Happy Mother’s Day!

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, settle our hearts and our minds and lift from us our burdens. Hear our prayers for our family, our friends, our world, and for ourselves. Enable us on this day to put away the things that hurt and hinder, and accept anew the things that help all people of faith. Be with us in your love that we may be your children, at one with all those who hear your voice and who follow in your way. Renew us with life that is full of joy, assured by the presence of a Savior who knows our lot and cares for us always, for Christ is our help and hope.

Readings

Psalter Lesson: Psalm 23 NRSV

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.  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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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.

Gospel Lesson: John 10: 11-18 NRSV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Hymns

• No. 423 – Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
• No. 170 – The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
• No. 142 – All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!

Sermon

“In Need of a Shepherd” – Rev. Scott G. Loomer

Download the Worship bulletin for Sunday, May 12th