Debra K. Brazzel - Sermon Untitled (April 28, 1996)
Loading the media player...
Transcript
Transcripts may contain inaccuracies.
(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 |