins with others sharing this Psalms journey.The journal ebook is also available for purchase on Kiran’s website A paperback version will be available soon This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 love, with what taps us into the wellspring of true delight. We opened TEDx Stormont with this song a few weeks ago, and it’s one of our favorites to open concerts with these days, because of its focus on those uplifting themes. Listen to the podcast to learn a bit more about the background of the song and a few thoughts to ponder before listening to the song in full.You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs, and videos for Their Delight on the Celtic Psalms webpage.Paid subscribers receive a free journal ebook (180 pages) as well as an mp3 of the song of the week. The journal includes further questions for reflection and some invitations to prayer and practice. See below for some sample journal pages - this is what you will find for each of the 44 Psalms… 180 pages worth of reflections and invitations to prayer and action. With thanks to the brilliant creative and designer, Connie Hunter-Jamison!

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 dear friends the McGraths (Celtic Psalms). Each week I will share reflections on a Psalm of the week, with accompanying journal pages (see the cover above) to enhance your personal journey. In addition, I’ll be doing a weekly short-form podcast with a song and reflections.The journal pages and podcast will include an introduction to the music and theme of each Psalm; connections to other writings and wisdom; helpful links to the Psalms for the Spirit podcast; reflection questions for you to explore through journaling or other forms of expression; a prayer and an invitation. The journal eBook/PDF (180 pages!) will be included for all Psalms for the Spirit paid subscribers, or you will be able to purchase it on my website. Each week, paid subscribers will also receive a downloadable mp3 of the featured song to accompany your reflection journey. The journal will come in Full Digital Format (an ebook/interactive PDF), downloadable on iPads, phones and computers, with embedded links for your convenience and text boxes for your own writing. There will also be a simplified printable version for you to write on by hand, or you can choose a notebook of your own to accompany this process. The journey will begin in early January and will continue through to November. That’s 44 weeks!I know that sounds like a long time - who knows what life will bring between now and November. Feel free to dip in and out of it, or to return later to Psalms you might miss. Other than me showing up each week with a Psalm and some reflections, this will be a free-flowing, spacious, gracious space with plenty of room for flexibility. These are resources I’ll be providing that you can take advantage of if it’s helpful to you - or, you can save it for a time when you need it. I will arrange periodic Zoom gatherings so that we can share parts of this journey together. I believe this is going to be a rich and transformative journey. If you’ve been wondering whether to become a paid subscriber, now might be a great time to hop aboard. Or if there’s a reflective soul in your life, consider inviting them along. If you’d like to support someone who can’t pay at the moment, there’s the option of donating a subscription. [This episode first aired in December 2021]Today’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.When I first heard about Ruth Patterson, it was with a certain sense of awe, as she was the very first woman – in any denomination – to be ordained in Ireland (well, perhaps since St. Brigit in the 5th century). Not only that, but she speaks with clarity and eloquence, and shows a steady kindness towards everyone she encounters. Ruth is one of those people for whom poetry and meaningful quotations roll off the tongue effortlessly, and whose reflections are profound while also being accessible and applicable to daily life.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 restoration, about the journey towards becoming our full selves, and about how awakening to our belovedness is the starting point for healing and wholeness in this world. So whatever it is that brought you here, I’m glad you’re with us. More about Ruth:Ruth Patterson is a Presbyterian minister, and for the last 33 years has been Director of Restoration Ministries (https://restorationministries.co.uk), a non- denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation.  In 1976 she was the first woman to be ordained in Ireland.  She was the recipient of the Alumna of the Year 2000 award (Edinburgh University / Royal Bank of Scotland), in 2001 an honorary doctorate from the Presbyterian Theology Faculty of Ireland, and in 2003 was awarded an OBE for her efforts in reconciliation.  She has authored five books and numerous articles stemming from her commitment to unity and peace.  She produces annual scripture guidelines for Faith and Friendship.  She is one of four church representatives to L’Arche International and holds the post of Ecumenical Canon in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.  She is on the Board of Oneings, a bi-annual publication of the Centre for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. FEATURED MUSICCome, Spirit, Come (Psalm 144) - intro/outro by Celtic PsalmsYou Have Searched Me (Psalm 139)Love and Mercy (Psalm 85 - Forthcoming Album)From the Depths (Psalm 130)You can find our published scores, CDs and mp3s through GIA MusicWe're also on YouTube, Spotify, and AmazonThere’s a really wonderful opportunity coming up in April 2024 – the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage to Ireland.Consider taking 11 days to come to Ireland to explore what brings us joy, strength, hope – resilience – to our lives. We’ll begin with six days at the beautiful Corrymeela residential centre in Ballycastle, on the north coast, which alone will take your breath away, but on top of that we have a program throughout our stay that’s geared toward helping you find resilience within yourself and to develop practices and wisdom that you can take back home with you.Resilience expert Sara Cook will be our first guest facilitator, followed by the brilliant reflective practitioner Paul Hutchinson. I’ll be leading a retreat day with Celtic Psalms music and space for silence and sharing, and then we’ll have a session on Zoom with the one and only poet/theologian/ Poetry Unbound creator/member and former leader of the Corrymeela community Pádraig Ó Tuama.Pilgrimage participants will then head a few hours south to the stunning hills and ancient monastery of Glendalough, where we’ll spend a few days connecting with the beauty of nature and the wisdom of Celtic Spirituality, before spending a day exploring the vibrant city of Dublin.This is going to be a transformative, uplifting, joyful and inspiring experience… Come join us on the beautiful north coast of Ireland at the Corrymeela Centre for the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage in April 2024. If you’re interested, you can find more information in the episode notes.See Progressive Pilgrimage’s webpage for more details at https://progressivepilgrimage.com/corrymeela24/ This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

Today’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 into how those poems can help us find grounding in difficult times. I know Pádraig from when we overlapped at Corrymeela, and when I wanted to talk with someone about the poetry of the Psalms, who better to ask? And I’m delighted that next year, Pádraig will be a virtual guest facilitator on the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage to Ireland in April 2024, helping us explore the connections between poetry and resilience in our lives. In this conversation we talk about the language of the Psalms - Psalms in translation, Psalms in Irish; about how the beauty of words put together in a certain way can move us and heal us; and about how even when we might feel all alone, a poem - and a prayer, and a Psalm - is a way for us to imagine what it might be like to be listened to, for our deepest selves to be heard. So whatever it is that brought you here, I’m so glad you’re with us. Transcription available by clicking the link above. Find out more about Pádraig Ó Tuama at www.padraigotuama.com Featured Celtic Psalms Music:Come, Spirit, Come (Psalm 144)How Good It Is (Psalm 133)I Lift My Eyes Up to the Hills (Psalm 121)I Am Weary (Psalm 102)My God, My God (Psalm 22)By the Waters (Psalm 137)Find out more about Celtic Psalms - downloads, GIA scores, videos, and concerts - at www.celticpsalms.comThere’s a really wonderful opportunity coming up in April 2024 – the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage to Ireland. Consider taking 11 days to come to Ireland to explore what brings us joy, strength, hope – resilience – to our lives. We’ll begin with six days at the beautiful Corrymeela residential centre in Ballycastle, on the north coast, which alone will take your breath away, but on top of that we have a program throughout our stay that’s geared toward helping you find resilience within yourself and to develop practices and wisdom that you can take back home with you. Resilience expert Sara Cook will be our first guest facilitator, followed by the brilliant reflective practitioner Paul Hutchinson. I’ll be leading a retreat day with Celtic Psalms music and space for silence and sharing, and then we’ll have a session on Zoom with the one and only poet/theologian/ Poetry Unbound creator/member and former leader of the Corrymeela community Pádraig Ó Tuama. Pilgrimage participants will then head a few hours south to the stunning hills and ancient monastery of Glendalough, where we’ll spend a few days connecting with the beauty of nature and the wisdom of Celtic Spirituality, before spending a day exploring the vibrant city of Dublin. This is going to be a transformative, uplifting, joyful and inspiring experience… Come join us on the beautiful north coast of Ireland at the Corrymeela Centre for the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage in April 2024. If you’re interested, you can find more information in the episode notes.See Progressive Pilgrimage’s webpage for more details at https://progressivepilgrimage.com/corrymeela24/Psalms for the Spirit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Find out more about Kiran’s spirituality work at www.kiranyoungwimberly.com This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

[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 world, the collective trauma of coronavirus. It was so transformative for me that a few years later, I became trained to teach these resilience skills too, and now weave resilience tools into my spirituality work. In this conversation, which first aired in 2021, I wanted to mine Sara’s wealth of knowledge on how we, as human beings, can come through difficult experiences.So whatever it is that brought you here, I’m glad you’re with us.More about SaraTo find out more about Sara, visit her website: https://www.cook-consultancy.comToday I want to highlight a really wonderful opportunity coming up in April 2024 – the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage to Ireland. Consider taking 11 days to come to Ireland to explore what brings us joy, strength, hope – resilience – to our lives. We’ll begin with six days at the beautiful Corrymeela residential centre in Ballycastle, on the north coast, which alone will take your breath away, but on top of that we have a program throughout our stay that’s geared toward helping you find resilience within yourself and to develop practices and wisdom that you can take back home with you. Resilience expert Sara Cook will be our first guest facilitator, followed by the brilliant reflective practitioner Paul Hutchinson from Episode 11. I’ll be leading a retreat day, and at the end of our time there will be we’ll have a session on Zoom with the one and only poet/theologian/Poetry Unbound creator/community member and former leader of the Corrymeela community Pádraig Ó Tuama. Pilgrimage participants will then head a few hours south to the stunning hills and ancient monastery of Glendalough, where we’ll spend a few days connecting with the beauty of nature and the wisdom of Celtic Spirituality, before spending a day exploring the vibrant city of Dublin. This is going to be a transformative, uplifting, joyful and inspiring experience… Come join us on the beautiful north coast of Ireland at the Corrymeela Centre for the Resilient Spirit Pilgrimage in April 2024. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

TODAY’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 paths converged for a few years, and Buri was one of those people I always felt grateful to have met. Buri has an infectious smile, a friendly sense of humor, a wise heart and a reflective mind. And, he has the most lovely singing voice – I still remember his powerful solos ringing out at our seminary choir concerts. I wanted to get in touch with Buri to hear about the role of the Psalms in his life, what they mean to his community, and what his thoughts are on the connections between spirituality and resilience from his life experience and the context of Kenya. In this conversation, which we had over the winter, we talk about the importance of recognizing each other in our humanity and how the Psalms help us do that; about how God continually calls us to a home where we can be restored to a divine joy and laughter in that place of belonging; how God is big enough to hear it all, and wants to come into the mud of our lives, in gumboots, and be alongside us in it; and how the Psalms give us language for our pain, and also our hope and our hallelujahs.So whatever it is that brought you here, I’m glad you’re with us.Click Here for Episode Notes Subscribe to my newsletter, Bless My Feet - where you’ll get allll the updates on what’s coming up… retreats, pilgrimages, concerts, and a monthly reflection and blessing from me each month. If you want to become a Bless My Feet member, you will get additional reflection prompts, resources, and invitations to retreat spaces. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

FOR 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 return over and over to dip into the life of the seminary. Over the decades that I’ve known him, I’ve always admired the way he leads music in the daily chapel services, particularly how he invites students to share the gifts, styles, and expressions they bring with them, and for many of us, the Princeton Seminary Choir is the best choir we will EVER have a chance to sing in. I also had the opportunity to glean insights through his course on the Psalms and receive some coaching and direction on my Celtic Psalms project.I wanted to talk with Martin as a real expert, steeped in every aspect of the Psalms – from personal to congregational to academic.   In this conversation, which we had in the crisp early autumn of October, we talk about how important it is for each generation to engage with the Psalms in a way that’s meaningful to them, about the Psalms as a form of resistance and protest, about how the Psalms teach us to pray not only our own prayers but others’ prayers as well, and about the uncomfortable truth that if we are among those who benefit from unjust systems, the Psalms might actually be prayed against us. This conversation made me think about the Psalms in a whole new way, and it also reminded me of what I know to be true – that regardless of who we are, where we live, or what our life experiences might be, the Psalms help us fight back against the storms of life.Most episodes of Psalms for the Spirit feature Celtic Psalms music, but today we have music from Martin Tel himself, and from the Princeton Seminary Choir.Welcome to Season Three of Psalms for the Spirit.And whatever it is that brought you here, I’m glad you’re with us.More about Martin Tel:Martin Tel is the C. F. Seabrook Director of Music at Princeton Theological Seminary where he directs the seminary choirs, facilitates the music ministry for daily worship, and lectures in the area of church music. He served as senior editor of Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship (Faith Alive, 2012). He also served on the editorial committees which produced a new hymnal for the Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America denominations, Lift Up Your Hearts (Faith Alive, 2013) and the Spanish-English bilingual hymnal, Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy (GIA, 2019).  FEATURED MUSICCome, Spirit, Come (Psalm 144)The Storm is Passing Over (Princeton Seminary Choir)Dutch children singing Psalm 81You Have Turned My Sorrow (Psalm 30)You can find Celtic Psalms' published scores, CDs and mp3s through GIA MusicWe're also on YouTube, Spotify, and AmazonSubscribe to my newsletter, Bless My Feet - where you’ll get allll the updates on what’s coming up… retreats, pilgrimages, concerts, and a monthly reflection and blessing from me each month. If you want to become a Bless My Feet member, you will get additional reflection prompts, resources, and invitations to retreat spaces. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

FOR 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 about the power of the Psalms to reach across time and culture, about hope as bridge and spark and lifeline, about how psychological first aid might support us in times of distress, and how the old spiritual traditions of vocation and intercession can help us find the small thing that is ours to do in this hurting world. https://kiranyoungwimberly.com/2022/06/02/psalms-for-the-spirit-ep-20-how-do-we-pay-attention-and-not-lose-hope-with-rebecca-dudley/ (More about this episode) https://youtu.be/G9RRV1ZHOr8 (Hear Rebecca Dudley's original talk on the Hope Project) This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

TODAY'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 Bethlehem, Munther Isaac speaks internationally and at the local level on issues related to theology of land and reconciliation, and has written extensively on these themes in his books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Lands-Eden-Renewed-Earth/dp/1783680776 (“From Land to Lands,”) and  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Wall-Palestinian-Christian/dp/0830831991/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11O1921SQ9MDA&keywords=the+other+side+of+the+wall&qid=1649948727&s=books&sprefix=the+other+side+of+the+awl%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-2 (“The Other Side of the Wall.”) In this conversation, we talk about the power of reciting Psalms as a community in times of trouble; about how Good Friday reminds us that even when we feel forsaken, we’re not alone; about how persistence in prayers of complaint and lament is in fact a sign of deep faith; and about the vision of an ideal Jerusalem in which barriers are broken and enemies become friends. https://kiranyoungwimberly.com/2022/04/14/psalms-for-the-spirit-ep-19-persistence-as-a-sign-of-deep-faith-with-munther-isaac/ (More about this episode) This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

Today’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 restoration, about the journey towards becoming our full selves, and about how awakening to our belovedness is the starting point for healing and wholeness in this world. https://kiranyoungwimberly.com/2021/12/23/psalms-for-the-spirit-ep-18-awakening-to-our-belovedness-with-ruth-patterson/ (More on this episode) This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe