Blessing by Bearing is our worship theme for Good
Shepherd Sunday, April 29, 2012. Our focus scriptures are Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18.
The Bible abounds with passages that refer to God or to
Christ as a shepherd. Psalm 23 affirms, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want.” Isaiah 40:11 proclaims, “God tends
his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close
to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” In John 10:11, Jesus promises,
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
And the author of Revelation 7:17 declares, “The Lamb at the center of the
throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.”
On
this Sunday we continue a series of services on the blessings God gives us in
the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ our Good Shepherd shoulders us, his sheep, bearing us to safety. Christ risen
into our hearts, minds and souls gives us our bearings.
Here are several Calls to Worship and a prayer
resource appropriate for Good Shepherd Sunday. Please feel free to use or adapt
anything helpful to you.
Call
to Worship (from
Psalm 23)
L: God, you are my shepherd! You care for all my
needs.
P: You rest me in grassy meadows, you guide me to
quiet pools.
L: True to your name, you lead me along the narrow
path.
P: Even when we must go through Death Valley, I am
not afraid.
L: For you are with me. Your shepherd’s staff cheers
me.
P: You spread out a banquet for me while my enemies
squirm.
L: You honor me as your guest. Your blessings spill
over my cup.
P: Your kindness and love stream after me each day
of my life.
All: And I will always return to live in your
house, O God.
**Call to Worship
From John 10:11-18
L: Sisters and brothers,
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for
his sheep.
P: The hired hand, who does not own the sheep,
sees the
wolf coming, abandons the sheep and runs away –
and the
wolf snatches them and scatters them.
L: But I am the good
shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father.
And I lay down my life for my sheep.
P: I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
I must
bring them also and they will listen to my voice.
So there
will be one flock, one shepherd.
L: For this reason the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life
in order to take it up again.
P: No one takes my life away from me,
but I lay
it down of my own accord.
I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.
And all
this comes from my Father.”
All: Praise God for the ministry of
Jesus, our Good Shepherd!
Let us worship God!
Call to Worship (From Revelation 7: 9-17)
L: Rejoice,
sisters and brothers!
For Christ our sacrificial Lamb
is raised from death!
And he shall reign forever!
P: Keep the vision, tell the good news!
Salvation belongs to our God who
sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!
L: Blessing and
glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honor,
power and might, be to our God,
forever and ever!
P: For we who wash our souls in the blood of the Lamb
will worship God day and night
in God’s temple.
L: We will hunger
and thirst no more.
The sun will not strike us, nor
the scorching heat.
P: For the Lamb will be our shepherd.
He will guide us to the springs
of eternal life.
All: And God will wipe every tear from
our eyes!
Let us worship God! Alleluia!
Praying the 23rd
Psalm
L: The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want.
P: Gracious God, your
goodness and love fill the universe! We rejoice that your Spirit works
ceaselessly for our welfare and that you constantly tug on our souls to rest in
you. Hear us now as we offer you thanks for the many good things we enjoy... (Please give thanks to God silently for the good
things in your life.)
L: He makes me lie down in
green pastures, he leads me beside still waters.
P: Wise God, you seek to
guide us always to the truths, relationships, and endeavors that will nourish
our souls. Help us to listen to your voice! Hear us now, as we pray for ears to
hear your calling... (Please
silently ask God to guide your life.)
L:
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
P: Forgiving God, we
confess to you the many times we have ignored your voice and followed our own
stubborn will. We ask forgiveness for the times that our fears, our selfish
desires and greed, our anger and hard-heartedness have led us astray. Thank you
for never giving up on us! Hear us as we confess our personal sins... (Please pray silently for the specific ways that you
have resisted God.)
L: Though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.
P: God our strength and
our redeemer, we give thanks for your courage and power, even in the hardest
times of life. Help us bear the pain of illness and loss. Be with those in
special need of your love. And protect and strengthen those whose lives are at
risk from poverty or injustice or violence. Hear us as we pray... (Please pray silently for those you know who are in
need of God’s healing... and for justice and peace in our world.)
L: You prepare a table before me... my cup overflows.
P: God of our brother,
Jesus, we rejoice that you have come to us
in his life, ministry, death and
resurrection! We delight in each opportunity to gather at his table and be
nourished with his Spirit! Here and now, we offer our hearts as his dwelling
place. May he live in us this day and week... (Please pray silently for the things you will be doing this day and
for Christ to live in you as you do them.)
L: Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
P: Good Shepherd, we
praise you for your constant care and love! May we be faithful to you all the
days of our lives. May we offer up all our living in the constant service of
your love! And then at the last, may we find eternal life and joy in our true
home with you! Hear us as we pray... (Please
ask silently for God to hold you and all God’s children in God’s eternal love.)
