Psalm 40:2-3 “He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog; he set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”

Psalm 40 tells of Davids’s epiphany and thanks for God’s divine intervention and deliverance from his despair, sung in a poetic hymn of praise. This beautiful reading continues to tell of David’s personal acclamation, thanking God for his wondrous deeds and the plans he has for us. David also proclaims his promise to ask for God’s love and faithfulness for all assembled and those who seek to be glad in Him.

The words of verse 40:3 perfectly capture the moments after my own epiphany, while attending a church communion service with my son and his family. The pastor asked the congregation “Do you know a guy who knows a Guy?” At that very instant God transformed me and put a “new sound in my mouth,” along with the realization that I truly did not know the guy named Jesus Christ! As I wept, asking God for forgiveness, I placed my trust in the Lord to guide me out from my self-imposed life of being an occasional Christian, of believing the word but not being immersed in it, of finding the truth but not seeking it, and longing for a new church home but not committing to it.

Several months later, Sue, my dear wife and pathfinder, told me of finding a new Kirkland church that I might like and asked me to join her. From the first day I walked with her through the red narthex doors to now, I knew Saint John’s would be my new home--from the warm welcome, invitations to join the Men’s group and Tuesday morning Bible study to helping the homeless, supporting church ministries, joining Vestry, and learning the meaning of patience and discernment. As we enter Advent, my hope is for all of us to receive a new song every day with the knowledge that God has plans for us. And as members of the parish congregation assembled, we come together to grow our understanding of scripture through word and song, praising God while doing his work.

Mark Wilterding