WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE       Meditation on “Brother James Air”           Lani Smith                                                                                              

*CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 23

Leader:  The Lord is risen!  Alleluia! Alleluia!
People:  The Lord is risen indeed!
Leader:  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
People:  I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Leader: Let us worship God. 

*PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN 299  “You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim”  

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                         

Almighty God, you sent Jesus to be our Good Shepherd -- to gather us together; to seek us when we are lost, and to guide us into your green pastures.  Yet we have wandered from his fold, and have turned away from his hand that offers us the bread and water of Life.  Forgive us for seeking out our own places and means of provision, and rejecting the gifts of your Good Shepherd.  Help us by your Spirit to trust ourselves fully into his hands, knowing that by him we will be abundantly fed and safely led, to your honor and glory forever...

Silent Prayers of Confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins we might live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. For we were going astray like sheep, but now have been returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls. (based on 1 Peter 2:24) So, hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are sought, we are found, we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: 1st Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

SERMON          “Getting In”                      Rev. Barrett Ingram 

*HYMN 824          “There Is a Place of Quiet Rest”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed         pg. 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM   “We Shall Walk Through the Valley”      

                                                                     Undine Smith Moore

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*EASTER DOXOLOGY 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise Him, all creatures here below: alleluia, alleluia! 

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;             

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 802               “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”          

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE