The prelude begins at about 15 minutes into the recording
The Celebration of the Gospel
May 3, 2020 – The Fourth Sunday of Easter
The shepherd calls them by name and leads them out.
—John 10.3
_____________We are Received as the Beloved of God _______
PRELUDE
GREETING
OPENING PRAYER
Loving God, Gentle shepherd, you provide for us
green meadows and still waters.
With gracious generosity you feed us, and we praise you.
Jesus, faithful shepherd,
through the darkest valleys, in the roughest places,
you walk with us and bring us to safety.
We trust you, and we thank you.
Holy Spirit, you guide us in the paths of righteousness,
and with gratitude and joy we follow you.
Gentle shepherd of our souls, we worship you,
so we may follow you all the days of our lives. Alleluia.
SONG – Fairest Lord Jesus
CHILDREN’S TIME – Josh Lunde-Whitler
SONG – Three Days – Gustav Holst. (Jenny Zuk, soprano)
_____________We are Transformed by the Word of Christ _______
OLD TESTAMENT – Ezekiel 34.11-16
Thus says God, the Holy One:
“I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep,
so I will seek out my sheep.
I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered
on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
I will feed them with good pasture,
and they shall lie down in good grazing land,
and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and I will make them lie down, says God the Holy One.
I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed,
and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak,
but the fat and the strong I will destroy.
I will feed them with justice.”
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PSALTER – Psalm 23
NEW TESTAMENT – 1 Peter 2.21-25
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was abused, he did not return abuse;
when he suffered, he did not threaten;
but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were going astray like sheep,
but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
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GOSPEL – John 10.1-11
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.
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SERMON – The good shepherd
SONG – Shepherd Me, O God
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
_____________We are Sent in the Power the Spirit _______
SONG – Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
BLESSING AND SENDING
RESPONSE
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you, my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE