At a special premiere held yesterday evening in Assembly Buildings, central Belfast, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) launched a newly composed suite of psalms based on the experiences of victims and first responders during the Troubles.
Entitled Considering Lament: Psalms of protest, pain and hope, PCI’s Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray, welcomed over 100 guests to the Assembly Hall, saying that he believed that it would be a ‘special’ time of praise and worship. Throughout the evening, victims and first responders who had been part of Considering Lament, also shared their stories.
Opening the event, Dr Murray said,
“I don’t use the word ‘special’ lightly, because this evening is ‘special’, as we are all part of a unique moment – a world premiere of eight special pieces of music that we will sing together. Each of them seeks to make sense of suffering and loss through the lens of scripture in an honest, open and entirely vulnerable way, especially when our own words fail us, or are simply just inadequate.
“As we gather here tonight, I want to say a special thank you, and pay tribute to those who were part of Considering Grace and Considering Lament. Not only for taking part while still bearing the scars of trauma, unbelievable suffering and pain and for many the devastating heart-felt loss of a loved one, I want to thank you for going back to those days, which you didn’t have to do. But you did, so that we might bring it all to God through these Psalms of Lament, for His glory and for future generations. On behalf of the Church, thank you.”
Considering Lament is part of a decade-long project undertaken by the all-Ireland denomination’s Council for Public Affairs, which led initially to the 2019 publication of the book ‘Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles’. The book is a collection of the experiences of 120 Presbyterians who through their stories tell of how they coped with loss and tests of faith during the Troubles. The book also sought to assist the Church to examine its own history and reflect on its pastoral response to its members during that time.
The suite of psalms followed on from the book and emerged from a desire to continue processing the pain in ways that bring it to God, rather than pass it on to the next generation. Across eight Bible study groups, held in different locations in Northern Ireland, many of those who had contributed to Considering Grace took part. The project was also expanded to reflect the experience of the nationalist community and young people growing up in the shadow of the Troubles during the peace process.
Facilitated by Rev Dr Campbell, a former Presbyterian minister of two County Antrim congregations, each group studied a different, but relevant Psalm of Lament to their local experience. This in turn lead to a suite of eight psalms and accompanying liturgies that represented the work of each group. They were composed by Dr Campbell, and her husband David, and performed by musicians and singers for the first time on Thursday evening.
Attended by the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Joe McVey OBE, during the evening the singing of the new psalms was interspersed with personal testimony from five participants in the project who had either experienced trauma as a first responder, or suffered the loss of a murdered loved one.
‘Considering Lament: Psalms of protest, pain and hope’
The following psalms were used by each group:
- Armagh: Psalm 64
- Ballymena: Psalm 5
- Bangor: Psalm 39
- Belfast: Psalm 59
- Derry/Londonderry: Psalm 7
- Omagh: Psalm 82
- Omagh: Psalm 140
- Dungannon: Psalm 109
Speaking about the event, Dr Campbell who is the General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches said,
“It was truly humbling to bear witness to the pain and wounds that continue to leave a long-lasting legacy. It was an important moment to create space and listen to those who were sharing personal experiences that had often been carried privately. It was a moving and poignant evening, during which many tears were shed.
“The psalms continue to provide a rich language that helps give words that enable honest prayer to God, recognising that God is a God of justice, truth, mercy and peace. I was grateful to be reminded that on the cross, Jesus used the lament words of Psalm 22 to give voice to his forsakenness and isolation. Yet, it was important to be reminded, God does not just leave us in our suffering but it is significant that the resurrected Jesus still bears the wounds of the cross.
“This reminds us that Jesus understands suffering and draws near to us in our dark places to guide us through to resurrection life. The experiences of those who shared last night bore witness to their own faith journeys from dark places towards healing.”
Considering Lament: video of the event, sheet music and lyrics
You will find all the lyrics and music for each of the Considering Lament psalms on the Worship Hub on this website here, where you can also watch an edited video of the event itself.
Thanks and acknowledgments
On behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Council for Public Affairs would like to thank and acknowledge the following, for without their help and support Considering Lament: Psalms of protest, pain and hope would not have been possible: Karen and David Campbell and everyone who contributed directly through the focus groups.
We also would like to place on record our deep appreciation to those whose funding also made Considering Lament possible. This includes the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Benefact Trust, the Irish Council of Churches, Get Real Audio, Dr Stephen Quay, who covered the cost of mixing and mastering of the music and Kenny Qua, who recorded the psalms.
