Joyce Borger

A responsive reading of Psalm 93 celebrating Christ’s ascension and reign

The following originally appeared as part of "Worship Resources for Eastertide and Ascension Day"God's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Seventh Sunday of Easter[The Ascension Day Resource may be substituted for this one if you recognize Ascension on the following Sunday .]God's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!Christ has ascended!Christ has ascended, alleluia! The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words*Lord, our God, we trust your promise to be among us as we gather. We come in the name of Christ, drawn by your Spirit, eager to hear your Word. Fill our hearts with your Spirit and prepare us for faithful service. Amen. —The Worship Sourcebook © Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1.4.43. Used by permission.Song of Praise“Psalm 45: For the Honor of Our King” Leckebusch“Jesus is Lord” Chua“Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God” Getty and Townend Call to ConfessionPsalm 1 says, Blessed is the one    who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take    or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,    and who meditates on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,    which yields its fruit in season.—Psalm 1:1–3 NIVChrist summarized God’s law with these words: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"As Christ’s followers we know that we are not of the world and are called to a radical life of love, but we also know,that so often we fail to live out that calling. In sorrow for our failure but with assurance of God's loving compassion, let us offer our prayer of confession. Prayer of ConfessionMerciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —based on Psalm 51:10-12 (The Book of Common Worship. © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 26., alt., PD)Assurance of PardonPeople of God, be assured that in Christ you are forgiven. Joined with Christ in his death and resurrection, pattern your life after his, showing radical love to all people. Revised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Seventh Sunday after Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Ascension DayGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!Christ has ascended!Christ has ascended, alleluia! Our ascended Lord greets us with these words: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, through the working of the Holy Spirit. Opening Words*In celebration of Christ’s ascension let us offer our praise using the words of Psalm 47: Clap your hands, all you nations;    shout to God with cries of joy.For the Lord Most High is awesome,    the great King over all the earth.He subdued nations under us,    peoples under our feet.He chose our inheritance for us,    the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.God has ascended amid shouts of joy,    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.Sing praises to God,        sing praises;    sing praises to our King,       sing praises.For God is the King of all the earth;    sing to him a psalm of praise.God reigns over the nations;    God is seated on his holy throne.The nobles of the nations assemble    as the people of the God of Abraham,for the kings of the earth belong to God;    he is greatly exalted.—Psalm 47 NIVSong of Praise: “Psalm 47: Nations, Clap Your Hands” Psalter Hymnal 1987“Crown Him with Many Crowns” Bridges and Thring“Jesus is Lord” ChuaCall to ConfessionWhile we claim to celebrate the ascension of our Lord, the way we live proclaims our lack of faith in his power to deal with the world.Let us confess the incongruity between our faith and practice. Let us pray. —Reformed Worship © 1989 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Prayer of ConfessionWe come, O Lord, on this day of glory to confess our lack of trust. While we sing of your lordship over all creation, we have too often acted as though you are powerless in the face of today’s events. Help us to live with confidence in your presence today and in hope for life with you forever. Amen. —Reformed Worship © 1989 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Assurance of PardonHear the good news of the gospel: God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. In Christ, by God’s grace, we are saved. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow! —based on Ephesians 2:4–7 NRSVRevised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Ascension Day

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Sixth Sunday of EasterGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words* We belong, God has redeemed us to be his own, and so we praise God, using words from Psalm 98. Sing to the Lord a new song,    for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy arm    have worked salvation for him.The Lord has made his salvation known    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.He has remembered his love    and his faithfulness to Israel;all the ends of the earth have seen    the salvation of our God.—Psalm 98:1–3 NIVSong of Praise*“Alleluia! Jesus is Risen” Brokering“Lord, Most High” Harris and SadlerCall to ConfessionChrist, when asked what was most important for his followers to do, said:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"Christ exemplified that love when he willingly lay down his life for us, yet so often we are not willing to even do the smallest act of love. And so, aware of our own sinfulness, we offer to God our prayer of confession. Prayer of ConfessionMerciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.—based on Psalm 51:10–12 (The Book of Common Worship. © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 26., alt., PD)Assurance of PardonPeople of God, be assured that you are forgiven and live lives of love. As John, the Apostle teaches, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands." —I John 5:1–2 NIVRevised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Sixth Sunday of Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Fifth Sunday of EasterGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words* We love God because God first loved us and so we praise him using words from Psalm 22.  Because of what you have done,   I will praise you in the whole community of those who worship you.In front of those who respect you,    I will keep my promises.Those who are poor will eat and be satisfied.    Those who seek the Lord will praise him.    May their hearts be filled with new hope!People from one end of the earth to the other    will remember and turn to the Lord.The people of all the nations    will bow down in front of him.The Lord is King.    He rules over the nations.— Psalm 22:25-28 NIRV Song of Praise“Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing” Wren“Psalm 22: Amid the Thronging Worshipers” Psalter 1912“I Come with Joy” Wren“Ten Thousand Reasons/Bless the Lord, O My Soul" Myrin, Redman Call to ConfessionGod loves us. Christ, when asked what was most important for his followers to do, said:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"God loves us. Yet we consistently fail to love God or our neighbor. In sorrow for our failure but with assurance of God's loving compassion let us offer our prayer of confession. Prayer of ConfessionMerciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —based on Psalm 51:10-12 (The Book of Common Worship. © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 26., alt., PD)Assurance of PardonPeople of God, be assured that you are forgiven; now remain rooted in God's love. As John, the apostle, taught: "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." —1 John 4:13–16 NIVRevised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Fifth Sunday of Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Fourth Sunday of EasterGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words* We belong. We belong to God, the Good Shepherd. Psalm 23 says: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths    for his name’s sake.Even though I walk    through the darkest valley,I will 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 your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord    forever.—Psalm 23 NIVSong of Praise“Now the Green Blade Rises” Crum“The King of Love my Shepherd Is” Baker“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” WattsCall to ConfessionGod loves us. Christ, when asked what was most important for his followers to do, said:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"God loves us. Yet we consistently fail to love God or our neighbor. In sorrow for our failure but with assurance of God's loving compassion, let us offer our prayer of confession. Prayer of ConfessionMerciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —based on Psalm 51:10–12 (The Book of Common Worship. © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 26., alt., PD)Assurance of PardonPeople of God, be assured that you are forgiven and live lives of gratitude following God's commands.As John, the apostle, wrote: "The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that God lives in us: We know it by the Spirit God gave us." —1 John 3: 24 NIVRevised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Fourth Sunday of Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Easter SundayGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words: from Psalm 118*Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.Let Israel say:   “His love endures forever.”The Lord is my strength and my defense;    he has become my salvation.The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live,    and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The stone the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,    and it is marvelous in our eyes.The Lord has done it this very day;   let us rejoice today and be glad.—Psalm 118:1, 14, 16–17, 22–24 NIVSong of Praise*“Forever” Tomlin“I Stand Amazed” Gabriel“Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven” Wordsworth“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” WesleyCall to ConfessionChrist when asked,what was most important for his followers to do, said:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"   As much as we may have tried to do that this past week, we have failed. We have failed because we don't quite trust God's power and ability to work in and through us to make things new. We remain captive to our doubt and fear and do not love as we are called. And so, we come to God, humbly confessing our sins, knowing that our God is compassionate and desires to offer us forgiveness. Let us pray together saying: Prayer of ConfessionAlmighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.—Book of Common Worship (Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.). © 1993, Westminster John Knox Press., p. 317 [271], alt., PDAssurance of PardonGod has promised to forgive us our sins, so with the psalmist let us, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.The Lord is your strength and your defense.The Lord is your salvation.  We will not die but live,    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.Revised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Easter Sunday

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Third Sunday of EasterGod's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words [Invite the congregation to be seated]For some of us it may be easy for us to declare that "Christ is risen", we feel it in our bones, we see the evidence around us. Others of us are full of doubt, or at least have a few questions we'd like to ask of God. And we are in good company, the psalmist also had a few questions for God. Today, our opening words come to us from Psalm 4. It is a dialogue between God and both doubt and faith, which often are not that far from each other. Reading today is [name] as doubt, [name] as the voice of God, and [name] as faith. Doubt:Answer me when I call to you,      my righteous God.Give me relief from my distress;      have mercy on me and hear my prayer. God:How long will you people turn my glory into shame?      How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Faith:Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;      the Lord hears when I call to him. God:Tremble and do not sin;      when you are on your beds,      search your hearts and be silent.Offer the sacrifices of the righteous      and trust in the Lord. Doubt:Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”      Let the light of your face shine on us.Fill my heart with joy      when their grain and new wine abound. Faith and Doubt:In peace I will lie down and sleep,      for you alone, Lord,make me dwell in safety.—Psalm 4 NIVSung Prayer“Come to Us, Beloved Stranger” Downing“Shine on Us” Smith and Smith“Psalm 4: O God, Defender of the Poor” Idle“O For a Closer Walk with Thee” CowperCall to ConfessionGod calls us to "tremble and do not sin" and to "search our hearts". When we search our hearts we find that we have sinned. It isn't that our doubt or the act of questioning God is sinful,but rather when we stop coming to God, when we knowingly turn our back on God, running after delusions and false gods thinking they have the answers. So we come to God in this time of confession not because of doubt or questions, but because we have turned to the wrong places for answers and need our hearts attuned to God's. Prayer of ConfessionAlmighty God, so many psalms reveal a heart sighing, crying, and breaking with sorrow, yet still clinging to faith in you. Even in the midst of sorrow and doubt we acknowledge that we are afflicted by sin, that things are not as they should be in the world or in our heart. And in good times we think we have the answers and don't need you, And so we fail to recognize our sin at all. In Jesus Christ, you have given us what we need most, yet somehow we continue to turn to other places, other people, other things and ideologies. Even though it is Christ's cross that makes our salvation and forgiveness possible, we consistently get distracted by the world's vain promises. Send your Spirit to set the world aright, and in good times and in times of struggle tune our hearts to God's so that we may truly sing your praises.Humbly we beg your pardon for our sin and ask that your truth will be revealed, and our hearts open to receive Christ Jesus as Lord of every part of our life, trusting in his unfailing love. Amen. —TWS 2.2.39, alt., Joyce BorgerAssurance of PardonReceive these words of grace: "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him". —Psalm 103:8–13 NRSVUERevised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Third Sunday of Easter

Sometimes what is most familiar to us begins to lose its depth—to feel worn, or quietly distance. And yet, what is familiar is often what holds the deepest truth, waiting to be seen again. To rediscover its wonder, we must return to it slowly, with fresh eyes and a receptive heart. This can be true of the psalms—for me it was Psalm 23. In seeking to enter this psalm more deeply and recover its richness, I spent time reflecting on the image of the shepherd as it has been portrayed through art. Then, I returned to the text itself, lingering with it, allowing its words to speak anew as I examined my own heart and life. What follows is a litany shaped by that process: scripture, reflection, and image woven together. It is best led by two voices—one proclaiming the words of the psalm, the other offering the reflection. But it could be spoken by one person. And while it is labeled as a litany, it could take the place of a sermon or form the basis for an entire service. However you chose to use this litany, make sure to move slowly. Do not rush the words. Allow the pauses and times of reflection to remain open and unfilled. In the silence, make space for stillness, contemplation, and for the quiet voice of the Spirit.The paintings included here are all in the public domain and are available through Wikimedia Commons. By clicking on the title of each work, you can access downloadable image files as well as additional information about the artist and the piece.The images are also gathered in the resource section below and have been compiled in a slide presentation to accompany the litany. The slide presentation is available at this link as a "Google slideshow" that you can download, save, and edit for your own use. The asterisk* within the liturgy indicates when to advance the slides.May this litany be a gentle instrument of the Spirit, through which what is familiar is opened again—into deeper meaning and renewed wonder.Psalm 23NRSVUE with Art and ReflectionPsalm: *The Lord is my shepherd; Psalm: *The Lord... Reflection:—not the things, or people of this world. Psalm:*The Lord is...Reflection:—not was, or will be, but present, here, now. Psalm: *The Lord is my...Reflection:my, mine. Despite their number, the shepherd knows their sheep—the sheep are known, and they know their shepherd. The Lord is our shepherd; the Lord knows us personally. The Lord knows our name,our story, our strengths, and our wounds. We are known—we belong.  Psalm: *The Lord is my shepherd; Reflection:God cares for us, watches over us, protects us. God loves us.  Psalm: *I shall not want.Reflection:Do you trust the God, who knows you better than you know yourself to be your provider? [Pause] When you are in need, where do you turn?  *Silent Reflection Psalm:*[The Lord, my shepherd,] makes me lie down in green pastures; Reflection:God knows when we need to rest—sometimes even before we do. What have the green pastures looked like in your life? [Pause] Have there been times when God has made you rest? [Pause] What did that look like? [Pause] Did you recognize it? Did you give thanks? *Silent Reflection Psalm: *[The Lord, my shepherd,] leads me beside still waters; Reflection:For what do you thirst? [Pause] Have you asked God to open your eyes that you might see the water, come to it, and drink? *Silent ReflectionPsalm: *[The Lord my shepherd,] restores my soul.Reflection:This is not only a future promise, but a present reality. God nourishes; God provides;God restores—again and again.  Psalm: *He leads me in right paths.  for his name’s sake. Reflection:Oh, if only we would follow, instead of wandering after what distracts and entices us. God shows the way,but we must be willing to walk it. Where do you see God leading you today?  *Silent Reflection Psalm: *Even though I walk through the darkest valley, Reflection:How deep is your trust in God? [Pause] What if God's leading takes you through difficulty, through uncertainty, through darkness? Will you still trust God? [Pause] The path may not be easy,but God will not abandon us.Psalm: *Even though I walk through the darkest valley,  I fear no evil,Reflection:Sometimes we must speak truth before we fully feel it. Declaring "I fear no evil" is not denial—it is an act of faith. Can you say those words today? Do you trust your shepherd to lead you through?  *Silent Reflection Psalm:   *I fear no evil,for you are with me;    your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. Reflection:We are not alone. Never alone. The God who knows us is with us, always. The rod and staff—tools of guidance and correction—remind us that God not only comforts, but also redirects, protects, and calls us back when we wander. When God is beside us, we can move forward with quiet confidence: all will be well.  Psalm: *You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies; Reflection:One of the hardest callings is this: to live in peace, even among those who oppose us. Can you imagine the trust it takes to sit and eat, surrounded by those who wish you harm? God prepares the table—but will we sit down? Will we release fear, resentment, control? [Pause] Who are your enemies? What does it look like for God to set a table for you in their presence?   *Silent Reflection Psalm: *you anoint my head with oil; Reflection:Imagine dry, cracked skin being soothed by warm oil. Healing. Restoration. Renewal. Oil also marks calling—being set apart for a purpose. God heals us, yes,but also sends us. Where do you need God's healing? Where might God be calling you?  *Silent ReflectionPsalm:     *my cup overflows.Reflection:Can you imagine such a rich life? [Pause] —a life rooted in trust, sustained in both rest and hardship...—a life guided by the Shepherd, where even the valleys are not without hope...No wonder the psalmist says, "my cup overflows." This is a life of deep and abiding blessing.  Psalm: *Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me    all the days of my life, Reflection:Not occasionally. Not conditionally. Surely. Always.  Psalm: *and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord    my whole life long.Reflection:Always and forever with God.What joy. What peace. What promise! Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Lent—Fourth Sunday in LentYear A: Easter—Fourth Sunday of EasterYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 23 (28)Year B: Easter—Fourth Sunday of EasterYear B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 11 (16)Year C: Easter—Fourth Sunday of Easter