Greetings and good morning, Grace Church family, friends and visitors! We’re worshiping online for the time being as we protect each other from the spread of Covid-19. We are grateful for Reverend Dorothy Hartzog for leading our worship this morning, for Rhonda Stanton, our music director and Zoë Pouliot, vocalist, for the music this morning, and for lay readers from the congregation who read the scriptures appointed for the 4th Sunday in Easter.
Resources for children:
The psalm this week is Psalm 23, and our readers were our own Maggie and Connor.
Here are coloring pages that relate to the imagery in that beautiful Psalm. (Link opens in new tab.)
Godly Play: At the bottom of the page we have provided a video of a Godly Play storyteller telling the Parable of the Good Shepherd, which relates to themes in the psalm as well. The slow, patient telling of the story may hold children’s attention better in person than on video, so use your own judgment – if you don’t think your children would enjoy the video, let it go. In our actual Godly Play story circle, the children enjoy the chance to slow down and lean into the rhythm of the story. We’ll be together again soon!
Hymn 390: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
Praise to the Lord,
The almighty the King of creation
O my soul praise him
For he is thy health and salvation
Join the great throng
Psaltery, organ and song,
Sounding in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord,
Over all things he gloriously reigneth
Borne as on eagles’ wings
Safely his saints he sustaineth
Hast thou not seen
How all thou needest hath been
Granted in what he ordaineth
Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy way and defend thee
Surely his goodness and
Mercy shall ever attend thee
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do
Who with his love doth befriend thee
Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before him!
Let the amen, sound from his people again
Gladly forever adore him
Collect of the Day
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
The Psalm: Psalm 23
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Hymn 550: Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
1 Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea,
day by day his clear voice soundeth,
saying, “Christian, follow me.”
2 As, of old, Saint Andrew heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.
3 Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store;
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”
4 In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
5 Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee best of all.
Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
Sermon
Special Music: When I survey the wondrous cross
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Blessing
This Joyful Eastertide
1. This joyful Eastertide,
away with care and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified,
hath sprung to life this morrow.
Refrain:
Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne’er burst his three-day prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen, arisen.
2. Death’s flood hath lost its chill,
since Jesus crossed the river:
Lord of all life, from ill
my passing soul deliver. (Refrain)
3. My flesh in hope shall rest,
and for a season slumber,
till trump from east to west
shall wake the dead in number. (Refrain)
Dismissal
Godly Play Video: Parable of the Good Shepherd
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord…Alleluia!