Responsive Prayer on Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

We believe in the goodness of God.

We believe God hears and responds to our needs.

We believe God responds to all people everywhere.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.

We are grateful that we’ve been blessed with enough water.

But we know that many do not have enough.

Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Too many people do not see God’s righteousness.

Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.

Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

To become involved is risky. Pain is often contagious.

Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.

Yet we hear God calling and we can no longer hide.

Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies;

thou annointest me head with oil, my cup overflows.

Our steps may be small and timid.

We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.

But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.

Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God is more relentless than war.

God is more pervasive than hatred.

God is more insistent than despair.

Amen. Amen.

Based on Psalm 23. Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, 1994.

Katherine Hawker

The darker realities of Sheep

"...The biblical imagery of sheep and their shepherd does not quite match our assumptions--be they positive or negative assumptions. None of our metaphors of sheep quite matches the picture of Psalm 23 that we admired in Sunday school. Certainly, faith in God as provider and protector is there--but so are the shadowed valleys, surrounding enemies, potential lynch mobs, ordeals and even crucifixion.
These sheep are not the blindly obedient animals that we find unsuitable models for children. Rather, the images of sheep are put together with darker realities. These passages give every evidence of being crafted by thoughtful and deeply experienced writers who are trying to communicate what it means to live by a radical trust in God in the midst of terror, pain and death--some of the greatest challenges to faith.
Finally, these readings are not what we call “allegory”, drawing out every analogy to sheep that can be made and offering sheep as a model for Christian life. Sheep in the fullness of their animal existence are neither a good model for Christian life nor any other kind of human life. Rather, this is a metaphor that shows us a part of faith that carries us through our darkest hours. This trust, like the ways of a sheep with its shepherd, is a radical trust that empowers us to believe that life has Christian meaning, even though our immediate experience may be telling us otherwise."  

---

Mary Schertz is professor of New Testament at Associate Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, 

A prayer of confession

Unison Prayer of Confession
Taught by our culture to want everything, Comfort of the righteous, we confess that emptiness that sends us searching for still more. Our constant desire for greener pastures fills us with every lust and envy. Our belief that still waters are stagnant sends us thirsting for whitewater thrills and adventures. Our trust in the promises of the world turns us away from the shelter you offer.

Forgive us, Source of goodness and mercy. Call us back from our wayward lives, that we might find rest in your heart, healing from your hands, and unity in life together as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Hear God's voice: I will walk with you in every moment; I fill you with my grace and hope; I know you and love you.
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.
(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

God is more insistent than despair

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

We believe in the goodness of God.

We believe God hears and responds to our needs.

We believe God responds to all people everywhere.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.

We are grateful that we’ve been blessed with enough water.

But we know that many do not have enough.

Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Too many people do not see God’s righteousness.

Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.

Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

To become involved is risky. Pain is often contagious.

Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.

Yet we hear God calling and we can no longer hide.

Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies;

thou annointest me head with oil, my cup overflows.

Our steps may be small and timid.

We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.

But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.

Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God is more relentless than war.

God is more pervasive than hatred.

God is more insistent than despair.

Amen. Amen.

Based on Psalm 23. Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, 1994. Copyright Katherine Hawker.