† Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Choral Introit “Now Has Christ Arisen” Oudsen
Now has Christ arisen!
†Call to Worship
The Lord is our shepherd; we shall not want.
We come to rest in God’s care.
Christ calls us by name and leads us in love.
We come to listen and to follow.
Let us worship the God who guides, guards, and gathers.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
†Opening Hymn “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” UMH 138
Prayer of Illumination
Risen Christ, open our hearts and mind to your living Word. As the stone was rolled away, remove every barrier that keeps us from seeing your truth. Let your resurrection light awaken us, renew us, and draw us into the life you promised. Speak, Lord, your servants are listening. Amen
A Reading from the Prophets Ezekial 34:11-16; 20-34 NRSV
For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep and will sort them out. As shepherds sort out their flocks when they are among scattered sheep, so I will sort out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged, and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them; he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken. I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely. I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. They shall be secure on their soil, and they shall know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be plunder for the nations, nor shall the animals of the land devour them; they shall live in safety, and no one shall make them afraid. I will provide for them a splendid vegetation so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land and no longer suffer the insults of the nations. They shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord God. You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord God.
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
Shepherding God, gather your people. When we are scattered by anxiety, call us back to your peace. When we are tempted to follow voices that divide and deceive, tune our hearts to the voice of Christ. Lead this congregation in paths of righteousness—for your name’s sake and for our neighbors’ good. Teach us to care for one another with tenderness, to protect the vulnerable, and to seek the lost with patience. Make Lovely Lane a flock formed by love, guided by truth, and sustained by grace. Through Christ our Shepherd. Amen.
Passing of the Peace “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH 334
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Alleluia” UMH 186
†A Reading from the Gospel John 10:1-10 NRSV
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.
Sermon Reverend. Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
Responsive Hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” UMH 381
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “The Easter Song of Praise” Shephard
Sing, choirs of Heaven! Let saints and angels sing! Around God’s throne exult in
harmony! Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave! Salute your King in glorious
symphony!
Sing choirs of earth! Behold, your light has come! The glory of the Lord shines
radiantly. Lift up your hearts, for Christ has conquered death! The night is past, the
day of life is here!
Sing choirs of God! Exult with joy outpoured. The gospel trumpets tell of victory won!
Your Savior lives – he’s with you evermore! Let all God’s people shot the long Amen.
Amen!
Offering Prayer
God our Shepherd, receive these offerings. Use them to provide what is needed, strengthen your ministry of care, and bless your people with hope. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “Lord, You Give the Great Commission” UMH 584
†Benediction
Go in peace. The Shepherd of your soul goes before you and stays beside you. Follow with trust, and live with compassion. Amen
†Benediction Response “Hallelujah” Trad. Caribbean, arr. Moore
Hallelujah
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude