LAMENT

The Old Testament lectionary reading for Sunday is from Lamentations 1. It is not a happy, cheery passage! The passage raises important questions for us about the nature of our gatherings, and what space we make for those who are really struggling with making any sense of their faith. The psalms are full of lament, but when you look through the modern songbooks there is precious little to chose from. If you are searching for songs of lament, it's not hillsong or kingsway that will help, buth rather the Iona Community, who have re-worked some of the psalms and written several other powerful songs of lament. I've also been struck in my research today by how well we do lament within our wider cultural context. Some of the tunes of lament I have heard today have deeply moved me. Lamentations is a timely reminder to us of the darker times in our experiences which we perhaps too easily ignore in our worship services.