'The Shepherd' worship reflections and church notices

Hi folks, today in various places around the world, the Church celebrates what has come to be known as 'Good Shepherd' Sunday. It's an opportunity to reflect on Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to pause and consider the words from John 10:1-10, and Psalm 23. And, given our very rural context and that we're in the midst of lambing season, it's very apposite.

On site, we are also learning a new - to us - song from the group New Scottish Hymns Band called 'You're the Shepherd'.
So, in our time here, let's begin with that.

CALL TO WORSHIP 
Come as you are – known and loved.
Come with joy, come with hope.
Come with your burdens, come with your doubts.
Come with your dreams, come with your fears.
For God calls you by name and rejoices....

PRAYER 
God of new life,
planting grassy meadows for picnics,
pooling clear waters for floating,
making starry skies for gazing:
you shaped us in your image so we might not ever want;
you sent women and men of faith to us,
sharing their experience of you,
encouraging us to look up to listen, to follow you.
Loving us, You sent Jesus to us,
that we might hear his voice and believe his plain spoken words:
and so we give you our praise and worship.

Loving God, when we are quiet in your presence,
when we try to pray and when we reflect on your word...
when we are surrounded by noise and bustle,
when people compete for our attention and we have too much to do:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are happy and secure in the love of friends and family
and at peace with ourselves...
when we are overwhelmed by regrets for the past,
disappointment in the present, 
and fears for the future...
when we are confident in our decisions and sure of our plans:
help us to hear your voice.

When we are bewildered by many choices
and confused about the right way to go,
in the day and at night, at home and at work,
in company and alone, teach us to listen...
help us to hear your voice. 

Lord, where the waters of our life have been troubled,
you still our hearts and minds.
Where we have walked in strange and difficult ways,
you guide us in the right paths.
Where we have walked even through the valley of death,
you have been beside us.

…In your mercy, restore our souls.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

REFLECTION: 
It was one of those stunningly gorgeous days – hardly a breeze; the sun, beaming down on the hills and along the glen, and I’d taken myself off down to the end of the garden with a cuppa, to sit on my wee stool and just watch the world go by for a bit. The river was all diamond-sparkly and everything felt right with the world. Looking across the river, I saw a shepherd, with his dogs, guiding some sheep down the slope towards it. I admired the relationship between man and dog, as they worked together to lead the sheep down and  then under the bridge to get to the field just along.
A good shepherd, thought I.
But it was time to head back inside and crack on with some work.
So, a little reluctantly, I did.

A couple of days later, I met up with someone who knew that particular shepherd very well, and I mentioned how much I admired his skill.

This was met with a huge grin.

Apparently, if I’d stayed watching, I’d have seen five minutes later, that same shepherd, in the river, wading across to the other side in pursuit of a small group of rogue sheep who’d decided that they weren’t going to pay any notice to his instructions. 

I guess they thought that the grass really was greener on the other side..

So… a good shepherd, yes…

but not THE Good Shepherd that our bible passages refer to –

the one who says to his assorted group of listeners:

‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’

In a busy, busy, rush, rush world where too often the voice that is listened to is telling us all that our value is found only in what we can produce, and which calls us to be continually, relentlessly doing in order just to survive…

in an unquiet, fractured, and fearful world, where too often fear is weaponised and it seems that the only voices we hear are those that divide and create discontent and where difference is seen as suspect…

in a world that too often feels as if everyone and everything is broken or breaking, as we listen to the voices of doom in an endless cycle of news…

perhaps it’s time to press the pause button and spend a little time thinking about Jesus our shepherd, to listen to his voice,  and to think about life beyond mere survival –

about life that is…abundant.

So, what is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?
Some of the answer to both questions are seen within the words of the Psalmist.

Who's voice are we listening to?
In the early part of the psalm, the Psalmist talks of God as the shepherd in whom we have all we need.

God is our abundance, our provider – the One who is more than enough.
If we listen to his voice, and follow where he leads, our needs will be met.
I wonder: what are the voices we might listen to that can prevent us from following the Shepherd?
And, what might we do - what small changes could we make - to help us better hear our Shepherd's voice?

And another question for reflection: 

take some time now to think about where God is leading you;

where he has led you in the past;

where he’s led you to now.

Pray about where he may be leading you in the future…

 

Work / life balance is not a new concept: it's in the Bible.
The Psalmist also reminds us that the Shepherd leads his flock to places of refreshing, places of stillness, quiet, where we can find rest. It's the very antidote to our hyper-consumerist society where, too often people are valued only by 'what they can contribute' - 

what they can produce... where they are seen as just expendable cogs in the machine of industry.
The 'shepherds' of industry are often too ready to fleece their sheep, rather than to tend them.
The Good Shepherd knows the wisdom to be found in giving his flock space to be, and to breathe, and to enjoy life. Which is also a better strategy for both a contented flock, and a way of ensuring that they are at their best... 

In the end, rather than rest, creative space, times of stillness, reducing productivity, it enhances it.
God, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, instituted the concept of rest right at the beginning of Creation:

after the sixth day, God rested. 

And later, God codified it: Sabbath rest. 

If resting is good enough for God, then... let's take the hint and rest.

Dark valleys.

It’s often been said that you don’t find many atheists in foxholes –

basically, when dark times come, in moments of crisis, that’s often when we turn to God for help and comfort. But even when we might not be quite with God, God our shepherd is always faithful and always with us:

there for us in our deepest point of need,

there when all other hope is gone.

He is the one who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, and out the other side of it.

If we pause, if we’re still, if we call…

we find that God is near.

Again, an opportunity for some reflection: 

stop and think about those times in your own life when things seemed darkest, and when you felt God’s presence close to you.

And, if in the present, there are difficult times that you’re navigating, why not use this time to offer your particular situation up to the One who listens and who knows your name…

We come full circle and ask again:

What is it to have abundant life and how do we find it?

Well, we do the work of listening to the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus –

who will show us the right way to go –

who will lead us to the paths of peace, of refreshing,

of quiet space apart from the noise and busyness that so often fills our lives –

a space in which we remember again whose we are and who we are:

called to be his.

As we follow, so his goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

And, knowing ourselves loved, knowing God’s goodness and mercy, we go ahead:

widening the path so that goodness and mercy will not just bless us, but others -

knowing that as we do:

we need not fear, 

we shall not want -

for there is more than enough:

overflowing cups of goodness and mercy and God’s abundance all the days of our lives.

And also knowing that the one who calls us

guards us and guides us, leads us and loves us

and never, ever lets us go.  Amen.

A blessing for this week:

BLESSING

We belong here with God’s family, 

but we also belong in his world. 

Called by God, he sends you to turn belief into action –

to be his hands, his feet, his loving heart, in the world.

As God’s own, 

as you go about your lives this week,,

God, our shepherd, goes with you, guarding and guiding you.

May the blessing of God, 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

be with you all, evermore... Amen.

NOTICES

Sun 3 May: Kirk Session meeting - 

after worship and morning tea this coming Sunday, Session will be meeting over a 'bring and share' lunch. This is an open meeting, and those who are not on the Session are most welcome to stay. The main business will be exploring our future within the cluster, now that we are officially in a deferred union with the newly united cluster parishes of Cairngryffe and Douglas Valley - now Clydesdale Trinity. It's an opportunity for looking, and planning, ahead. 

Added to this, Presbytery have asked that all parishes prepare a mission plan to be ready for attestation 2027. Having asked Presbytery on Saturday, we are able to do this particular exercise jointly with the Clydesdale Trinity Session - given it ultimately affects all of us, and saves us all doing this twice!

Sun 10 May, 10:30am : Christian Aid service -

It's coming up to that time of year again, an opportunity to remember the excellent work of Christian Aid, and, as we can, to support them. Along with our regular offering, there will be a bowl as you leave the church should you wish to make any donations to Christian Aid.

Looking further ahead:

Sun 24 May, 10:30am: Pentecost -

The day we celebrate the 'birthday' of the Church. The traditional colour of Pentecost is red, so, if you're coming to our on-site service, why not wear something red! 

Update for 6-22 April

 The minister is currently on annual leave from Mon 6 - Wed 22 April inclusive.

During this time...
for general parish matters, please contact -
Dr Dee Yates, 01864 504093 or/
Ms Heather Watt, 01899 850211 or email at hwatt37@icloud.com 

And, for urgent pastoral cover(for Upper Clyde only), contact: Rev. George Shand, who can be reached on 07765987163 or via email: georgeshand@live.co.uk 

26 April. 3pm - Service of Union: just to note that the service of union, joining Cairngryffe Parish and Douglas Valley parish will take place. As part of the cluster group, and, if you're able, you are warmly welcome to attend this service. This will be held in the church building at Douglas (Upper Clyde is in deferred union with these parishes).

'On the first day of the week...'

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Matthew 28:1-10
The Resurrection of Jesus 
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

'On the first day of the week' - a sermon for Easter Sunday

It is the first day of the week.
Light is breaking through the darkness as dawn comes.
In the garden, by a tomb, the guards keep watch –
for what?
It’s not as if the one inside is going anywhere, right?
Perhaps they ponder their lot,
wonder when they will be released from their task to get breakfast,
wonder what they’ll have for breakfast,
and look forward to getting some much-needed sleep.
Warring is only a part of what they do:
more often, theirs is the job of watching, waiting.
And so, on this particular early morning, they wait.
All is quiet –
‘quiet as the grave’, thinks one.
He watches as two women make their way to the tomb, nods to his comrade –
‘pretty harmless,’ he muses,
‘they’re just women, after all…’
still, it breaks the boredom…

But nothing – none of the years of training –
prepares him for what happens next.
Suddenly, and with no warning, the ground beneath him shakes:
heaves and moves with an almighty disturbance –
an earthquake?
The great stone that covers the entrance to the tomb rolls back…
No time to think.
He watches with his comrade –
both now utterly wide awake.
There is a light – blinding – 
and a being dressed in brilliant white sits on the now-fallen stone.
The guards –
hard men, toughened by the nature of their occupation –
find themselves shaking:
such fear is upon them that they fall to the ground as if dead.

Do the women cling to each other in confusion and wonder?
But, then they hear the words:
words so often uttered in stories long gone:
‘do not be afraid…’
even so, this angelic messenger is so … ‘other’
More words:
‘He is not here…he has been raised.’

How can this be?
They had watched as Jesus had carried the cross,
winced at every lashing and harsh word,
waited with him:
witnessing his last hours,
hearing his last words,
the cry of desolation,
…the acceptance:
‘it is finished’.
They had seen him die,
walked with the others to the tomb,
watched as the great stone rolled across its dark
and death-filled mouth.
…Wept.
They had certainly clung to each other then
just as they held each other now –
not quite taking this in:
even as this shining messenger from God continued to speak.
‘He is not here…’
‘Risen’
‘Going to Galilee.’

Beyond the fallen stone and the bright being, the women see an empty tomb.
They are not entirely sure what this all means –
but for the first time in a couple of days, the inner darkness of sorrow
has been replaced with
hope…
wonder…
…a strange… joy…
this, even while they are still, quite understandably, terrified:
for, it is an awesome and fearful thing to behold God’s messenger.

As instructed, they hurry away from the emptiness of the open tomb,
find the others – the friends of Jesus.
And, even as the news is told:
he is here… among them.
Unlike the guards who had fallen to the ground as if dead,
his disciples fall at his feet, astonished, a little fearful,
yet even so, somehow energised by life itself.
In wonder, they worship.
And prepare for a journey north:
time to go home, to Galilee to share the good news:
‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’
‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’

Over these last weeks, we’ve walked through the wilderness of Lent:
and, in this last week, have journeyed with Jesus through Holy Week,
through the palms and the cheers,
to Gethsemane and betrayal in the garden;
to arrest, and trial, and jeers, and crucifixion.
…And in the darkness of that death,
held our breath as time stood still,
and watched
and waited.
And, we have dared to hope -
for unlike the two Marys before the dawning of the light on that first Easter morning,
we know how this story ends:
that there shall be no more tears,
that darkness is overcome,
that death is defeated,
that the light of the world can never be put out.

If you’ve ever had your heart broken by loss and laid someone or something you loved in the tomb:
this story is for you.
If you’ve ever needed some earthshaking good news,
if you’ve ever needed hope,
if you’ve ever lived as if death had the final word:
this story is for you.
If you’ve ever needed light and warmth to return to your life,
if you’ve ever needed a second chance and the possibilities a new day offers:
then, this story is for you.
Indeed, this is a story for the world:
for all the broken people and broken places;
for all weighed down by the relentlessness of bad news stories
that whirl around on an endless spin cycle of doom;
for all who have lost hope and see no future;
for all who feel the chill of poverty, homelessness,
the horror of war and brutality and injustice; …
for all who so desperately need a second, a third, and more chances because the start they had in life means they have never been on an equal footing;
this story is for all of them,
for all of us –
for it is the good news story of God’s love –
from life, to death,
to hell and back…

Here, with an empty cross,
grave clothes folded,
and with resurrected alleluias,
we stand with the Marys…
we stand with the friends of Jesus:
we stand, astonished, at this strange, yet familiar story:
of death defeated;
learning that there is more to life than what we know or comprehend,
and that, in Jesus –
through his life, his death, his resurrection –
in the mystery that is God’s –
somehow, we are brought into his marvellous light,
we have cause to hope,
we have life.
Love wins.

And, as the two Marys were called,
as his friends were called,
so too, we are called:
to share the Good News –
and in these times in which we live,
the sharing of Good news is both a radical act, and so very much needed.
We share God’s love and encourage others to love,
and watch the darkness lift and see the light pour in –
see the power of love at work in the world.
We witness to the staggering truth -
that Jesus is not dead.
He lives still...

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is Easter:
and we are his witnesses:

‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’
‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’
Amen.

Easter prayer

Amazing, life-giving, and eternal God:

On this day, of all days, we raise the cry with such glad hearts:

‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’

‘He is risen indeed, Alleluia!’

We give thanks for the gift of Easter

that runs beyond our expectations,

beyond our categories of reason,

and which fills our hearts with the hope that keeps us going.

We offer our prayers to you Lord God reminded on this day of all days:

that this is not the end,

this is just the beginning -

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Over these next 50 days of the Easter season, may you know the joy of the risen Christ.
Easter blessings to you all,

Nikki