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Call to Worship (by Rev. F. Schaefer)
L: We all like sheep have gone astray.
P: May the Good Shepherd gather us into his flock once again.
L: Come let us worship and bow down.
P: Let us kneel before the LORD, our God, our Maker.
L: For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture.
P: We are the sheep of His hand. Let us worship God!

Responsive Reading of Psalm 23
L: The Lord is my Shepherd
P: I shall not want
L: He makes me lie down in green pastures
P: and leads me beside the still waters
L: He restores my soul.
P: and guides me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake
L: Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death
P: I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
L: Thy rod and thy staff
P: They comfort me.
L: Thou preparest a table before me
P: In the presence of mine enemies
L: Thou anointest my head with oil.
P: And my cup overflows
L: Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
P: All the days of my life
L: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
P: for ever.

 

Prayer to Shepherd God (by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier)
Shepherd God,
Give me your great heart to love with, especially when my own heart is too small and limited to love as another needs to be loved.
Give me all I need to reach out to those who are lost and in trouble.
Give me the love and courage to give myself totally to the mission of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life so that we would have life in its fullness. Amen.


Another Shepherd Prayer
by Rev. F. Schaefer
We ask you, Good Shepherd of our soul, to lead us securely in the paths you have set before us.  May we recognize and listen to your voice like the sheep who know their shepherd.  Even though we tend to go astray, do not forsake us.  Lead us to the green pastures of your heavenly kingdom, even though our paths may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.  Amen.

A Good Shepherd Prayer of Incarnation
(Based on the prayer of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier)
God of compassion, may every beat of my heart be a prayer to obtain your grace and care for those most lost in our world.
May every breath I take be a prayer for your mercy for those who are most in need.
May all those whom I make eye contact see themselves as you see them.
May all those I touch experience your touch experience themselves as valuable because of your tender and forgiving presence.
And may I always be open to receiving your love, and being an instrument of your love in the world.

 

Closing Prayer:
(Syrian Orthodox church)
Glory to the father, who has woven garments of glory for the resurrection.
Worship to the Son, who was clothed in them at his rising.
Thanksgiving to the Spirit, who keeps them for all the saints.
Amen.