The Celebration of the Gospel
May 11, 2014 — Fourth Sunday of Easter
The sheep follow, because they recognize the shepherd’s voice.
— John 10.4
_________ We Gather as The Body of Christ
GREETING
PRELUDE Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now Georg Böhm
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Loving God, shepherd of our souls, we come to you.
All: Tender Christ, companion on the way, we follow you.
Holy Spirit, guide among the shadows, we depend on you.
Loving God, shepherd of our souls, we listen for your voice.
In stillness, in hunger, in hope, we listen.
Loving God, shepherd of our souls, we come to you.
SONG The King of Love My Shepherd Is Blue hymnal #138
CHILDREN’S TIME
________________ We Attend to the Word
THE WORD IN SONG The Lord Is Shepherd to Me Russell Nagy
PRAYER OF THE DAY
So many voices clamor for our minds, so many noises.
God of love and truth, you speak beneath them all.
In the stillness, we listen.
For your grace, we listen.
For your voice, we listen.
OLD TESTAMENT from Isaiah 44.7-19, 16.7
[You can cry out to an idol, but it won’t respond. It can’t see or hear you. It’s not the living God.]
All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they delight in do not profit;
they cannot witness; they neither see nor know.
Who would fashion a god or cast an image
that can do no good?
The ironsmith fashions it and works it over the coals,
shaping it with hammers, and forging it with a strong arm.
The carpenter stretches a line, marks it out with a stylus,
fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass,
and makes it in human form, with human beauty,
to be set up in a shrine.
You make a god and worship it,
make it a carved image and bow down before it.
You pray to it and say, “Save me, for you are my god!”
They do not know, nor do they comprehend;
for their eyes are shut, so that they cannot see,
and their minds as well, so that they cannot understand.
You lift it to your shoulders, and carry it,
and set it in its place, and it stands there;
it cannot move from its place.
If you cry out to it, it does not answer or save anyone from trouble.
PSALTER Psalm 23 — A paraphrase
Companion of my soul,
you shepherd me.
I am free from clinging desires.
In the green pasture of your presence
I lie down like a baby
I entrust myself wholly to your arms.
You lead me to clear springs;
you uncover springs within me;
you make me a flowing spring.
You water my dry weariness and green comes forth.
I am dead and you bring me to life.
You create me, moment by moment.
You lead me in the way toward you;
you go with me, close.
You are my way.
Even when I walk through the darkest alley
you are closer to me than my fear.
I feel your hand on my back.
You invite me to sit with you at your table,
with those whom I fear, and those I despise,
and all of my favorite foods.
You rain down your blessing on me like a shower.
My plate is full of blessing.
My cup is full to spilling with blessing.
You are my hidden companion;
goodness and mercy are my shadows;
you are my house, my breath, my life.
GOSPEL John 1.1-10
[ Jesus speaks of himself as a shepherd whose sheep follow him because they know and listen for his voice.]
SERMON
SONG Lead Me, My Shepherd
Lead me, my shepherd, in paths that you show.
Not by my own will, but yours, may I go.
By the still waters of baptism’s grace
dear God, renew me, and show me your face.
Lord, may your rod and your staff be my guide.
Even in death’s shadow walk by my side.
Help me to listen, to trust and obey,
going wherever you show me the way.
Dearest companion of blessing and weal,
you who provide and forgive me and heal,
still now, I listen and wait for what’s true:
your voice that leads me to life, and to you.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE … PASSING THE PEACE
——————————————We Share at Christ’s Table
OFFERING OUR GIFTS His Name Is Wonderful Audrey Mieir, arr: Fred Bock
* COMMUNION SONG You Satisfy the Hungry Heart Blue hymnal # 629
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.
Lord, you are our shepherd. You lead us beyond our fears and wants.
You lead us to drink of deep springs, to rest in green pastures.
You restore the breath of life in us.
Feed us with your grace, O God, and lead us in your ways.
[silent prayer]
In Christ you have accompanied us with love and tenderness.
Gentle shepherd, we thank you for your love and presence.
You walk with us even in the shadow of death.
In Christ you have led us through death to life.
[silent prayer]
Gracious Host, you have set for us a table of rich and luxurious blessing,
and invited us together with all your Beloved, even our enemies.
You make us one in this feast. Our cup overflows.
Pour Spirit out on us, and on these gifts, that our hearts may overflow with your grace.
Your goodness and mercy be with us always.
In your loving care, listening to your voice of life, following you in all we do,
may we live in the house of your love every day of our lives.
[silent prayer]
THE BLESSING AND COVENANT
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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. You have led us beside the still waters of your peace. You have fed us in the green pastures of your grace. You have led us in the paths of your love. Shepherd us as we go into the world, following your voice, living by your Spirit, sharing your love. Amen.
___________ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lead Me, Guide Me Black hymnal #2214
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We 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.
My Lord God I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
— Thomas Merton