The Parish Gathering | May 3, 2020 (Fourth Week of Eastertide)
Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.
Call to Worship
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Living God,
long ago, faithful women
proclaimed the good news
of Jesus’ resurrection,
and the world was changed forever.
Teach us to keep faith with them,
that our witness may be as bold,
our love as deep,
and our faith as true.
Amen.
The Psalter
Psalm 23 (The Message)
The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;
he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff— they protect me.
You set a table for me right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over!
Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the Lord’s house as long as I live.
Song: Yes and Amen
Father of kindness
You have poured out of grace
You brought me out of darkness
You have filled me with peace
Giver of mercy
You’re my help in time of need
Lord I can’t help but sing
Faithful, You are
Faithful, forever, You will be
Faithful, You are
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
Beautiful Saviour
You have brought me here
You pulled me from the ashes
You have broken every curse
Blessed Redeemer
You have set this captive free
Lord I can’t help but sing
Faithful, You are
Faithful, forever, You will be
Faithful, You are
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
I will rest in Your promises
My confidence is Your faithfulness
Faithful, You are
Faithful, forever, You will be
Faithful, You are
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
All Your promises are Yes and Amen
The Good News
John 10:1-10
Jesus said to them, “‘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. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Prayers of the People
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray together as God’s people:
Good and caring Shepherd,
you know your sheep by name
and lead us to safety through the valleys of death.
So we lift up our prayers for your children and your creation,
for the wider community around us,
and for the community even nearer to us,
those we love and call family, friends, and neighbors:
Offer a spontaneous prayer for the welfare of the world and those in our community (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)
Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Good and guiding Shepherd,
Lead us, the people of your pasture,
guide us by your voice,
and may we follow as you lead.
So we lift the Church around the world into your care,
as we pray now for your people:
Offer a spontaneous prayer for the Church around the world (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)
Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
Good and protecting Shepherd,
we fear no evil when you are with us.
So many in our world are hurting, sick, afraid, or struggling.
We pray for those in need of comfort,
may your rod and staff be near,
may oil run afresh over their heads,
and may mercy pursue them all the days of their lives.
Offer a spontaneous prayer for all who are sick, worn down, or in trouble (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)
Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
A New Way
John 21:3-9, 15-17, 19b
“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread…
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’”
Song: King of My Heart
Let the King of my heart
be the mountain where I run
the fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
be the shadow where I hide
the ransom for my life
Oh, He is my song
You are good, good, oh
Let the King of my heart
be the wind inside my sails
the anchor in the waves
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
be the fire inside my veins
the echo of my days
Oh, He is my song
You are good, good, oh
You’re never gonna let,
never gonna let me down
A New Work
Confession & Assurance
Patient and loving God, we stand at the gate and peer through.
We keep creating our own ways,
believing that we know what is in our own best interest,
ignoring the voice of the one Shepherd knows the way to what is good.
Prone to wander, we wonder why we feel lost.
Help us stop, and really listen for the Shepherd’s voice.
Help us place our trust in the Leader who has never failed us,
and place our cares in the care of Another,
who lays his life down that we might find our own.
Forgive us our stubbornness.
We repent of our way.
Silent confession (space to name where you have wandered)
Though we often wander, and have become lost,
the shepherd leaves all else to find us,
bind our wounds,
and bring us home.
Silent assurance (space to notice God’s pursuing mercy and love and say “thank you” in response)
May we walk now,
As a people forgiven,
Away from fear and doubt,
Into spacious lands of hope and mercy.
We receive this mercy.
Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
And so this day, we join with Saints and Angels
in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity,
lifting our voices to bless you we say:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
heaven and earth are full of Your glory,
Glory to you, O Lord most high.
Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.
This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people.
We are redeemed.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.
Song: You Never Let Go
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back, I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
for my God is with me
and if my God is with me
whom then shall I fear?
whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
a glorious light beyond all compare
and there will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes
we’ll live to know You here on the earth
And I will fear no evil
for my God is with me
and if my God is with me
whom then shall I fear?
whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Oh no, You never let go
through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Community Life
The Cross of Christ
All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!
Blessing & Sending
from The Message, 1 Peter 2
Friends of God,
Once you were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going.
But no longer!
Through Jesus Christ, things have been set right with God.
He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross
so we could be rid of sin,
free to live the right way.
His wounds become your healing.
Now you are named and kept for good
by the Shepherd of your souls.
Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
