Worship Service for April 21, 2024

April 21, 2024 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

Introit

Prelude

Lighting of the Christ Candle

This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.

Call to Worship

One: Jesus the Christ said, I am the Good Shepherd.
All: We have come to follow him.

One: We gather in the name of the One who leads us by still waters.
All: We have come to be restored in him.

One: We gather in the name of the One who prepares a banquet for us.
All: We have come to be fed by his love, so let us worship God.

Opening Hymn

“Now the green blade rises” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 256). Words by English Anglican priest and poet John Macleod Campbell Crum (1872–1958). Music (tune: “French Carol”) is a traditional French carol “Noël nouvellet”; harmony by English composer and conductor Martin Shaw (1875–1958). Words, music and harmony in the public domain.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

Loving God, our shepherd, guide and giver of life. You nourish our lives and lead us into green pastures. You restore our souls with rest and peace. You give us joy so our lives overflows with goodness and grace. You walk with us through the darkest valleys, offering us courage and compassion. At all times and in all circumstances, you are with us, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, so we praise you, Holy One, here and now, now and always. Amen.

God of mercy, You lead us into green pastures, but our lifestyles put those pastures at risk. You offer us rest, but we like to pursue our goals, whatever the cost to the earth or our health. You call us to show compassion, but we are quick to judge others. Forgive us, and humble us to live with respect in creation.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

Declaration of Pardon

Jesus said, Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Friends, trust that peace and forgiveness are God’s gift to you this day. Be renewed by the power of the Spirit that moves with you into each new day.
All: Thanks be to God!

The Peace

One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

Mission Moment (Compassion Canada)

Musical presentation

Sung by Hannah Roth.

“In Christ Alone”. Words (2001) by English hymnwriter Stuart Townend (1963–). Music (2001: tune “In Christ Alone”) by Northern-Irish musician Keith Getty (1974–). Words and music © 2002 Thankyou Music (PRS), administered at Capitol CMG Publishing; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)

We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.

“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions and music in the public domain.

Scripture Reading

John 10:11–18  <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible

Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

John 10:11–18

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 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.”

Sermon

There are many scriptures in the Bible, we can simply read, meditate, and practice, but the text we read today from the Gospel of John invites us to go beyond what we see in the text.

John 10:11, 14, 15. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

We are looking at one of the seven famous “I am” statements from the gospel of John.
1.I am the bread of life. (6:35) 2. I am the light of the world (8:12)
3. I am the door (10:9) 4. I am the good shepherd (10:11)
5. I am the resurrection and the life. (11:25) 6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. (14:6)
7. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. (15:1)
I am the vine, you are the branches (15:5) (which we will look at next Sunday).

Jesus could have said, “God is the good shepherd,” as in the book of Psalms, “The Lord is my shepherd.” But in the Gospel of John, Jesus chooses to say, “I am the good shepherd.”

I am the good shepherd. In Greek, “Ego eimi ho poimen ho kalos ho poimen.”

The phrase “Ego Eimi/I am” comes from the Old Testament passage, Exodus chapter 3 verse 14. Here, Moses discovers the burning bush on the Mount of Horeb, where God commands Moses to go back to his suffering people of Israel in a foreign land. Moses asked “What is your name?”. God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”

In Hebrew, it is “ehyeh asher ehyeh,” and the Septuagint Bible translates the Hebrew verse into Greek as “ego emi ho on.” “I am who I am.” The phrase “Ego emi or I am” is part of God’s name and identity in the Hebrew Bible. The name of God consists of “I,” the first-person pronoun, and “am,” the singular imperfect verb, implying an ongoing or future action.

If you had been a Jewish person during Jesus’ time, you would have known what Jesus meant when he said, “ego emi… I am.” Jesus was not referring to his human identity but to God who lives, abides, guides, walks, and breathes through him. The immanent God, God beyond, God above, the source of our human life, inseparable from us.

When Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” instead of saying, “The Lord is the good shepherd,” he taught us that not only is he the good shepherd who will lay down his life for us, but also that God cannot be separated from him or from us. Instead of expressing God in the third person, here in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to God in the first person. We can compare this approach with how Jesus addresses God in the Gospel of Mark (10:17–18): “As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.”

The Gospel of John challenges us by affirming that God cannot remain a third person in our lives forever. God must become the first person “I,” the very subject of our lives. It is when God becomes I instead of he or she or they, our lives become abundant.

Please, join our Sunday worship service at 11 am, either in person or virtually, to hear the full version of the sermon.

Hymn

“You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 356). Words (1991) by Canadian United Church minister and chaplain Sylvia G. Dunstan (1955–1993). Music (1984; tune: “Paradox” or “Christus Paradox”) by Canadian singer and composer John R. Van Maanen (1958–). Words copyright © 1991 G.I.A. Publications, Inc.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music copyright © 1984 John R. Van Maanen.

Offering

As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.

Musical Reflection

We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.

Dedication of our Gifts

Our offering will now be received.

Doxology 306

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100^th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.

Prayer of dedication

Giving God, you are our Shepherd, strong and wise. Bless the gifts we offer and multiply their impact in the world. Use them to spread your love and protect all that is vulnerable in your creation, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

Gracious and loving God, as a shepherd cares for the flock, so you care for each one of us. Move in our hearts and minds, our congregations and communities, and lead us to care for one another for the sake of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Today we thank you for the gift of rest. We pray for all those who are tired from work or worry. Grant rest to restore those who are exhausted by the challenges they face, and all those who are weary from the responsibilities they carry.

God our Guide, thank you for the gifts of truth and wisdom. We pray for those who cannot discern truth in the midst of conspiracy theories, and for places where authorities distort reality for their own ends. Grant wisdom and common sense to all who make decisions in the midst of misinformation.

God our Strength, thank you for the ways you refresh our souls. We pray for those whose lives are burdened by economic challenges. We remember all in the midst of any sort of difficulty, those who are sick, in pain, or facing death, and those who are bereaved by the loss of someone dear.

Be their source of healing and peace.

God our Shield and Defender, thank you for staying with us when we face danger or death. We pray for all those who live in fear: prisoners, exiles and refugees, victims of oppression, racism, and hatred, and those who face the threat of violence day after day. Be their steady companion and source of courage.

God our Provider, thank you for all the ways you fill our cup to overflowing. Show us how we can be part of your redeeming work in caring for the earth and sharing what we have with those in any kind of need. Amen.

Closing Hymn

“The Lord’s my shepherd (Psalm 23)”. (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 11). Words Psalm 23; paraphrase, Scottish Psalter, 1650. Music (1872; tune: “Crimond”) by Scottish amateur hymn composer Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836–1887). Harmony by Thomas Cuthbertson Leithead Pritchard (1885–1960). Descant by W. Baird Ross (1871–1950). Words, music, harmony and descant all public domain.

Changing the Light

Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.

Benediction

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the risen Christ), the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.

Blessing

“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.

Postlude

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-04-21 22:35 – Added Sermon text, Musical presentation info.