The Good Shepherd

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The Good Shepherd” based on John 10:7-18 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter on April 21, 2012. This week, I combined some instruction in things Anglican with the sermon, and used the collect of the day to structure my sermon on John 10:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, comes to us where we are, and He brings us the life we hunger for.

The Collects are essential elements in the flow of the liturgy, and one of my favorite parts of the Anglican liturgy.  The Collects, which in our worship at St. John’s we pray following our opening songs of worship, help “gather” or “collect” the prayers of the community at the beginning of worship. To read more about them, see my blog here.