April 21, 2026
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1Peter 1:3
667 Saviour Like A Shepherd Lead Us
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
2 We are thine; do thou befriend us;
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear your children when they pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear your children when we pray.
3 Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to thee.
4 Early let us seek thy favor;
Early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With thy love our spirits fill:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
O Lord, answer us in the day of trouble,
Send us help from your holy place.
Show us the path of life,
For in your presence there is joy.
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad;
May your glory endure for ever.
Your kingship has dominion over all
And with you is our redemption.
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Psalm: 78:1 – 4, 67 – 72
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord and his might and the wonders that he has done.
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
like the earth, which he has founded forever.
70 He chose his servant David and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from tending the nursing ewes he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance.
72 With upright heart he tended them and guided them with skillful hand.
GLORIA
A READING: John 14:1 – 6
4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to GOD.
[…‘O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people:…
If we stop to think it through, this well known funeral reading is an excellent complement to ‘The Good Shepherd’ of John 10. Our Lord promises here to provide for us, and to be a path, ‘The Way.’ that leads us home… Here again he points to someone beside himself, who is central to our hopes of salvation. We will be in our Father’s house, and Jesus.’the truth’ will lead us home… A lot hangs on our relationship with our Lord Jesus. He keeps speaking it and we keep missing out on his guiding hand and word…
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…..]
THE PRAYERS:
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
As our Saviour has taught us, let us pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.
V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your Name for ever.
V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.
V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.
COLLECT Easter IV
O 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.
O God the lover of unity and author of peace, to know you is eternal life; to serve you is perfect freedom. Defend us your servants from all assaults of the enemy, that we may trust in your defence and not fear the power of any adversary; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
The Dismissal:
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Prepared by ::: St Mary the Virgin ::: 99 Molynes Road ::: Kgn.20