The Celebration of the Gospel
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2015
“I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd will die for the sheep.”
—John 10.11
God, shepherd me today.
Grant me grace to walk behind you,
neither to stray from your leading
nor to run ahead alone.
Lead me through the dry valleys
to springs of living water.
Let me not wander from your flock,
but enclose my heart with your people.
Keep me from harm I might suffer
and harm I might cause.
This is my only hope, to follow you closely,
and so to be in your presence all of this day.
Shepherd me, O God,
and I will follow. Amen.
— Steve G-H
________ We Gather as The Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Nun Bitten Wir Dietrich Buxtehude
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Beloved, you shepherd us in love
All: In your grace we feast, we rest, we travel this life.
Beloved, you shepherd us in love.
You lead us through death to new life.
Beloved, you shepherd us in love.
In your love we love one another.
In our love we worship you. Alleluia!
* SONG
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Blue hymnal #381 vv. 1—3
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
____________ We Attend to the Word__________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG
God Is My Shepherd Antonin Dvorak, arr. Joseph Clokey
[ Psalm 23 celebrates that God shepherds us: protecting, providing, guiding and blessing us, gathering us into a community that eats together even despite having been enemies.]
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Shepherd of love, lead us beside the still waters of your grace. Feed us in the green pastures of your Word. Guide us in your path of mercy. Restore our soul with your presence. Speak to us, and we will follow. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT 1 John 3.14-24
[ Jesus laid down his life for us; and gave us his spirit. Eternal life is not life after death: it is Jesus’ love living in us, leading us to love as Jesus loved, even laying down our lives for others.]
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever refuses to love is still dead. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that Christ died for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in someone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not only in word or speech, but in the truth of our actions.
This is how we will know that we belong to the truth, and what will set our hearts at ease before God even when our conscience bothers us: God is greater than our conscience. God understands and forgives everything. Beloved, if then we are not condemned, we are confident before God. We receive from God whatever we ask, because we obey God’s commandments and do what pleases God.
And this is God’s commandment: that, trusting in the love of God’s Own, Jesus Christ, we will love one another, just as God has commanded us. All who live by this love live in God, and God lives in them. We know that God lives in us, by the Spirit that God gives us.
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GOSPEL John 10.11-18
[Jesus is our shepherd: he lays down his life for the sheep, and he and they know each other.]
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd will die for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as Abba God knows me and I know God. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. For this reason Abba God loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it 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. I have received this command from my Abba.”
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SERMON
SONG Eternal Life Steve G-H
This is how we will know eternal life: we will love one another.
I lay down my life, all that is mine alone, that we may be raised together.
We are not bound by any earthly thing when our lives we surrender
to God, whose love is eternal life. And so we will love one another.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
___________We Share at Christ’s Table_________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Rock Of Ages Traditional, arr: Lee Evans
* COMMUNION SONG Spirit Song Blue hymnal #347
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
We thank you, God of Love, for you are our shepherd; we lack nothing.
You make us lie down in green pastures.
You provide this abundant Creation, and give us rest and belonging.
You lead us beside still waters and restore our souls.
You lead us from oppression to freedom, from anxiety to peace.
You lead us on a good path for the sake of your love.
Holy God, Heart of Light, all Creation glows with your grace.
Blessed is the one who comes in your name. Hosanna in the highest!
Even though we walk through the darkest valley we fear no evil.
for you are with us; your rod and your staff comfort us.
In Christ you walk with us, your Word and your Presence made flesh,
gathering outcasts and making peace among all people,
healing, guiding and empowering, and establishing your Covenant of love.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
[… The Blessing and Covenant…]
You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.
In the face of our sin, fear and selfishness you give us your grace.
Even though we separate ourselves from others you join us in this meal.
You anoint our heads with oil. Our cup overflows.
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup
that they may be for us the Body and blood of Christ,
and on us, that we may overflow with your love.
Surely goodness and mercy shall accompany us all the days of our lives.
May we spread goodness and mercy in all that we do.
We shall dwell in the house of the Lord all our days.
We live in your presence, for the sake of your love,
for all the world, each moment in eternal life. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. May we love as you have loved us, giving gentle care to others as you have shepherded us, in the name of Christ. Amen.
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Together We Serve Black hymnal #2175
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Fugue On The Kyrie François Couperin
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments.]