This Sunday we will be celebrating both Earth Day Sunday and Good Shepherd Sunday. We will sing beloved hymns such as ‘Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us and “He Leadeth Me.” Church Members and Youth will help to lead worship and share about Earth Day topics which are important to them. The sermon will be a short meditation on Jesus the Good Shepherd who lay his life down for us.
If you would like a home visit, conversation, or home communion, please call me at 573-437-2779 (church).
- Newsletter Articles are due on Sunday, April 21
- Eastern Association Meeting on Saturday, April 27 at Christ Evangelical Church in Cape Girardeau
- The Dorcas and St. Peter’s will be serving lunch and cookies at the Blood Drive at Immaculate Conception Church on Thursday, May 9 from 12-6. Volunteers and donations of cookies are needed for this event.
- The Scenic Regional Library is sponsoring a grave cleaning event in the St. Peter’s Cemetery on Saturday, June 8. Register at the library.
Blessings,
Pastor Stephanie DeLong
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12 • Psalm 23 • 1 John 3:16-24 • John 10:11-18
Sermon: The Power to Lay Down
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 1 John 3:16-17
Jesus had it in his power to lay his life down for us. Jesus’ death on the cross was his choice, his sacrifice, his gift for us. By laying down his life, Jesus changed the course of history and gives us life. Jesus did this not because he had to, but because he loves us, all of us.
Jesus loves all his sheep. Jesus loves the sheep who follow too closely, even those who hang around the shepherds legs and staff and block other sheep from coming close. Jesus loves the sheep who wander off, even those who get lost and find themselves in bad situations. Jesus loves the sheep who have an independent streak, even those who want to walk ahead of the Shepherd. Jesus loves the sheep who are anxious, even the sheep who cower back in fear. Jesus loves the angry sheep, even those with quick tempers and sharp tongues. Jesus loves the rich sheep, the lonely sheep, the poor sheep, the popular sheep, and the unpopular sheep. Jesus loves all the sheep.
So, what are we the flock of sheep who follow Jesus to do? We are to love one another because Jesus loves us. We are to love all the sheep even when it is hard. We are called to love the clingy sheep, the stray sheep, the independent sheep, the anxious sheep, the angry sheep, the quiet sheep, the noisy sheep, the rich sheep, the poor sheep, the lonely sheep, the popular sheep, the unpopular sheep, and ourselves.
To love like this takes a lot of prayer and practice. We are going to fail and stumble a lot, because unlike Jesus we are stubbornly human and imperfect. Still all of us are loved and forgiven through Jesus who loves us. So, we try to love one another, sharing what we have with those in need. Reaching out to the lonely and lost. Loving the unlovable even when that unlovable one may be ourselves.
In worship we will have talked about Earth Day and loving the green pastures which God has given to us. When we lovingly care for our world, we care for those who live in it. We care for our children and our children’s children. God has given us such a beautiful world in which to live, let us keep it green and lovely forever.
Prayer: Good Shepherd, help me to live in your love and to love others because you have loved me. Amen.
Prayer list: All who have been on our list for a while, Mark’ s brother Billy, Tyra, Freya, Vicki B., Barb Z., Jesse, Tammy. Jennifer, Richard, Tamara, John, Dixon’s daughter, Ashlely and Cody, Garth, Linda, Tessa, Carl, Kimbra, Liz’s father, Dannie, Lathe, Marilyn, Kris, Lee Ann, Bob, Diane, Linda, Keetha, Carly, Mia (Good news, she is healing.), Brenda, David, Dave, Jeff, Bill & Kathleen, Bill with cancer, Nancy and Pat, Son-in-law of friends for Diann K., baby Claire. Janet, Karen. If you know of anyone who would like a prayer shawl, please let us know.
Prayers for Judy Balluff’s family at the passing of her sister-in-law.
