ON THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER EACH YEAR, WE HEAR AGAIN THE LOVELY & MOVING WORDS OF THE 23RD PSALM. TRADITION CALLS THIS SUNDAY GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY & WE CALL IT PLEDGE SUNDAY AS WELL!

MANY OF US HAVE DEEP MEMORIES OF THE 23RD PSALM… PERHAPS WE MEMORIZED IT IN SUNDAY SCHOOL… PERHAPS WE REMEMBER SOMEONE WHO MENTORED US IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH READING THE WORDS TO US… PERHAPS, SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY, WE SAW A VISUAL IMAGE OF THE PSALM PORTRAYED IN A STAINED GLASS WINDOW… PERHAPS THESE WORDS - READ OR SUNG AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE – SPOKE TO US WITH COMFORT AT A TIME OF GREAT LOSS.

IN MY OWN HISTORY IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHERE I SPENT MY EARLY YEARS, THERE WAS A MEMORABLE STAINED GLASS WINDOW OF JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WITH A BABY LAMB OVER HIS SHOULDERS, & CHILDREN HANGING ONTO HIS ROBES ALL LOOKING UP INTO HIS FACE… THE WORDS OF THIS PSALM WERE ALSO THE LAST WORDS I PRAYED WITH MY DAD BEFORE HE DIED…

WE EACH BRING OUR OWN HISTORIES & MEMORIES TO THIS PSALM…

FOR MANY THE IMAGE OF GOD AS SHEPHERD IS WOVEN DEEPLY INTO THE SPIRITUAL FABRIC OF OUR SOULS AND OUR FAITH… MANY OF US HEAR THIS ANCIENT PSALM AS A POWERFUL TESTIMONY TO JESUS THE CHRIST, THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, & OUR LOVING GOD COMBINED INTO A TRIUNE PRESENCE JOURNEYING WITH US IN ALL OUR DAYS & NIGHTS… JESUS DID CLAIM HIS IDENTITY AS THE ONE WHO COMPLETED THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISE THAT GOD WOULD COME TO EARTH AND SHEPHERD GOD’S PEOPLE...

JESUS DID CLAIM THE ROLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, THE ONE WHO KNOWS HIS FLOCK… JESUS DID ASSURE US THAT HE WOULD CALL US & THAT WE WOULD HEAR HIS VOICE & RESPOND, BECAUSE WE WOULD KNOW OUR SHEPHERD’S VOICE. JESUS DID CLAIM HIS IDENTITY AS GOD’S SON & AS GOD’S MESSENGER. AND IT WAS THAT CLAIM THAT EVENTUALLY BROUGHT HIM EXTREME HARDSHIP & DEATH ON A CROSS… IT WAS THAT REALITY THAT ALSO BROUGHT HIM TO A MYSTERIOUS RESURRECTION, INTO ETERNAL LIFE, AND INTO OUR PRESENCE ALWAYS…

WITH THESE WORDS SIMPLE WORDS“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD” WE DECLARE THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO TENDS & CARES FOR US JUST AS A SHEPHERD LOVES & CARES FOR EACH & EVERY MEMBER OF THE FLOCK... AND SOMEHOW WE DON’T EVEN HESITATE TO CONSIDER OURSELVES AS SHEEP, SHEEP NEEDING A SHEPHERD FOR BOTH PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL COMFORT… SOMEHOW THE IDEA OF A GOD WHO CARES FOR US 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK APPEALS TO US (IN SPITE OF OUR YANKEE INDEPENDENT SELF SUFFICIENT SPIRITS!)

WE FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD THAT GOES OUT AHEAD OF US, LEADS US FROM THE FRONT OF THE FLOCK & PROVIDES DIRECTION & GUIDANCE…

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED THAT GOD IS NOT THE SAME AS MOTHER NATURE… IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION CAUSED BY THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN ICELAND, EARTHQUAKES IN CHINA, & EVEN TORNADOES & HURRICANES HERE IN THIS COUNTRY - WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MOTHER NATURE CAN BE A TERRIBLE FORCE TO RECKON WITH… RABBI KUSHNER SUGGESTS THAT GOD IS GOOD, EVEN IF NATURE IS NOT…MOTHER NATURE CAN BE BLIND TO US! … HOWEVER, GOD IS NOT BLIND… GOD CARES ABOUT EACH OF US… THERE IS A STORY THAT THAT TELLS OF A MAN BESET ON ALL SIDES BY WOLVES AND THIEVES, RUNNING UNTIL HE COMES TO A RIVER. SPANNING THE RIVER IS A TINY, STONE PATHWAY, BARELY WIDE ENOUGH TO WALK. ON ONE SIDE OF THE PATH ARE FLAMES LEAPING UP; ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE GREAT AND WILD WAVES. THE MAN STOPS, AFRAID TO GO FORWARD, BUT UNABLE TO GO BACK… THEN HE HEARS A VOICE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER: "COME AHEAD, DON'T BE AFRAID." AND FROM BEHIND HIM CALLS ANOTHER VOICE: "GO, I AM WITH YOU." (River of Fire, River of Water, Taitetsu Unno)

THIS STORY ECHOES TODAY’S PSALM – THAT IN A CRISIS WE DO RECOGNIZE THE "RIGHT" VOICE & WILL GO WHEN GOD LEADS US & GOES WITH US...

THOMAS MERTON SAID "... YOU WILL LEAD ME BY THE RIGHT ROAD, THOUGH I MAY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NOT FEAR, FOR YOU ARE EVER WITH ME, AND YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE ME TO FACE MY PERILS ALONE."

THE SHEPHERD LEADS US FORWARD & VALUES EACH MEMBER OF THE FLOCK EQUALLY. GOD CARES FOR EACH OF US WITH EQUAL LOVE & CARE... OUR JOB IS TO LISTEN & FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD…

YES, BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE… MOTHER NATURE DOES CREATE SOME AMAZINGLY DESTRUCTIVE FORCES… AND GOD GRIEVES WITH EACH OF US WHEN BAD THINGS & DESTRUCTION HAPPEN… GOD AS OUR SHEPHERD SPEAKS & OFFERS US COMFORT & HOPE, EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES... YET PSALM 23 IS MORE THAN A DEATH DURGE… EVEN AS THIS PSALM AFFIRMS GOD’S ETERNAL CARE; IT ALSO INFORMS US ABOUT THE ORDINARY ACTIVITY OF OUR DAILY LIVES WITHIN WHICH GOD IS ALWAYS RESTORING OUR SOULS...///

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.”… OTHER TRANSLATIONS READ: “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED.” “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I DO NOT NEED A THING.”

NOW THERE’S A COUNTERCULTURAL STATEMENT! “I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED.” DO WE TRUST THAT WE REALLY HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED? DO WE BELIEVE IT? SURELY IF WE LOOK AT ANY MAGAZINE OR LISTEN TO ANY TV SHOW OR EXAMINE ANY BILLBOARD – THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY & MADISON AVENUE WOULD WANT US TO THINK OTHERWISE!

WE ARE TOLD THAT OUR LIVES ARE INCOMPLETE UNLESS WE HAVE: THIS KIND OF FLOORING OR APPLIANCE FOR OUR HOME, THAT KIND OF BODY LOTION OR DEODORANT FOR OUR BODIES, THIS KIND OF HAMBURGER OR SALAD DRESSING FOR OUR DIET, THIS SPECIAL TOOL OR GRASS SEED FOR OUR LAWNS, THIS NEW CAR OR GPS SYSTEM FOR GETTING AROUND, THIS LATEST IPAD OR PHONE FOR OUR COMMUNCIATION! THE LIST IS ENDLESS! WE ARE BOMBARDED AT EVERY TURN WITH THE WORD THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT COMPLETE OR AT LEAST ARE INSUFFICIENT WITHOUT “X”! – YOU FILL IN THE BLANK…

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED” IS A RADICAL IDEA & A COUNTER CULTURAL NOTION FOR US WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY! THIS YEAR’S PLEDGE CAMPAIGN HAS INVITED US TO CONSIDER THE MANY BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES - WITH THE PHRASE FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL, “FROM JESUS’ FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED, GRACE UPON GRACE.” (JOHN 1:16)

THIS YEAR’S STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN HAS SOUGHT TO REMIND US THAT GOD DOES PROVIDE US WITH GRACE UPON GRACE… AND IT IS OUT OF THAT FULLNESS OF GRACE, OUT OF THAT FULLNESS OF LOVE & CARE BY THE GOOD SHEPHERD, THAT WE ARE INVITED TO OFFER UP OUR PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THIS CHURCH…

IT TAKES ALL OF US, THE WHOLE FLOCK, TO SUPPORT THIS, CHRIST’S CHURCH…IT TAKES ALL OF US - EACH PULLING OUR OWN WEIGHT & CONTRIBUTING AS WE ARE BLESSED - TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK OF THIS CHURCH. IT TAKES ALL OF US, NO MATTER HOW YOUNG OR HOW OLD, FOR THIS CHURCH TO CONTINUE BEING A CHURCH THAT SAYS WITH FAITH & TRUST THAT “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED.”

THIS CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH AN AMAZING BUILDING & A REMARKABLE FACILITY. THIS CONGREGATION IS BLESSED TO HAVE MANY PERSONS WHO HELP KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. WE CAN ALL BE PROUD THAT THIS BUILDING IS USED BY SO MANY & THAT IT HAS HOUSED A COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL FOR OVER 50 YEARS!

THIS CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH A BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY WHERE EACH WEEK WE SHARE IN WORSHIP TOGETHER – WITH STAFF & MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO TOGETHER HELP US OFFER UP THE GOOD NEWS, PRAYER,& MUSIC THAT SUSTAINS & FEEDS OUR SOULS!

THIS CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH DEDICATED & FAITHFUL FOLKS WHO PROVIDE CARE & SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH, FOR THE INFIRM & THE AGING, AS WELL AS THE YOUNG & HEALTHY THAT COMPRISE THIS FAMILY OF FAITH.

THIS CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH CLASSES, PROGRAMS, & MISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES AND A CONGREGATIONA COMMITTED TO HAVING DOORS THAT ARE OPEN TO ALL…

THIS CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO BRING THEIR GIFTS & SKILLS, WHO BRING THEIR FAITH & PUT IT INTO ACTION, WHO SHARE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF FAITH AS WE REACH OUT & SHARE GOD’S LOVE & CARE WITH OTHERS BEYOND THESE WALLS…

AND ALL OF THIS BLESSING TAKES FINANCIAL SUPPORT…

THIS CHURCH IS HERE SO THAT THIS FAMILY OF FAITH, THIS FLOCK, CAN GATHER THROUGHOUT THE WEEK INSIDE & OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING TO SEEK GUIDANCE, TO SHARE & TO THRIVE IN THE CARE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH – WE GATHER IN SMALL GROUPS & LARGE, WE GATHER AS THE BELL CHOIR, THE SENIOR CHOIR, THE ORCHESTRA, THE DRUM CHOIR, WE GATHER AS KNITTERS & SEWERS & QUILTERS, WE GATHER AS PAINTERS & REPAIRERS, WE GATHER AS BOARDS & COMMITTEES, WE GATHER AS WALKERS & BUILDERS, AS TEACHERS & CHILDCARE TENDERS, AS USHERS & GREETERS, AS BAKERS & COOKS - WE GATHER AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST AND IT TAKES ALL OF US FOR THIS TO BE A HEALTHY & THRIVING CONGREGATION…

IN EACH SETTING & IN EACH ACTIVITY THAT WE GATHER, WE LISTEN FOR & SEEK TO RESPOND TO THE LEADING OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, THE STILL SPEAKING GOD WHO WALKS WITH US & WHO LEADS US FORWARD… TOGETHER, WITH A SHARED FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, WE CAN CELEBRATE THE GRACE UPON GRACE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. WITH YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SHARE IN THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS THE ROCKY HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.

LET US PRAY: O LORD, FORGIVE OUR FEARS THAT SO STIFLE OUR STEWARDSHIP. FORGIVE OUR GIVING IN AND OUR GIVING UP INSTEAD OF GIVING OURSELVES TO CHRIST’S MISSION OF LOVE...

REMIND US THAT OUR HOPE IS IN STANDING AND RISKING, IN TAKING OUR STEWARDSHIP SERIOUSLY…

HELP US TO REMEMBER, O LORD, THAT THE STEWARDSHIP QUESTION IS NOT REALLY, HOW MUCH WILL WE GIVE?

THE STEWARDSHIP QUESTION IS, HOW WILL WE SPEND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN?

WE PRAY IT WILL BE FAITHFULLY AND CHEERFULLY.

AMEN (ANN WEEMS - “PRAYER OF STEWARDSHIP” - FROM SEARCHING FOR SHALOM)