The Good Shepherd

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday - I found this Chinese painter's interpretation of the Gospel reading for this Sunday.

The readings for May 6 were:
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18

Our introit hymn was The King of Love My Shepherd Is set to the tune St. Columba. The hymn was written by Henry Williams Baker.

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

The processional hymn was Lift High the Cross. The original 12 stanzas of this missionary hymn were written by George Kitchin as a processional for a festival to be held in June 1887 in Winchester Cathedral. It is based on John 12:32, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Several alterations have been made in the lyrics to change some of the male-oriented language. Some of words were written by Michael Robert Newbolt, also an English composer and church musician.

Sydney Hugo Nicholson, founder of the School of English Church Music, and organist for nine years at Westminster Abbey composed the aptly titled hymn tune Crucifer.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
Bear on their brows the seal of Him Who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory!

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.


Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us written by Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847). The hymn tune was composed by William B. Bradbury (1816-1868) and is simply called Bradbury.

1. Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

2. We are thine, thou dost befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3. Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.

4. Early let us seek thy favor,
early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior,
with thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Our anthem was Haydn’s Lo, My Shepherd’s Hand Divine, a two-part women’s anthem. This would have been bad because the sopranos outnumber us altos four to one, but at the last minute I persuaded my daughter Katie to sit in with us, even tough she was tired from leading choirs at the first service and then teaching music to children’s classes for an hour. It sounded pretty good.

Lo, my shepherd’s hand divine,
Want shall nevermore, shall nevermore be mine.
When I faint with summer’s heat,
He shall lead; He shall lead my weary feet.
To the streams that still and slow,
Still and slow, through the verdant meadows flow,
When I faint with summer’s heat, He shall lead my weary feet
To the streams, to the streams, that still and slow,
Through the verdant meadows flow.
To the streams that through the meadows flow,
Through the verdant meadows flow.

Our Communion hymns were:
Come Share the Lord

We gather here, in Jesus' name,
His love is burning in our hearts like living flame,
for through the loving Son, the Father makes us one,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.


No one is a stranger here, everyone belongs,
finding our forgiveness here, we in turn forgive all wrongs,


He joins us here, He breaks the bread,
the Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead,
the One we love the most, is now our gracious host,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.


We are now a family, of which the Lord is head,
though unseen He meets us here, in the breaking of the bread.


We'll gather soon, where angels sing,
we'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King,
now we anticipate, the feast for which we wait,
come take the bread come drink the wine come share the Lord.

Sing Alleluia to the Lord

Lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
Lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
Lift up your hearts unto the Lord.

He is the bread of life. He is the bread of life.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
He is the bread of life. He is the bread of life.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
He is the bread of life.

His resurrection sets us free. His resurrection sets us free.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
His resurrection sets us free. His resurrection sets us free.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
His resurrection sets us free.

Therefore we celebrate the feast. Therefore we celebrate the feast.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia;
Therefore we celebrate the feast. Therefore we celebrate the feast.
Sing alleluia, Alleluia;
Therefore we celebrate the feast.

Become to Us the Living Bread by Miriam Drury set to the tune Gelobt Sei Gott.

Become to Us the Living Bread Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Become to use the living bread by which the Christian life is fed, renewed, and greatly comforted.
Become the never-failing wine, the spring of joy that shall incline our hearts to bear the covenant sign,
May Christians all with one accord unite around the sacred board to praise your holy name, O Lord, Alleluia! Alleluia!

The final hymn was Jesus Calls Us by Cecil Frances Alexander, (1818-1895). Mrs. Alexander was the wife of William Alexander, Anglican Bishop of Derry. She wrote over 400 hymns, including All Things Bright and Beautiful and Once in Royal David’s City. The tune was composed by William H. Jude and is titled Galilee

1. Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
of our life's wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
saying, "Christian, follow me!"

2. As of old the apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for Jesus' sake.

3. Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world's golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, "Christian, love me more!"

4. In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
"Christian, love me more than these!"

5. Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee best of all.