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Easter 4 - Year A, B, C

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.

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2003.



A CREATIVE MOMENT   Psalm 23
(a) As for last week, place a bowl of water with a lighted tea candle floating in it, and a swathe of blue cloth, at the worship centre.
Members might be "shepherded" to their seats on this occasion, rather than "ushered".
Sing the psalm (try a new arrangement??). After the singing, provide a quiet time during which a stuffed toy (sheep) is passed around the congregation to provide folk with another point of reflection on the psalm.

(b) Click here for some ideas for worship in the Easter season.




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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 4 - YEAR C
 		   
I'm not ashamed to own my Lord TIS 562 AHB 470
Serve you the Lord, heart filled with gladness TIS 60 AHB 100
Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness TIS 61 AHB 111
The great love of God TIS 164 AHB 105
Acts 9:36-43
    
All the sleepy should have a place to sleep TIS 697
Christ is risen! shout hosanna! TIS 394
Come, God's people, sing for joy TIS 391 SA 26
O Christ the healer, we have come TIS 638
PSALM 23
    
Author of life divine TIS 506 AHB 430
I know that my redeemer lives TIS 376 AHB 132
I need you, Lord, for I have seen TIS 625
I set the Lord before my eyes TIS 673 SA 48
I will sing the wondrous story TIS 233 AHB 173
In all my ways, in every task TIS 553
Jesus lives ! your terrors now TIS 372 AHB 294
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King.. TIS 111 AHB 28
The king of love my shepherd is TIS 145 AHB 81
The Lord is my shepherd and I want to follow TIS 659
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing TIS 11 AHB 98
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. TIS 10 AHB 16
Revelation 7:9-17
  
All hail the power of Jesus' name TIS 224 AHB 159
Christ is the world's redeemer TIS 192 AHB 123
Comfort, comfort, all my people TIS 647 SA 25
For all the saints who from their labours rest TIS 455 AHB 384
Glorious things of you are spoken TIS 446 AHB 374
Glory be to God the Father TIS 142 AHB 84
God, we praise you, God, we bless you TIS 99 SA 40
Holy God, we praise your name TIS 127 AHB 86
Worship, honour, glory, blessing TIS 772 AHB 577
You holy angels bright TIS 108
You servants of God, your master proclaim TIS 215 AHB 144
John 10:22-30
  
Bread of the world, in mercy broken TIS 512 AHB 437
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds TIS 223 AHB 158
Joyful, joyful, we adore you TIS 152
O love how broad, how deep, how high TIS 194 AHB 6
Of the Father's love begotten TIS 290 AHB 215
The word of the Lord lasts for ever TIS 257
   
   


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