The watchword for the week:
Jesus says, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9
Let the whole earth be joyful in you, O God,
We greet you with gladness and celebrate your presence with a song.
For we know that you are creating us,
you are alive in us, and we belong to you.
We enter your gates a motley procession,
But we enter with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy.
For you are gracious, and your embrace is compassionate,
faithful through all generations.
Psalm 23
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.
5You 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.
Let us Confess our Sins:
O God, we thank you for sending the gift of your steadfast love to us each day, even though we do not always claim it. Move us, by your Holy Spirit, to accept your love and share it freely with those who need it. Forgive us when:
We are slow to seek reconciliation with others. (pause for reflection)
When we cling to the feeling of having been wronged. (pause for reflection)
When we fail to extend to others the same compassion you freely give to us. (pause for reflection)
Break in on our selfishness, and astonish us anew, O God! Our prayer is that you will claim us again and strengthen us to respond to the needs of those who are hurting. Amen.
The Easter message calls us to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven because when we enter his gates, Jesus feeds us with his life. Hear the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, and behold the new has come. Thanks be to God!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was, in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
Take time to read today’s Daily Texts. If you do not have a copy of the Daily Texts, you will find today’s texts posted in the margin on your page’s right side (at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile phone). God speaks to us through the inspiration of scripture, so approach the opportunity to read the texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be conveyed to you today. How might today’s Word make a part of your life new again? When you have finished praying, continue as follows.
Let us now pray together:
Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with the things we genuinely need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your live-giving strength and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory now and forevermore. AMEN.
Jesus makes my heart rejoice,
I’m his sheep and know his voice,
He’s a shepherd kind and gracious,
And his pastures are delicious,
Constant love to me he shows,
Yea, my very name he knows.
(Hymn 662 v.1 from the Moravian Book of Worship)
And now may the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us now and forever. Amen.