This week our gathered worship was shaped around the image of God as our shepherd, with Jesus’ words from John 10:1-10 and, our focus, Psalm 23.
The children encountered Psalm 23 with Cecil, from The Lost Sheep series, and the illustrations really helped them to understand what it might be like for God to be like a caring shepherd.
Here is the reflection (reflection Ps 23), which was offered as a meditative type reflection; I spoke it at a slow pace, with lots of pauses giving space for contemplation of the images and ideas.
The prayers for others were shaped around Together in Song number 123 – I spoke some words to guide prayer, left silence, and then we sang a verse, and did this for each of the four verses. This seemed to work well. We’re a congregation that likes to sing, and as in all congregations of mixed age groups, not to mention tastes, we try to balance the needs of each for authentic worship. So I try to infuse new energy into the old songs, with new words from writers like George Stuart or Elizabeth Smith, or by using them in different ways. We even sang TiS # 10, Psalm 23 from the Scottish Psalter, and I introduced it to the kids as and old song from Christians long ago, because from the ancient Hebrews we only have the words to the songs, not the music they sang.
Here is the prayer, anyway.
Leader: As the psalm quietly affirms, God will still our soul, bring us peace in the midst of the turmoil of living. We pray today with those in the world, and we pray for ourselves, seeking peace.
We pray with those whose path takes them through the rough terrain of loss – of loved ones, jobs, home, strength – and of pain – physical and mental illness, injury.
Silence
Sing – verse 1
We pray with those for whom the path is uncertain – students weighing up choices for their future, workers contemplating new directions or retirement – those for whom the ground is shaking – because of earthquakes, because of economic hardship, over the waters seeking a life away from war and persecution.
Silence
Sing – verse 2
We pray with those who are missing friends and family, those whose relationships are difficult, fraught with hurt and mistrust, tried by betrayal and dishonesty.
Silence
Sing – verse 3
We pray with those whose mortality is frightening in its reality, those in palliative care and those working in intensive, emergency and palliative care facing death every day; we pray for those in the autumn and winter seasons of their lives, for their regrets and their joys, their families, friends and carers. We pray, God, for ourselves.
Sing – verse 4
Amen
(prayer (c) Sarah Agnew 2011 – feel free to use it in your gathered worship)
