I was honored to be asked to lead the seminary’s community prayers for our last online gathering this Wednesday. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me to create a moment of prayer and reflection for fellow students, faculty, and staff.
Using a mix of liturgical prayer, scripture, and music, we observed this coming weekend’s Good Shepherd Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2026). Below you’ll find the opening prayer, song, scripture readings, and a reflection and closing prayer I delivered. (Many thanks to chapel coordinator Laura and fellow student Maurice who helped lead in the prayer and scripture reading.)
I wanted to share some semblance of that moment in time with you here. I know that the solo act of reading a blog post is not the same as collectively experiencing something like this in person, but I hope these words bring you comfort and reinforce for you the essential message of this Good Shepherd Sunday: You are not alone, You are known, You are beloved.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” and so we pray: Good Shepherd, watch over us today in all we face and experience.
People: Never leave us or forsake us and journey with us always. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Leader: Good Shepherd, you know us as no one else knows us.
People: Guard us and keep us as you guard and keep those whom we love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Leader: Good Shepherd, we pray for the sick and the lonely, the anxious and bereaved, for those whose pain is beyond our comprehension.
People: We stand with them and commend them to your care. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Leader: Good Shepherd, we pray for those afflicted by war and violence, by rejection and shame, by the actions of others who abuse and desecrate the Imago Dei in each and every one of your precious children.
People: We pray they feel your comfort even in the darkest of valleys, that your peace and love may be made manifest in all the earth. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Leader: Good Shepherd, you know the depths of our heart and the fears which weigh heavy on our souls.
People: Speak into the deepest parts of our being, calm our fears, and bring us strength. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Leader: Good Shepherd, you know us by our name and our identity is not hidden from you.
People: Gather us to yourself as a shepherd gathers the sheep, that we might know your Name. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. AMEN.
(Adapted from “A Prayer for Sunday – The Good Shepherd,” Church of Scotland, May 3, 2020)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
In this Sunday’s Gospel lesson from John (10:1-18), we hear Jesus’ Parable of the Good Shepherd, and we are reminded:
We are not alone.
We are known.
We are beloved.
In our darkest hours or when we fill abandoned, the Good Shepherd approaches. The mere sound of him opening the gate comforts us. He calls us by name, our restless souls are stilled. We are assured that we belong—a valued member of the flock. And, so, we follow the Good Shepherd on his journey. “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also,” he tells us. What kind of love is this, we wonder: so extravagant, so open? The Shepherd welcomes all to the safety and comfort of his flock.
We follow in the Good Shepherd’s footsteps. Who wouldn’t want to imitate a heart so open, so loving, and so kind? We approach others along life’s journey, in their darkest moments, feeling abandoned. We welcome them into this flock, as the Shepherd once welcomed and comforted us. We share:
You are not alone.
You are known.
You are beloved.
David foresaw such comfort and took solace in its promise of restoration, protection, goodness, and mercy: “I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.” We have chosen to dwell in the Lord’s house, too.
There, in our fellowship, around tables with shared and broken bread, and in our common prayers, the Good Shepherd’s love becomes magnified. Wonders and signs mark the presence of the Spirit. Our glad and generous hearts give thanks to God and empower our continued care for one another—equals—all things shared and held in common.
The people look in awe at our beloved community and the joy in our Christian living. They are inspired to seek the Lord, to join the flock he himself has gathered. We follow the Shepherd in welcoming them:
You are not alone.
You are known.
You are beloved.
In what ways has the Good Shepherd made it clear to you that you are not alone, that you are known, that you are beloved?
In what ways have you sought to imitate the Good Shepherd’s example in making other people feel embraced, known, and beloved?
Good Shepherd, you have welcomed us into your flock. Welcomed with extravagant and unending love. Welcomed by name. We are blessed.
You once looked out to the Sea of Galilee and called your first disciples, the first members of your flock: “Come, follow me.” You have gathered many more to your flock since then, and we thank you for the grace which has allowed us to seek, to find, and to follow you.
You have taught us how to welcome others into your flock. We have followed in your example, making it known to others: You are not alone. You are known. You are beloved.
Renew in us, O Good Shepherd, the will to follow you. Continually prepare us to make your extravagant love and welcome known to all who walk among us on life’s journey. We follow you, our God, gathered into flocks of your unending grace, redeemed by the selfless love and sacrifice of your Son, empowered and equipped with your Spirit. Amen.
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