Service at home - Sunday 26th April 2020

CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather today expectant and hopeful:
an Easter people who look to the new day.
Call us to new life today.
 
The Good Shepherd calls us here to life in the community of faith.
Call us to new life today.
 
Gathered and called
let us worship God.


The following prayer invites the Holy Spirit to be a part of our devotions
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
Ever-present God,
we long to hear your call afresh in our lives. Help us to know your presence and your love. As we worship this day, move amongst us
that we might be assured of your companionship. In Christ’s name,
Amen.


A Prayer of Confession, where we reflect on our sinful nature and beg God to forgive us as God has promised to do.  Reflect on the following as we become aware of God’s forgiveness
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Gracious God,
there are times in our lives
when we feel distant from your voice.
Times when we feel adrift, cut off and unsure.
In these times, we stumble about and sometimes harm one another and the world.
We forget your promises and your way,
your call to love and to community.
We confess there are other times, not when we feel lost,
but when we act for selfish gain,
even when we know your love calls us. Forgive us and renew us;
give us vision to see a better way,
a way which offers freedom
and the fullness of life for all.
 
Merciful God,
we are indeed in need of your mercy for we are a stubborn people, slow to learn and quick to forget.
Help us to come into your presence and to follow your call.


WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Though we walk in darkness, Christ the light of the world
is the Good Shepherd who leads us beside the still waters to new life. In mercy, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.


THE GREETING OF PEACE


The readings for you to read before your reflection
Acts 2:42-47
⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Life among the Believers
⁴³Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.  ⁴⁴All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds^ to all, as any had need.  ⁴⁶Day 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, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
 
This is a word from our God,
Thanks be to God!
 
You are invited to use the following practice to process the scripture.

1. What are you hearing in this scripture?

• Don’t try to figure it out, rather try to find a word or phrase that resonates for you
• Are there words or phrases that stand out? 

2. Reflect of the Scripture

• Read a second time reflecting on the way your life is touched by this reading.
• What is it in my life that needs to hear this reading now? 

3. Respond to message given to you.

• What difference will this make to my life?
• Has this scripture touched my life?
• Have I been motivated to react or act differently?

Do I need to reflect further on this scripture?


GOSPEL READING
John 10:1-10
¹“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.  ²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  ³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  ⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”  ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
⁷So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  ⁸All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.  ⁹I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
 
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Praise to You Lord Christ!
 
You are invited to use the following practice to process the scripture.

1. What are you hearing in this scripture?

• Don’t try to figure it out, rather try to find a word or phrase that resonates for you
• Are there words or phrases that stand out? 

2. Reflect of the Scripture

• Read a second time reflecting on the way your life is touched by this reading.
• What is it in my life that needs to hear this reading now? 

3. Respond to message given to you.

• What difference will this make to my life?
• Has this scripture touched my life?
• Have I been motivated to react or act differently?
• Do I need to reflect further on this scripture?

  
REFLECTION
Most modern Australians are pretty far removed from sheep.  We know how to buy a nice cut in the market, but telling one sheep from another in the paddock is difficult.  John describes Jesus as the shepherd.  The one who knows his sheep by name and calls to them; the sheep also know his voice.  He is also the one who is the gate, through whom the sheep can come and go and find pasture.

This image is a comfort in two respects.  The love of the shepherd is apparent and the sheep follow him because of this love.  It is also a comfort because it is Jesus who is the gatekeeper. We do not need to discern who is ‘in’ and who is ‘out’; this is the gatekeeper’s work.  The sheep need only follow the voice of the one who calls.
 

OFFERTORY PRAYER
Generous God,
receive these gifts, we pray.
May they be used to bring hope and light.
Amen.


Please pray for those known to you who are sick and have asked for prayer.
You might like to pray for health workers and all those working in the lives of those who are sick.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
As we pray our prayers of intercession today, we will use the ancient response of the church:
 
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
 
Gracious God,
today we pray for our world.
It is groaning under the weight of our living. For far too long we have used its resources without thought of the consequences.
Help us to care for the earth
and to do what we can to repair the damage done.
 
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
 
Today we pray for all people:
for those living under the heavy burden of poverty,
for those running for safety from the tyranny of violence, for those who are mourning and those who have died. Help us to care for one another,
especially when we are at our most vulnerable.
 
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Today we pray for ourselves.
Give us courage to face all the ups and downs of life. Grant us hope when we feel lost
and generosity of heart when we feel loved. Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
 
We lift all of these prayers, both spoken
and those that lie silently on our hearts to you, merciful God. We trust in your mercy. Amen.
 
We pray for all who are ill at this time and for those who care for them. We also pray for those known to us who are seeking the Lords healing and care.


THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
Now and forever.  Amen.
 

BENEDICTION
Go, blessed with
the goodness and mercy of God,
the comfort and love of Jesus Christ,
the insight and guidance of the Holy Spirit
 
Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord.