19. Year A - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Top Previous Next

VERSION: 29 April 2002

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

In 2002: 21 Apr

In 2005: 17 Apr

In 2008: 13 Apr

In 2011: 15 May

In 2014: 11 May

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Easter season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PATRONAL FESTIVAL

Many of our congregations and schools are named Good Shepherd. If this is the case in your congregation/school, consider making Good Shepherd Sunday a special celebration of your congregational/school family. Remember the establishment and history of your congregation and present-day activities and mission. Consider special rites and ceremonies such as blessing of congregational/school officers, intercessions for the congregation/school, and processions around the church/school.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd, Alleluia;

he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Alleluia!

(John 10:3 NKJV alt.)

OR, use one of the standard Easter Sentences in the document 'Easter season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

For variations to the 'Lord, have mercy', see the document 'Easter season' (under 'Liturgy', 'Lord, have mercy' and under 'Hymns and songs' 'Lord, have mercy'), in the 'General and seasonal' folder, or use the following for this Sunday (based on the German).

Let us call on the Lord, to whom we belong through our baptism.

Lord Jesus Christ, you are our good shepherd:

Lord, have mercy.

You give your life for the sheep:

Christ, have mercy.

You gather us into your flock:

Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Almighty God,

since you have brought back from the dead

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

to call us into his flock through his word:

Grant us your Holy Spirit,

so that we may hear the voice of the good Shepherd

and faithfully follow him;

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Almighty and eternal God,

you have brought back from the dead

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

to call us into his flock through his word.

Send us your Holy Spirit,

so that we may hear the voice of the good Shepherd

and faithfully follow him.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray for God's help to do his will. [silence])

God of peace,

you brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ,

the great Shepherd of the sheep.

Equip us through his blood,

which sealed the eternal covenant,

with every good thing we need

to do your will,

and work in us what is pleasing to you.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray that we follow our good shepherd. [silence])

Loving God,

we thank you that your Son Jesus

is the good shepherd

who cares for your people.

Open our hearts to hear his voice,

to know him as he calls us by name,

and to follow wherever he leads.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Acts 2:42-47 Life and worship in the apostolic church

PSALM

Psalm 23

Antiphon:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not (be in) want. (Ps 23:1 NRSV, or NIV including bracketed words)

SECOND READING

1 Peter 2:19-25 The shepherd and bishop of our souls

ALLELUIA VERSE

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

death no longer has any power over him.

Alleluia.)

(Jesus said:) 'I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.'

(John 10:11 NRSV)

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 10:1-10 Jesus, the gate for the sheep

(Begin: 'Jesus said:')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

for being the gate for the sheep to enter into life.

Lead us to know you and to follow you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Eternal loving Shepherd,

your Son laid down his life for us, his sheep.

Help us to follow him

by loving and serving the people around us.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

As sheep trust their shepherd for guidance and protection, let us turn to our God in prayer. We know that he hears our voice for the sake of Jesus Christ his Son.

The regular response, OR:

Lord, hear the voice of your sheep,

as we cry to you for help.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Shepherd God, you gather your sheep from all corners of the world, and do not allow even one of your flock to be lost. May we and all people hear your voice, and be gathered into the one flock of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But most of all we praise you

for the glorious resurrection of your Son,

the true Passover Lamb,

who has taken away the sin of the world.

By his death he has destroyed death,

and by his rising again he has restored life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter

and all the other witnesses of the resurrection,

with earth and sea and all their creatures,

and with angels and archangels,

cherubim and seraphim,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

Jesus says: 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For an Easter post-communion prayer, see the document 'Easter season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) without modification. The reference to the blood of Christ and the eternal covenant is most appropriate at this point.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

(May) the God of peace,

who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great shepherd of the sheep,

provide you with every good thing you need

in order to do his will; . . .

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. The Lord is your shepherd, who cares for his sheep.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Acts 2:42-47

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 10:1-10

LHS

AT

TIS

Note also verse 2 of the modernised version of LH 317 (this verse is not in LH).

PSALM 23

For musical settings of Psalm 23, see Music Packages 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8.

The following metrical versions of the psalm may be used:

The Lord's my shepherd (LHS 387*, TIS 10)

OR

The King of love my shepherd is (LHS 391*, TIS 145)

*Modernised version available

OR

My shepherd is the Lord (TIS 11)

OR

Geoff Strelan's song Psalm 23 in Praise for All Seasons no 62

OR

The Iona collection Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise contains a metrical version of Psalm 23 that could be used on this day (page 12)

Note that the Iona Community is willing to allow a church or worship assembly to reproduce the words only of a song from these publications on a service sheet or overhead transperency that is to be used once only on a non-commercial basis, provided that the title of the song and the name of the copyright holder is clearly shown.

OR

David Sch¸tz's version sung to the tune 'Shalom, my friends' ATA 195.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,

Shalom, shalom.

He makes me lie down in green pasture land,

Shalom, shalom.

He leads me beside the slow-running streams,

Shalom, shalom.

My soul he restores; he leads me aright,

Shalom, shalom.

And though I should walk through death's valley dark,

Shalom, shalom,

there's nothing I fear, for you, Lord, are near,

Shalom, shalom.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,

Shalom, shalom.

You set me a place before all my foes,

Shalom, shalom.

My head you anoint, my cup overflows,

Shalom, shalom.

To me you always are loving and good,

Shalom, shalom,

My dwelling shall be the house of the Lord,

Shalom, shalom,

for all of my life, for all of my days,

Shalom, shalom.

BAPTISM HYMNS FOR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

If a baptism is celebrated on this day, consider using one of these:

COMMUNION HYMN FOR GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

LHS 283 Zion, to thy Saviour singing* (especially verse 5) is appropriate for Good Shepherd Sunday.

* modernised version available

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ACTS 2:42-47: Being so close to the resurrection of the Lord and being so filled with the Spirit, the life of the infant church was observably and patently dynamic. It was devoted to sharing both physically and spiritually in fellowship, devoted to the proclaimed teachings of Christ, devoted to diligent reception of the Lord's supper, and devoted to vitality in joint prayers. The church flourished. Evidences of the Spirit's work and presence stood outsiders in awe. Sacrifice and sharing of material goods provided for the physical needs of all. Their increase in numbers flowed from the spiritual life and witness of the church.

1 PETER 2:19-25: Many of the Christians whom Peter addressed were slaves without rights who were often treated harshly by their unbelieving owners. In the same way that Christ suffered with the purpose of setting people free from sin and its eternal curse, so Christians are to meet their sufferings. If we have returned to him who tends and cares for the souls of his flock, then obedience to Christ's ownership calls for like conduct after his own example.

JOHN 10:1-10: The 'shepherds of Israel' were the religious leaders who had failed in their care of the people. Jesus here contrasts the work of false shepherds with his own care of the people. His sheep will recognise the authentic voice of his mission and ministry and they will follow it. The voice of false shepherds does not convey the word of God and thus repels those who know the voice of the true shepherd. False shepherds effectively dispense death and destruction. The good Shepherd gives eternal life and salvation.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the second reading and the gospel could be accompanied by a picture of Jesus as the good Shepherd (eg see the illustration in the TEV Bible for Ezek 34:15).

BANNERS

Create and display a banner or poster to highlight the special emphasis of this day. Two symbols are appropriate:

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the gospel could be read by two readers (one of whom could be the pastor): narrator and Jesus.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN'S SONGS

Many children's songs use the image of children as lambs and Christ as their Shepherd. The following are suitable:

LHS

* modernised version available

Sing to Jesus

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

The story for the Fourth Sunday of Easter is: The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23) (to be found in the original edition Series C, 4 Easter, and in the RCL edition Series Afor 4 Easter).