Welcome:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Opening Psalm: Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

Confession and Forgiveness 1:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Shepherding God,
You guide us in right paths; You lead us in the ways of righteousness, but we have allowed our anger, our rage, our greed, and at times even hate, to direct our paths. We have overreacted, we have taken more than our share, we have despised others that seem to have it all. Forgive us, God, for not following Your ways. Forgive us when we have not listened for Your voice and instead have acted in the ways of the world. Guide us back to Your path; help us to unclench our fists and lend out our hands in hope and healing, forgiveness, and love. Uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Good Shepherd knows the sheep, and the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep so that the sheep may live. In the name of + Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the sheep your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
Amen.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety through the valley of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through Jesu Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

This is the Holy Gospel according to John, the 10th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

Gospel: John 10:1-10
1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: Beautiful Savior

Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:
http://www.pilgrimpaths.co.uk/Finger%20Labyrinth%20and%20Prayer%20Guide%20Leaflet.pdf

Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

. . . Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

Announcements

Offering
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

The Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, we are bold to pray as Jesus taught us saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction: Psalm 23 Blessing2
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 recognize your home and your hearth.
In the song that makes a dwelling-place in your heart, may its music rise in your soul.
And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and remain with you forever.
Amen.

Dismissal:
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Christ is risen, just as he said.
Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!

Prayer Requests:
Frank Danowsky, Marie Tanner, Sonja Noll, Irene Stark, Peg Swinehart, Alice Snyder, Greg Seibert, Harold Snyder, family and friends of Bill Krause, Colette Richards, Carlie Shaffer and baby Abi, Pat Thomas, family and friends of George Guffey, Gladys Guffey, Terry Funk, Darv Krouse, Rosemary Fernsler, Rob Lockwood, Kevin Hosey, Terry Smith, Rodney Heckert, Barbara Neilson, and Rebecca Otuszewski.
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1Adapted from Rev. Mindi on her blog Rev-o-lution.
2 Adapted from by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws