Debra K. Brazzel - Sermon Untitled (April 28, 1996)

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	(church organ plays)	0:02
-	Good morning.	1:52
	We'd like to welcome you to Duke Chapel	1:54
	for this fourth Sunday of Easter.	1:56
	We are grateful to the Charlotte Children's Choir	1:59
	for their participation in the service of worship,	2:02
	for their director Ms. Sandy Holland,	2:05
	and their accompanist, Ms. Catherine Holland,	2:07
	and look forward to their musical participation	2:10
	in our service.	2:12
	Also, I'd like to say a word of thanks	2:14
	to the Reverend Dan Via for his participation	2:16
	as the presiding minister for today.	2:20
	And also to Ms. Emily Guerry, who is our lector.	2:23
	And now let us continue our worship.	2:27
	(gentle piano music)	3:00
	♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice ♪	3:08
	(muffled singing)	3:14
	♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice ♪	3:17
	(muffled singing)	3:22
	♪ Unto Christ the king ♪	3:26
	♪ Praises now we bring ♪	3:28
	♪ Hymns of gladness sing forever ♪	3:30
	♪ Unto Christ the king ♪	3:37
	♪ Praises now we bring ♪	3:39
	♪ Hymns of gladness sing forever ♪	3:42
	♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice ♪	3:59
	(muffled singing)	4:04
	♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice ♪	4:08
	(muffled singing)	4:13
-	Please rise for the call to worship.	4:28
	Let us praise our God who tends us like sheep.	4:37
	(congregation chants)	4:41
	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us.	4:45
	(congregation chants)	4:48
	(church organ plays cheerfully)	4:54
-	Let us pray.	8:13
	Good Shepherd who calls us by name	8:15
	and leads us in the way you would have us go,	8:18
	grant the wisdom, devotion, and courage to follow you.	8:21
	We would dare to be disciples who are learning	8:26
	patience and generosity,	8:29
	that we might share with others the abundant life	8:31
	you are revealing to us.	8:34
	Add to our number daily those who are being saved.	8:36
	Amen.	8:40
	Please be seated.	8:41
-	Let us join together in the prayer for illumination.	8:57
	Open our hearts and minds, O God,	9:02
	by the power of your holy spirit	9:06
	so that, as the Word is read and proclaimed,	9:09
	we may hear your message with joy this day.	9:13
	Amen.	9:17
	The first lesson is from the first letter of St. Peter,	9:23
	the second chapter, the 19th through the 25th verses.	9:27
	"For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God,	9:34
	"you endure pain while suffering unjustly.	9:39
	"If you endure, when you are beaten for doing wrong,	9:43
	"what credit is that?	9:47
	"But, if you endure when you do right,	9:49
	"and suffer for it,	9:53
	"you have God's approval.	9:55
	"For to this you have been called,	9:58
	"because Christ also suffered for you,	10:02
	"leaving you an example	10:07
	"so that you should follow in his steps.	10:09
	"He committed no sin,	10:14
	"and no deceit was found in his mouth.	10:17
	"When he was abused, he did not return abuse.	10:21
	"When he was suffered, he did not threaten.	10:26
	"But he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.	10:30
	"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,	10:37
	"so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness.	10:43
	"By his wounds you have been healed,	10:49
	"for you were going astray like sheep,	10:53
	"but now you have returned to the shepherd	10:57
	"and guardian of your souls."	11:00
	This is the word of the Lord.	11:04
Congregation	Thanks be to God.	11:07
-	The psalm for this morning is number 23.	11:21
	It is found on page 754 of the hymnal.	11:24
	Will you please stand and we will read responsibly.	11:30
	The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.	11:39
Congregation	The Lord makes me lie down	11:43
	in green pastures.	11:45
-	Leads me beside still waters, restores my life.	11:47
Congregation	Leads me in the right paths	11:51
	for the sake of the Lord's name.	11:53
-	Even though I walk through the darkest valley,	11:56
	I fear no evil.	11:59
Congregation	For you are with me.	12:01
	Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.	12:03
-	You prepare a table before me	12:06
	in the presence of my enemies.	12:08
Congregation	You anoint my head with oil,	12:11
	my cup overflows.	12:13
-	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me	12:15
	all the days of my life.	12:18
Congregation	And I shall dwell in the house	12:21
	of the Lord as long as I live.	12:22
	(church organ plays)	12:27
	♪ Glory be to our Creator ♪	12:37
	♪ Praise to our Redeemer ♪	12:45
	♪ Glory be to our Sustainer ♪	12:52
	♪ Ever three and ever one ♪	13:00
	♪ As it was in the beginning ♪	13:07
	♪ Now and evermore shall be ♪	13:15
-	Please be seated.	13:27
-	The second lesson today is from the book of Acts,	13:51
	the second chapter, the 42nd through 47th verses.	13:55
	"They devoted themselves to the Apostle's teaching	14:03
	"and fellowship,	14:07
	"to the breaking of bread and prayers.	14:08
	"All came upon everyone,	14:12
	"because many wonders and signs were being done	14:14
	"by the apostles.	14:19
	"All who believed were together	14:21
	"and had all things in common.	14:25
	"They would sell their possessions and goods	14:28
	"and distribute the proceeds to all,	14:32
	"as any had need.	14:34
	"Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple,	14:37
	"they broke bread at home,	14:43
	"and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,	14:45
	"praising God, and having the good will	14:49
	"of all the people.	14:53
	"And, day by day, the Lord added to their number	14:56
	"those who were being saved."	15:00
	This is the word of the Lord.	15:03
Congregation	Thanks be to God.	15:06
	(church organ plays brightly)	15:11
	(piano plays gently)	15:58
	♪ All things bright and beautiful ♪	16:10
	♪ All creatures great and small ♪	16:14
	♪ All things wise and wonderful ♪	16:18
	♪ The Lord God made them all ♪	16:22
	♪ Each little flower that opens ♪	16:26
	♪ Each little bird that sings ♪	16:30
	♪ He made their glowing colors ♪	16:34
	♪ He made their tiny wings ♪	16:38
	♪ All things bright and beautiful ♪	16:42
	♪ All creatures great and small ♪	16:46
	♪ All things wise and wonderful ♪	16:50
	♪ The Lord God made them all ♪	16:54
	♪ The purple-headed mountain ♪	17:02
	♪ The river running by ♪	17:06
	♪ The sunset and the morning ♪	17:10
	♪ That brightens up the sky ♪	17:14
	♪ The cold wind in the winter ♪	17:18
	♪ The pleasant summer sun ♪	17:22
	♪ The ripe fruits in the garden ♪	17:26
	♪ He made them every one ♪	17:30
	♪ All things bright and beautiful ♪	17:35
	♪ All creatures great and small ♪	17:39
	♪ All things wise and wonderful ♪	17:43
	♪ The Lord God made them all ♪	17:47
	♪ He gave us eyes to see them ♪	17:51
	♪ And lips that we might tell ♪	17:54
	♪ How great is God almighty ♪	17:58
	♪ Who has made all things well ♪	18:02
	♪ All things bright and beautiful ♪	18:07
	♪ All creatures great and small ♪	18:10
	♪ All things wise and wonderful ♪	18:14
	♪ The Lord God made them all ♪	18:22
	(church organ plays brightly)	18:40
-	The gospel today comes from St. John,	19:21
	the 10th chapter, verses 1 through 10.	19:25
	"Very truly, I tell you,	19:30
	"anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate	19:33
	"but climbs in by another way	19:37
	"is a thief and a bandit.	19:40
	"The one who enters by the gate	19:43
	"is the shepherd of the sheep.	19:46
	"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him	19:49
	"and the sheep hear his voice.	19:53
	"He calls his own sheep by name	19:56
	"and leads them out.	19:59
	"When he has brought out all his own,	20:01
	"he goes ahead of them	20:04
	"and the sheep follow him	20:07
	"because they know his voice.	20:09
	"They will not follow a stranger,	20:12
	"but they will run from him	20:15
	"because they do not know the voice of strangers.	20:17
	"Jesus used this figure of speech with them,	20:21
	"but they did not understand what he was saying to them.	20:25
	"So, again, Jesus said to them,	20:29
	"Very truly, I tell you,	20:32
	"I am the gate for the sheep.	20:36
	"All who came before me	20:40
	"are thieves	20:42
	"and bandits.	20:44
	"But the sheep did not listen to them.	20:46
	"I am the gate.	20:51
	"Whoever enters by me	20:54
	"will be saved	20:56
	"and will come in and go out and find pasture.	20:58
	"The thief comes only to steal	21:04
	"and kill	21:07
	"and to destroy.	21:09
	"I came that they may have life	21:12
	"and have it abundantly."	21:17
	This is the word of the Lord.	21:20
Congregation	Thanks be to God.	21:23
-	This is always a poignant time of year	21:37
	in the university.	21:40
	The pace is frenetic and there are not enough hours	21:42
	in the day to do all that needs to be done.	21:44
	But it is bearable	21:47
	because we know it will all be over soon.	21:49
	We may feel twinges of regret	21:53
	about the things that we wanted to do that we didn't get to,	21:55
	or the things that we might have done better.	21:58
	But there's also a wonderful sense of closure	22:01
	and satisfaction.	22:04
	For good or bad, the semester, and the academic year,	22:06
	are drawing to a close.	22:10
	This summer, we'll start planning for the next year	22:13
	and we'll get ready to do it all over again.	22:15
	But for now we look forward to the finish	22:18
	when we can let go of what is done	22:21
	and look ahead to new possibilities.	22:23
	These cycles of endings and beginnings	22:27
	are an enjoyable part of life at the university.	22:30
	But it also means that nearly one fourth of our students	22:35
	leave every spring.	22:39
	It is with sadness as well as hopefulnesss	22:43
	that we say goodbye to them.	22:45
	We will miss them,	22:48
	but we also know it's time to let them go.	22:50
	We hope we've had some positive influence upon them	22:53
	and we hope that they will apply the best	22:57
	of what they've learned at Duke University	22:59
	and the best of themselves	23:02
	to make a difference in the world.	23:03
	It is to these students, these graduating students,	23:06
	for whom we feel such pride and hope for the future	23:10
	that this sermon is dedicated.	23:14
	Please know that our prayers and thoughts go with you	23:17
	as you venture forward from Duke University	23:21
	to new possibilities and a future yet to be revealed.	23:24
	Most of us know what it's like to face a time	23:31
	when we must move forward from what is familiar	23:34
	to what is unknown.	23:38
	Again and again throughout life we make decisions	23:40
	about which path to follow	23:44
	as we seek to create a good life,	23:46
	a meaningful life, for ourselves.	23:48
	And there are pivotal moments	23:52
	when we make choices which have significant consequences	23:53
	for our future.	23:57
	The decision to go to medical school,	23:58
	the decision to get married,	24:01
	the decision to have children,	24:03
	the decision to make a career change,	24:06
	the decision to seek a divorce.	24:09
	Sometimes these decisions come easily to us,	24:12
	but other times they feel like a tremendous burden,	24:15
	and we fear making the wrong choice.	24:18
	We struggle with how to know which path is the right path,	24:22
	what choice among the many choices	24:27
	is the right one for us.	24:30
	Then there are the casual decisions that we make,	24:34
	which, over time, give expression to our values	24:37
	and shape the character of our lives.	24:42
	These are the common, everyday choices that we make,	24:45
	like what kind of relationships we have,	24:49
	how we spend our time,	24:51
	what kind of work we do,	24:53
	how we spend our money,	24:55
	what we think about most often,	24:57
	the ways we get involved in our community,	25:00
	how we treat other people,	25:04
	what we keep and what we give away,	25:06
	how we worship,	25:09
	and how we play.	25:11
	Daily, we are faced with choices	25:13
	about how we will live.	25:16
	And, taken together, those decisions that we make	25:19
	reflect who we are	25:23
	and the values we hold most dear.	25:25
	So how do we learn to discern what is right	25:28
	in those pivotal moments	25:30
	and in the everyday, seemingly casual choices	25:32
	that we make?	25:35
	How do we make good decisions	25:37
	that will lead to the kind of life that we want to have?	25:40
	How do we know, each one of us, individually,	25:44
	what is the right way to go?	25:48
	Finding,	25:52
	or failing to find a satisfactory answer	25:54
	to this question	25:57
	is part of the human condition.	25:59
	It is the challenge of life	26:02
	that each one of us must face.	26:04
	How do we know what is the right way to go?	26:07
	The Gospel of John says that the shepherd of the sheep	26:13
	calls his own sheep by name	26:17
	and leads them out.	26:20
	When he has brought out all his own,	26:22
	he goes ahead of them	26:24
	and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.	26:26
	This is a remarkable scripture.	26:31
	First, it asserts that we are sheep	26:34
	and that we have a shepherd.	26:37
	It may make us uncomfortable,	26:39
	we may be resistant to the idea,	26:41
	but the scripture says	26:43
	that someone else has ownership rights over us.	26:45
	Our lives are not just our own to do with as we please.	26:51
	The shepherd calls his own sheep.	26:56
	In this text, Jesus asserts that we belong to him.	27:01
	We are part of God's flock.	27:07
	The shepherd has a claim on us.	27:09
	And the shepherd calls us by name:	27:14
	each one, individually, called,	27:17
	named by God.	27:20
	What an awesome claim to make,	27:24
	that each one is called by the creator and author of life,	27:26
	the same God who created the vast universe,	27:31
	with more than 250 million	27:34
	times 250 million stars.	27:37
	The same God who created the amazing diversity of life,	27:42
	so that if we examine a handful of soil	27:47
	under an electron microscope,	27:50
	we discover that it teems with billions upon billions	27:54
	of microorganisms.	27:58
	The same God that brought all this into being,	28:02
	from the most gigantic galaxy to the most minute microbe,	28:05
	the same God who created creation	28:10
	to function flawlessly	28:14
	according to laws of a unity and order	28:17
	whose perfection we are only beginning to understand,	28:19
	this same God	28:24
	calls us by name,	28:26
	individually,	28:28
	one by one:	28:30
	Sandy,	28:32
	Elena,	28:34
	Jen,	28:35
	Atiba,	28:37
	Jason,	28:39
	Betsy,	28:40
	Eliza,	28:42
	Emily,	28:43
	Greg,	28:45
	Jonathan,	28:46
	Elizabeth,	28:48
	Chris.	28:49
	Each one of us is called, individually, by name,	28:53
	because each of us matters to God.	28:58
	Do you understand how amazing that is?	29:01
	That this isn't an overseer who is indifferent,	29:05
	this isn't an absent landlord,	29:09
	but a shepherd who knows us intimately	29:12
	and calls us by name.	29:15
	How do we know when our name is called by the shepherd?	29:19
	Many of us could describe experiences	29:24
	when we felt a presence,	29:26
	an awareness,	29:29
	a peace,	29:31
	a power that was intangible, yet nevertheless very real.	29:33
	Perhaps it was in a moment of prayer,	29:38
	perhaps it was reading a scripture that suddenly came alive,	29:41
	or a time of quiet reflection.	29:45
	Maybe it was a dream that has stayed with you	29:48
	or a song that reverberates in your heart.	29:52
	It could have been a moment of deep connection	29:55
	with a stranger,	29:57
	or an experience of being loved.	29:59
	It might have been a time of struggle	30:02
	when you endured more than you were able,	30:04
	or perhaps it was a moment of intense joy.	30:09
	There are so many ways that God reaches out to us,	30:13
	pursuing us,	30:17
	watching over us,	30:18
	calling us by name,	30:20
	inviting us into closer relationship.	30:23
	For God desires to be known by us	30:27
	even as we are known by God.	30:31
	In the scripture, Jesus says	30:35
	that we can know the shepherd.	30:37
	The sheep know the shepherd's voice.	30:40
	God wants to be known.	30:44
	God wants to be so familiar to us,	30:46
	so close to us,	30:49
	that we will have no difficulty discerning God's voice	30:50
	from all others.	30:54
	Think about the people you're closest to.	30:57
	Imagine the voices that you know so well	31:00
	that you recognize them in the dark.	31:03
	When you hear their voice,	31:06
	you don't need to ask "Who is it?"	31:07
	You know them immediately.	31:10
	And with that recognition comes all the feelings	31:12
	and the power of the relationship.	31:15
	When they speak to you, their words mean more	31:18
	than what they say in that given moment,	31:21
	because of all that has gone before,	31:24
	and all that you remember and know about them.	31:26
	And when they ask something of you,	31:30
	you aren't afraid to comply	31:32
	because you trust them inherently,	31:34
	and you know that they have your best interests at heart.	31:37
	The shepherd desires a relationship with us	31:42
	that is so close and so intimate	31:46
	that we immediately discern his voice from all others.	31:49
	The shepherd wants to be so well-known,	31:54
	so trusted,	31:56
	that the very sound of his voice comforts us,	31:58
	because we know who the shepherd is.	32:01
	The shepherd is like a mother whose voice reaches out	32:05
	through the darkness to calm her child	32:08
	in the midst of a storm.	32:11
	The shepherd is like a father	32:13
	who protects his children from harm.	32:14
	We trust this shepherd,	32:18
	because the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.	32:20
	He gives whatever is needed to lead them to abundant life	32:24
	and safe pasture.	32:27
	It is through the quality of the relationship	32:29
	and the experience of God's love and care	32:32
	that we begin to trust enough to follow	32:35
	wherever the shepherd leads.	32:38
	So how do we go about developing	32:42
	that quality of relationship with the shepherd?	32:44
	Well, we have to do what we do	32:48
	in any other close relationship.	32:49
	We have to spend time together.	32:52
	We have to be vulnerable, open, and honest,	32:54
	we have to be totally ourselves.	32:57
	We have to be willing to open our hearts.	33:00
	We have to have a genuine desire to know the shepherd.	33:03
	We have to be good listeners.	33:07
	We have to be willing to take the risk	33:10
	of trusting the shepherd,	33:12
	first with small things,	33:14
	and then as our faith and confidence grows,	33:16
	with our whole lives.	33:19
	The best place to develop this intimate relationship	33:23
	is in the sheepfold,	33:28
	for that is where the sheep get called out by name.	33:30
	It is a paradox that we get called together,	33:36
	one by one.	33:41
	The relationship with the shepherd is at the same time	33:44
	singular and plural.	33:47
	It is private and corporate.	33:49
	We hear our names spoken, each one, together.	33:53
	God desires to be in relationship with us individually,	33:59
	but also to make us part of the flock	34:04
	and to bring us into the sheepfold.	34:07
	For it is here, in the church,	34:11
	that we have a chance to be with others	34:13
	who know the shepherd.	34:16
	It is here that we tell the stories	34:17
	and remember the times and places	34:20
	when the shepherd's voice has been heard in the past.	34:22
	It is here that we learn	34:26
	to recognize the shepherd's character	34:27
	and the shepherd's ways.	34:30
	It is here that we share our own stories	34:32
	about how we've come to know the shepherd.	34:36
	And it is here that we are told	34:39
	the shepherd will come and call us by name	34:42
	and lead us out into right paths.	34:46
	We are never intended to face the future alone,	34:51
	or to have to discern what is right for us alone.	34:56
	The shepherd has made us part of the flock	35:01
	so that we might benefit from the wisdom of those	35:03
	who have followed the shepherd across the ages,	35:06
	and the support and guidance of those	35:10
	who continue to listen for the shepherd's distinctive voice.	35:13
	The shepherd has brought us into the sheepfold	35:19
	so that, together, we might find the way	35:22
	to save pasture and abundant life,	35:25
	nourishment for our deepest needs,	35:29
	protection from all that could harm us,	35:32
	clarity of discernment	35:35
	to recognize those who would lead us astray,	35:37
	strength for times of trouble,	35:41
	and courage to follow wherever the shepherd leads,	35:44
	knowing that in all things the shepherd's deepest desire	35:48
	is to lead us into abundant life.	35:52
	That trust, that inner knowledge	35:56
	is really the heart of faith,	36:00
	whether or not we truly believe	36:02
	that the shepherd and guardian of our souls	36:06
	leads us to life abundant.	36:08
	If we believe this,	36:12
	then we need not be afraid to be led into the future	36:13
	wherever it might take us,	36:17
	because we are confident that we won't face it alone,	36:19
	and that wherever the future may lead	36:23
	and whatever the future may hold for us,	36:25
	the shepherd goes ahead of us,	36:29
	preparing the way,	36:31
	turning even the most difficult circumstances	36:33
	into an abundant blessing.	36:37
	What a wonderful hope that this gives us.	36:41
	To know that wherever we go,	36:44
	whatever uncertainty or dangers we face,	36:46
	the shepherd goes before us to lead us through	36:49
	and to bring us home again to safe pasture.	36:53
	We also face the future together as the church.	36:57
	The shepherd calls us out individually,	37:02
	but leads us forward collectively	37:04
	as the flock.	37:07
	The shepherd calls us by name but sends us forward together	37:09
	to be the church in the world.	37:13
	We are meant to share one another's burdens and joys.	37:16
	Our lives are not simply our own.	37:20
	Together, we belong to the shepherd.	37:23
	And there is more at stake than what we want to do and be,	37:27
	for by the choices that we make,	37:32
	individually and collectively,	37:34
	we give expression to the shepherd's character.	37:36
	This is the one who loved the world so much	37:39
	that he was willing to lay down his life for the sheep.	37:42
	As the church, created through the death and resurrection	37:46
	of the shepherd, we are called to follow	37:51
	in the way of love and sacrifice.	37:54
	We are called to make choices	37:57
	that transparently reflect God's love for the world	37:59
	in Jesus Christ.	38:03
	We are called to embody, together,	38:06
	the vision and the hope of abundant life	38:08
	that Christ makes available to us.	38:12
	For it is by our life as the church	38:16
	that the world will discern the shepherd's care and leading.	38:19
	When we make choices about the future,	38:24
	we do so with the realization	38:28
	that our life is part of God's life in the world.	38:30
	Who we become and what we do matters to God.	38:35
	We have a greater charge than simply doing our own thing	38:40
	or going our own way.	38:43
	We have a greater purpose for living	38:46
	and a much larger hope than what we are able	38:48
	to accomplish on our own.	38:51
	Discerning how to create a good life, an abundant life,	38:55
	is an awesome responsibility,	39:00
	but it is not up to us alone,	39:03
	for we are part of God's flock	39:06
	and we have a shepherd who goes ahead of us	39:09
	to prepare the way.	39:11
	Let us face the future with confidence	39:13
	in the God who leads to abundant life.	39:16
	(church organ plays)	39:24
	♪ The King of love my shepherd is ♪	40:03
	♪ Whose goodness faileth never ♪	40:11
	♪ I nothing lack if I am his ♪	40:19
	♪ And he is mine forever ♪	40:28
	♪ Where streams of living water flow ♪	40:38
	♪ My ransomed soul he leadeth ♪	40:46
	♪ And where the verdant pastures grow ♪	40:55
	♪ With food celestial feedeth ♪	41:03
	♪ Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed ♪	41:14
	♪ But yet in love he sought me ♪	41:22
	♪ And on his shoulder gently laid ♪	41:31
	♪ And home, rejoicing, brought me ♪	41:39
	♪ In death's dark vale I fear no ill ♪	41:49
	♪ With thee, dear Lord, beside me ♪	41:58
	♪ Thy rod and staff my comfort still ♪	42:07
	♪ Thy cross before to guide me ♪	42:16
	♪ Thou spreadst a table in my sight ♪	42:26
	♪ Thy unction grace bestoweth ♪	42:35
	♪ And, oh, what transport of delight ♪	42:44
	♪ From thy pure chalice floweth ♪	42:52
	♪ And so through all the length of days ♪	43:03
	♪ Thy goodness faileth never ♪	43:13
	♪ Good shepherd, may I sing thy praise ♪	43:22
	♪ Within thy house forever ♪	43:31
-	Please be seated.	43:51
	The Lord be with you.	43:59
Congregation	And also with you.	44:01
-	Let us pray.	44:03
	God in heaven, Lord of the universe,	44:06
	giver of life,	44:10
	father and mother of us all,	44:13
	we offer to you the adoration of our hearts	44:16
	and praise you for your power and majesty.	44:19
	You are holy, but we are unholy.	44:23
	You are righteous, but we are unrighteous.	44:26
	You are loving,	44:30
	while we are interested primarily in ourselves.	44:32
	Yet you do not let us rest in our distance from you,	44:36
	but come seeking us	44:40
	as fathers and mothers seek their wayward children.	44:41
	You are the mysterious one whose life and power	44:45
	transcend all reality,	44:49
	whose judgements are finally unsearchable,	44:51
	and whose ways inscrutable.	44:55
	Yet you walk among us as a shepherd who comes for his sheep	44:57
	in the face of enmity and death.	45:03
	We confess that we have not been very concerned	45:07
	about those around us.	45:09
	We do not see those who are in need	45:11
	because we concentrate so intently on our own interests.	45:14
	Nor do we look to you in faith and trust.	45:19
	Forgive us for the sins that we freely commit,	45:23
	and deliver us from the forces of evil,	45:26
	which seem to overwhelm us,	45:29
	and restore us to fellowship with you.	45:32
	Lord, we lift up to you our prayers of petition	45:36
	for a world in need.	45:40
	Will you touch the sick, the grieving, the anguished,	45:42
	with your healing hand.	45:47
	Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.	45:49
	We live in terrible times, when so many of your children	45:54
	are ravaged by wars, poverty, and oppression.	45:57
	Will you manifest your redemptive purpose	46:02
	in human affairs,	46:04
	as the prophets attest you do.	46:06
	To put an end to war and exploitation,	46:09
	Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.	46:12
	We pray you, O God,	46:17
	that you might restore a measure of civility	46:19
	to the public and political life of our country.	46:22
	Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.	46:26
	Bless the church, we beseech you,	46:30
	that we might learn what it means to be your people	46:32
	and the body of Christ	46:36
	in our kind of world.	46:38
	Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.	46:40
	Lord of wisdom,	46:45
	teach us to revere and trust you.	46:47
	May the cross of Christ turn our fear into faith	46:50
	and our service into celebration.	46:54
	We make our prayer through the spirit,	46:58
	in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,	47:00
	Amen.	47:03
	We have read in the book of Acts	47:07
	that the early disciples would sell their possessions	47:09
	and distribute the proceeds to all,	47:12
	as any had need.	47:15
	Day by day, they spent time together,	47:18
	eating their food with glad and generous hearts.	47:21
	May the same mind be also in us	47:25
	which was found in them.	47:28
	(church organ plays)	47:36
	(gentle piano music)	48:33
	♪ Alleluia ♪	48:51
	♪ Alleluia ♪	48:59
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:09
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:12
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:14
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:16
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:20
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:25
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:29
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:33
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:37
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:42
	♪ Alleluia ♪	49:50
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:00
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:04
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:07
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:11
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:15
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:19
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:23
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:28
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:32
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:36
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:40
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:44
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:48
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:53
	♪ Alleluia ♪	50:57
	♪ Alleluia ♪	51:00
	♪ Alleluia ♪	51:05
	♪ Alleluia ♪	51:09
	♪ Alleluia ♪	51:13
	♪ Alleluia ♪	51:17
	(church organ plays)	51:27
	♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪	52:15
	♪ Praise Him, all creatures here below ♪	52:22
	♪ Allelujah, allelujah ♪	52:29
	♪ Praise Him above, ye heavenly host ♪	52:37
	♪ Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ♪	52:43
	♪ Allelujah, allelujah ♪	52:50
	♪ Allelujah, allelujah ♪	52:57
	♪ Allelujah ♪	53:04
-	As we bring our offerings to you, gracious God,	53:16
	we thank you for the promise that comes	53:20
	with the beginning of a new week.	53:22
	Give us energy to live these days	53:24
	with vigor and effectiveness.	53:26
	Lord of all creation, we thank you	53:29
	for the beauty and complexity of the world	53:31
	which you have created and placed us in.	53:34
	May we respond in a fitting way in thought and deed	53:37
	to its many needs for justice.	53:41
	We thank you for the redemption in Jesus Christ	53:44
	and for this time of worship	53:47
	in which you are present in the risen one	53:49
	to meet us in the word of scripture and proclamation	53:51
	and in song.	53:55
	And we thank you for meeting us in the ordinary experiences	53:57
	of our daily lives.	54:01
	We offer our prayer in the name of Christ,	54:03
	who taught us to pray with confidence:	54:06
	Our Father, who art in heaven,	54:08
	hallowed be thy name.	54:11
	Thy kingdom come,	54:14
	thy will be done	54:15
	on earth as it is in heaven.	54:17
	Give us this day our daily bread	54:19
	and forgive us our trespasses	54:22
	as we forgive those who trespass against us.	54:25
	And lead us not into temptation,	54:28
	but deliver us from evil.	54:31
	For thine is the kingdom	54:33
	and the power and the glory forever.	54:35
	Amen.	54:38
	(church organ plays cheerfully)	54:42
	(muffled singing from congregation)	55:13
-	Go forth with joy and hope	57:42
	to follow the one who leads us into abundant life.	57:44
	May the grace of our lord Jesus Christ,	57:48
	the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit	57:51
	be with you all.	57:54
	Amen.	57:55
	(church organ plays)	58:00

Item Info

Title:

Debra K. Brazzel - Sermon Untitled (April 28, 1996)

Description:

Sermon start time: 21:37. Sermon end time: 39:21.
At the end of the school year, the preacher employs the theme of the shepherd and flock to underscore the importance of church communities. (Abstract created by Duke Divinity School staff.)
Key quotation: We also face the future together as the church. The shepherd calls us out individually but leads us forward collectively as the flock. The shepherd calls us by name but sends us forward together to be the church in the world. We are meant to share one another’s burdens and joys. Our lives are not simply our own. Together we belong to the shepherd

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4tt4g764

Date:

April 28, 1996

Speaker:

Brazzel, Debra K.

Liturgical Calendar:

Easter

Biblical Book:

Chapter and Verse:

Subject:

Contributor:

Duke University. Chapel

Identifier:

UA.17.01.0003 VHS-0473
ref9732_dzt
uachapelsermaud
duke:321406
dcrmv001449
ark:/87924/r4tt4g764
c2cb36ee-e1b5-42d6-9e69-772a7d1c9060

Digital Collection:

Duke Chapel Recordings

Source Collection:

Duke University Chapel recordings

Language:

English

Location:

United States
North Carolina
Durham (N.C.)

Format:

Provenance:

The Duke University Chapel Recordings were transferred to the Duke University Archives beginning in 1970.

Rights:

Limited Re-Use

CC BY-NC 4.0

Rights Note:

This recording may contain 3rd party materials, such as music or readings that are therefore not covered by the Creative Commons license indicated here. For more information see https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/research/citations-and-permissions.

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