Easter 4

EASTER 4

A service outline for the fourth Sunday of Easter
Burton Joyce Community Church

Sunday May 3rd 2020

A Song
Songs of Fellowship 533
The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never

Read
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want 

A Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us, born as one of us, Mary's son. Led out to die on Calvary, risen from death to set us free, living Lord Jesus, help us see: you are Lord. Amen
[verse 2 of Lord Jesus Christ, Songs of Fellowship 357]

Our Father who art in heaven ...

A Reading
John 10, 1-18
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep

A Reflection
Jesus longs to gather us together under his care. Like a mother hen (see Matthew 23, 37 ff), like a shepherd, Jesus says (Matthew 11, 28) 

"Come to me ... and you will find rest for your souls." 

This is God's offer of grace.

Prayer for the world
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

A Blessing
Hebrews 13, 20-21
May the God of peace who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do his will & work in us what is pleasing to him. Amen


A Hymn
Hymns & Psalms 142. Tune: Angelus

At even when the sun was set
The sick, O Lord, around you lay,
O in what divers pains they met,
O with what joy they went away!

Once more we come to you today
Oppressed with various ills. Draw near.
What if your form we cannot see?
We know and feel that you are here.

O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel;
For some are sick and some are sad,
 And some have never loved you well,
And some have lost the love they had.

And none, O Lord, has perfect rest,
For none is wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve you best
Are conscious most of wrong within.

O Saviour Christ, you understand,
You have been troubled, tempted, tried;
Your kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.

Your touch has still its ancient power;
No word from you can fruitless fall:
Hear, in this present troubled hour,
And in your mercy heal us all. Amen

Henry Twells (1823-1900) alt.