Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth... God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. (Psalm 47: 1-2,5-7)

This morning the air is cool. There is the slightest scent of honeysuckle. A great star-cloud extends from north to south in a moonless sky. Fireflies dance in the meadow. The frogs and crickets share their symphony. Soon birds will begin to sing. Soon the sun will rise, another day full of possibility will begin. What riches we have inherited. Nothing we have done has earned this gift. In love it has been given to us. Our best response - our only just response - is to receive the gift in love, thanksgiving and praise.