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Introduction by Rachael Forsyth  

Welcome to online worship from Eddleston, Peebles Old, Stobo and
Drumelzier, in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The bells of the Old
Parish are ringing out to call us to worship.

This Sunday we are reading how Jesus talked of himself as The Good Shepherd. The reading and much of the music recounts how the shepherd can come in to the fold to call and lead his sheep to where they can graze in safety.

Jesus is our shepherd who protects, guides, leads and cares for us as individuals.
He leads us out into the freedom of a life that is truly fulfilled.

This is why the fourth Sunday in Easter is often called “Good Shepherd
Sunday.”

We hear first of all from the Choir of Peebles Old - singing
under Covid restrictions - the Shepherd’s Psalm. Psalm 23 to the tune
Crimond

4th Sunday of Easter

Hymn: The Lord's my Shepherd

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to care for all that are close to us,
to protect those who are threatened,
to welcome those who are rejected,
to forgive those who are burdened by guilt,
to heal those who are broken and sick,
to share with those who have little or nothing,
to take the time to really know one another
and love as you have loved us.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to spread compassion to those who are far away,
to speak for those who are voiceless,
to defend those who are oppressed and abused,
to work for justice for those who are exploited,
to make peace for those who suffer violence,
to take the time to recognise our connectedness,
and to love as you have loved us.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
and to be faithful to the calling you gave us
to be shepherds in your name.

(John van de Laar, © 2009 Sacredise
on his Sacredise.com website)

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

 Read by Cathy Davidson
John: 10; 11-18

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep.
The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the
sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and
the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for
the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down
my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them
also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one
shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in
order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received
this command from my Father."

HYMN: The King of love my shepherd is


REFLECTION

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

Shepherd of all,
by laying down your life for your flock
you reveal your love for all.
Lead us from the place of death
to the place of abundant life,
that guided by your care for us,
we may rightly offer our lives
in love for you and our neighbours.

The Lord is our Shepherd: there is nothing we shall want if we turn to him
and ask in prayer. Let us now ask the Lord for all our needs, and for the
needs of the Church and of the world.

Let us pray for the Church which has Christ for its shepherd,
that all may hear his voice when he calls and follow his way of truth and
love.

Let us pray for all who are lost and unlooked for
that the Lord will show again compassion on those who have wandered
from him, and empower us to lead others to his presence.

Let us pray for the broken-hearted that they may be tended by his
healing hand, and all those who are weak may receive strength and
comfort in their hour of need.

Let us pray for our broken world, and for all those whose lives are
diminished by war, famine, thirst, disease or oppression.

Let us pray in silence for all our needs and the needs of others.

Almighty God, we bless you for giving your Son to be the shepherd of
your people. Grant that we who are strengthened by his risen presence
may follow him in our daily life. This we ask through the same Christ our
Lord.
Amen.

HYMN: Christ is made the sure foundation

THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION

Said by Rev John Smith

God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of an eternal covenant
make us perfect in goodness
so that we may do your will;
and create in us what is pleasing to you;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with you today, and in all the days to come. AMEN

Voluntary

For any of you who find difficulty in interacting with this service on small devices, here is a continuous audio recording of the full service

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