This weeks service has been prepared by Mr Mike Honey & Hazel Bowell
4th Week after Easter
Call to Worship:
Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd -A psalm of David [NIV]
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Hymn: The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Link: youtu.be/iI1OeQfkVyI
- The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never:
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever. - Where streams of living water flow;'
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth. - In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me. - Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh, what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth! - And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Henry W. Baker, pub.1868
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
O Lord,
How we adore you.
How we marvel at the depth of your love.
How we wonder at the waves of your grace.
How we are astounded by the glorious balance of the earth.
We are in awe of the vastness of the universe.
We are so privileged to be called your children.
We are accepted and forgiven and embraced.
You are almighty, above and beyond everything.
You are victorious. Darkness, sin and death are under your feet.
You are holy, beautiful and full of love.
How we adore you.
AMEN
Dear God,
We are sorry when we get so carried away with the busyness of each day, never stopping to dwell in your love.
We are sorry when we allow the stresses and demands of work or family to erode and wear away our hopes.
We are sorry when we are caught up in conflict and frustration, when we harbour resentment, instead of giving out forgiveness.
We are sorry when we seek to be fulfilled by food, drink or entertainment, yet fail to feast on your truth.
We are sorry when we desire the wrong things, blinded by the media, and forget to engage with the real treasures of love and justice.
You are all love, all hope, all forgiveness, all truth and all we really need.
AMEN
Bible Readings
John 10:11-18 [NIV]
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
1 John 3: 16-24 [NIV]
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Acts 4: 5-12 [NIV]
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Reflection: I am the Good Shepherd
Today is sometimes called "Sheep Sunday" by preachers, because this Sunday every year the lessons relate to John's description of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and the Psalmist's song, "The Lord Is My Shepherd." So why sheep, why shepherd?
Shepherding is among the oldest occupations, beginning some 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool. Over the next thousand years, sheep and shepherding spread throughout Eurasia. To maintain a large flock, however, the sheep must be able to move from pasture to pasture; this required the development of an occupation separate from that of the farmer. The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing. Shepherding developed only in certain areas. In the lowlands and river valleys, it was far more efficient to grow grain and cereals than to allow sheep to graze, thus the raising of sheep was confined to rugged and mountainous areas. In pre-modern times shepherding was thus centered on regions such as the Middle East, Greece, the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains, and Scotland. It is in this context that Jesus reference to sheep is understood. In today’s Gospel reading from John 10 Jesus talks about being the Door of the sheep fold, and continues in our reading from v11, “I am the Good Shepherd”.
The Acts Chapter 4 reading follows the healing of a crippled beggar at the Temple gate called Beautiful, where Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin to be held to account for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and the Sanhedrin want justification on how the cripple was healed. Peter points to Jesus the corner stone (Jesus) whom has been rejected by the Sanhedrin. The discourse of Jesus as the Good Shepherd needs to be understood in context by what Jesus said about the Pharisees being “blind” to the truth. Not only were the Pharisees blind, they were also false shepherds, described in John 10: 5 and 8 as strangers and thieves.
Jesus’ pronouncement, the third “I am”, depicts him as the “gate of the sheep” John 10 v7. The imagery contrasts Jesus’ protection of the sheep in the fold with the false prophets of the Old Testament times, and the false shepherds in recent times. Entering the sheepfold through Jesus is a saving action, and provides the sheep with abundant life and provision. The phrase “go in and out” John 10:9, does not mean that one can be in two minds about being in Christ one moment, and outside of him the next. The picture is one of security and safety in Christ, as the door or gate to the sheep’s daily comings and goings to find pasture.
Most important is that ...continuous attention (is) required. Sheep are often quite helpless and fall easy prey to predators, especially dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and eagles. They might even fall prey to such hazards as picket or woven wire fences, or to ditches and gullies in which they might lie and suffocate unless aid came quickly.
So Sheep are best tended together. So are we, with God as our shepherd. But sheep are more inclined to follow the voice they know and we too follow Jesus’ voice. Jesus is the shepherd, the one welcomed by the gatekeeper, the gate itself, the one who leads the sheep out to find pasture and abundant life. In being the gate, Jesus shows, and opens the way to the Father. But it is confrontational and makes the leaders (Pharisees) angry that they try to stone him (John 10:31). In resurrection light, perhaps the gate is Gold, intricate and wonderful, inviting us through to a glimpse of heaven. It is by faith then that we enter into abundant life through Jesus who is the door.
We need to understand that it is only through Jesus that we will find eternal life because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gave his life for us. To walk in faith we must know the truth of who Jesus is and experience by the spirit the reality of that truth. It is therefore vital that our faith be more than just head knowledge, but that our hearts and lives are affected by that truth. Faith is not static but dynamic. But often we stray from the path, and go our own way, as the hymn The King of Love My Shepherd Is says:
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me.
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
We have all erred and strayed - like lost sheep. I know that. You know that. The Bible knows that, and uses that as a metaphor for the reality of our lives. Lives we live together in our families, at our work, in our community, in church every day. The meaning of the metaphor is simply that you and I together, like sheep -- plural -- are a community. A flock of faith in which we are cared for by God as a shepherd cares for sheep, and that's what God intends. We're in it together, and together we are shepherded by Jesus Christ.
It is in these difficult times of lockdown when we have not been meeting together as a church community, only meeting together perhaps on Zoom and reflecting through on-line services, that we hold on in faith knowing we are cared for and shepherded by God. We are thankful for all the acts of kindness provided to those in our community, to those who have been shielding, the dedication of those in our community providing care, particularly through the National Health Service and now hope through vaccinations. But throughout this time we can depend upon God, the good shepherd, whom we know in Jesus Christ our Lord, who is well described in David's most famous, psalm, Psalm 23:
You, LORD, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death,
but I won't be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.
You honour me as your guest,
and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life,
and I will live forever in your house, LORD.
-- Psalm 23 (CEV)
In this time where the closest most of us ever get to a sheep is a book or the wool in our suit, our skirt, our slacks, or our socks, we still need a shepherd - to lead us and guide us and occasionally prod us in the way we should go. And the good shepherd, who gives his life for the life of the sheep, for your life and mine, which we might live and have life abundantly, is in Jesus Christ. But the sheep fold is not somewhere where we stay. Sheep need to go out and find pasture, and graze. So as the lockdown, step by step, is relaxed we are reminded to remain in Christ, and as Jesus gave his life for us we too reflect the love we have in Jesus as our Shepherd to others, for as “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us ... we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”1 John 3:16.
Amen
Hymn: I will sing the wondrous story
Link: youtu.be/d53bmgpiEws
- I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.- Refrain:
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
- Refrain:
- I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way. - I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,
Faint was I from many a fall,
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all. - Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s path I often tread,
But His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led. - He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Francis H. Rowley, 1886
alt. by Ira D. Sankey, 1887
Poem: Footprints in the Sand
One night, I dreamed I was walking on the beach with God.
Many scenes from my life flashed before me.
In each scene, I noticed footprints in the sand,
Sometimes two sets, other times only one.
This bothered me because during the lowest and saddest times of my life,
There was only one set of footprints.
So I asked God:
“God, you told me when I decided to follow you that you would walk with me all the way.
But I noticed during the most trying times there has only been one set of footprints.
Why, when I needed you most, were you not there for me?”
God whispered:
“My child, I would never leave you!
During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Intercession and Petition
A Prayer of Intercession
Let us join our hearts and minds in prayer.
Almighty God, we give thanks for your gentle and enduring love, for sending us your son Jesus to show us the way to live; for life itself, for our lives and for this world.
Grant us the grace to respect this world so that we in faith may see it through your eyes, hear it through your ears, touch it through your hands and leave it as a place pleasing to you. We give thanks for the Christian charities that work throughout the world as it challenges poverty, injustice, inequality and world climate change.
But, Lord, our hearts are troubled as we cannot but think immediately of and pray for all those suffering in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In these times of isolation when people are apart from loved ones, distant from friends, away from neighbours, reassure them that there is nothing in all of creation, not even coronavirus that is able to separate them from your love.
Love never fails, even in the darkest moments, love gives hope.
We pray for the world, and for all those who are affected by this pandemic, particularly those more vulnerable in poorer countries. Grant our leaders the gifts of courage, compassion and wisdom as they face such challenging circumstances and decision making.
We pray for our scientists as they work tirelessly to find answers.
We pray for those who do not have access to clean water, soap and sanitation; those without good healthcare, and families who are struggling to find food. May God grant them hope and surround them with signs of love and care.
We particularly remember those in hospital and in care homes. We pray for everyone who is sick, or afraid for themselves or their loved ones; for those who are bereaved and grieving, or isolated and we also pray for all who support them. God be their healer, their comforter and their protection.
So let us pause for a few moments as we remember and pray for those known to ourselves ……….
We think of our own community and pray for your guidance to be good neighbours; so that no one feels lonely, forgotten or unloved. Raise up your church to be your well washed hands and faithful feet, to be present to the pain, to respond with love in action, if even from a safe distance.
Lord we pray for the churches in our circuit, this week for Nexus, and for Rev Elizabeth Kirova as she ministers in this place.
Lord, in the days when I walk in the shadows longing to feel the sunshine, remind me of your presence as the shepherd who cares for your sheep; reassure me that that whatever I go through, you are there with me, leading me through into greener pasture. Amen.
Loving Father make us worthy of your love and the sacrifice of your son as we now say the words of the prayer taught by Him:
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours.
AMEN
Hymn: And can it be
Link: youtu.be/29myH7xXI4M
- And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
- 'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain] - He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain] - Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain] - No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]
Charles Wesley, pub.1738
Closing Prayer & Blessing:
God of love and hope, renew in us a deeper sense of who we are in you;
Help us to be aware of your presence each and every day.
Make us instruments of love and praise.
May our words, actions and lives be living examples of your forgiving, healing, life-giving love.
AMEN
And may the blessing of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us all and remain with us now and for ever more.
AMEN
