April 30, 2023 The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Entrance Hymn #205 Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!

Psalm #645 (10:15 a.m.) The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Sequence Hymn #343 Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless

Offertory Anthem Loving Shepherd (Bach, arr. various)

Communion Hymn #304 I Come With Joy to Meet My Lord Savior

Post-Communion Hymn #708 Like A Shepherd Lead Us

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FIRST READING Acts 2:42-47

Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

PSALM 23 (8:00 a.m.) King James Version The LORD is my shepherd; *

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *

he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; *

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; *

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of

mine enemies; * thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days

of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

SECOND READING 1 Peter 2:19-25

It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

GOSPEL John 10:1-10

Jesus said, “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.”

----------

In this week’s parish cycle of prayer, we pray for:

Richard & Robin Beaupre, John, & Stephanie Bishara, and Ed Bogosian.

We are pleased to welcome The Rev. Canon Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew, Canon to the Ordinary, to preside and preach at the 8:00 and 10:15 services.