REDEMPTION SONGS, A 21ST CENTURY DESCANT ON THE PSALMS

Between Walter Brueggemann and Bob Marley I never stood a chance when it came to a passion for the Psalms. Throughout my life as a pastor, I’ve wanted a theologically reliable volume of the Psalms which I could use with ease in preparing liturgy. I’ve wanted a faithful wording which would not constrict the vocabulary to current vernacular or totally disregard the Psalms’ poetics. During my sabbatical in 2002, I began to tread the corridor between scholarship and art, arriving at a ‘descant’ on the Psalms, which is not so much a paraphrase as a harmony and counterpoint upon the established themes…."

These “Redemption Songs” are the Psalms selected for use in liturgical years A, B, and C of the Revised Common Lectionary. You are free to use them, noting credit to Mary Susan Gast, Redemption Songs, A 21st Century Descant on the Psalms, © 2002.

Links to the Seasons (All are Microsoft Word documents except for those noted html)

• Current season: Pentecost, Year C

• Advent & Christmastide, Year A
• Epiphany, Year A
• Lent and Holy Week, Year A
• Eastertide, Year A
• Pentecost, Year A (Including Thanksgiving)

• Advent, Christmastide, Year B
• Epiphany, Year B (html)
• Lent, Year B (html and MS Word)
• Holy Week, Year B
• Easter, Year B (html)
• Pentecost, Year B (Including All Saints Day and Thanksgiving Day)

• Advent, Christmastide, Year C
• Epiphany, Year C
• Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide, Year C
• Pentecost, Year C