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/

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/

Call to Worship: Ephesians 2: 11-22

We gather together in the name of Jesus Christ—

members of God’s family,

and brothers and sisters to one another.

There are no outsiders here among us,

no one has any special standing or bragging rights.

For we have been brought together by the redeeming love of Jesus.

Let’s join together in worship!

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Prayer: The Life of David

O God,

sustain us in the complexity of our humanity

as you sustained David--

playing the harp of youth,

throwing stones at giant problems,

loving our friends beyond wisdom,

dancing worship,

mourning children,

breaking our hearts in psalms, and

longing for warmth in our old bones. Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Posted on Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Confession: Like a Shepherd

Here is a prayer of confession inspired by passages like Psalm 23, John 10:11-18 and Psalm 100. It was written by Rev Dan Carmichael, Minister of Lenzie Union. It was posted on The Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Psalm 23, Psalm 100 and John 10:11-18)

Lord, like a shepherd,

You never stop searching for Your people,
Your care for us anticipates our need.
Before we recognized we needed Your grace,
in love, Jesus gave His life for our forgiveness.

We confess that we need Your forgiveness,

we confess our sins:
You are the shepherd  and we are Your flock,

but we admit the times we have tried to take Your place  

and take control ourselves.
We admit that we have not always trusted

Your good news to be good for us.

At times we have pleaded with You to care for us,
but we have held back from caring for others

and ignored the needs of others.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Forgive us in the name of Jesus.
Loving shepherd, 

teach us by the Holy Spirit to follow You

in the days and places of the weeks ahead.
Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. 

~ written by Rev Dan Carmichael, Minister of Lenzie Union. It was posted on The Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Prayer of Confession: Reformation Day

Here’s a prayer of confession, written specifically for Reformation Day (October 31). It comes from a resource produced by the Liturgical Task Force of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity (see below for link).

Prayer of Confession

for Reformation Day

O God of mercy,

we lament that even good actions of reform and renewal

had often unintended negative consequences.

Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)

We bring before you

the burdens of the guilt of the past

when our forbears did not follow your will

that all be one in the truth of the Gospel.

Christe eleison (Christ have mercy)

We confess our own ways of thinking and acting

that perpetuate the divisions of the past.

As communities and as individuals,

we build many walls around us:

mental, spiritual, physical, political walls

that result in discrimination and violence.

Forgive us, Lord.

Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)

Psalm 130 [sung or read]

Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

He is our peace,

who breaks down the walls that divide, w

ho gives us, through the Holy Spirit,

ever-new beginnings.

In Christ, we receive forgiveness and reconciliation

and we are strengthened

for a faithful and common witness in our time. Amen. 

~ from Common Prayer: From Conflict to Communion. Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017. Written by the Liturgical Task Force of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity. http://www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/Common_Prayer_for_Catholic-Lutheran_Commemoration_of__Reformation_2017.pdf

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

Prayer: Called to be One

Here’s a prayer of confession and intercession on the subject of Christian unity. It was written by Christine Sine and posted on Godspace.

Litany of Confession

(inspired by passages like Ephesians 2:14,

John 17, Galatians 3:28, Romans 12:5)

God, we believe you have called us to unity,

but often we have isolated ourselves from others,

God, forgive us for the times we have turned our backs

on those who are different.

God, we believe you have called us

to live together as one body,

God, forgive us for the times we have created division

within your worldwide church.

God, we believe you ask us to look, listen,

and learn from others,

God, forgive us for the times we have ridiculed and attacked

those with different viewpoints.

God, we believe you ask us to accept and seek to understand

all who are called by your name,

Forgive us for the times we have offended you

by failing to love others as we do ourselves.

God, we believe you call us to be one

even as you are one,

Forgive us for the disunity we have harbored

and make us one.

Pause to offer up prayers for unity within the church

God and Creator of all humankind,

your son Jesus Christ prayed that your church might be one

even as you our God are one.

May you renew our minds and rekindle your love in our hearts,

so that by the power of the Spirit,

we might find the Oneness that you intend for us.

God, may we see in your Oneness

our need for unity,

God, may we see in your Three-ness

our need for community

God, may we see in your creativity

our need for diversity,

God, may we see in your Self

our need to love each other.

Amen.

~ from the Lenten series Journey into Wholeness written by Christine Sine. Published in 2009 by Mustard Seed Associates.  The entire series is available on the Godspace website.  http://godspace.wordpress.com/

Prayer: You Have Made Us One

Here’s a prayer of petition and commitment from Terri on the RevGalBlogPals website.

Prayer

(inspired by Ephesians 2:14, John 17, Galatians 3:28, Romans 12:5)

Almighty God,

by your Holy Spirit

you have made us one with your saints

in heaven and on earth:

Help us to see your presence

burning in the hearts of others;

grant that we may be united

in a fellowship of love and prayer;

give us the courage to pick up our cross

and respond to the needs of the world,

give us the stamina to follow you,

to be your hands and heart in the world;

enable us to witness to your grace and mercy.

We pray all this

through the love your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.  http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/2008/08/take-up-your-cross.html

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/

Offering: The Shepherd's Care

Here’s an invitation and prayer for the offering inspired by Psalm 23 and 1 John 3.  It was written by Mary Petrina Boyd, and posted on Ministry Matters.

Invitation to the Offering

(inspired by Psalm 23, 1 John 3)

The Shepherd cares for us,

providing all that we need in abundance.

The Shepherd calls us to love one another

in truth and action.

May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd’s care.

May our offerings show our willingness to love one another.

Offering Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 23, 1 John 3)

God of love,
you abide with us;
you provide for all our needs
and guide us in your ways.
Out of gratitude for your care,
we bring our gifts before you.
Use them for your work of caring,
that all may feast at the table of abundance,
walk without fear,
and drink deeply
from the cup of compassion. Amen.

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

Prayer for Reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5: 18

Here’s a prayer of reconciliation based on 2 Corinthians 5:18. It was posted on the Reformed Church of America Website.

Prayer for Reconciliation

(Based on 2 Corinthians 5:18)

 

Loving God,
you have reconciled us in Christ Jesus
and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.

We pray for all those from whom we are estranged.
Bring healing to strained or broken relationships.
Forgive us for the times we have wronged others,
whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention.

Grant us the courage and the grace to seek their forgiveness
and opportunity to make amends.
Where others have wronged us,
grant us a gracious spirit,
that we might forgive
even as we have been forgiven in Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ from Prayers for Peace and Justice, posted on the Reformed Church in America website.

https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1871

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