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Call to Worship

L: We all like sheep have gone astray.
P: May the Good Shepherd gather us into his flock once again.
L: Come let us worship and bow down.
P: Let us kneel before the LORD, our God, our Maker.
L: For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture.
P: We are the sheep of His hand. Let us worship God!

 

Responsive Reading (Psalm 23)

L: The Lord is my Shepherd
P: I shall not want
L: He makes me lie down in green pastures
P: and leads me beside the still waters
L: He restores my soul.
P: and guides me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake
L: Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death
P: I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
L: Thy rod and thy staff
P: They comfort me.
L: Thou preparest a table before me
P: In the presence of mine enemies
L: Thou anointest my head with oil.
P: And my cup overflows
L: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
P: All the days of my life
L: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
P: for ever.

 

Invocation

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The grace and peace of Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead to bring everlasting hope, be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray. God of all power, you called from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. Send us as shepherds to rescue the lost, to heal the injured, and to feed one another with knowledge and understanding; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

 

Prayer of Confession

Lord, you are the good Shepherd who cares for the flock with great patience and compassion.
We confess that we often take your love and grace for granted; forgive us, o Lord.
We act like sheep that go astray; forgive us our spiritual shortsightedness.
We confess that we have not responded to your call with faith, but rather sought our own ways and interests.
We confess that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, forgive us and free us to joyful service to you and others in Jesus' name in whose name we diligently pray.  Amen.

 

Prayer of Invocation

Rejoicing in the resurrection, let us remember in prayer the church, the world, and all those in need.

Blessed are you, for you are the Lamb who has become our Shepherd. Through death and resurrection, you wash your whole church clean and nurture us to greater faithfulness to follow your voice. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you have caused your name to be proclaimed to all nations. Shepherd the nations of the world in your ways of peace. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you are the good shepherd. Preserve those in your flock who are in any need (especially), bear up those who grieve, and walk with the dying through the shadow of death. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you are the hope of your disciples Peter and Tabitha, and all who look for your help. Inspire this congregation by their good works and acts of charity to further ministry among the poor. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you offer the gift of eternal life. Bring us together with all the saints at last before the throne of grace, that we may join with them and the heavenly choirs to praise your name. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

With alleluias in our hearts and on our lips we commend to your care all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

Prayer to Shepherd God (by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier)

Shepherd God,
Give me your great heart to love with, especially when my own heart is too small and limited to love as another needs to be loved.
Give me all I need to reach out to those who are lost and in trouble.
Give me the love and courage to give myself totally to the mission of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life so that we would have life in its fullness. Amen.
 

A Good Shepherd Prayer of Incarnation
(based on the prayer of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier)

God of compassion, may every beat of my heart be a prayer to obtain your grace and care for those most lost in our world.
May every breath I take be a prayer for your mercy for those who are most in need.
May all those whom I make eye contact see themselves as you see them.
May all those I touch experience your touch experience themselves as valuable because of your tender and forgiving presence.
And may I always be open to receiving your love, and being an instrument of your love in the world.

 

Opening Prayer / Invocation

Like the sun that is far away and yet close at hand to warm us, so God's Spirit is ever present and around us.  Come creator into our lives.  We live and move and have our very being in you.  Open now the windows of our souls.  Amen.

 

Prayer of the Day:

We ask you, Good Shepherd of our soul, to lead us in the paths you have set before us.  May we recognize and listen to your voice like the sheep who know their shepherd.  Even though we tend to go astray, do not forsake us.  Lead us to the green pastures of your heavenly kingdom, even though your paths may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.

Lord, we are weak and of little faith.  Send us your Holy Spirit to descend upon us as the Spirit descended upon the household of Cornelius.  Strengthen us and uplift our spirit so that we may join in the unending hymn of the heavenly host. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” God of Power and Compassion, may we praise you forever in Jesus' name. Amen.

Closing prayer
(Syrian Orthodox church)

 Glory to the father, who has woven garments of glory for the resurrection.
 Worship to the Son, who was clothed in them at his rising.
 Thanksgiving to the Spirit, who keeps them for all the saints. Amen.