THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—May 8, 2022

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER May 8, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation __________ Please note: As to my original and current aim, what I provide here is both "contemporary" and "inclusive" in language. This aim is to meet the need for worship that frees God and us from male gender bias and the long tradition wherein that has been central. Likewise, during Easter's 50 Days, there are so many beloved songs that witness to the theme of this blog—resurrection and life as being known and experienced in doing justice, loving kindness, and walk humbly with our God. Now, when it comes to hymns and music, I find myself in a quandary. My usual practice has been to simply not include the songs of the church if they were outside the aim of inclusion, knowing full well that most hymns are not contemporary being written earlier when traditional theological terms and expressions were employed. I find, however, that music adds so much beauty and sacred sound to worship. Thus, in some weeks I have included hymns and songs that unfortunately use gender exclusive langauge. I am sorry if this offends anyone. I often take offense with such things myself. Might I suggest that is the music selections do not bring blessing and express the faith of your heart of hearts, simply read past them and avoid the CLICK HERE links.
		SONG OF PRAISE IN PREPARATION Blessing And Honor And Glory And Pow'r —adapted from Horatius Bonar (1858) (Click Here For Music) —Rebecca Hincke 1). Blessing and honor and glory and power, Wisdom and riches and strength evermore Give to our God who our battle has won, Whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne. 2). Hear through the heavens the sound of God's name; While rings the earth with God's glory and fame; Ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower Echo God's praises and tell of God's power. 3). Ever ascending the song and the prayer; Ever descending the love that we share; Blessing and honor and glory and praise— This is the theme of the hymns that we raise. 4). Let us give glory and praise to the Lamb; Taking the we robe and the harp and the palm; Singing the song of the Lamb that was slain, Dying in weakness, but rising to reign. GATHERING WORDS Loving God, Sovereign One of Easter, we come together because You call us. Sometimes in the noisy bustle of life Your call sounds faintly, but somehow we have heard and we are here. We come in our weakness and uncertainty, with our doubts and our sense of unworthiness, yet knowing Your voice and trusting that our hope will not be disappointed. Draw us closer to You. Meet with us in our worship, and lead us through the coming week. Amen. PRAYER FOR THE DAY Living God, Merciful and Compassionate One, we worship You. We bless You for Your love which will not fail us. As a shepherd gathers their flock so, Good Shepherd, You gather us here today to feed and refresh us. Some of us come rejoicing because our path has led through green pastures; some come battered and bruised by life because our path has led through dark and frightening valleys. We need to know Your strength restoring our souls; some of us, like foolish sheep, come before You ashamed because we have wandered astray instead of following You and now we come seeking Your forgiveness. Thank You that in Your grace and through the One in whose way we follow—Jesus, your Beloved and Anointed One: You seek us out, You find us, You help us, and give us now joy and hope. We hear Your call to care for others as You care for us, to love as You love, to give and go on giving, to heal, to feed, to nurture and reconcile. Help us to show our thankfulness not only in our praise and prayers, but by following You in the way of self-sacrificing love, bringing others to give thanks and love You too. Meet with us by Your Spirit. Make us one. Lead us in Your ways for Your glory. Amen. FIRST READING Revelation 7:9-17 7:9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 7:10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 7:11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 7:12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 7:13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 7:14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 7:15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 7:16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 7:17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." PSALMODY —Chanted Version, Traditional— (Click Here For Chant) —Sung Version, Anthem— (Click Here For Music) The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Featuring Shane & Shane —Sung Version Expanded, Praise Song— (Click Here For Chant) Shane & Shane —Contemporary Inclusive Version To Read— Psalm 23 23:1 God, my shepherd, in you I shall not want. 23:2 You make me lie down in green pastures; you lead me beside still waters; 23:3 You revive my life-breath*. You lead me in paths of justice* for your name's sake. 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley*, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the your house my whole life long. —G Lake Dylan __________ * a more accurate translation as reviving the soul would not be an expression know or used in the original context * a more accurate translation as justice is the english translation of the Hebrew, and while it is righteousness, it specifies how one is righteous (i.e., walking in way of justice) * the original language (Hebrew) does not designate the dark valley as being one of the "shadow of death", although the wording does refer to a context of potential or real harm, including that possibly causing death __________ SECOND READING John 10:22-30 10:22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 10:23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 10:24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 10:25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 10:26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 10:29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 10:30 The Father and I are one." PRAYER OF CONFESSION sometimes we leave the flock wanting to do life on our own we desire to do things our way to have things we want to draw the lines that define who is in and who is out sometimes we are in the flock hiding in animosity wanting to be free from one's eyes and responsibility hidden in the likeness of others instead of being ourself sometimes we are amid the flock knowing we need community seeking that which provides for balance and growth and wholeness dancing in the music that is harmonious while singing our solo sometimes we are within the flock because we know that our life depends on the shepherd who takes care of us seeking the wisdom, guidance, and strength to be a people of just peace we thank you, O God, for bringing the flock together in your love giving yourself for us as we learn to give ourselves for others keep is in your spendthrift and never ending love and continue to lead and provide for your flock both now and throughout eternity ANGUS DEI Lamb of God, who in kindness gives yourself for the good of all: Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who for justice shows us the path that is God's way: Heal us in your compassion. Lamb of God, who in humbleness dwells among us and within us: Grant us your peace. SONG OF FAITH My Shepherd, Will Supply My Need —Isaac Watts (1719) (Click Here For Music) —(Arr. M. Wilberg), The BYU Concert Choir 1). My Shepherd, will supply my need, most holy is his name; in pastures fresh he makes me feed, beside the living stream. He bring my wand'ring spirit back. when I forsake his ways; He leads me, for your mercy's sake, in paths of truth and grace. 2). When I walk through the shades of death, your presence is my stay; one word of your supporting breath drives all my fears away. Your hand in sight of all my foes, does still my table spread; my cup with blessings overflows, your oil anoints my head. 3). Your sure provisions gracious God attend me all my days; oh, may your house be my abode, and all my work be praise. Here would I find a settled rest, while others go and come; no more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home. PRAYER Loving Shepherd, You lead and guide, You walk alongside, You prepare, you feed, you call, all of your sheep, even those of us who are lost, those of us who stray constantly, those of us who stay close to your comforting staff. We are grateful for the lush green pastures of our lives, and we pause now to offer our thanksgivings for the goodnesses in our lives. There are so many who walk in the shadows of fear and suffering and despair, and we pause now, to offer our prayers for the broken and bleeding places in this world. We also offer our prayers for the sheep of our own flocks, in our families and friends, in this our church and our community. O Loving Shepherd, We have all we need, as we live in You. Amen. —Rev Karla, https://revgalblogpals.org/ PRAYER OF INTERCESSION O God, our loving Shepherd, you come to us with the strength and love of a parent, and the tender mercies, patience and protection of a mother and father. We see you in the very living of our days, and yet we so often fail to praise you or to offer our burdens to you. Hear us, Lamb of God, as we lift to you our prayers for others and for ourselves. We pray for those in need–those who hunger or are homeless. We pray for those in pain—the abused, brokenhearted and lonely. We pray for the sick in body and in mind, and for those who grieve. For the life of this community and all those who put their trust in you for all their todays and all their tomorrows, we pray that your lovingkindness to the world would be offered through our hands, our words, our deeds, our hearts. Free us, Lord, as your own people, to sing your praise in the work of our everyday lives. In those comings and goings of our simple and complicated living, make us instruments of your peace and grace in weary days with weary people. Bless our memories, O God, that in our remembering we may partake of the mystery that is eternal life in its fullness. For we pray in your Easter presence as we follow the risen Christ, your Beloved and Anointed One. Amen. —https://lifeinliturgy.wordpress.com (adapted) PRAYER OF JESUS Our mother, which art the earth, Nurturing are thy ways. Thy web of life be woven Thy way be found within, As it is all around. Thank you this day for our daily bread and work and forgive us our misuse of you, as we forgive others their misuse of us. And lead us not into exploitation, But deliver us From lording it over you, And over each other, And over all our other fellow creatures. For thine are the waters of life, The hills, valleys and plains of home, The breeding, seeding, feeding ground, For now, and for as close to forever As we will ever come. Ah, woman! —Earth Dance, based on the Lord's Prayer, Minnesota Women's Press, 12/1999 SONG OF PRAISE IN GOING FORTH The King of Love My Shepherd Is —H. W. Baker (1868) (Click Here For Music) —(arr. Wilberg), The Tabernacle Choir 1). The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, And he is mine forever. 2). Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul he leadeth; And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth. 3). Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me; And on his shoulder gently laid, And home, rejoicing, brought me. 4). In death's dark vale I fear no ill, With thee, dear Lord, beside me; Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me. 5). Thou spreadst a table in my sight; Thy unction grace bestoweth; And oh, what transport of delight From thy pure chalice floweth! 6). And so through all the length of days, Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise Within thy house forever.