The Soul of the Psalms From Ashes to Alleluias by Martha Porter

If you define yourself as a member of that growing category of Christians termed progressive, liberal, contemporary, or emergent, you likely already know that it can be difficult to find resources that speak to your evolving faith, especially resources that are based in scripture and related to the seasons of the liturgical calendar. In this book, Porter connects the reader with voices from centuries past, illustrating how the very human expressions in the lament Psalms can illumine dimensions of our relationships with each other and ourselves. In Porter’s view, these psalms convey the redemption that can be found in relationships of trust, relationships that can bear the full range of speech, including bitterness, fear, disappointment, and even anger. The contemporary psalms which spring from these ancient laments enable the progression “from ashes to alleluias.”

“Martha Porter has taken the Psalms out of Walter Brueggemann’s classroom and installed them in the treasure house of resources available to the work of pastoral ministry. Her work in this book is a gift that will bring life to many.”

John Shelby Spong, Author
The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic

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Martha Porter is a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, with a focus on pastoral counseling and the role of language in the formation of self. She trained at the Pastoral Psychotherapy Institute and worked at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy, both in Chicago. She was a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counseling and is ordained in the United Church of Christ. She also holds a doctorate in education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also the author of The Nicene Creed: Ancient Words in the Light of Modern Faith.