Blessing by Bearing

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 23^rd 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.)