Psalm 23 Liturgy-Responsive Reading

One: Lord, our great Shepherd, we gather here in the midst of a time of great pain and heartache as a nation and as a church.

 

All: Remind us of your mercy that carries us like a shepherd carries his sheep in his loving arms.

 

One: It is said in your word, Lord, that you are a shepherd that not only protects but provides.

 

All: In You, we lack nothing. Grant us Your love, grace, compassion, truth, and during this time, hope to sustain us, so we can take one day at a time.

 

One: You are a shepherd who leads us and guides us.

 

All: Good Shepherd, lead us into green pastures of Your tranquility so that we may have rest in You. Guide us beside the still waters that remind us of your peace.

 

One: You are a shepherd who restores and renews.

 

All: Good Shepherd, even as we face violent and painful times in our lives individually and corporately, may we walk the path of righteousness and holiness. Plant our feet on solid ground not only that we would stand firm and true but that we would offer those around us the same firm foundation that is You, Jesus Christ.

 

One: You are a shepherd who do these compassionate acts solely because you are good.

 

All: Good Shepherd, may we be reminded always that you have saved us, cleansed us, and restored us from sin and death not because we have earned it, but because You are a good, good Father, that is simply who You are.

 

One: Lord, we come to you admitting that this week, our country and many of us individually have felt as though we have seen the valley of the shadow of death.

All: We have seen the pain and fear that violence has wrought that has brought a pause to our lives. Good Shepherd, teach us to be peacemakers so that You through us can teach the world what it means to live in wholeness in relation to You, one another, and self.

 

One: We have not only been exposed to pain in this way, but this week several of us lost loved ones that we cherished.

 

All: Even though we walk through death’s valley at different points in our life, remind us Good Shepherd that it is your hand that lead us and comfort us with your rod of instruction and your staff of gentleness. We do not stumble aimlessly as if we have no hope, for we have You, and You are stronger than death.

 

One: Dear Lord Jesus, after you arrived at your friend Lazarus’ grave, you reminded the sisters Martha and Mary both of your total humanity and perfect divinity. With one sister, you wept, while the other, you reminded her that standing before her was none less that the Resurrection and the Life.

 

All: Gracious Shepherd, we admit we need to hear both of these truths daily, both that you grieve with us and that you feel our pain, and yet you also overcame death and that those who put their trust in You, you promise the same eternal life.

 

One: So lead on Shepherd, to the banquet you yourself have prepared before us. Protect us from our enemies of despair and hopelessness, of cynicism and want, so that we would joyfully accept your invitation to join you at your feast of peace and hope.

 

All: And as we walk in our lives day by day to this great banquet, remind us that your goodness and your mercy pursue us and overtake our hurt. Remind us that we will dwell in your house forever like you dwell in our hearts now. Stir in us and plant our feet upon the conviction that death does not have the final word, Lord Jesus, you do. May our mourning be one day turned into dancing so that we as your church may proclaim to ourselves and others those same words that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, that “death has been swallowed up in Christ’s victory, Oh death where is your victory, oh grave where is your sting?” Good shepherd lead on, through our heartache and through our pain into your presences where we may find good eternal life, amen.