You can read the transcript below. As always, what is typed and written, isn't always what is said. You can listen to the recorded sermons to hear exactly what was said.
I will include a few links that are referenced in the sermon, one to a podcast and one to some lectio divina Scriptures.
Maybe there is something in the sermon and/or in the Scripture for you as you read this.
Peace,
Debra
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“Peace and Rest in the Shepherd’s Care”
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
May 12th, 2019 (4th Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day)
Flintstone UMC / Simpson UMC
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
The Lord is my
shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
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THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR
THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
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Today is the 4th Sunday in Easter. “He is risen.” (“He is risen, indeed.”)
Easter
Sunday wasn’t the end. It was the
beginning. Have you noticed how the
disciples still had questions and doubts, even after Jesus did what he said he
was going to do?!?!
We
can relate to that, can we not?!
As we continue to live into the Easter season, today we are
focusing on the lectionary reading from Psalm 23. I am preaching the Psalms for the month of
May.
Every now and then I teach and preach on the Psalms. This week I saw a quote by Don Saliers that
affirms us spending time in them: “When we study and sing and pray Psalms, we
are teaching Christ to one another.”
(Don Saliers, Academy Podcast, Episode 21)
Today’s Psalm reminds us of the shepherd’s care. I chose to use the NKJV because I imagine
most folks are more familiar with the older KJV of this Psalm, as I am and the
NKJV is very close to it.
How many have Psalm 23 memorized from childhood?
How many have read it recently in a different version?
Hear the Psalm in a different version:
(MSG)
1-3 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes
through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course
dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love
chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
What lessons do you get
from today’s passage? What captures your
attention this morning?
This past week, I was
driving down Moses road, headed to Boy Scout road, and out of the corner of my
eye I saw sheep. Lots of them. I’ve seen horses in that field before, but
not sheep. I got to the “t” in the road
and had to make a decision. Do I
continue on my path to work or turn around?
I turned around (safely and legally) and went back. Though it wasn’t long, they had already made
their way up the hill, grazing peacefully as they meandered in the grass. There were baby ones and older ones. I watched for a few moments and then headed
on into work.
It struck me as great
timing to see sheep in a field the week before I was going to speak and teach
on the Psalm that mentions them and the “great shepherd”. Like I said, I don’t recall ever seeing sheep
there before.
I have been around sheep
when I was on an archaeological dig in Israel.
They are stinky and dirty, nothing like the fluffy white cotton ball
ones we used to make for crafts in VBS.
I observed the sheep in
Israel following the well worn path back to their shelter, grazing some along
the way. One day I noticed a shepherd waiting
for them at the pen. Another day I
observed a sheep giving birth. Unless
they were out grazing, the sheep stayed close to the shepherd and the pen,
their shade.
In today’s Call to
Worship, we said these words in response: “We follow the Shepherd.” “We trust the Shepherd.” “We are fed by the Shepherd.” “We live in the Shepherd’s care.”
Are those responses
accurate? Think for a moment. Be honest with yourself and with God as you
reflect. Maybe it isn’t EVERY single
moment, but your heart’s desire is to follow and to trust the Shepherd. You want to be fed by the Shepherd. You are seeking to grow and to go deeper in
your relationship and you can say that you live in the Shepherd’s care.
The Shepherd desires an
ongoing and growing relationship with the sheep. We are the sheep of his pasture.
What happens when we go
from saying this Psalm individually, to saying it collectively with a focus on
the church body? [Turn to page 137 in
your hymnals. We are going to add a few
words prior to “The Lord is my shepherd”.]
“I, Flintstone United
Methodist, the Lord is my shepherd. […]
“I, Simpson United
Methodist, the Lord is my shepherd. [….]
Do you experience
anything differently when you recite this as a congregation? Does it change anything for you? As a body of followers of Christ, what does
saying it together AS the body do for you?
That is something for reflection.
Another way to take this
text and use if for reflection is to read it in the lectio divina style (‘sacred reading’) so that we concentrate on a word
or phrase that sticks with us as we read through the passage several times. The four phases for lectio divina are: read, respond, reflect, rest. We have practiced this method in the studies
I have led. I encourage you to try this
on your own. (time to practice in sermon??)
We learn from Psalm 23
that God is a good host, providing food, drink, and shelter for guests, just as
the shepherd does for the sheep. (Keeping
Holy Time, Year C, page 171)
FUMC, you are
a good host by providing cold water and shade to cyclists. What a ministry. It is one that has been percolating for a
while in the dreaming and visioning sessions.
The idea came from another church in connection on Signal Mountain. The response has been overwhelming. LOTS of shares and comments. Over 8,000 views, 33 comments, and 63 shares—and
that is just the main post, NOT the shared ones… that have also been shared,
viewed, and received comments. (at the time of writing). Folks are appreciative. Your hospitality is being noticed. We still have some work to do, to get the
word out to the bike clubs, to build relationships, keep the water cold and
flowing, etc. But, wow, what a great start.
Thank you.
SUMC, we have many great
gifts to offer the community—we have a spacious fellowship hall, a brand new
nursery, a beautiful sanctuary. In the
fall, we host the Ridgeland Football team to a pre-game dinner—one of the best
they have, according to them. We host
the Sunday afternoons at Simpson quarterly, inviting community for wonderful
music. We just added in a wonderful
edition for Lent with the Stations of the Gospel. Continue to pray, dream, and vision how God
can use this space, this land for God’s glory and the good of the Kingdom. What opportunities of hospitality might
arise?
We recognize that God, as
the great shepherd, provides our ultimate sustenance, protection, and
security. (Keeping Holy Time, Year C, page 172) Because of God’s care for each
of us, we have peace and rest in the shepherd’s care. Not just as individuals, but as a community.
As we go forth today, may
we hear and follow the true shepherd of our souls who calls our name and
desires to offer us peace and rest.
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Call to Worship:
L: Come, walk in green pastures.
P: We follow the Shepherd.
L: Come, lie down in green pastures.
P: We trust the Shepherd.
L: Come, dine at the table of abundance.
P: We are fed by the Shepherd.
L: Come, dwell in God’s house.
P: We live in the Shepherd’s care.
P: We follow the Shepherd.
L: Come, lie down in green pastures.
P: We trust the Shepherd.
L: Come, dine at the table of abundance.
P: We are fed by the Shepherd.
L: Come, dwell in God’s house.
P: We live in the Shepherd’s care.
Psalm Prayer (during service)
Night and day, all creation declares your glory,
Holy God.
Yet you call us into covenant
And reveal your will for our lives.
Your perfect instruction renews life;
Your commands can be trusted.
In humility may we serve you,
O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
~Richard Eslinger, The Upper Room
Worshipbook, 88A, 1985.
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LINKS:
(A link for lectio divina with 30 Scripture passages to jump-start the practice)
(A link to the Don Saliers podcast mentioned in the sermon)
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RECORDED SERMONS:
