Fourth Sunday Of Easter
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Let Us Break Bread Together (NCH330, CBH618)
He Leadeth Me (CBH128)
My Shepherd Is The Living God (NCH247)
The King Of Love, My Shepherd Is (CBH170, UM138)
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us (CBH355, UM381, PH387)
I Bind My Heart This Tide (CBH411)
Thuma Mina (CBH434)
You Satisfy The Hungry Heart (UM629)
Anthems
The Lord Is My Shepherd, John Rutter, Oxford, SATB
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us, Linda McKechnie, Agape, 3--ocave handbells
Do You Know Your Shepherd's Voice?, Wayne Lord, CGA, 2--part
I'm The Good Shepherd, Barta, 2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: Who is the Good Shepherd?
People: Christ is our Good Shepherd.
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters.
Leader: Jesus tells us he is the gate of the sheepfold. Whoever enters by him shall be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
People: The Lord is my sheep gate; I shall not want.
All: Let us worship God.
Prayer of Invocation
Dear God, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we come to you filled with the story of Christ's love. We look to the image of the early Christians, some of whom experienced Jesus' ministry; others simply heard about his love for all. We gather today to learn about Jesus' sacrificial nature - he described himself as the Good Shepherd, the Gate of the Sheepfold, the protector of God's creatures. Open us up to receive fresh meaning from ancient stories, so that we can adapt our own lives to that of modern--day shepherds. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Psalm 23: Read this Psalm as a congregational litany. People love the words of this psalm and many know it by heart from the King James Version. Use that version if you like - it is very poetic.
1 Peter 1:19--25: This passage is a call to bravery for the early Christians - reminding them of Jesus' bravery and sacrifice. "No sacrifice is too great." It ends with a reminder of Jesus as shepherd.
John 10:1--10: This passage is from a teaching of Jesus. It could be read by two people - Narrator and Jesus; or it could be read by a choral speaking choir. I would put them in a V--shape such as this:
E
D F
C G
B H
A I
Voices A and I: 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.
Voice B: The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
Voice H: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Voices C and G: When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
All: They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.
Voice E: Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Voice D: So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
Voice F: All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.
Voice A: I am the gate.
Voice l: Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Voices B and H: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
All: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Voice E: The gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
Call to Offering
The book of Acts tells us that the early Christians would sell their possessions and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Let us remember that kind of communal giving as we proceed with our own offering collection today. The ushers will now wait upon us.
Prayer of Dedication
All--knowing God, we thank you for all your wonderful gifts to us throughout history. We appreciate all the sacrifices of your people, from the ancient Israelites to the early Christians, for the Reformation to the Pilgrims. May the gifts we bring today be used to help people who need your help. Help us as Christians in the twenty--first century to help others know your love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: Savior, like a shepherd lead us; we really need your tender care.
People: In your pleasant pastures feed us; for our use your sheepfolds prepare.
Leader: Blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours.
People: Blessed Jesus, you have loved us; love us still. Amen
Let Us Break Bread Together (NCH330, CBH618)
He Leadeth Me (CBH128)
My Shepherd Is The Living God (NCH247)
The King Of Love, My Shepherd Is (CBH170, UM138)
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us (CBH355, UM381, PH387)
I Bind My Heart This Tide (CBH411)
Thuma Mina (CBH434)
You Satisfy The Hungry Heart (UM629)
Anthems
The Lord Is My Shepherd, John Rutter, Oxford, SATB
Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us, Linda McKechnie, Agape, 3--ocave handbells
Do You Know Your Shepherd's Voice?, Wayne Lord, CGA, 2--part
I'm The Good Shepherd, Barta, 2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: Who is the Good Shepherd?
People: Christ is our Good Shepherd.
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters.
Leader: Jesus tells us he is the gate of the sheepfold. Whoever enters by him shall be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
People: The Lord is my sheep gate; I shall not want.
All: Let us worship God.
Prayer of Invocation
Dear God, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we come to you filled with the story of Christ's love. We look to the image of the early Christians, some of whom experienced Jesus' ministry; others simply heard about his love for all. We gather today to learn about Jesus' sacrificial nature - he described himself as the Good Shepherd, the Gate of the Sheepfold, the protector of God's creatures. Open us up to receive fresh meaning from ancient stories, so that we can adapt our own lives to that of modern--day shepherds. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Psalm 23: Read this Psalm as a congregational litany. People love the words of this psalm and many know it by heart from the King James Version. Use that version if you like - it is very poetic.
1 Peter 1:19--25: This passage is a call to bravery for the early Christians - reminding them of Jesus' bravery and sacrifice. "No sacrifice is too great." It ends with a reminder of Jesus as shepherd.
John 10:1--10: This passage is from a teaching of Jesus. It could be read by two people - Narrator and Jesus; or it could be read by a choral speaking choir. I would put them in a V--shape such as this:
E
D F
C G
B H
A I
Voices A and I: 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.
Voice B: The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
Voice H: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Voices C and G: When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
All: They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.
Voice E: Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Voice D: So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
Voice F: All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.
Voice A: I am the gate.
Voice l: Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Voices B and H: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
All: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Voice E: The gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
Call to Offering
The book of Acts tells us that the early Christians would sell their possessions and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Let us remember that kind of communal giving as we proceed with our own offering collection today. The ushers will now wait upon us.
Prayer of Dedication
All--knowing God, we thank you for all your wonderful gifts to us throughout history. We appreciate all the sacrifices of your people, from the ancient Israelites to the early Christians, for the Reformation to the Pilgrims. May the gifts we bring today be used to help people who need your help. Help us as Christians in the twenty--first century to help others know your love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: Savior, like a shepherd lead us; we really need your tender care.
People: In your pleasant pastures feed us; for our use your sheepfolds prepare.
Leader: Blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours.
People: Blessed Jesus, you have loved us; love us still. Amen
