Pastoral Prayer: Loving Shepherd

Here’s a pastoral prayer for Good Shepherd Sunday, or any other time when passages like Psalm 23 and John 10 are being used. It was written by Rev. Karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Pastoral Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 23, John 10)

Loving Shepherd,

You lead and guide,

You walk alongside,

You prepare, you feed, you call,

all of your sheep,

even those of us who are lost,

those of us who stray constantly,

those of us who stay close to your comforting staff.

We are grateful for the lush green pastures of our lives,

and we pause now to offer our thanksgivings

for the goodnesses in our lives…

There are so many who walk in the shadows

of fear and suffering and despair,

and we pause now, to offer our prayers

for the broken and bleeding places in this world…

We also offer our prayers for the sheep of our own flocks,

in our families and friends,

in this our church and our community…(pause)

O Loving Shepherd,

We have all we need,

as we live in You.

Amen.

~ written by Rev Karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/

Call to Worship: Psalm 23

Here’s a call to worship litany inspired by Psalm 23. It was written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 23)

In the darkest valley,
at the banquet table;
in the hard work of life,
at the moments of ease;
in our day-to-day reality,
at times set aside–
like this time, now–
for worship, for listening, for paying attention;
with every step we take:
goodness and mercy follow us;
our cups overflow.

~ written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/

Call to Worship: Isaiah 43: 2

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Isaiah 43:2. It was written by Rev. Mindi and posted on her Rev-o-lution blog.

Call to Worship

(Inspired by Isaiah 43:2)

When we pass through the waters,

God is there with us.

When we suffer and feel hopeless,

God is there with us.

When we are joyful and celebratory,

God is there with us.

Whether we feel triumphant or defeated,

God is there with us, always.

Come, let us worship together with Emmanuel,

God with us. 

~ written by Rev. Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/2011/10/23/worship-resources-for-october-30-2011-and-all-saints-day/

Prayer Reflection: Through Light and Shadow

Here’s a thoughtful prayer reflection from Sally’s Eternal Echoes website.

Through Light and Shadow

through light and shadow

I am led, I follow,

through the ins and outs

the ups and downs 

of these days,

when my heart is failing,

when my spirit rejoices,

when I can barely put one foot 

in front of the other

still you beckon me on...

when I stumble you support me,

when I can go no further 

you carry me,

through light and shadow,

in death's dark vale,

and on the mountain peaks

you lead me,

through tangled webs,

on rocky ground,

on smoother paths,

through light and shadow

you lead me,

I follow,

may I never

walk alone...

~ written by Sally, and posted on Eternal Echoes. http://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/

Blessing: May God Bless Your Eyes

Here’s a blessing/benediction from Jan Richardson’s the painted prayerbook website.

Blessing

May God,
who comes to us
in the things of this world,
bless your eyes
and be in your seeing.

May Christ,
who looks upon you
with deepest love,
bless your eyes
and widen your gaze.

May the Spirit,
who perceives what is
and what may yet be,
bless your eyes
and sharpen your vision.

May the Sacred Three
bless your eyes
and cause you to see.

~ from In the Sanctuary of Women, copyright © Jan L. Richardson.  Posted on the painted prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Litany of Lament & Affirmation

Here’s a scriptural litany that contrasts the hope and confidence of the psalmist in Psalm 23 (in bold print) with the anguish and despair of the writer of Psalm 13 (light print).  The litany could either be read by two readers on behalf of the congregation, or the congregation could be invited to join in, choosing to read whichever psalm best represents their current experience of God’s presence.  

 

Whichever approach you choose, be sure to take your time.  Read slowly, without rushing.  

 

Experiencing God: Two Views

(Psalm 13 and Psalm 23)

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?

            The LORD is my shepherd;

            I have everything I need.

            He lets me rest in green meadows;

            he leads me beside peaceful streams.

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?

            He restores my soul.

            He guides me along paths of righteousness

            for the sake of his good name.

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sight to my eyes, or I will die.

            Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,

            I will not be afraid,

            for you are close beside me.

            Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

            You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies.

            You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.

            My cup overflows with blessings.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD

because he has been so good to me.

            Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

            all the days of my life,

            and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.  

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Opening Prayer: Psalm 23

Here’s an opening prayer for Good Shepherd Sunday, or any other occasion on which God is being portrayed as a Shepherd.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 23, John 10)

Loving Shepherd,
you know our names;
you care for us.
When we face darkness and death,
walk beside us.
When we hunger for your love,
fill us with your presence.
When we are fearful,
feed us at your table.
May we dwell in the house of goodness and mercy
all the days of our lives. Amen.

~ written by Mary Petrina Boyd, and posted on Ministry Matters. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Centering Prayer: Take from me...

Here’s a centering prayer from David Adam.  It was posted on the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand website.

Centering Prayer

“Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.” Psalm 37: 7

Lord, help me to relax.

Take from me the tension
that makes peace impossible.
Take from me the fears
that do not allow me to venture.
Take from me the worries
that blind my sight.
Take from me the distress
that hides your joy.

Help me to know
that I am with you,
that I am in your care,
that I am in your love,
that you and I are one.

~ written by David Adam in “The Open Gate” SPCK 1994.  Posted on the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand website. http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/

Call to Worship: The Lord is My Shepherd

Here’s a call to worship from Roddy Hamilton.  It is inspired by Psalm 23.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 23)

(Pour water into font with each stanza and let it overflow)

The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want

I seek the grace of God
and my cup runneth over

I seek the will of God
and my cup runneth over

I seek the strength of God
and my cup runneth over

How generous is God's love
so much the world cannot contain it

The Lord is my Shepherd
and I lack nothing

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Opening Prayer: Wake Us Up!

Here’s an opening prayer from the Jonny Baker blog.

Opening Prayer

God of justice, peace and righteousness

come into our midst this evening
Breathe your breath,
your Spirit of prophecy,
your energy,
your enlivening,
your imagination on us.
Wake us up
Open our eyes
Unplug our ears
That we might hear
That we might see
That we might grieve
That we might dream
That we might follow the ways of your extraordinary kingdom
Amen

~ posted on the Jonny Baker blog. http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2012/07/wake-up.html

Prayer: A Shining Light

Here’s a prayer inspired by Ephesians 5:8-10. It was posted on beliefnet.com.

Prayer

(inspired by Ephesians 5:8-10)

Jesus, You are the Light of the World.

Shine Your light in me today.

Chase away the darkness of sin,

the darkness of fear and doubt and despair.

Fill me with the light of Your truth, Your Word.

Produce in me the fruit of righteousness –

the evidence that Your Holy Spirit lives in me

and works in me and works through me. 

Teach me what is pleasing to You.

Make me a shining example of Your amazing grace,

redeeming love, and life-changing power.

May others be drawn to You through me. Amen.

~ posted on beliefnet.com. http://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/10-great-prayers-from-ephesians.aspx?p=2#2Fx15YHzCLC4gS4l.99

Prayer of Dedication: Light in the Darkness

Here’s a prayer of dedication and commitment from John Birch’s Faith and Worship website.

Prayer

(inspired by passages such as Matthew 5:14-16,

Acts 13:47, Ephesians 5:8, Philippians 2:15-16,

1 John 1:5-7, Proverbs 4:18)

You call us to be
your light
in the darkness,
your voice
in the wilderness,
your hope
for the hopeless.

You give us
strength
in our weakness,
peace
and gentleness,
words
and boldness,
to proclaim
more of you
and of us, less.

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/Lectionary_C/YearC_28th_in_Ordinary.html#ixzz2bWd9nWkx

Prayer: Encounters with Jesus

Draw me today into fresh encounters with Jesus, O God.

Make me a servant of love

so that others may know how much You love them

and I may know how much You love me.

Let me not be afraid of new pastures,

whether they be green or brown or parched.

And as I pass through whatever the day’s valleys,

keep my head lifted up to the mountain,

from whence my help comes.

Never let me forget the people Jesus welcomed…

   the greedy and the great,

   the bad and the good,

   the respected and the cheats.

Even as the world becomes more callous and chaotic,

may I never underestimate Your capacity

to fashion the miraculous from the monstrous,

even to make me a choice masterpiece

from the mire and the clay.

~ written by Leonard Sweet, posted on Preach the Story. https://preachthestory.com/

Contemporary Call to Worship: Easter 4

Here’s a contemporary call to worship written by Thom Shuman for the fourth Sunday after Easter.

Call to Worship

(Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24)

Day by day, God leads us:
to the deep, deep pools of peace,
to the green, lush lawns of grace.
Day by day, Jesus calls us:
to pour out ourselves in service,
to anoint the stranger with hope.
Day by day, the Holy Spirit shows us:
the community we could be,
the family we are called to become.

— written by Thom Shuman on Lectionary Liturgies.  

Call to Worship: Easter 4

Here’s a call to worship for the fourth Sunday of Easter.  It was written by Rev. MaryAnn Rennie, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by John 10 and Psalm 23)

Awaken from your slumber,

and bring your fears and anxieties

into the presence of the Lord our God.

Hear the call of our Shepherd,

and allow His voice

to lead from selfish ambition

to the feast of grace.

May the light of Christ

shine into the hidden darkness of our lives

and restore us

for the service of the Lord.

Come let us worship God.

~ written by Rev MaryAnn Rennie, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Psalm 23 Prayer: Urban Shepherd

Here’s a contemporary re-working of Psalm 23 from Mike Riddell. It was posted on Jonny Baker’s Worship Tricks blog.

Prayer: Urban Shepherd

(based on Psalm 23)

urban shepherd
you lead us through skyscraper canyons
past carbon monoxide
and mirror glass
and busker
you make us to lie down on park benches
and rest beside sewage settlement ponds
you keep our feet on pavement and escalator and lift shaft
and guide us through the back alleys
of our city

though we enter the concrete crevasse
we will not fear the chaos
for you are with us
you grant us a site in the sun
at a sidewalk cafe
where we drink cappuccino and are glad
you give us doughnut stalls
and film festivals and neon signs

surely your goodness and poverty
will follow us all the days of our lives
and we will come at last to the holy city

~ written by Mike Riddell, and posted on Jonny Baker Worship Tricks. http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2004/10/fractals_.html

Psalm 23 Prayer

Here’s a beautiful setting of Psalm 23 by Sonya Dyer.  It was posted on the Seekers Church website.

 

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 23)

 

Holy God,
you are our shepherd,
we shall want for nothing that truly matters.

In green pastures you give us rest
and beside deep, still waters you lead us.
You promise to be with us always,
offering freedom from the frictions of hatred, anxiety, fear and pain.

You give us living water to satisfy our thirst for peace.

We praise you and wonder
if this is for all people.

You refresh and restore our souls
and guide us in right paths
for the sake of your name.

When we are cast down
we have been shown ways to bring a new creation
to life in our world.
Your unique plan for all of life and for each life
is written into our very essence.
May we believe it is a plan
filled with hope,
grown out of love.

Help our unbelief.

Even though we walk in the dark valley,
we will fear no danger
for you, God, are at our side,
with rod and staff to give us courage.
Each life, every nation, has its share of valleys.
Some seem to have more than is right.
You are a constant companion in the darkness.
When violence, pain and loss are heavy
you comfort.
When we are aching, lost and discouraged,
you seek us out.
When we go astray,
your compassionate judgment draws us back.

Receive our gratitude. Know our darkness.

You spread the table before us in the sight of our enemies
and richly bathe our heads with oil.
Our cups overflow.
O holy one,  
you are our host as well as our shepherd.
You invite us to the banquet,
the banquet of life.
All parts of the world are invited -
enemies and friends,
the alienated and powerful,
those close at hand and those far off.
You offer the abundance and lavishness
of bread broken and shared
and the cup of refreshment that leads to new life.

We praise and thank you for your abundant spirit.

Goodness and love unfailing,
these will follow us all the days of our lives,
and we shall dwell in the home of our God
for all eternity.

~ from Sonya Dyer’s Prayerbook, posted on the Seekers Church website. http://www.seekerschurch.org/

Blessing: Psalm 23

Here’s a blessing based on Psalm 23 from Roddy Hamilton.  It was posted on Mucky Paws.

Psalm 23 Blessing

In the lush pastures of life that hold meeting places with love,
may your feet know the way to find them.

By the still waters of the running stream,
may your hands shape a cup it and drink deep from it.

In the valley of death’s shadow that ever threatens,
may your sense of life find the way through.

At the banqueting table set before your enemies,
may your cup be full and overrunning.

Like the anointing oil that runs down your head,
may the blessing that is you spill into the world with eternal promise.

In the way a shepherd’s staff warms off lameness from fear,
may trust be your protective companion on the way.

Through each day’s living as it unfolds,
may goodness and mercy make their way into every moment.

At the doorway to the house of the Lord of life,
may you recognise your home and your hearth.

And in the song that makes a dwelling-place in your heart,
may its music rise in your soul.

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Psalm 23: Prayer of Dedication

Here’s a prayer of commitment and dedication inspired by the 23^rd Psalm.  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Prayer of Dedication

(inspired by Psalm 23)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

We believe in the goodness of God.

We believe God hears and responds to our needs.

We believe God responds to all children everywhere.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters,

he restores my soul.

We are grateful that we've been blessed with enough water.

But we know that many do not have enough.

Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Too many children do not see God's righteousness.

Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.

Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.

Even 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.

To become involved is risky. Pain is often contagious.

Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.

Yet we hear God calling

and we can no longer hide.

Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies;

thou annointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Our steps may be small and timid.

We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.

But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; 

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God is more relentless than war.

God is more pervasive than hatred.

God is more insistent than despair.

Amen. Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker in 1994, and posted on Liturgies Outside website. http://www.liturgyoutside.net/Biblical.Psalms.pdf

Psalm 23: The Soul Shepherding Psalm

Here’s a paraphrase of Psalm 23 from Bill and Kristi Gaultiere.

The Soul Shepherding Psalm:

Psalm 23

The Lord Jesus is my Soul Shepherd

who meets all my needs and makes me smile

He gets me to stop working and to relax

with him in his Father’s loving arms

He takes me into a quiet place

to be still and know that he is God and I am loved

He heals and rejuvenates my whole being

with his grace from the inside out

He holds my hand at the crossroads

and walks me onto the path of life

Even though I go through dark and difficult times

I don’t fear anything bad because you are with me

You discipline me in love and converse patiently with me

to bring out the best in me

You prepare a celebration to bless and honor me

right in front of my enemies

You anoint me with your Spirit to minister to others

out of the overflow of your love to me

I can count on your generous favor and tender mercy

coming to me wherever I go

I will live in the presence of Christ as his beloved

in all things and at all times

~ written by Bill Gaultiere and Kristi Gaultiere.  Posted on Soul Shepherding. http://www.soulshepherding.org