Watch the service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Revelation 7:17)
The Lamb of God will be our shepherd
and guide us to the water of life.
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray: Almighty God, you sent Jesus, our good shepherd, to gather us together. May we not wander from his flock, but follow wherever he leads us, listening for his voice and staying near him, until we are safely in your fold, to live with you forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CALL TO THANKSGIVING
In the season of Easter, we use this time to offer our thanks to God, rather than our confessions, because Christ has died for our sins and has risen to give us new life.
Please join me in the prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a silent personal prayer.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Eternal God, we praise you that your glory has dawned on us, and brought us into this Day of Resurrection. We rejoice that the grave could not hold your Son, and that he has conquered death, risen to rule over all powers of this earth. We praise you that he summons us into new life, to follow him with joy and gladness. By your Spirit, lift us from doubt and despair, and set our feet in Christ’s holy way, that our lives may be signs of his life, and all we have may show forth his love. Praise, glory, and thanksgiving to you, our God, forever and ever. Amen.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what are you thankful for this week?
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Let us pray: Lord, we want to hear your voice. We want to know your ways. We seek now to listen for your Word and we pray for the courage to act upon what the Spirit is saying to your church. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
HYMN I Was a Wandering Sheep
1 I was a wand’ring sheep,
I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Shepherd’s voice,
I would not be controlled.
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home;
I did not love my Shepherd’s voice,
I loved afar to roam.
2 The Shepherd sought his sheep,
the Father sought his child;
they followed me o’er vale and hill,
o’er deserts waste and wild:
they found me nigh to death,
famished and faint and lone;
they bound me with the bands of love,
they saved the wand’ring one.
3 Jesus my Shepherd is;
’twas he that loved my soul,
’twas he that washed me in his blood,
’twas he that made me whole;
’twas he that sought the lost,
that found the wand’ring sheep,
’twas he that brought me to the fold,
’tis he that still doth keep.
4 I was a wand’ring sheep,
I would not be controlled;
but now I love my Shepherd’s voice,
I love the fold.
I was a wayward child,
I once preferred to roam;
but now I love my Shepherd’s voice,
I love God’s home.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
John 10:1-10
Jesus said, ‘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.’
Consider:
- Why is it significant that God calls to us by name?
- When have you been called by name?
- What names have you been known by? What name do you call yourself? What name would God call you?
- How are we like sheep?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “That Weird Sheep, Doug,” here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Jill Duffield)
Almighty God, when we consider what you have done for us, we are filled with awe and wonder. You sent your Son to save us. You set the table for us and Jesus himself serves us. You do not leave us in the dark but send the light of Christ to guide us in the ways of grace and truth. You give us your living Word, a compassionate community, the bread of heaven and the prayers of the faithful. We lack nothing and therefore we will fear no evil.
We ask, Good Shepherd, for your rod and staff to guide and comfort us. While we lament our inability to be together in churches, we rejoice in the ability to praise you no matter where we are gathered. Knowing that you give us the gift of prayer and the responsibility to care for each other, we lift up to you now those who feel as if they have been in the valley of darkness for far too long. Bring comfort to the brokenhearted and relief to the oppressed. Grant peace to those afflicted with anxiety and heal the sick. Strengthen all of those doing essential work, protect them and ease their fears and those of the ones who love them. Give wisdom and discernment to people in positions of power. Help us all to look to the interest of others so that all may have the abundant life Christ came to give.
Lord, you call us by name and show us where to go and how to serve. You are the gate through which our comings and goings gain purpose and participate in your present and coming kingdom. Help us better to hear your voice so that we would not submit to lesser gods or vain pursuits. As we wrestle with the stress of this season, the uncertainty and the suffering of this pandemic, lead us in the ways of righteousness, make us brave in our kindness, tireless in our work for justice, humble in our walk with you. Do not let us grow weary of doing good.
As we come together, across time and space, with the whole communion of the saints, we seek to reflect your love, sharing with one another, supporting the weak, tending to the vulnerable, breaking bread with all people, knowing we are reconciled and saved through the grace of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who taught us to say when we pray:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN God Be With You Till We Meet Again
1 God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
2 God be with you till we meet again;
unseen wings protecting hide you,
daily manna still provide you:
God be with you till we meet again.
3 God be with you till we meet again;
when life’s perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you:
God be with you till we meet again.
4 God be with you till we meet again;
keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
smite death’s threatening wave before you:
God be with you till we meet again.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (FROM A DECLARATION OF FAITH)
Jesus was dead and buried, but God raised him from the dead. The risen Lord appeared to his followers. They recognized him as their Master who had been crucified. Before Jesus left them, he commissioned them to proclaim to all people the good news of his victory over death, and promised to be with them always.
We are certain that Jesus lives. He lives as God with us, touching all of human life with the presence of God. He lives as one of us with God. Because he shares our humanity and has bound us to himself in love, we have an advocate in the innermost life of God. We declare that Jesus is Lord. His resurrection is a decisive victory over the powers that deform and destroy human life. His lordship is hidden. The world appears to be dominated by people and systems that do not acknowledge his rule. But his lordship is real. It demands our loyalty and sets us free from the fear of all lesser lords who threaten us. We maintain that ultimate sovereignty now belongs to Jesus Christ in every sphere of life. Jesus is Lord. He has been Lord from the beginning. He will be Lord at the end. Even now he is Lord.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
Precious and beloved flock of God,
may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
May you hear the voice of the shepherd calling you by name
and may you never feel alone.
God has seen us through terrible storms before,
and God will see us through again.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us at about 11am or a little before with this link. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003.