Lectionary Readings
Acts 2:42–47
The believers share all things, worshiping and eating together.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, leading, protecting, and feeding me.
1 Peter 2:19–25
Like sheep, we go astray; but Christ is the shepherd of our souls.
John 10:1–10
Jesus says: I am the gate for the sheep; enter by me and be saved.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We have been through much,
but the Lord has been with us,
and so we find peace and give thanks.
The Lord is our shepherd;
we have everything we need.
Through shadow and light,
through death and birth, through grief and joy,
we have never been alone. We rest in that truth.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow us all the days of our lives,
and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Prayer of the Day
God our Shepherd,
you are our safe place, our shelter,
our ground, our breath.
We turn to you in hope and trust,
knowing we have come this far by faith,
and you will guide us all the way.
Mold our daily patterns for your purposes
so that we may live as one heart and mind
with you and our neighbors,
rejoicing together and praising your holy name,
through Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the new life you raise up in us
through the mystery of our baptism—
the sorrow of the heavy cross,
the surprise of the empty tomb,
the love that death could not destroy.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
fill us with the joy of resurrection,
so that we may be a living sign
of your new heaven and new earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Christ is the good shepherd,
who leads us to safety and peace
no matter what we have done.
Christ’s voice calls us to repent and return;
let us heed that voice and go to God in prayer.
you call us to a world radically different
from what we are used to.
You ask us to lay aside our ideas of “mine” and “yours.”
You show us a life where goods are shared,
where all are loved,
and faithfulness is shown through generosity.
But we cling to our possessions,
trusting them more than we trust you.
Forgive us, merciful God.
Help us to truly believe in your just and peaceful realm
and to work to make it so.
Christ himself bore our sins
in his body on the cross, so that,
free from sins, we might live for righteousness;
by his wounds we have been healed.
For we were going astray like sheep,
but now we have returned to the shepherd
and guardian of our souls. Thanks be to God!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Living God, with joy we celebrate
the presence of your risen Word.
Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit
so that we may proclaim the good news
of eternal and abundant life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4
After the readings:
This is the good news which we have received,
in which we stand, and by which we are saved.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 15:1–2
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
All authority and power and dominion
to the name that is above all names—
Jesus Christ our Lord—
now and in the age to come. Amen.
Ephesians 1:21
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
New life in Christ takes shape in a community
in which people know
that God loves and accepts them
in spite of what they are.
They therefore accept themselves
and love others,
knowing that no one has any ground
on which to stand,
except God’s grace.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.22
Prayers of Intercession
We offer our prayers through Christ,
who lives and reigns forever,
and prays for us in heaven.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the church . . .
Help us to follow Christ more faithfully,
heeding the voice of our good shepherd
and inviting others to enter into him.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the earth . . .
Restore green pastures and still waters;
drive away death and lead us in right paths,
for the sake of the world you so love.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for all nations . . .
Increase goodwill among all peoples.
Show us what we have in common
and give us a shared vision of abundant life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for this community . . .
Give us glad and generous hearts,
sharing our faith, our bread, and our possessions
with all who are hungry for your grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for loved ones . . .
Shelter all who are threatened and abused,
give peace to those who are suffering,
and comfort those who are in pain.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all power and glory, receive these prayers,
and continue your mighty work among us,
through Jesus Christ, our living Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 1:15–23
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods
yet refuses to help a sister or brother in need?
Remembering God’s great love for the world,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 John 3:16–17
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Great God, to you we give our thanks;
your steadfast love endures forever.
With gratitude we bring our gifts to you.
Bless us and our gifts,
that our lives and our resources
may be a source of healing and hope,
of joy and justice in our world. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are our shepherd, O Lord, and in you there is nothing we lack.
You lead us to green pastures and still waters; you restore our souls.
You prepare a table before us; the cup of blessing overflows!
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
We are the sheep of your pasture, and Christ Jesus is the gate.
He came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.
Therefore we listen for his voice and seek to follow him.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Like the first believers, fill us with the awe and wonder of your presence,
through your teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.
Help us to share what we have and give to those who are in need.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
Thank you, O God, for giving us communion
with our risen and glorious Lord.
Now send us out to be a sign
of the new life that has come into the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the love of the holy triune God—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
abide with you forever. Alleluia!
1 John 4:13–16
Now go forth in Jesus’ name,
remembering his new commandment
to love one another, just as he has loved us. Amen.
1 John 3:23
“Shepherdess with Her Flock”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- The Church’s One Foundation (A) AURELIA GTG 321
- God Is Calling through the Whisper (G) W ŻLOBIE ŁEŻY GTG 410
- There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (E) SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT GTG 408
- O God, You Are My God (EG) STEP BY STEP GTG 743
WORD
- Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us (EG) BRADBURY GTG 187
- We Are One in the Spirit (A) THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS GTG 300
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is (EG) ST. COLUMBA GTG 802
- Shepherd Me, O God (EG) SHEPHERD ME ELW 780
EUCHARIST
- We Come as Guests Invited (E) WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN GTG 504
- Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table! (G) COPELAND GTG 506
- Come, Let Us Eat (A) A VA DE GTG 528
- Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (A) LINSTEAD GTG 526
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (EG) RESIGNATION GTG 803
SENDING
- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (G) EASTER HYMN GTG 232
- I Come with Joy (A) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515
- God Be with You till We Meet Again (G) RANDOLPH/GOD BE WITH YOU GTG 541, 542
- Guide My Feet (E) GUIDE MY FEET GTG 741
- A Place Called Home (AG) FINLANDIA SSS 282
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 23
Metrical
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need [RESIGNATION]; GTG 803, PAS 23A
- If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee [WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT]; GTG 816
- Such Perfect Love My Shepherd Shows [DOMINUT REGIT ME]; PAS 23E
Responsorial
- My Shepherd Is the Lord, Nothing Indeed Shall I Want; PSA 18
- Shepherd Me, O God [SHEPHERD ME]; GTG 473, PAS 23G
- The Lord Is My Shepherd; LP 800
- The Lord Is My Shepherd; PRCL 54
Organ Music
- “Brother James’ Air: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want,” Deo Gracias: Six Preludes and a Postlude for Organ on Well-Known Hymns, Gerald Near, MSM (M)
- “Earth and All Stars / Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen,” Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, Keith Kolander, AF (M)
- “Have No Fear, Little Flock,” Voluntaries for Worship, Michael Burkhardt, MSM (M)
- “Jesus, My Great High Priest,” Organ Works of Healey Willan, Healey Willan, CON (M)
Piano Music
- “Volta Fantasy,” Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Vol. 2: Intermediate, J. H. Kwabena Nketia, OUP (M)
- “Andante tranquillo,” Pastorale in F Major, Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Dinu Lipatti, IMSLP.org (M)
- “Allegretto grazioso,” Pastorale in F Major, Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Dinu Lipatti, IMSLP.org (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” Kevin Hildebrand, MSM, SAB, org, fl, opt cong (E)
- “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” John Ness Beck, BP, SATB, pno (E)
- “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” Lloyd Larson, LOR, SATB, solo, acap (M)
- “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (Blessed Jesus),” Heather Sorenson, HAL, SATB, pno, opt vln, opt gtr, opt banjo, opt perc (M)
- “My Song in the Night,” Terre Johnson, MSM, SATB, pno, vc (MA)
- “Greater Love Hath No Man,” John Ireland, GMC, SATB, bari solo, org (A)
- “Are We Like Sheep,” Messiah, George Frideric Handel, NOV, SATB, orch (A)
Art
- Fields in Spring, Yayoi Kusama, 1988 (WA)
- Holy Mountain I, Horace Pippin, 1944 (WA)
- Good Shepherd, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1930 (VDL)
- Shepherdess with Her Flock, Eugene-Joseph Verboeckhoven, 19th century (VDL)
