NOTES: Our pairing for this Sunday engages the very familiar image of the "Good Shepherd." The psalmist's imagery of the relationship between the faithful person and God through good times and bad, is one of abundance, strength and guidance throughout life. It reminds us of David, the shepherd king, reflecting on God's presence in his life. In Luke, Jesus engages the image of the shepherd to remind us how far God will go to bring us close into the reach of love and grace. Can we see God's shepherding hand in our world today? Can the world see it in us?
Scripture: Luke 15:1-10 & Psalm 23
Luke 15:1-10
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
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.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
WelcomePrelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn
Call to Worship
Leader: God calls to the lost, the least, and all who long for home;
People: God calls and welcomes us back to worship this day;
Leader: Let us celebrate and rejoice in God’s presence forever;
People: Let our hearts be led by the Good Shepherd's kind hand.
~ adapted from a piece posted on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website. http://presbyterian.ca/worship/
Invocation
Lord, we would follow you.
Be the one to whom we turn,
whose hand we hold,
the Shepherd who leads us
safely to the fold.
Lord, we would follow you
wherever you might lead.
Amen.
~ adapted from a prayer written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & ConcernsPrayer Hymn
Praying Together
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the TableCommunion Hymn
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for DiscipleshipDiscipleship Hymn
Blessing
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
WelcomePrelude
Call to Worship
Leader: God calls to the lost, the least, and all who long for home;
People: God calls and welcomes us back to worship this day;
Leader: Let us celebrate and rejoice in God’s presence forever;
People: Let our hearts be led by the Good Shepherd's kind hand.
~ adapted from a piece posted on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website. http://presbyterian.ca/worship/
Praise Hymn#17 "O Worship the King" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Lighting of the Candles
Invocation
Lord, we would follow you.
Be the one to whom we turn,
whose hand we hold,
the Shepherd who leads us
safely to the fold.
Lord, we would follow you
wherever you might lead.
Amen.
~ adapted from a prayer written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/
Passing of the Peace
Faith Hymn - Psalter
We Contemplate God's Word
ScriptureChoir Anthem
Children's Sermon
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & ConcernsPrayer Hymn
Praying Together
Gentle Shepherd:
Thank you for the way you have led us to green pastures and still water;
you’ve shown us beauty this week that has fed our souls.
The brilliant green of the budding trees glowing in the morning sun
the delicate symphony the birds sing each morning
the caress of the warm sun on our upraised cheeks,
the fragrance of lilac in the evening.
Some of us have walked through dark valleys this week,
and all of us know someone in a dark valley,
valleys of sickness, grief, uncertainty, fear.
You meet us there in the darkness, you protect us.
Our enemies are present in our lives;
forces that would take us away from you.
Pride, envy, hatred, selfishness,
all played out on an individual and corporate level.
We need your help in our lives.
You have heard the concerns of our hearts
that were spoken during our sharing time today,
and you heard the concerns that were unspoken,
which weight too heavily for us to share them.
We call on you for help; you guide us carefully.
You have provided for our basic needs this week,
thank you for the food we’ve eaten,
for the luxury of variety in our diet,
for the joy of cooking,
for the clean water that comes out of our taps.
You anoint us with oil,
you gift us with grace,
providing unexpected blessings over and over,
encouragement and new strength when we falter
tender compassion when we are spent.
Goodness and mercy is following us
all the days of our lives.
We give thanks for this good life,
for life and breath this day,
a day to praise and thank you,
we want to stay in your Presence forever. Amen.
~ written by Carole Penner, and posted on her Leading in Worship blog. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the TableCommunion Hymn
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for DiscipleshipDiscipleship Hymn
Blessing
Closing Hymn
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