{"id":1694,"date":"2021-04-24T23:27:06","date_gmt":"2021-04-24T23:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=1694"},"modified":"2021-04-24T23:27:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-24T23:27:06","slug":"easter-iv-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/24\/easter-iv-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter IV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/128\/31527614026_9f7f7223f3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Good Shepherd close, Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophgus\"\/><figcaption>Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophagus, c. 275 C.E., white veined marble, found under the floor of Santa Maria Antiqua, at the foot of the Palatine Hill, Rome.  Photo by Steven Zucker is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cLet Us Build A House (All Are Welcome)\u201d (Haugen)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Prelude_-Let-Us-Build-A-House-All-Are-Welcome-_.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We have come to worship God. <br \/>\nWe have come seeking comfort, <br \/>\ninspiration, community, and insight.<br \/>\nWe have come to open ourselves <br \/>\nto the power of God\u2019s presence in our midst.<br \/>\nWe have come to offer up the seasons <br \/>\nand the turnings in our lives, <br \/>\nand to ask God\u2019s help in our learning and in our growing.<br \/>\nWe have come at the bidding of the Good Shepherd,<br \/>\nTo be found, and to follow him,<br \/>\nand to be made whole.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cThe King of love\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/thekingoflove.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>The King of love my shepherd is,<br \/>whose goodness faileth never;<br \/>I nothing lack if I am his<br \/>and he is mine forever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Where streams of living water flow<br \/>my ransomed soul he leadeth,<br \/>and where the verdant pastures grow<br \/>with food celestial feedeth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Perverse and foolish oft I strayed;<br \/>but yet in love he sought me,<br \/>and on his shoulder gently laid,<br \/>and home rejoicing brought me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>In death\u2019s dark vale I fear no ill<br \/>with thee, dear Lord, beside me;<br \/>thy rod and staff my comfort still,<br \/>thy cross before to guide me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Thou spread\u2019st a table in my sight;<br \/>thy unction grace bestoweth;<br \/>and O what transport of delight<br \/>from thy pure chalice floweth!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>And so through all the length of days<br \/>thy goodness faileth never:<br \/>Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise<br \/>within thy house forever!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>All we like sheep have gone astray, Lord.<br \/>We are meant to follow you,<br \/>but we follow in our own way.<br \/>Direct us with your grace,<br \/>guide us with your goodness,<br \/>and lead us back to you.<br \/>Speak to us through the Spirit,<br \/>and remind us of the sound of your voice.<br \/>Give us life, that we might have it abundantly,<br \/>filled with love and mercy.<br \/>Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God will give us what we need:<br \/>\nstrength for today,<br \/>\nhope for tomorrow,<br \/>\nand forgiveness<br \/>\nfor all that is past.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-7-1024x608.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1696\"\/><figcaption>Window from St Denys&#8217; church in Northmoor, West Oxfordshire. &#8220;The Good Shepherd&#8221; by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cThe Lord&#8217;s my Shepherd\u201d (Scottish Traditional)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Psalm-23.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 23<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.<br \/>\nHe maketh me to lie down in green pastures:<br \/>\nhe leadeth me beside the still waters. <br \/>\nHe restoreth my soul: <br \/>\nhe leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name&#8217;s sake.<br \/>\nYea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,<br \/>\nI will fear no evil: for thou art with me; <br \/>\nthy rod and thy staff they comfort me.<br \/>\nThou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: <br \/>\nthou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.<br \/>\nSurely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: <br \/>\nand I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: John 10.11-18<\/p>\n\n\n<p>11 \u201cI am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>14 \u201cI am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me\u2014 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father\u2014and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life\u2014only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cHow sweet the name of Jesus sounds\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/howsweet.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>How sweet the name of Jesus sounds<br \/>in a believer\u2019s ear!<br \/>It soothes the sorrows, heals the wounds,<br \/>and drives away all fear.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>It makes the wounded spirit whole,<br \/>and calms the troubled breast;<br \/>\u2019tis manna to the hungry soul,<br \/>and to the weary, rest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Dear Name! the rock on which I build,<br \/>my shield and hiding-place,<br \/>my never-failing treasury, filled<br \/>with boundless stores of grace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,<br \/>my Prophet, Priest, and King,<br \/>my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,<br \/>accept the praise I bring.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The effort of my heart is weak,<br \/>and cold my warmest thought;<br \/>but when I see you whom I seek,<br \/>I\u2019ll praise you as I ought.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/april25sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>You might call it reporting about reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>For voracious news watchers, this idea won\u2019t come as a surprise.  Spend an hour on any of the major cable networks and you will discover that it\u2019s mostly reporters (or presenters) interviewing reporters about getting the story.  And of course, it makes a lot a sense: if you can\u2019t interview the prime minister, why not interview someone covering the prime minister instead?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So that\u2019s the topline version of reporting about reporting.  The next version is reporters who watch the news on television, and write articles about what they see.  For start-ups and low budget news organizations, this may be the only way they can cover the story\u2014saving the cost of sending someone to the scene.  A variation on this is writing a story about someone&#8217;s appearance on the news, maybe the ultimate low-budget reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Finally, there are the stories about stories.  A story appears somewhere, goes viral, and other news outlets cover the viral story like a story.  Most often they will cite the source, but sometimes they will simply do a similar story and pretend it was their reporting all along.  Does it matter?  If you\u2019re the original author, I suppose it does\u2014unless you\u2019re just happy to have the idea out there.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This week\u2019s viral example is a story that appeared in the New York Times called \u201cThere\u02bcs a Name for the Blah You\u02bcre Feeling: It\u02bcs Called Languishing.\u201d  The next day, The Guardian picked it up, People Magazine the day after that, then the National Post a couple days later.  Google \u201cLanguishing\u201d and you will find even more.  The original author was Prof. Adam Grant from Wharton, but it seems the idea belongs to everyone now.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Languishing, of course, is an old word, which means to feel weak or dispirited, to lack vitality, or to suffer neglect.  Fast-forward to the mid-90s, and psychologist Corey Keyes applied the term to mental health, suggesting that the opposite of flourishing is languishing.  Fast-forward again to this strange era we inhabit, and you see how the concept might resonate.  Prof. Grant calls languishing \u201cthe neglected middle-child of mental health.\u201d  It\u2019s the absence of well-being\u2014not depression, but not sterling mental health either, but something in between.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>See if you can find yourself among Dr. Grant&#8217;s observations: not feeling a lot of joy, somewhat aimless, feeling a sense of stagnation, maybe emptiness, generally you&#8217;re just muddling through your days.  In other words, fear and uncertainty (from a year ago) has morphed into something else: less motivation, less concentration, less direction.  Languishing. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>The first step is to name the problem.  Dr. Grant cites another viral article from last year, which appeared in the Harvard Review (and sermonboy.com) that named the prevailing emotion we were feeling as grief.  We were grieving the loss of many things, both traditional and unexpected.  It was helpful to give it a name and apply some well-known approaches to the problem.  So too which languishing, but before we get to that, we need to meet a certain shepherd.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In a minute.  First, I want you to recall the outline of a parable.  A parable creates a little world, that suddenly sours, and then is resolved in such a way that it shows us the Kingdom.  That\u2019s a parable.  But the same outline, the same emotional journey, can be found in other places in scripture, even the psalms.  So step back and look at the twenty-third psalm through the lens of our little structure.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>The Lord is my shepherd, I have all I need.  I can rest in his pasture, near quiet waters, refreshed in body and soul.  He leads me on the correct path, God\u2019s own way.  Even in the valley of shadows, there is nothing to fear, for he\u2019s with me, giving direction and comfort.  My adversaries can see me at the Lord\u2019s table, chosen and sated.  Surely my Lord will be a step behind me every day, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>From pastures green, to death\u2019s dark vale, to an eternal dwelling place\u2014we see the markers of this literary passage.  Pleasance, peril, and eternity in God\u2019s own realm\u2014knowing that we will dwell in the house of the Lord our whole life long.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>So where are we on our pandemic journey?  You could argue that we inhabited a happy pre-pandemic world, which soured, and now we await release, our very own kingdom-come.  Alternately, you could say we found ourselves in a COVID world, we managed, then we languished, and now we await that  post-pandemic world.  However you frame it, we seem to be in some late-middle stage, coping how we can, maybe feeling too tired to panic at each new peril in this dark valley.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>So back to Dr. Grant.  For the languishing, he suggests establishing \u201cflow.\u201d  To become engaged in something, even for a short time, that can give us a sense of purpose.  He suggests we start small, something intentional that takes us outside of ourselves.  Next, he encourages people to carve out some time, away from news or email, time to focus on those small tasks or nothing at all.  Finally, he says we should focus on small wins, anything that might build energy or enthusiasm in the face of languishing.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And as you might expect, all this fits with the context of our psalm.  The psalmist begins with gratitude, praising the Shepherd God for stillness, direction, and companionship in times of peril.  There is a flow to prayer, and the psalmist encourages us to praise God, to give thanks, and to acknowledge that we need the protection and comfort that only God can give.  Prayer allows us to carve out some time for God.  And every prayer is a small win, because it takes us outside of ourselves and leads us back to God\u2019s goodness and mercy.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>We name what we face, and that becomes a small step toward healing and wholeness.  Then we turn to the Good Shepherd, trusting that he walks beside us, calls us forward, and dwells with us forevermore.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1698\"\/><figcaption>Statuary at Marylake Carmelite Monastery, Pulaski County, Arkansas. &#8220;The Good Shepherd&#8221; by Gayle Nicholson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Shepherd God,<br \/>You lead us to the stillness of this moment,<br \/>you make it sacred, and we shelter here.<br \/>Comfort us, God, as we shelter in your love.<br \/>Remind us that we are your children,<br \/>and that you lead us in your way.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Comfort us in the midst of fear:<br \/>fear of things lost and never to return,<br \/>fear of sorrow,<br \/>and fear of the unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Encourage us in the midst of peril:<br \/>praying for an end to the pandemic,<br \/>praying for frontline workers,<br \/>praying for all in need.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Guide us through the valley of shadows,<br \/>with your staff to protect us,<br \/>and your Spirit to lead us home.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Surround us this day with goodness,<br \/>Set a place at table,<br \/>that you may be our companion and guide,<br \/>and we may be companion and guide to others.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dwell with us, God, this day,<br \/>and remind us that we never walk alone.<br \/>Strengthen us to care for others,<br \/>Following the compassionate example of your child,<br \/>Jesus the Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/> hallowed be thy name.<br \/> Thy kingdom come,<br \/> Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/> Give us this day our daily bread;<br \/> and forgive us our trespasses<br \/> as we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/> and lead us not into temptation<br \/> but deliver us from evil.<br \/> For thine is the kingdom,<br \/> and the power, and the glory,<br \/> for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cHe leadeth me\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/heleadethme.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>He leadeth me: O blessed thought!<br \/>O words with heavenly comfort fraught!<br \/>Whate\u2019er I do, where\u2019er I be,<br \/>still \u2019tis God\u2019s hand that leadeth me.<br \/>He leadeth me! He leadeth me!<br \/>By his own hand he leadeth me!<br \/>His faithful follower I would be,<br \/>for by his hand he leadeth me!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Sometimes \u2018mid scenes of deepest gloom,<br \/>sometimes where Eden\u2019s bowers bloom,<br \/>by waters calm, o\u2019er troubled sea,<br \/>still \u2019tis his hand that leadeth me. R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,<br \/>nor ever murmur nor repine,<br \/>content, whatever lot I see,<br \/>since \u2019tis my God that leadeth me. R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>And when my task on earth is done,<br \/>when by thy grace the victory\u2019s won,<br \/>even death\u2019s cold wave I will not flee,<br \/>since God through Jordan leadeth me. R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,<br \/>\nand may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/>\nuntil our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/>\n\u20141 Thessalonians 5:23<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>God be with you till we meet again;<br \/> loving counsels guide, uphold you,<br \/> with a shepherd\u2019s care enfold you;<br \/> God be with you till we meet again.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye and Heather! PRELUDE: \u201cLet Us Build A House (All &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/24\/easter-iv-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Easter IV<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}