Immediate Word

For April 21, 2024:

• Power to the Sheeple by Elena Delhagen. Unity and, perhaps even more importantly, community is crucial to sheep.
• Second Thoughts: What is a Shepherd to a Lamb? by Quantisha Mason-Doll based on John 10:11-18.
• Sermon illustrations by Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Chris Keating, Katy Stenta.
• Worship resources by George Reed.
• Children's sermon: Safer Together by Tom Willadsen based on Psalm 23.

Power to the Sheeple
by Elena Delhagen
John 10:11-18

In 2017, Merriam-Webster added a new word to their online dictionary: “sheeple.” The word dates back to the mid 1940s, most likely used as a derogatory term for people who got swept up in the consumerist fads of the time. In today’s world, Merriam-Webster defines it as “people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced.” It’s often thrown around as an insult meant towards someone from an opposite political party, and seemed to come to a rise at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which citizens who chose to mask were portrayed as stupid and incapable of thinking for themselves.

Famously known to be social animals, sheep spend their time in groups and find safety in numbers. Scientific evidence has shown that sheep have the capability to form complex social relationships, including close bonds, and they genuinely enjoy being around other sheep that they’re familiar with. If a sheep does get separated from its flock, it causes severe stress and panic; farmers and shepherds have long known that isolating a sheep should be avoided at all costs.

Unity and, perhaps even more importantly, community is crucial to sheep. As Jesus, our Good Shepherd, reminds us in this week’s gospel text, it’s important to him, too. Jesus tells us there will be one flock, his flock. One flock means no competing interests with other flocks. It means they use their pack behavioral instincts to protect and take care of one another. Considering this, it’s amazing that some Christians bristle at the idea of being called a “sheep”! Jesus doesn’t tell us he wants us to be wolves or any other kind of predatory animal; no, he wants us to be part of his flock of sheep.

In the Scriptures
Comparing the community of God’s people to sheep is a familiar metaphor used in Johannine theology. Though the text is situated in the life and ministry of the person of Christ, it was not written at that time. John’s gospel seeks to speak to specific needs that arose in the community of believers post-resurrection. It is widely believed that the gospel was written around the year 90 AD, a point in history where the Johannine community was facing harassment and persecution from the leaders of the synagogue, the post-siege Pharisees. They are the leaders that stand in sharp contrast to the leadership of the Good Shepherd, who goes so far as to do something no leader had ever before done — laid down power, privilege, and even his very life. John’s juxtaposition between the shepherd and hired hand is deeply, deeply intentional.

In using the metaphor of the Good Shepherd, John is also drawing on prophetic literature from the 6th century BCE. The book of Ezekiel describes the community as weak, lost, and in need of love and care (34:3-7). Ezekiel’s judgment against the leaders of Israel was, in part, because of their failure to care for these sheep, instead seeking after their own selfish interests and political gain. In both Ezekiel 34 and the John passage from the lectionary this week, the message is the same: the leaders currently in power had failed to care for the sheep but, by contrast, God will be their shepherd. They will no longer be scattered but gathered to become one. God’s aim is the whole — one flock.

In the News
Comparing one’s political, religious, or ideological rival to a sheep may have been around for quite a while, but the context in which the “insult” is used shifts with the times. In 2017, when it was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it was amidst COVID-19 and primarily applied to people who chose to mask in public based off of the medical and governmental suggested guidelines. Over the past year or so, Americans have grown increasingly suspicious of journalists and the media overall; studies show the public’s trust in the news media continues to decline. These days, being a sheep often is synonymous with being trusting of a journalist or news anchor. Even leading up to the solar eclipse, there were corners of the internet boasting conspiracy theories that speculated the celestial event would usher in the end of the world. ‘To be prepared is to be smart,’ commenters boasted. ‘All those people buying eclipse glasses or traveling to chase the path of totality are just sheep.’

Still, though “unified” is hardly a word many would use to describe the current state of affairs here in America, for a few fleeting moments on April 8, 2024, the cosmic event of totality in the solar eclipse brought us all together. Community and unity was birthed. Pamela Paul wrote in her opinion piece in the New York Times that “you couldn’t see the sun, but you could feel the eclipse. What looked like a sunset burst along the horizon, and the entire park screamed with joy. Sometimes, just sometimes, we all want the same thing.” Poppy Hanson, recounting  her eclipse experience, stated "Though I may have been unfamiliar with most faces around me, in that moment, I realized they were all integral parts of an eclipse experience that would be in my memory forever.” We were all just a bunch of sheep, staring up at the sky through cheap eclipse glasses — forever changed.

In the Sermon
A few weeks ago, my husband heard a lecture from a friend who’s the Executive Director of the Al Amana Centre, a Christian-led organization in Oman that is working towards peace from an interfaith perspective. In speaking about Oman, he referenced the stereotypical generalizations many Western Christians have towards the nation due to its Muslim majority. Yet the country is nicknamed “The Paradise of the Middle East” due to the lack of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness there. The government provides all adult citizens with a plot of land on which to build a house, and there are no taxes; the Sultan pays off all debts for citizens once a year.

By contrast, it is baffling to me that our country has over half a million people who experienced homelessness in 2023, which is 12% higher than in 2022. In a supposedly Christian nation that follows the Good Shepherd who sacrifices himself for the safety, security, and care of the flock, we act more like a hired hand, one who doesn’t care if the sheep are scattered — or unhoused, as it may be. What has happened to community? What has happened to looking out for our neighbors, the other sheep in our flock? Luckily, as our collective consciousness seems to be on the precipice of a shift, community organizing — a process by which people who live in proximity to each other work together to build social capital and address problems that affect the group as a whole — also appears to be on the rise.

Of course, these are the very same people who are often labelled as sheep. But if a sheep is someone who looks out for others, who is dedicated to unity, who remembers her interconnectedness with the flock, then sign me up. Power to the sheeple, indeed.



SECOND THOUGHTS
What is a Shepherd to a Lamb?
by Quantisha Mason-Doll
John 10:11-18

What is a shepherd to a sheep? The history of shepherding and sheep is one that is deeply integrated with humanity's culture. Sheep (ovis aries) were among the first animals to be domesticated by humankind — around 10,500 years before present day in what was once known as the fertile crescent. From there the domesticated sheep spread following trade routes with confluences in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Like most domesticated livestock, sheep were kept solely for meat, milk, and skins, though it should be noted that their production of all three products have a much greater yield than other livestock. The average ewe can produce two lambs twice a year. Shepherding is also one of the world's oldest documented occupations that exists in all parts of the globe. Because of the omnipresence of sheep and shepherding, sheep feature heavily across folklore and culture. In the Abrahamic traditions, meaning Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, all view sheep/lambs as suitable sacrifices for the Lord our God. Jesus takes on the imagery of the living sacrifice or the lamb of God.

When we read the gospel of John we are told that Jesus is the model of a good shepherd. We are told that being a ‘good shepherd’ entails being willing to lay down one's life for your flock, knowing each sheep, and being able to call them by name. Never once are we given the “why” behind these actions, though we are told the hired person is unwilling or unable to live up to these guidelines. I have struggled with the whys behind this logic. Personally, I always saw myself as the “hired” hand and feet of the Lord while we wait for him to come again. I, and others like me, were to guard his flock and ensure we collect all who might be lost in anticipation of our Lord’s eventual return. The good shepherd ideals of John, at times, felt like a slap in the face. Was I not good enough after years of service and a fair amount spent on education? I mean, come on, they are just sheep right? It took the pandemic and a Canadian sheep farmer on YouTube named Sandi Brock to change my opinion on the matter.

According to a 2024 joint survey with National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), American sheep and lamb inventory is down 2%, which does not mean much to the everyday reader. Frankly, I believe this fact only matters to a very unique subset of US citizens and those of us who have fallen down an animal husbandry Youtube hole. I vividly remember the day that I found the sheepishlyme YouTube page. It was the height of the global pandemic. Food and other basic household supplies were in short supply and serotonin was in high demand. At this point I was 15 episodes into an undubbed, unsubtitled, C-drama.

I understood the plot but I had lost the plot of life at that moment and, for some reason, my YouTube algorithm decided that this would be the perfect time to suggest farming vlogs. From the moment I watched the Sandi Brock 2020 lambing season I was invested — not only in her, but in her flock as well. I watched as she battled nature to keep premature lambs alive. Every couple of hours she tube-fed a lamb that would otherwise die without her intervention. All the while, she would give the lamb words of affirmation. I was left in awe of how much effort she put into creatures that were born to die and was left as devastated as she was when a lamb did not make it. I felt her tears for an animal that did not even get a shot at life. I would empathize with her when she said she felt like a failure when that happened because her sheep trusted her to be there to help them in their time of need. I cannot remember specifically the video where Sandi discusses the ins and outs of being a modern day shepherd, yet I recall her saying that sheep are, by and large, not easy herd. They are quick to flee, they can die from panic or fright, and need the watchful eye of a shepherd that knows their flock. Listening to her words, I caught myself thinking: I could never. I could never do all that she is doing because that is so much effort, so much time, and I could not remember if I lost one.

The good shepherd, out of devotion to their flock, remains steadfast and calm in the face of danger. There is nothing that can drive them from their charges. The hired hand, conversely, allows for fear to control their actions. When the pressures of maintaining a healthy flock bear down on them, they look for something better. I spoke about how I viewed myself as a hired-hand of God and I still believe that to hold true. I'll be the first to admit that I have fallen victim to anti-sheep rhetoric. I want to be an individual. I want my faith to be something special, something important, something that stands out in the crowd. I truly believe that individualistic drive limits our ability to empathize enough with each other to care when one of our flock goes missing. Increasingly, we are becoming a divided nation more willing to cut each other off and excommunicate others from our lives if they do not fit the narrative that we have carefully constructed for ourselves. You must ask yourself — will you cease being the hired hand and work to be a good shepherd or is running from the wolves easier?


ILLUSTRATIONS

From team member Dean Feldmeyer

John 10:11-18
We criticize our adversaries and opponents by calling them sheep or accusing them of acting like sheep. But acting like sheep may not always be a bad thing. What is a flock of sheep but a team. Sheep find safety and comfort in sticking together. Maybe we could learn from them.

* * *

More United Than We Thought
According to Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, writing in Axios.com, a new poll by the AP and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows a striking amount of agreement on some very big topics. Roughly 90% or more of Americans — Republicans and Democrats — agree the following rights and freedoms are extremely or very important to a functioning America:

• Right to vote.
• Right to equal protection under the law.
• Right to freedom of religion.
• Right to freedom of speech.
• Right to privacy.

They further point out that, contrary to what we see in social media and on fringe cable news channels:

• Most Christians aren't white Christian nationalists who see Donald Trump as a God-like figure. Most are ignoring politics and wrestling with their faith.
• Most college professors aren't trying to silence conservatives or turn kids into liberal activists. Most are teaching math, physics, or biology.
• Most kids don't hate Israel and run around chanting, "From the river to the sea." On most campuses, most of the time, students are doing what students have always done.
• Most Republicans don't want to ban all abortions starting at conception. No, most Democrats don't want to allow them until birth.
• Most immigrants who are here illegally aren't rushing to vote and commit crimes. Actual data show both rarely happen — even amid a genuine crisis at the border.
• Most people aren't fighting on X. Turns out, the vast majority of Americans never tweet at all.
• And most people aren't cheering insults on Fox News and MSNBC in the evening. Turns out, less than 2 percent of Americans are even watching.

* * *

Team Work, Or Maybe Not
We vilify our adversaries by calling them “sheep” or accuse them of “behaving like sheep.” But we also lavish praise on people who are “team players” or are willing to “take one for the team.”

Here’s a supposedly true story of a team that was willing to do neither.

A long time ago, a certain company decided to highlight its annual picnic one year and rented two racing shells and challenged a rival company to a boat race. The rival company accepted. On the day of the picnic, everyone entered into the spirit of the event. Women wore colorful summer dresses and big, floppy hats. Men wore straw skimmers and white pants. Bands played and banners waved. Finally, the race began. To the consternation of the host company, the rival team immediately moved to the front and was never caught. It won by 11 lengths. The management of the host company was embarrassed by its showing and promptly appointed a committee to place responsibility for the failure and make recommendations to improve the host team's chances in a rematch the following year. The committee studied various aspects of the race. They met for three months and issued a preliminary report. In essence, the report said that the rival crew had been unfair.

"They had eight people rowing and one coxswain steering and shouting out the beat," the report said. "We had one person rowing and eight coxswains." The chairman of the board thanked the committee and sent it away to study the matter further and make recommendations for the rematch. Four months later the committee came back with a recommendation: "Our guy has to row faster."

* * *

Shepherds Good And Bad
Everyone thought Rutgers University basketball coach, Mike Rice, was a good shepherd to his players until video surfaced that showed him to be a tyrant and a bully, hurling basketballs, insults, and homophobic slurs at his players while he kicked, pushed, and slapped them through their practice sessions. Even their winning records couldn’t protect Bobby Knight (Indiana University) or Woody Hayes (Ohio State) when their behavior toward players became violent and abusive.

At a different level of coaching, however, we find Pat Summitt, former coach of women’s basketball at the University of Tennessee. Pat had to step down from her position after being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. But when she would come back to the gym to watch the practice sessions, players still stopped to offer welcoming hugs and words of encouragement to their former coach. Her “Pat’s Definite Dozen,” rules about sports and life continue to guide her players on and off the basketball floor. (www.patsummit.org)

* * *

Teamwork, Well Done
We criticize people when we believe they are behaving like sheep but, on the other hand, we honor those who demonstrate outstanding teamwork when the need is acute.

When 33 miners from Chile found themselves trapped 2,300 feet below the surface for over two months in 2010, their ability to work together became crucial for their survival.

Given the emergency supplies, the miners had to carefully manage and distribute essentials such as food, water, and light sources. Through their efforts they ensured that everyone had provisions to endure while rescue operations continued above ground.

Being confined in darkness for weeks could easily have led to panic, anxiety, and despair. However, these miners uplifted one another’s spirits. They organized activities like games, prayer gatherings, and storytelling sessions to maintain morale.

To maintain efficiency within their circumstances the miners formed groups with responsibilities. Some took charge of aid and health concerns while others monitored air supply levels and cleared debris. A few individuals handled communication with the rescue workers above ground. Each person contributed by fulfilling their assigned role allowing them to function as a team.

Given their personalities and backgrounds it was natural for tensions to arise when living in quarters for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, the miners exhibited compromise and cooperation in order to resolve any conflicts that emerged.

They came to the realization that their survival relied on being united, so they put in the effort to overcome their differences together.

Despite facing overwhelming odds, the miners managed to endure their ordeal through the strength of teamwork, determination, and the indomitable human spirit. Their story serves as a testament to how collaboration and a sense of community can conquer the challenging circumstances.

* * *

Teamwork Well Done 2.0
The 1980 US Olympic hockey team embodied the classic underdog narrative. Comprised of collegiate players, Team USA found themselves up against the Soviet team of seasoned professionals that had dominated almost every world championship and Olympic tournament since 1964.

While the Soviets played hockey for a living, the American team had academic studies and jobs to attend to. The Soviets had soundly defeated Team USA in an exhibition match.

However, head coach Herb Brooks had selected players based not on individual skills and talents alone, but on their speed, stamina, and ability to work well within a team, as well. His training methods focused on building endurance and fostering connections among players.

When Team USA faced off against their opponents in the medal round at Lake Placid, they were fully prepared. They managed to keep the score close throughout the two periods, trailing 3-2, then scored two goals in the third period to take a 4-3 lead. The crowd erupted with excitement when Mike Eruzione scored the game winning goal with 10 minutes remaining.

The American team held on to secure the victory and advanced to the gold medal game. Two days later, they continued their winning streak by defeating Finland and claiming a gold medal.

Against all odds this group of players achieved one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history, through teamwork, determination, and belief in each other. Their “Miracle on Ice” inspired the nation and stands as a timeless tale showcasing how teamwork can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

* * *

They Took One For The Team
Jack Youngblood is known for being one of the fiercest players to ever play the game of football. He was so set on playing and helping his team that he played through the 1980 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl, and Pro Bowl with a fractured fibula. Asked why he did it? His answer: “Because it was Sunday.”

In 1996, the US women’s gymnastics team had never won a team gold and it didn’t look like they were going to win one this time. Dominqque Moceanu fell twice on the vault. Kerri Strug was now up. On her fist attempt, she slipped on her landing and snapped two ligaments in her ankle.

Determined not to let her team down, she returned to the track, ran at top speed and made the vault, landing on one foot before collapsing on the mat. The judges gave her a 9.712 and the United States women’s gymnastics team took their first gold medal.

In 1985, Pro Bowler and multiple Super Bowl Champion, Ronnie Lott was playing football against the Dallas Cowboys when he smashed his pinky finger trying to make a tackle. In the off season, he was told that he would require reconstructive surgery and would probably miss the entire 1986 season.

Lott instructed his doctors to amputate the finger. After much discussion, they agreed, and he returned to the field of play in the fall without his pinky finger.

* * *

When Teams (Flocks, Herds, Tribes) Work
You don’t have to be sheep to be part of an effective team. According to indeed.com, teams work effectively when they have:

1. Clear leadership
2. Defined goals
3. Assigned roles
4. Open communication
5. Collaboration
6. Trust
7. Conflict resolution

* * *

Good Shepherds
Jesus reminds us that good shepherds (leaders) are those who have a sense of ownership in both the sheep and the task at hand.

Here, according to indeed.com and other sources of leadership training, are some more attributes of good shepherds:

1. Accountability — The best leaders take full responsibility for their team’s performance, whether the outcome is good or bad.
2. Adaptability — Experienced leaders understand that plans, schedules, and even goals can change at any time.
3. Confidence — Confidence in the leader will instill confidence in the team members.
4. Creativity — The best leaders rarely follow established pathways or copy the routes others have taken. Instead, they embrace new ways of thinking and strategies that others have yet to try.
5. Empathy — Leaders work at a higher level than other team members. They empathize with the reality that their team experiences so they can work together more easily.
6. Focus — Focus keeps distractions from sabotaging the team’s work.
7. Positivity — Quality leaders use positivity to motivate their team to achieve goals, do their best work, and exceed expectations, instead of highlighting the hard work your team will have to complete in the process.
8. Risk-taking — Leaders regularly encounter risks, but they must know when to embrace a challenge and when to take a safe approach.
9. Stability — Although leaders are charged with driving significant change, they also know that taking a steady, reliable approach can allow them to keep the team on track.
10. Team-building — Effective leaders know how to encourage teamwork and collaboration, inspire team members to contribute their best work, and motivate colleagues to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

And just in case you were wondering, these are a few of the traits of ineffective and unfavorable leaders:

• Unwillingness to change
• Indecisive
• Lack of accountability
• Apathetic
• Lack of integrity
• Poor communication

* * * * * *

From team member Chris Keating:


Acts 4:5-12
Punished for doing good
Surely Peter would find himself agreeing with the old folk wisdom (and pastor’s motto) that “no good deed goes unpunished.” Questioned because of the good thing they have done in healing the man who was disabled, Peter and the apostles rebuke the charges that they have somehow become enemies of the people. A similar plot thread runs through Henrik Ibsen’s stalwart 1882 drama, An Enemy of the People, which began a Broadway revival in January, 2024, starring Jeremy Strong, Michael Imperioli, and Victoria Pedretti.

Ibsen’s work has endured because of its ageless themes and ever-relevant plot. The main character, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, discovers that the famed salt baths of a local Norwegian town are contaminated. Acting in good faith, Stockmann raises concerns. But the townspeople worry about the economic implications of its star attraction losing acclaim. They try to silence Stockman, who pushes back, saying, “Oh yes, you can shoot me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The  majority has might on its side — unfortunately; but right it has not.”

* * *

1 John 3:16-24
Aaron Bushnell lays down his life
Last month, 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, an active duty member of the United States Air Force, stood before the gates of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, and lit himself on fire to protest the treatment of Palestinians.

Without endorsing Bushnell’s choice, his act provides an opportunity for the church to consider what we mean when we proclaim the words of 1 John, “we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”

Bushnell reportedly cried, “Free Palestine” while Secret Service agents confronted him at gunpoint and tried to extinguish the flames. He died later that day from his injuries. Hours before he went to the embassy, Bushnell sent a text message to a friend. “I hope you’ll understand,” the message said, “I love you. This doesn’t even make sense, but I feel like I’m going to miss you.” A few weeks earlier, he and the same friend had talked at length about their belief in anarchism and the sorts of risks those beliefs entailed.

In an essay titled, “Bushnell’s Deed,” Lyle Jeremy Rubin explores some of the reasons why people like Bushnell have found no other option than “to put themselves on fire in protest.” Rubin continues:

A debate has erupted about how best to interpret Bushnell’s last act. Was it heroic? Pointless? Another opportunity to opine on the need for more robust mental health services. Or to scold those who have dared to take Bushnell at his word. After all, he was anything but inexplicit: “My name is Aaron Bushnell. I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force. And I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.”

Rubin acknowledges that Bushnell’s self-immolation was an extreme and unfortunate choice. “I doubt that Bushnell would have wanted us to follow in his footsteps — at least not by dousing ourselves in accelerant before a sad and enraged farewell. But he no doubt was counting on us — and not just us service members or vets — to convey and make use of the sadness and rage in our own ways. In manners that burn and last. Beyond the man-made firestorms in Gaza. Beyond the all-encompassing fire.”

* * *

John 10:11-18
A loss of a way of life
As numbers of Navajo sheep farms dwindle, some younger tribal members are finding ways to revive the ancient cultural traditions. A report by the Los Angeles Times in October, 2023, noted that fewer numbers of Navajo in New Mexico are taking up the profession, which has also been plagued by climate-change induced drought and increased feed prices.

One younger Navajo woman recounts how she had dreamed of leaving the reservation to pursue city life. But after college, Amy Begaye decided she wanted to participate in keeping the traditions of her ancestors alive. She returned to the reservation and began caring for her elderly grandmother. As she re-engaged with her culture, Begaye began shepherding as well. Shepherding is hard work but has long been a part of Navajo culture. “It just hit me,” she said. “This is who I am. This is where I come from. These are my roots, and I don’t really want to change that.”

* * * * * *

From team member Mary Austin

John 10:11-18
One Flock
Talking about the work of the Good Shepherd, Jesus says, “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.”

Christine Valters Paintner writes about one place where that kind of welcome comes to life. She says, “In the monastic tradition, hospitality is a core principle. The Rule of Benedict says that when a stranger knocks on the door, welcome that stranger as Christ. To me this is incredibly profound, because it means that the thing that makes me the most uncomfortable is the very face of the Divine. That’s where I have the encounter. The monastic tradition and other contemplative practices can invite us into this space where we can embrace more and more of ourselves, because that stranger is within us as well as outside of us. And of course, Jung would say that we project the inner onto the outer. So, it’s all connected.”

She adds a parallel to what Jesus is saying. “The mystics tell us that the divine spark is in every single being, and I would say again, the human being as well as other living beings. There is this sense of unity that we also can reach.” We are closer to being one flock than we realize.

* * *

John 10:11-18
The Good Shepherd at the Office
In our lives, we meet our good shepherds at work — people who mentor us, and guide us when we make a mistake. Adam Grant suggests that one question to ask when taking a new job is how the company reacts to mistakes. Warren Berger writes, "it’s good to know if this new company is a place where you can learn, experiment, create — because those are the activities that will help you evolve and advance. Grant boils it down to this question: How will the boss react to mistakes? You can find the answer by digging into stories of how the company and its leaders have reacted to past failures. Grant references a famous IBM story involving an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $10 million. The employee figured IBM chief Tom Watson would fire him, but Watson’s response was: “Fire you? I just spent $10 million educating you.” (from The Book of Beautiful Questions)

* * *

1 John 3:16-24
Outsourcing Love
The writer of this epistle urges, “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” These days it’s easy to outsource acts of love. If we’re sending flowers to show our love, we may get a note from our beloved one — or one straight from the heart of a copywriter at 1-800-Flowers.com. “You take my breath away … today and every day,” gushes one of the hundred prewritten messages that greet that flower-delivery service’s customers at checkout. “You opened the door to my heart, which I thought was locked forever,” reads another note.”

Jason John, the chief marketing officer for the company, “does not think that customers who select prewritten notes cheapen an otherwise romantic gesture. “These words rang true to them, so it was an expression of what they wanted to say,” he said. He compared selecting a prewritten message to sending a preprinted greeting card: “It doesn’t make it any less meaningful or important.” According to Mr. John, the company introduced prewritten notes in 2010, and keeps the offerings fresh with the help of a “fairly large” team of writers and editors. If a note attached to a bouquet sounds a little too subtle for your taste, the company also sells roses with the words “I love you” embossed onto their petals.”

Our gestures of love may need some help, as we follow the instructions in this epistle.

* * *

1 John 3:16-24
Expanding Love
“Let us love,” the epistle commends us, encouraging us to see all kinds of love beyond romantic love. The writer Elizabeth Gilbert says this kind of love shows up, for her, in friendships.

She says, “The great consistent love of my life, especially as I get older, are my friendships. Culturally and in my family, I was taught that the most important love relationship is between you and your romantic partner…Friendship was always a sort of marginal thing. Friends are people you see every once in a while. You love them, but they’re not as important as your family. My lived experience is that the most foundational relationships in my life are my friendships.”

She explains how she showed love to her friends. “For my fiftieth birthday, I spent the whole year taking each one of my favorite friends on a trip to be alone with her. It was so magical and beautiful. At my birthday party, I was looking around and realizing there's my friend Jennie, we've been friends since I was nine. That’s a forty-year friendship at this point. I've got multiple thirty-year friendships, twenty-five-year friendships, twenty-year friendships. These are deep, foundational relationships, and nothing has given me more love than that. And they just get richer and deeper and more faithful. I have such fidelity in my friendships that I could never seem to have in romantic relationships.”

The epistle nudges us to think about all kinds of ways to live with love.

* * *

1 John 3:16-24
Ordinary Love
We often talk about needing quality time with the people we love. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a different idea. “I don’t want quality time,” he says, “I want the garbage time. That’s what I like. You just see [your kids] in their room reading a comic book and you get to kind of watch that for a minute, or [having] a bowl of Cheerios at 11 o’clock at night when they’re not even supposed to be up. The garbage, that’s what I love.” Love and time — any kind of time — are connected. (“It’s All Quality Time,” Daily Dad, June 19, 2019.)

* * *

Acts 4:5-12
Who Has the Power
The high priests who conspired to put Jesus to death reappear here, and we might expect Peter to be frightened of their power. Instead, he sees a way to proclaim Jesus even to this hostile group.

Benjamin Zander tells a similar, although now outdated story, in The Art of Possibility. Two shoe salespeople are sent to Africa. After checking out the territory, one telegrams the home office, “No one in Africa wears shoes. I’m coming home.” The other salesperson telegrams, “No one in Africa wears shoes. Send the whole sales team!” Where one salesperson saw an obstacle, another saw an opportunity. Like the salesperson, Peter sees possibility even in adversity.

* * * * * *

From team member Katy Stenta:

Psalm 23
Keeping the Light On
Sometime during one of my pregnancies, I don’t even remember which one, I started to fall asleep with the light on. I love to read at night, and it simply became too much to get up and turn off the light before I fell asleep. Pregnancy makes you exhausted—as do the children afterward. To this day, my husband still turns off the light when he goes to bed at night — and this amount of dependency is a big admission for me. I do not like to be dependent upon other people. There are a lot of reasons why, some of them feminist, some of them based upon what I’ve seen on other couples, and a lot of them have to do with myself and my need to be perfect. Most of them do not have to do with my husband, who is wonderful and supportive. Sometimes I wonder if he is ever not there, who would turn off the light for me, and how much I would miss that (I admit, I’m a worrier). Allowing someone to take care of you is a big sign of trust. But, here I am, with my youngest being twelve years old, still leaving the lights on.

My husband is away weekends this month and I’m not going to change the habit. Sometimes I’ll turn them off and sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with the lights on. I miss my husband. Psalm 23 admits that we are going to let God take care of us and rely on God. For those of us not in survival mode, that can be a big step. For those of us who need to rely on God all the time, maybe it’s all we have. Either way, the image speaks to us in a big way, not to be independent, but to admit that we need goodness and mercy to chase us a little bit.

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John 10:11-18
Voices
My great aunt had schizophrenia. She heard voices that were mostly benign. They tended to tell her that nature was great and God was good, and it was time to paint the house again. She loved the color purple, so her house had about a thousand layers of paint — all purple. She also wrote little poems about God, country, nature, and the color purple. I sometimes think about her when I think about the voices that we hear. How can we tell what ones are true? I think that Jesus says that his voice will be the one of love, not the one of the hired hand who will move on when things get hard. He will not abandon us when things get tough, and also, Jesus’s voice will be loving and caring. It is not always easy to tell who actually cares for you in this world. I think that is why we need a community. My aunt always functioned better when she had friends and family surrounding her. The voices were okay but she also loved to do crafts, write poems, and have a routine. All that worked better with a community. Sheep love a herd. I guess that’s why the shepherd tries to keep us together.

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1 John 3:16-24
Belonging
Belonging in actions is so much greater than belonging in words. My children and I were joking how, generationally, older people cannot use the slang of younger people. We can say the words but we simply do not belong in a way that makes it authentic in action. We were all laughing about how the use of the slang is, in itself, a joke. My eldest is running a Dungeons and Dragons game for younger kids, so they made younger slang cause automatic damage to the person’s character (i.e. it’s a handicap), because my eldest did not want to pretend that the divide did not exist. Authenticity means, partially, knowing where you belong and also embracing the differences that exist. If you can differentiate who you are and still welcome one another, then true acceptance begins. That is a hard trick. Belonging in truth is tough work, but a Dungeons and Dragons game and some slang jokes just might show us some of the conversations to be had along the way.


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WORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: Our Shepherd comes and we are filled with satisfaction.
All: God calms our fears and slakes our greatest thirst.
One: It is our God who comes to restore our deepest being.
All: Now we can face our deepest fears knowing we are not alone.
One: Even when we are surrounded by great troubles, we are blessed.
All: God’s goodness and mercy shall surround us always.

OR
One: God, our Shepherd, calls us together as one flock.
All: We come together to listen to our Shepherd God.
One: Each of us has a part to play in strengthening the flock.
All: We will do all we can to care for one another.
One: The Shepherd has other sheep not in this flock.
All: We will care for all God’s sheep with love.

Hymns and Songs
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
UMH: 381
H82: 708
PH: 387
GTG: 187
AAHH: 424
NNBH: 54
NCH: 252
CH: 558
LBW: 481
ELW: 789
W&P: 440
AMEC: 379

The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
UMH: 136
GTG: 801
NNBH: 237/241
CH: 78
LBW: 451
ELW: 778
W&P: 86
AMEC: 208

The King of Love My Shepherd Is
UMH: 138
H82: 645/646
PH: 171
GTG: 802
NCH: 248
LBW: 456
ELW: 502

If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee
UMH: 142
H82: 635
PH: 282
GTG: 816
NCH: 410
LBW: 453
ELW: 769
W&P: 429

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
UMH: 175
H82: 642
PH: 310
GTG: 629
NCH: 507
CH: 102
LBW: 316
ELW: 754
W&P: 420
AMEC: 464

O Love, How Deep
UMH: 267
H82: 448/449
PH: 83
GTG: 618
NCH: 209
LBW: 88
ELW: 322
W&P: 244

Surely, the Presence of the Lord
UMH: 328
NNBH: 129
CH: 263
W&P: 131

’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
UMH: 462
AAHH: 368
NNBH: 292
AMEC: 440

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
UMH: 521
PH: 363
GTG: 775
AAHH: 563
NNBH: 500
NCH: 490
CH: 627
W&P: 506
AMEC: 375

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
UMH: 526
PH: 403
GTG: 465
AAHH: 430/431
NNBH: 61
NCH: 506
CH: 585
LBW: 439
ELW: 742
W&P: 473
AMEC: 323/325

His Name Is Wonderful
CCB: 32
Renew: 30

O How He Loves You and Me!
CCB: 38
Renew: 27

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep:
Grant us the grace to follow your Son, our Good Shepherd,
that we might be one flock, drawn together in your care;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, the Great Shepherd. You have created us to be your flock. Help us to follow the Good Shepherd so that we might dwell together under your care. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our failure to listen to the Shepherd. 

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have shut out the voice of the Shepherd and we have often strayed from the flock. We have listened to the voices of others and allowed the sheep to be scattered. We have trampled upon one another and chased others away. Forgive our foolish ways and soften our hard hearts. Help us to draw together and care for one another once again. Amen.

One: Our Shepherd hears us and forgives us so that we might be God’s flock now and forever.

Prayers of the People
Glory to you, O God, who shepherds your people. You are the One who leads us to life eternal.
 
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
      
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have shut out the voice of the Shepherd and we have often strayed from the flock. We have listened to the voices of others and allowed the sheep to be scattered. We have trampled upon one another and chased others away. Forgive our foolish ways and soften our hard hearts. Help us to draw together and care for one another once again.
      
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you tend us and care for our needs. You have given us life and you have given us a wonderful world to sustain us. You have refreshed us with your loving presence and restored our very souls with your grace. You have given us the comfort of being your people who care for one another.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
      
We pray for one another in our need. We pray for those who have strayed from your flock and for those who have been driven off. We pray for those who find themselves lost and no one is seeking them. We pray for those who faithfully work with you in drawing your people together and tend to their hurts. We pray for the strength and resolve to be faithful members of your flock.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
      
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
      
Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
      
All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



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CHILDREN'S SERMON
Safer Together
by Tom Willadsen
Psalm 23

Today’s psalm reading is easily the most familiar passage in scripture. There is a good chance that the children who come forward will have memorized it in Sunday school already. Check this out with the Sunday school teachers beforehand. Maybe they can recite it, especially if you start and they can follow your lead. Be sure to recite the version the children will have memorized. Perhaps their cups “runneth over” or “overflow.”

Bring a long stick with you. A shepherd’s crook would be ideal, but any long stick will do.

Ask the children whether they know what you have in your hand.

You might want to remind them of what the psalm says, “Your rod and your staff….”

Ask them why a shepherd might need a long stick. What do shepherds do?

In a word, shepherds protect sheep. They use the rod/staff for two things: They use it to fight off wild animals who attack the sheep — as David did in 1 Samuel 17:34-35 [NRSVUE] (“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth, and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it.’” Be sure to stop reading there, the next verse mentions “the uncircumcised Philistine,” aka “Goliath,” and that’s an entirely different children’s message.)

The other thing that shepherds use their staffs for is to keep the sheep together. This is important! Sheep are herd animals; they are safest when they are together. When they wander from the flock they are very, very vulnerable, easy prey for a wild animal. The shepherd keeps the sheep together/safe by using the rod to guide the sheep back to the herd.

Churches can be thought of as being like herds of sheep. You can even tell the kids that the word “pastor” means “shepherd.” The pastor of the church is their to guide the people, but not with a rod/staff!

Before dismissing the little ones, remind them that they’re safest together.


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The Immediate Word, April 21, 2024 issue.

Copyright 2024 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.