Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by choice
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Try this:
Invite the congregation to shout out some of the symbols used to describe Jesus. Conclude by saying that, today, we will examine Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Before continuing, however, ask the people for a contemporary symbol for good shepherd. One author, working with inner city young people, transferred good shepherd to "Parole Officer," for Jesus.
Continue with this litany between pastor and ministers:
Pastor:
Lift up your hearts and minds and wills! The living Christ is here!
Ministers: We come to celebrate his presence and power!
Pastor:
We come that we might live in him
Ministers: Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me." John 10:14 - RSV
Pastor:
Jesus is the Shepherd; we are his sheep.
Ministers: Indeed we are! Amen!
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Keep before the people the essence of sin as alienation, rebellion, I-centeredness, doing things my way. Make certain that they understand that sin is, not only individual arid personal, but also corporate.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor:
God, we know ourselves as those who violate your creation.
Ministers: We live the "No!"
Pastor:
We speak loudly of wanting our lives to count for something.
Ministers: And yet, we drift so softly into an endless procession of tomorrows.
Pastor:
We want to give of ourselves.
Ministers: But we fear to receive another into our lives.
Pastor:
We decry the breakdown in communication.
Ministers: Yet we know that, really, we prefer not to listen.
Pastor:
We wince at the disparity of rich and poor in the world.
Ministers: But we cling to our possessions, lest in losing them, we lose a portion of ourselves.
Pastor:
Turn us about this day in the neatly beveled rut we have worn!
Ministers: The "No" life is not enough! (author unknown)
(give three minutes for silent meditation)
Introduce the assurance of pardon with words similar to these: We have spoken the confession, we have lived the human condition. From this prayer, what are we willing to turn over to God to bring change? Give a silent "amen" to every part of the prayer with which you agree.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
Bring a live sheep, or a stuffed sheep into the chancel. Encourage the children to share what they know about sheep and shepherds. Include the story of the lost sheep. Ask if they have ever felt lost, or have been lost. My son was lost for twenty minutes one time in a new community; and we looked until we found him. Nothing else mattered to us until we did find him. Tie all this in with how much Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, cares for all of us. You may want to ask if the children have a symbol that speaks more directly to them than a shepherd.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
Continue the children's message for and with the adults. This may provide an opportunity for a discussion sermon, along the same order as the children's message.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
(1) If you want to take the risk of humor, you might introduce the offering with words similar to these: "I'm the shepherd of this flock; you're the flock. It's fleecing time once again."
(2) Or, you may prefer a more traditional statement, such as, "The Holy Spirit makes generosity a matter of the heart, not of the pocketbook."
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus took responsibility for his own life, what he thought, said, did. He calls us to a similar response to life. How will you and I take responsibility this day, this week, in the Name of the Good Shepherd?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 23
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 29
Acts 4:8-12, 23-33
1 John 3:1-2, 18-24
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The King of Love My Shepherd Is" Psalm 23
Para. by Henry W. Baker, 1868; alt., 1972
"The Lord's My Shepherd" Psalm 23
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need"
Psalm 23 Para. by Isaac Watts, 1719; alt., 1972
"I Sing as I Arise Today"
Attr. to St. Patrick (389-461)
"Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above"
Johann J. Schutz, 1675 (Revision by Brian Wren, copyright, Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Sheep May Safely Graze" Bach
Response to the Assurance of Pardon Adult Choir
"Thou Hast Searched Me" Wilbur Chenoweth
Response to the Children's Message
"Simple Gifts"
Shaker Song
from Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company (see above for address)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge (Offertory)
"A Folk Hymn"
Dale Wood
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Eastertide Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
IV. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Try this:
Invite the congregation to shout out some of the symbols used to describe Jesus. Conclude by saying that, today, we will examine Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Before continuing, however, ask the people for a contemporary symbol for good shepherd. One author, working with inner city young people, transferred good shepherd to "Parole Officer," for Jesus.
Continue with this litany between pastor and ministers:
Pastor:
Lift up your hearts and minds and wills! The living Christ is here!
Ministers: We come to celebrate his presence and power!
Pastor:
We come that we might live in him
Ministers: Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me." John 10:14 - RSV
Pastor:
Jesus is the Shepherd; we are his sheep.
Ministers: Indeed we are! Amen!
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Keep before the people the essence of sin as alienation, rebellion, I-centeredness, doing things my way. Make certain that they understand that sin is, not only individual arid personal, but also corporate.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor:
God, we know ourselves as those who violate your creation.
Ministers: We live the "No!"
Pastor:
We speak loudly of wanting our lives to count for something.
Ministers: And yet, we drift so softly into an endless procession of tomorrows.
Pastor:
We want to give of ourselves.
Ministers: But we fear to receive another into our lives.
Pastor:
We decry the breakdown in communication.
Ministers: Yet we know that, really, we prefer not to listen.
Pastor:
We wince at the disparity of rich and poor in the world.
Ministers: But we cling to our possessions, lest in losing them, we lose a portion of ourselves.
Pastor:
Turn us about this day in the neatly beveled rut we have worn!
Ministers: The "No" life is not enough! (author unknown)
(give three minutes for silent meditation)
Introduce the assurance of pardon with words similar to these: We have spoken the confession, we have lived the human condition. From this prayer, what are we willing to turn over to God to bring change? Give a silent "amen" to every part of the prayer with which you agree.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
Bring a live sheep, or a stuffed sheep into the chancel. Encourage the children to share what they know about sheep and shepherds. Include the story of the lost sheep. Ask if they have ever felt lost, or have been lost. My son was lost for twenty minutes one time in a new community; and we looked until we found him. Nothing else mattered to us until we did find him. Tie all this in with how much Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, cares for all of us. You may want to ask if the children have a symbol that speaks more directly to them than a shepherd.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
Continue the children's message for and with the adults. This may provide an opportunity for a discussion sermon, along the same order as the children's message.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
(1) If you want to take the risk of humor, you might introduce the offering with words similar to these: "I'm the shepherd of this flock; you're the flock. It's fleecing time once again."
(2) Or, you may prefer a more traditional statement, such as, "The Holy Spirit makes generosity a matter of the heart, not of the pocketbook."
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus took responsibility for his own life, what he thought, said, did. He calls us to a similar response to life. How will you and I take responsibility this day, this week, in the Name of the Good Shepherd?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 23
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 29
Acts 4:8-12, 23-33
1 John 3:1-2, 18-24
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The King of Love My Shepherd Is" Psalm 23
Para. by Henry W. Baker, 1868; alt., 1972
"The Lord's My Shepherd" Psalm 23
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need"
Psalm 23 Para. by Isaac Watts, 1719; alt., 1972
"I Sing as I Arise Today"
Attr. to St. Patrick (389-461)
"Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above"
Johann J. Schutz, 1675 (Revision by Brian Wren, copyright, Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"Sheep May Safely Graze" Bach
Response to the Assurance of Pardon Adult Choir
"Thou Hast Searched Me" Wilbur Chenoweth
Response to the Children's Message
"Simple Gifts"
Shaker Song
from Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company (see above for address)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge (Offertory)
"A Folk Hymn"
Dale Wood
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Eastertide Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
IV. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
