Prayers for Worship
Easter 4
by Ron Gordon

John 10: 11-18

Collect:
 

Lord God you gave your Son to watch over your people as a shepherd over the flock, 
knowing each by name and providing nurture and guidance and bringing the flock together. 
Your Good Shepherd gave himself to protect his chosen with his own life against those 
who denied him and who would have destroyed them. You raised him from death 
and by his Spirit we know him present to tend and protect. Blessed is God forever..

Prayer:
 

God our Father, we know that in your love you chose to share human life in this world: 
present with us as Emmanuel. Jesus has shown us that your love does not have to be earned 
or merited but is open to all: it is free and unconditional. By his words and deeds 
and through his cross and death he has shown us the depth of your redeeming love for us all. 
In his resurrection you assure us that he has spoken and acted on your behalf and he is truly vindicated.

Holy and Blessed is God forever.

We have long known you to be the shepherd of Israel, but in Jesus we know you know us. 
He has spoken, and speaks now through the Spirit words of nourishment and guidance in the Scriptures, 
and in words of friendship and counsel by his sisters and brothers with us. 
He has bound us together uniquely to be his family in the world loving and serving others 
as he has loved and aided us.

Holy and Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ forever.

Spirit of our God, you share life with us to comfort and help us sleep, but also to awaken us 
from cosy dozing and to challenge us to be alert. You call us to be aware in our world, here and now, 
in loving and caring for others as Jesus has loved and cared for us.  
Where we have failed in our mission, been unloving and uncaring, we pray:

Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Your forgiveness binds us together as those who owe all to our Good and Loving Shepherd, 
and you Father, Son and Holy Spirit are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

© 2009 Ron Gordon (used with permission)

good shepherd
by Jenn Gordon
 
snatched and scattered
by the wolves of want
the flock feeds not
on pastures green and long
but is fed upon, divided  - they
become the prey

no deep still waters waiting by
no soul-restoring green-grass lie
no rest, no guest
no righteous quest

and yet you have a choice
 - will you hear
the shepherd’s voice?

he calls, he cares, enfolds you
in his snares of love
he holds you, like a newborn child
then whispers;  ‘this is what I give’
and lays his life down
so that you might live

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)