April 20, 2024

Dear Beloved St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace church! On this 4th Sunday of Easter, we come to what is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, a day full of rich imagery and metaphor (even if it is much outside of many of our typical daily lives and practices). And yet, these images make space for us to imagine, to create, to ask questions, and to play with a picture of Jesus who calls himself the good shepherd and us, the sheep. What might practicing resurrection look like here? As we hear these words, we will continue to wonder about the significance of this image for Jesus and for us in the midst of this Easter season. May we ALL hear the good news of Jesus, the good shepherd, God with us: you belong here! You are part of this flock!

Here is our schedule for tomorrow, April 21st:

9:00 AM: In-person Service of Word and Table in the sanctuary

9:00 AM: Sunday School for all ages in-person

Seekers and Servants Class in-person in Wesley Lounge or on Zoom. Join by clicking here or use Meeting ID 83292105478 and Passcode 522152.

10:30 AM: Hybrid Worship Service, in-person and livestreamed here

Please remember that since this service is filmed and live-streamed, you or your family members may be on our worship recording, which is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel.

11:30 AM: Discussion Group, in-person and on Zoom

Join by clicking here or use Meeting ID 87591478033 and Passcode stpauls.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Sarah

Discussion Questions

• What does the image/metaphor of the “good shepherd” mean to you? In what ways do you think this image helps you to better understand God?

• Look at this icon of the Good Shepherdess by Kelly Latimore. How does this image add to your understanding of the metaphor?

• Pastor Sarah shared a quote from Samuel Wells, which said that “with” is the most important word in the Christian faith. How have you experienced this to be true? What does the practice of “being with” mean to you?

Prelude: “Now the Green Blade Riseth” (Michael Tyree)

String Quartet

Greeting and Welcome

Call to Worship

One: We gather together to worship God, the one who leads us, sustains us, restores us, sets the table and eats with us;

All: you are our Good Shepherd. 

One: With ALL of creation, sun and stars, field and forest, seen and unseen, we give thanks; 

All: you are our Good Shepherd. 

One: For you know us and love us, your beauty and love chase after us every day of our lives;

All: with joy we proclaim, you are our Good Shepherd! 

Opening Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (UMH 89)

Passing the Peace

Children’s Message

Liz McMillan

Hymn: “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” (UMH 138)

Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

Kieran McMillan

Sermon: “The Good Shepherd”

Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Anthem: “Be Thou My Vision” (Michael Tyree)

String Quartet

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Offering

Closing Hymn: “Now the Green Blade Riseth” (UMH 311)

Announcements

Benediction

Postlude: “Be Thou My Vision/My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” (arr. Brant Adams)

Mary Bahnfleth, piano; Jackson Milinovich, violin