He Is A Great Shepherd

 The Lord Is My Shepherd, I lack nothing.

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about the Good Shepherd.

It could be the number of parishioners who are lambing at the moment. I feel conversant now in lambing being spread out over too long a period, or the benefit of twins over triplets, and the chore of bottle feeding or finding a surrogate mother to take on an extra one.

It might also be that parish life gets interrupted for a while as we try to adjust times of prayers and online to see if some of the farmers might join later in the evening, or that I’ve even had grooms to be come late to the own wedding rehearsal because they were calving. Some things you can’t argue with, only smile, and wait.

This year, lambs et al, Easter has settled itself into a great weekend. Daffodils and Spring bulbs are in their prime, lawns are possibly on their second cut, and there is a readiness for the holidays weekend. Families are ready for the break from home schooling, and people are stretching their boundaries and possibly the regulations too, in a desire to shake off the Winter and the most recent lockdown.

We should spare a though for our brothers and sisters in faith who live south of the border. They are not able to gather this evening for Good Friday, or on Easter Day, for the second year.

This week too has seen a major change at the Primary School, as Miss Houston retired on Maundy Thursday after leading there for over 15 years.

And this week too, many of us have been wracked with concern for Ernie and Emily Kells. They have been generational stalwarts of this congregation here, and in the words this week of a very sensible someone who commented that, Emily has spent the whole of her life caring for others. We are deeply saddened to learn today that Ernie has passed away. We knew him to be diligent and committed and quiet and gentlemanly. Their family Andrea, Nigel and Alan grew up through the ministry of this parish, and it is comforting to know that they are all home again this evening. Emily has many, many good friends and I know that these will be the days when they are needed most. We will remember them in our prayers across this weekend and beyond.

This also was Holy Week. I not sure what you were able to make of it. We were able to record worship for Palm Sunday and gather online for worship and prayers on Sunday evening, and again on Wednesday. We also had the invitation to share on-line on the other evenings with our Methodist brothers and sisters in Christ. We weren’t able to host the Good Friday Brunch this year, but I did hear of one or two families mark the day with children at home. Well done.

And the bell at St John’s did toll at 12nooon and 3pm, the traditional times used to mark the times Jesus was on the Cross. Perhaps that’s something we should keep in years going forward. Christians across Ulster and beyond could make much more of this week, and Good Friday in particular. It would be a very significant witness to see premises close for the Three Hours as once they did; not an onerous witness I would have thought.

The Good Shepherd. I came across a beautiful modern setting of Psalm 23 by Shane and Shane with Brooklyn Tabernacle, during Lent. As with the Psalmist, they write how ‘He leads me on,’ in paths of righteousness.

Sadly, the path is often filled with sorrow and difficulty. There are many events and turns on the road we are better not to know about ahead of time. But whatever lies in any one week, Holy or otherwise, we are promised that the Good Shepherd will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Partly that is because of God’s nature. He is committed to us, His own Creation. It is also seen best in the commitment Jesus made, to get to the Cross for us. St Mark notes how ‘He set His face for Jerusalem.’ Jesus, was determined as Good Shepherd to do all that was need for His flock, even to the point of Himself becoming the sacrificial Lamb, who as His cousin John said, ‘Takes away the sin of the world.’

It is because of Jesus that we lack nothing.
He gives us His rest as in a green pasture,
he leads us beside still waters,
he refreshes our soul.
He guides us along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though we walk
through the darkest valley,
we will not fear,
for Jesus is with us;
It is His Shepherd’s rod and staff,

That protect and comfort us.

And he even prepares a table before us
in the presence of our enemies. 

He anoints our heads with oil;
so much so that our cup overflows.

Surely His goodness and love will follow us
all the days of our life,
and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

The Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, who became the Lamb of God to take away our sin. We have ever confidence and hope in the one who died and rose again for us, and who today still Shepherd’s His flock, as he leads us towards home.

 

May God bless you in these Holy days as we recall again all that Jesus has done for us. Amen.

 

PS Google search for Psalm 23

with Shane and Shane, especially the setting with Brooklyn Tabernacle. Amazing.

 

The Lord Is My Shepherd I shall not want
In green pastures He makes me lie down
He restores my soul and leads me on for His Name, For His great Name

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name

 You prepare a table right before me

In the presence of my enemies
Though the arrow flies and the terror of night
Is at my door, I'll trust you Lord

 Even though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
And even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
You are on my side.