The fourth Sunday of Easter, in more liturgical churches, is "Shepherd Sunday". We've celebrated it a couple of times here at Philo Pres. The best thing I ever did on Shepherd Sunday was to invite a young friend to bring her 4-H lamb for the children's sermon. It was magic. (Afterward, in Fellowship Hall, one of the kids was overheard telling another one, "It wasn't a REAL lamb, you know!" )
Anyway, the texts for the week are so beautiful they bring tears to a person's eyes. You could look them up, but I think I'll post them here for the next three days and think of each one in turn.
The 23rd Psalm -
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou are with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
thou anoinest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall f0llow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
3 comments:
"Shepherd Sunday" - how appropriate that they would name a special day in your honor!
you are taking good care of your flock, you know. all of us all over the country.
Yep, we feel like the luckiest flock in the territory!
For instance, bringing the lamb to the service. Have you ever seen a more ingenious idea? You can be sure the kids weren't the only ones that were impressed by that! I hadn't even know there WAS a "Shepherd Sunday"!
I'd like to re-memorize that scripture--I knew it once....
Good for you!
I think that's one that everyone ought to know "by heart".
There are some very beautiful musical settings of the psalm, too.
(I'm singing - imagine. . . (who?) Patsy Cline. Imagine I sound just like Patsy Cline.)
The King of Love my Shepherd is
whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine forever.
or
The Lord's my Shepherd,
I'll not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green He leadeth me
the quiet waters by.
I still get a big kick out of the way hymns twist syntax to get a rhyme.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thou, O Lord, beside me
Thy rod and staff me comfort still
and home, rejoicing, guide me.
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