Fourth Sunday Of Easter
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
From 1 John 3:16-24.
Leader:
By this we know love,
People:
That he laid down his life for us.
Leader:
So we praise him.
People:
Lift his name high.
Leader:
Exalt him.
People:
Worship and adore him.
Leader:
Amen.
(Moment of silence)
Leader:
In my heart I have this conversation all the time.
People:
What conversation is that?
Leader:
The one where I hear a voice that tells me I am nothing.
People:
Oh, that one. I have it, too.
Leader:
The voice tells me I am small,
People:
And insignificant,
Leader:
And useless,
People:
And unlovely.
Leader:
And I feel like curling up in a corner,
People:
And dying on the spot.
Leader:
But I have learned to listen for another voice.
People:
Another voice?
Leader:
Yes, the one that is quiet but so beautiful.
People:
And what does it say?
Leader:
It says, in a voice so peaceful and lovely, it says, "You, O child, are my child. And you are not unlovely, for I love you. And you are not insignificant, for any child of mine is precious to me."
People:
Yes, a lovely voice.
Leader:
God's voice.
People:
Let us worship God.
Based on Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18.
Leader:
The Lord is my shepherd,
People:
I shall not be in want.
Leader:
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd."
People:
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
Leader:
"The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
People:
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
Leader:
"The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep."
People:
The Good Shepherd guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Leader:
"When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it."
People:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Leader:
"The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
People:
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Leader:
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd;"
People:
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Leader:
"I know my sheep;"
People:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Leader:
"And my sheep know me."
People:
You anoint my head with oil;
Leader:
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen."
People:
My cup overflows.
Leader:
"I must bring them, also."
People:
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
Leader:
"They, too, will listen to my voice,"
People:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Leader:
"And there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
People:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Leader:
Let us worship him.
A creative bit of liturgy that reflects the nature of our God:
Leader:
Great and mighty is our King;
People:
A God of glory and majesty;
Leader:
Whose ways are higher than ours;
People:
Whose thoughts are beyond us.
Leader:
Creator of all that is;
People:
Everywhere present;
Leader:
Knowing all;
People:
Seeing everything;
Leader:
Possessing unlimited power.
People:
Great and mighty is our King;
Leader:
A God of glory and majesty; but...
(As some music begins to softly play -- maybe the opening hymn -- have the pastor or some other robed or well-dressed person enter and move to the person seated in the chair. The one who has entered should remove the robe or suit jacket and lay it aside -- take the towel and toss it over their shoulder -- kneel and begin removing the shoes and socks of the seated person. Then -- the feet of the seated person should be washed and tenderly dried. The seated person should look on humbly. As the washer of the feet finishes drying the feet -- the liturgist should say:)
Leader:
Great and mighty is our King -- a God of glory and majesty -- who bows so low as to wash feet. Jesus said after he washed the feet of his disciples, "I have set an example for you. Do as I have done; for no servant is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than the one who sent him."
(At this point the music for the hymn should become louder and the congregation should sing a song that acknowledges that greatness and service go together.)
Prayer Of Confession
According to Jesus, his sheep know his voice. This prayer confesses that we often listen to the wrong voices.
Leader:
Lord, too often we listen to the wrong voice
People:
And are paralyzed by it,
Leader:
Becoming ineffective Christians who hide our talents and gifts;
People:
Who live in fear of being found out,
Leader:
And having people know we are not perfect Christians.
People:
Father, teach us that we have been freed from our sin,
Leader:
Freed to live the beauty that is within us.
People:
Teach us to live that beauty,
Leader:
Rather than hide it.
People:
We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Based on the 1 John 3 passage.
Leader:
Jesus, what great love you poured out on us in laying down your life.
People:
Yet we are so stingy with that kind of love --
Leader:
Offering to let someone go ahead of us in line;
People:
Giving up a dinner out to give that money instead to a soup kitchen;
Leader:
Lending or giving away some of those tools instead of buying more;
People:
Passing on those clothes not worn and passing up replacing them;
Leader:
Paying attention to someone else's need instead of being selfish.
People:
Forgive us for being so reluctant
Leader:
To make even these little sacrifices.
People:
Lord Jesus, change and empower us
Leader:
By your Holy Spirit
People:
So that our love would be more than just words,
Leader:
It would be love in action,
People:
A love that lays itself down
Leader:
And pours itself out
People:
As your love constantly does for us.
Leader:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
The beauty is there in each of us, though we may not see it; though the enemy may have convinced us it is not really there; though it may be buried beneath a mountain of sin. It is there.
People:
Master who has made us,
Leader:
Forgive us for being blind to the beauty.
People:
Open our eyes to see it,
Leader:
In ourselves and others,
People:
And to live it.
1 John passage.
When we love as Jesus loves, we know we belong to him and our hearts can rest assured in his presence whenever we question ourselves. If the love of God dwells in us, surely we will love one another. We will know that he lives in us, by the Spirit he gives us. His Spirit is love in word and action and truth.
John further says in his first letter, Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers. He seems to be saying you have been forgiven. Now live like it! Amen.
The Good Shepherd always pursues us when we get lost.
Leader:
Hear now this good news.
People:
Though we have gone astray
Leader:
Our Good Shepherd never stops seeking to bring us home.
People:
If only we repent,
Leader:
He will forgive and restore us.
People:
Praise the Lord!
Leader:
Amen!
Prayer Of Dedication
Let us pray: Good Shepherd, who feeds and clothes and shelters us; who gathers us together and keeps us within the fold. In your care, we need not worry or fear. May the gifts and offerings we bring to you this day testify of our trust in you, and may they be used to bring others into the family of faith. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Lord, it is such a gift to be able to quiet our minds that we might hear you speak to us. In this moment of silence now, give us this gift. Amen.
(Moment of silence)
Pastoral Prayer
Heavenly Father, is there anything more precious than salvation? We don't talk about it much. We often think of that kind of talk as fanatical, but it is the truth. We were all sinners, all on our way to misery; deserving of the death sentence. But you saved us from aimlessness, emptiness, isolation, eternal nothingness. May our gratitude be great and our response be love for you and your children everywhere. We especially think of the following who need your love just a little more than the rest of us this morning ...
Father above, in this time of turmoil when war and terror and recession and sickness press down upon us and our world, we turn to you for strength; knowing that despite appearances, there is nothing that can remove us from your loving care. We especially ask this care to be shown to those we mention this morning. As we offer up their names, hear the prayers of our hearts for each of them. Father, hear our prayers, for we pray in your Son's name. Amen.
Benediction
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Hymns
God Of Love My Shepherd Is, The
He Keeps Me Singing
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee
King Of Love, My Shepherd Is
Lord My Pasture Shall Prepare, The
Lord Is My Shepherd, The
Lord My Shepherd Hold Me, The
Lord Is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want, The
Lord's My Shepherd, The
My Shepherd Is The Lord My God
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
New 23rd, The
No, Not One!
O Thou Great Shepherd Of Thy Chosen Race
There's Something About That Name
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Contemporary Choruses
Every Move I Make, David Ruis
He Has Made Me Glad, Leona Von Brethorst
He Knows My Name, Tommy Walker
Jesus, Name Above All Names, Nadia Hearn
Other Music
Call On Jesus, Nicole Mullen
Jesus, like a Good Shepherd, is always there for us.
Shepherd Boy, Ray Boltz
God chose a shepherd boy to be king. But shepherds know a thing or two about protecting God's people.
From 1 John 3:16-24.
Leader:
By this we know love,
People:
That he laid down his life for us.
Leader:
So we praise him.
People:
Lift his name high.
Leader:
Exalt him.
People:
Worship and adore him.
Leader:
Amen.
(Moment of silence)
Leader:
In my heart I have this conversation all the time.
People:
What conversation is that?
Leader:
The one where I hear a voice that tells me I am nothing.
People:
Oh, that one. I have it, too.
Leader:
The voice tells me I am small,
People:
And insignificant,
Leader:
And useless,
People:
And unlovely.
Leader:
And I feel like curling up in a corner,
People:
And dying on the spot.
Leader:
But I have learned to listen for another voice.
People:
Another voice?
Leader:
Yes, the one that is quiet but so beautiful.
People:
And what does it say?
Leader:
It says, in a voice so peaceful and lovely, it says, "You, O child, are my child. And you are not unlovely, for I love you. And you are not insignificant, for any child of mine is precious to me."
People:
Yes, a lovely voice.
Leader:
God's voice.
People:
Let us worship God.
Based on Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18.
Leader:
The Lord is my shepherd,
People:
I shall not be in want.
Leader:
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd."
People:
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
Leader:
"The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
People:
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
Leader:
"The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep."
People:
The Good Shepherd guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Leader:
"When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it."
People:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
Leader:
"The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
People:
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Leader:
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd;"
People:
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Leader:
"I know my sheep;"
People:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Leader:
"And my sheep know me."
People:
You anoint my head with oil;
Leader:
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen."
People:
My cup overflows.
Leader:
"I must bring them, also."
People:
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
Leader:
"They, too, will listen to my voice,"
People:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Leader:
"And there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
People:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Leader:
Let us worship him.
A creative bit of liturgy that reflects the nature of our God:
Leader:
Great and mighty is our King;
People:
A God of glory and majesty;
Leader:
Whose ways are higher than ours;
People:
Whose thoughts are beyond us.
Leader:
Creator of all that is;
People:
Everywhere present;
Leader:
Knowing all;
People:
Seeing everything;
Leader:
Possessing unlimited power.
People:
Great and mighty is our King;
Leader:
A God of glory and majesty; but...
(As some music begins to softly play -- maybe the opening hymn -- have the pastor or some other robed or well-dressed person enter and move to the person seated in the chair. The one who has entered should remove the robe or suit jacket and lay it aside -- take the towel and toss it over their shoulder -- kneel and begin removing the shoes and socks of the seated person. Then -- the feet of the seated person should be washed and tenderly dried. The seated person should look on humbly. As the washer of the feet finishes drying the feet -- the liturgist should say:)
Leader:
Great and mighty is our King -- a God of glory and majesty -- who bows so low as to wash feet. Jesus said after he washed the feet of his disciples, "I have set an example for you. Do as I have done; for no servant is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than the one who sent him."
(At this point the music for the hymn should become louder and the congregation should sing a song that acknowledges that greatness and service go together.)
Prayer Of Confession
According to Jesus, his sheep know his voice. This prayer confesses that we often listen to the wrong voices.
Leader:
Lord, too often we listen to the wrong voice
People:
And are paralyzed by it,
Leader:
Becoming ineffective Christians who hide our talents and gifts;
People:
Who live in fear of being found out,
Leader:
And having people know we are not perfect Christians.
People:
Father, teach us that we have been freed from our sin,
Leader:
Freed to live the beauty that is within us.
People:
Teach us to live that beauty,
Leader:
Rather than hide it.
People:
We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Based on the 1 John 3 passage.
Leader:
Jesus, what great love you poured out on us in laying down your life.
People:
Yet we are so stingy with that kind of love --
Leader:
Offering to let someone go ahead of us in line;
People:
Giving up a dinner out to give that money instead to a soup kitchen;
Leader:
Lending or giving away some of those tools instead of buying more;
People:
Passing on those clothes not worn and passing up replacing them;
Leader:
Paying attention to someone else's need instead of being selfish.
People:
Forgive us for being so reluctant
Leader:
To make even these little sacrifices.
People:
Lord Jesus, change and empower us
Leader:
By your Holy Spirit
People:
So that our love would be more than just words,
Leader:
It would be love in action,
People:
A love that lays itself down
Leader:
And pours itself out
People:
As your love constantly does for us.
Leader:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
The beauty is there in each of us, though we may not see it; though the enemy may have convinced us it is not really there; though it may be buried beneath a mountain of sin. It is there.
People:
Master who has made us,
Leader:
Forgive us for being blind to the beauty.
People:
Open our eyes to see it,
Leader:
In ourselves and others,
People:
And to live it.
1 John passage.
When we love as Jesus loves, we know we belong to him and our hearts can rest assured in his presence whenever we question ourselves. If the love of God dwells in us, surely we will love one another. We will know that he lives in us, by the Spirit he gives us. His Spirit is love in word and action and truth.
John further says in his first letter, Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers. He seems to be saying you have been forgiven. Now live like it! Amen.
The Good Shepherd always pursues us when we get lost.
Leader:
Hear now this good news.
People:
Though we have gone astray
Leader:
Our Good Shepherd never stops seeking to bring us home.
People:
If only we repent,
Leader:
He will forgive and restore us.
People:
Praise the Lord!
Leader:
Amen!
Prayer Of Dedication
Let us pray: Good Shepherd, who feeds and clothes and shelters us; who gathers us together and keeps us within the fold. In your care, we need not worry or fear. May the gifts and offerings we bring to you this day testify of our trust in you, and may they be used to bring others into the family of faith. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Lord, it is such a gift to be able to quiet our minds that we might hear you speak to us. In this moment of silence now, give us this gift. Amen.
(Moment of silence)
Pastoral Prayer
Heavenly Father, is there anything more precious than salvation? We don't talk about it much. We often think of that kind of talk as fanatical, but it is the truth. We were all sinners, all on our way to misery; deserving of the death sentence. But you saved us from aimlessness, emptiness, isolation, eternal nothingness. May our gratitude be great and our response be love for you and your children everywhere. We especially think of the following who need your love just a little more than the rest of us this morning ...
Father above, in this time of turmoil when war and terror and recession and sickness press down upon us and our world, we turn to you for strength; knowing that despite appearances, there is nothing that can remove us from your loving care. We especially ask this care to be shown to those we mention this morning. As we offer up their names, hear the prayers of our hearts for each of them. Father, hear our prayers, for we pray in your Son's name. Amen.
Benediction
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Hymns
God Of Love My Shepherd Is, The
He Keeps Me Singing
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee
King Of Love, My Shepherd Is
Lord My Pasture Shall Prepare, The
Lord Is My Shepherd, The
Lord My Shepherd Hold Me, The
Lord Is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want, The
Lord's My Shepherd, The
My Shepherd Is The Lord My God
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
New 23rd, The
No, Not One!
O Thou Great Shepherd Of Thy Chosen Race
There's Something About That Name
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Contemporary Choruses
Every Move I Make, David Ruis
He Has Made Me Glad, Leona Von Brethorst
He Knows My Name, Tommy Walker
Jesus, Name Above All Names, Nadia Hearn
Other Music
Call On Jesus, Nicole Mullen
Jesus, like a Good Shepherd, is always there for us.
Shepherd Boy, Ray Boltz
God chose a shepherd boy to be king. But shepherds know a thing or two about protecting God's people.
