34A – Easter 4A

33A - Easter 3A35A - Easter 5A
 
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023

 
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 23)
The Lord God is my shepherd, I shall not want.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and lovingkindness shall pursue me 
all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord God forever.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (from Psalm 23)
Gracious God, you care for me; I need nothing more.
Hear the cry of those who are hungry;
hungry for justice, and dignity, hungry for freedom, and love.
You lead me into a haven of peace and rest.
Hear the cry of those who are alone;
those who grieve a relationship broken by death or human failing,
those who live in the isolation of a hospital room, a prison cell,
a frail body, a confused mind.
You breath new life into me and lead me in new ways.
God whose breath is life itself,
we pray for a just and caring use of your creation;
a fair sharing of its abundance, an ethical searching of its mysteries.
You are with me, and comfort me,
even when the darkness of the world looms large.
We pray for those who seek the truth;
those who cannot speak, and those who cannot be heard,
that the light of your Word
may shine in the darkness which overshadows their lives
In the face of those who trouble me
you provide for me, and pour out your blessings.
Hear the cry of those trampled by racial or religious intolerance,
disoriented by homelessness, defeated by unemployment;
God of justice and compassion you are with me always
and have promised to sustain me all my life.
Enlarge our vision of life, and make us bold in our hope,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
let our cry come to you;
. . . and with the saints in every age we pray,
        Our Father in heaven . . . . .

PSALM 23 
LORD God, divine shepherd;
in the days ahead, just as it has been all my life,
I shall not want for anything.
You will rest me in rich pasture
and lead me beside calm waters.
You will bring my inner being back where it belongs,
and lead me along the right paths,
for the sake of your name.
Even when things seem at their darkest,
sensing your presence, I fear nothing;
you are sure of the way ahead, and you protect me.
Indeed, in spite of the adversity surrounding me
you continue to provide abundantly for my well-being;
anointing me with your hospitality
and pouring out blessing upon blessing.
Surely good and lovingkindness will pursue me all my days,
I will return, and you, O LORD,
shall be my dwelling-place for days without end.

PSALM 23 (yet another translation from Jeff)
LORD God, divine shepherd;
I shall not want for anything.
You will rest me in rich pasture
and lead me beside calm waters.
You will bring back my life where it belongs,
and lead me along the right paths, 
for the sake of your name.
Even when things seem at their darkest,
sensing your presence, I will fear nothing;
you are sure of the way ahead,
and you will protect me.
In spite of the adversity surrounding me
you provide everything for my well-being;
anointing me with your hospitality
and pouring out blessing upon blessing.
Surely good and lovingkindness will pursue me all my days,
I will return, and you, O LORD, 
shall be my dwelling-place for days without end.

OFFERING
Blessed are you,
source and sovereign of all that is,
you bring forth bread from the earth
and create the fruit of the vine.
Bless these gifts and our lives,
offered in the name of the risen Word of life,
that by the inspiration your holy Breath of life,
these gifts may be used to proclaim the gospel:
good news which fills lives that are empty
and lifts up those who need help. Amen.

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.


A CREATIVE MOMENT – READING REF’CE
Continue to use the swathe of white and/or gold/yellow cloth flowing over the front of the worship/communion table and onto the floor as a basis for creativity and symbols during the Easter season.
OR
Scenes of “green pastures” and drought ravaged land could be projected or otherwise depicted (e.g. posters) on the walls of the worship space, as that space dictates.

Click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print), originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.


THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)

Good Shepherd,
we pray for the very old, the very young
those unable to care for themselves
or provide for their families;
for all whom we love;
all whom we name on our lips
and in our silence …
and for ourselves,
that together we may know your goodness and mercy
all our days …
         (The Prayers of the People continue)


Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EASTER 4A
Acts 2: 42-47
Filled with the Spirit’s power TIS 411
Jesus, where’er thy people meet TIS 445
We are your people, Lord, by your grace TIS 468
Psalm 23
Author of life divine TIS 506
I need you, Lord, for I have seen TIS 625
I set the Lord before my eyes TIS 673
In all my ways, in every task TIS 553
In heavenly love abiding TIS 588
Jesus, my Lord, let me be near you TIS 656
O God of Bethel, by whose hand TIS 564
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King TIS 111
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing TIS 11
The Lord is my shepherd TIS 659
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want TIS 10
The king of love my shepherd is TIS 145
1 Peter 2:19-25
Christ is alive, with joy we sing TIS 393
Crown him with many crowns TIS 228
Give me the wings of faith to rise TIS 438
Glory be to Jesus TIS 344
God, we praise you, God, we bless you TIS 99
In you is gladness TIS 200
Jesus Christ is risen today TIS 362
Lord Jesus, think on me TIS 546
O Jesus, I have promised TIS 595
O love, how deep, how broad, how high TIS 194
We praise you, Lord, for Jesus Christ TIS 486
John 10: 1-10
Christ is the world’s true light TIS 238
Christ is the world’s light, TIS 246
I danced in the morning TIS 242
I greet you, my Redeemer sure, who lives TIS 198
I know that my Redeemer TIS 202
I need you, Lord, for I have seen TIS 625
Jesus the Lord said, ‘I am the bread’ TIS 239
O let the Son of God enfold you TIS 655
Seek, O seek the Lord, while he is near TIS 464
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy TIS 136
You satisfy the hungry heart TIS 539

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