Fourth Sunday of
Easter
**Please note this service is based on the
format of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. Unless otherwise
indicated, all prayers come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). Hymns and
other prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**This is for
personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship
but together we can worship in our own homes.
Introduction
to the day
Today is sometimes called “Good Shepherd
Sunday.” Jesus is called the “gate” of the sheep in today’s gospel. The risen
Christ opens the way to abundant life. He anoints our heads with oil and guides
us beside the still waters of our baptism. Each Sunday he spreads a feast
before us amid the world’s violence and war. We go forth to be signs of the
resurrection and extend God’s tender care to all creation.
Call to
Worship (written by Joanna
Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/)
In the darkest valley, at the banquet
table; in the hard work of life, at the moments of ease; in our day-to-day
reality, at times set aside, like this time, now, for worship, for listening,
for paying attention; with every step we take: goodness and mercy follow us; our
cups overflow.
Amen.
Confession
and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,
who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come
to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give
us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your
forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence
of God and of one another.
Most merciful God,
we
confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned
against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we
have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved
our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy
on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus
Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins.
As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his
authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thanksgiving
for Baptism
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,
the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth,
our light and our salvation.
Amen.
Joined to Christ in the waters of
baptism,
we are clothed with God's mercy and
forgiveness.
Let us give thanks for the gift of
baptism.
We give you thanks, O God,
for in the beginning your Spirit moved
over the waters
and by your Word you created the world,
calling forth life in which you took
delight.
Through the waters of the flood you
delivered Noah and his family.
Through the sea you led your people
Israel from slavery into freedom.
At the river your Son was baptized by
John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.
By water and your Word you claim us as
daughters and sons,
making us heirs of your promise and
servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that
sustains life,
and above all we praise you for the gift
of new life in Jesus Christ.
Shower us with your Spirit,
and renew our lives with your
forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and
forever.
Amen.
Gathering
Song – Crown Him with Many Crowns (ELW #855)
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also
with you.
Kyrie
Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.
Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray.
We are God’s church:
We come
together to worship.
He has given us his Word:
We come
together to learn from him.
He has filled us with his power:
We go out
to bring others to him.
He has called us into his family:
We come
together to share our lives.
He has put his words on our lips:
We go out
to tell the world about him.
He has given us his Spirit:
We come
together to celebrate.
He has showered us with his riches:
We go out
to share his goodness with others.
He has freed us from our past:
We come
together to move forwards.
He has planned for us a glorious future:
We go out
to live our lives to please him.
We are God’s church:
We come
together to worship.
Amen.
(copyright
© John Leach/The Jubilate Group. Posted
on The Jubilate Group website. /http://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/liturgy/acts_invitation_to_worship)
Prayer of
the Day
Let us pray.
O God our shepherd, you know your sheep
by name and lead us to safety through the valleys of death. Guide us by your
voice that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared
in your house, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The
Readings
A reading from the Book of Acts. 2:42-47
Today’s
reading is a description of life in the community following Peter’s sermon on
the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out on God’s people. The new
community is sustained in worship and fellowship, shares what they have, and
ensures that everyone has enough.
The baptized devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were
being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things
in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds
to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the
temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous
hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day
the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be
to God.
Psalm 23
A reading from the First Letter of
Peter. 2:19-25
Doing the
right things does not guarantee that one will not experience difficulties,
hardships, rejection, or even suffering. Here Christ is presented as the model
for our path of endurance and loyalty to God, particularly amid adversity.
It is a credit to you
if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure
when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure
when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you
have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was
found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he
suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges
justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from
sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For
you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and
guardian of your souls.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be
to God.
Gospel
Acclamation
Alleluia! Jesus says, I am the good
shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Alleluia! (John 10:14)
The holy gospel according to John. 10:1-10
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus
uses an image familiar to the people of his day to make a point about spiritual
leadership. Those who listen to Jesus are led to abundant life.
“Very truly, I tell
you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by
another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the
shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep
hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has
brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run
from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this
figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to
them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very
truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are
thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate.
Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they
may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to
you, O Christ.
Sermon
Psalm 23 is one of the
most recognized psalms in the world. And it is one of my absolute favorites.
Everyone, at one time
or another, has heard this psalm read and no matter their religion, a person
can usually recite at least one line of the psalm. As Walter Brueggemann
states, “The grip it has on biblical spirituality is deep and genuine.”
Despite its
familiarity, most people associate the psalm with one common event: a funeral.
But there is so much more to this psalm than sadness and death.
It is widely considered
that David wrote the majority of the psalter, including Psalm 23, likely as a
reflection on events that happened or were happening in his life at the time.
Because he grew up a shepherd, many of David’s writings depicted the metaphor
of seeing God as a shepherd.
The definition of a
shepherd's job is to care for his flock, making sure they are safe, nourished,
calm and happy at all times. However, the term “shepherd” has come to be used
in a much broader way, describing leadership either of an individual or a group
as well as referring to a “king whose task it is to protect and provide for the
subjects of the realm.”
David tends to use
metaphors such as “rock”, “shield”, and “deliverer” but by using “shepherd”,
someone who lives with his flock and protects it with his life, David is
showing us just how intimate his relationship with God really is. So it is of
no surprise that the imagery found in Psalm 23 is rich in metaphor and theology
with the predominant metaphor being that of God the shepherd which flows
throughout the entire psalm.
Most are quite
satisfied to interpret this psalm in a way that puts the shepherd as the centre
of the imagery. Christians even go as far as to say that the psalm is referring
to Jesus, although the Jewish author of the psalter would not have seen it that
way at all.
However, Psalm 23 can
be seen as being written from the vantage point of the sheep, instead of the
shepherd. Examining verses 1 through 3,
you can see that David thought of God as his protector, provider, and king and
knew that he would want for nothing, that he lacked nothing. David had the
faith that God would always provide. While a shepherd by trade, he considered
himself a sheep to the shepherd God.
One of the most famous
lines of Psalm 23 is verse 4a: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of death,
I fear no evil.” You will often hear this line recited at funerals or in movies
and television shows where the person feels they are about to enter a dark or
dangerous time in their life. While normally associated with the hidden powers
of death, verse 4 is imagery that turns away from the sheep and towards that of
a traveller in a place where the roads were unsafe, perhaps either literal or
metaphorically. While God doesn’t promise an easy life empty of suffering or
trials, God does promise to walk with us during troubled times, providing comfort,
courage, and strength. Despite being hunted by Saul, being a womanizer, and
being an all-around sinner, David is convinced that the presence of God is
enough to get him through all of his trials and tribulations.
While it is quite
common to say that the shepherd metaphor flows through the entire psalm, many
scholars believe that in the final part of the psalm, verses 5 to 6, the image
of God the shepherd switches to the image of God the host and giver of
hospitality. No greater security or
comfort could be obtained by a traveler in the ancient Near East than to be
offered the hospitality of a home. Not only was there shelter and food, but
there was also protection. By preparing a table in front of David’s enemies,
God was publicly announcing that no harm can come to David.
It seems to me that
Psalm 23 is a very deep and powerful message about David’s trust and faith in
God. It is loaded with theology, imagery, and metaphor. So why then do we
always associate the psalm with death? Why is it such a popular piece of text
even to the secular world? As it turns out, the popularity of Psalm 23 is a
relatively new concept, largely influenced by the Protestant imprint on North
American culture.
Throughout the
nineteenth century Psalm 23 become synonymous with North American views of
death but prior to that, the psalm was not often seen, heard, or discussed.
Sunday school literature often discussed death with reminders of discipleship
in order to gain a good death. But Psalm 23 was not to be found. The Book of Common
Prayer did not have Psalm 23 as a funeral psalm, instead listing Psalm 39 and
90. As well, prior to the Civil War, Psalm 23 was not part of popular culture
such as deathbed scenes in novels. It wasn’t until two decades after the war
that Psalm 23 began to show up in secular culture.
Today, Psalm 23 is
firmly imbedded into our culture. Even those parents with a looser hold on
their Christian beliefs will teach their children the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm
23 in what William Holladay calls a “double summary of faith.” Books, movies, songs, hymns, greeting cards,
and wall plaques have immortalized this song of praise ahead of others in the
collection of 150 psalms. It is short and easy for people to memorize and there
are plenty of feel-good messages that can be pulled from the psalm. For
example, one message contained in the first three verses is one of affirmation
of God’s continued trustworthiness to provide for our growth, health, and
protection.
The Valley of the
Shadow of Death could mean either a literal road that may contain dangers or a
metaphorical road full of life and death moments that occur in our lives. In
either case, the psalmist wants us to know that God will keep us safe not by
deflecting trouble from our paths but instead by journeying with us.
The second half of the psalm has an
overlying message of faith, trust, and the promise of everlasting life. A
banquet set in front of your enemies shows faith in God’s protection and that
by staying with God, a person will experience all of God’s love and mercy for
all eternity.
Ultimately, when you
sit back and listen to Psalm 23, people find comfort in the shepherd imagery,
knowing that if they stay with the shepherd who is God they will be forever
safe.
Hymn of
the Day – I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (ELW #611)
Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the
virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the
living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the
Son,
who with the Father and the Son is
worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and
apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the
dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers
of Intercession
Uplifted by the promised hope of healing
and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying
for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
O God, our loving Shepherd,
you come to us with the strength and
love of a father,
and the tender mercies, patience and
protection of a loving mother.
We see you in the very living of our
days,
and yet we so often fail to praise you
or to offer our burdens to you.
Hear us,
Lord,
as we
lift to you our prayers for others and for ourselves.
We pray for those in need – those who
hunger or are homeless.
We pray for those in pain – the abused,
broken-hearted and lonely.
We pray for the sick in body and in
mind, and for those who grieve.
For the life of this community and all
those who put their trust in you
for all their todays and all their
tomorrows,
we pray that your loving kindness to the
world would be offered
through our hands, our words, our deeds,
our hearts.
Hear us,
Lord,
as we
lift to you our prayers for others and for ourselves.
Free us, Lord, as your own people,
to sing your praise in the work of our
everyday lives.
In those comings and goings of our
simple and complicated living,
make us instruments of your peace and
grace
in weary days with weary people.
Hear us,
Lord,
as we
lift to you our prayers for others and for ourselves.
Bless our memories, O God,
that in our remembering we may partake
of the mystery that is eternal life in
its fullness.
For we pray in the presence of your
risen Christ,
our Lord and Savior. Amen.
(posted
on Life in Liturgy, from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
https://lifeinliturgy.wordpress.com/)
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also
with you.
Offering
Prayer
**Although not physically at our church buildings to share
our offering together I would encourage you to set your offering of money aside
so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services resume, to
mail your offering to the church, or to make donations online. Please remember
ministry is still taking place.
Let us pray.
The Shepherd cares for us, providing all
that we need in abundance. The Shepherd calls us to love one another in truth
and action. May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd’s care. May our
offerings show our willingness to love one another.
God of love,
you abide with us;
you provide for all our needs
and guide us in your ways.
Out of gratitude for your care,
we bring our gifts before you.
Use them for your work of caring,
that all may feast at the table of
abundance,
walk without fear,
and drink deeply
from the cup of compassion. Amen.
(written
by Mary Petrina Boyd, and posted on Ministry Matters.
http://www.ministrymatters.com/)
Canticle
of Thanksgiving
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O God of the universe;
just and true are your ways,
O Ruler of all the nations.
Who can fail to honor you, Lord,
and sing the glory of your name?
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
For you alone are the Holy One,
and blessed is the one
whose name is the Word of God.
All praise and thanks to you, holy God!
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
Thanksgiving
for the Word
Let us pray.
Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for
by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth
beauty from chaos, and brought life into being.
For your
Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
By your Word you called your people
Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the
desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you.
For your
Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you
speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to
those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love.
For your
Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Send your Spirit of truth, O God;
rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen
our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw
near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to
whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.
Amen.
Lord’s
Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit,
let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
May you trust in God’s promises to his
people:
peace
security
blessing
even when they are difficult to believe.
May you know that God’s news is good
news,
nourishing
true
even when people tell you it is not.
And when you encounter doubt,
may you strengthen your belief
guiding you in his perfect wisdom and
counsel.
(posted
on Jeff’s Blog. https://blog.wisch.org/category/benedictions-and-prayers/)
Sending
Song – Come and Journey with a Saviour
Dismissal
Go forth into the world to serve God
with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to
no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the
afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
