Good Shepherd Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 22, 2018

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called "Good Shepherd Sunday." The lessons reflect the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd. Psalm 23 is appointed for this day.

Many favorite hymns and anthems incorporate this theme, and we will sing several of them today. Our offertory anthem is a lyrical, contemporary setting by William Bradley Roberts - "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." The Rev. Dr. Roberts is Professor of Church Music and Virginia Theological Seminary and a widely respected composer of church music. The gentle, lyrical melody floats peacefully over a serene organ accompaniment. Listen to a recording: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

A favorite hymn for this day is "The King of love my shepherd is" (St. Columba), a lovely Irish tune paired with a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23. It is a hymn often requested for funerals, but it is also especially suited to this day. We will sing it during Communion. Here is a creative arrangement by contemporary composer Mack Wilberg featuring flutes and harp - instruments traditionally associated with Irish music. The King of love my shepherd is

These are only two of the many "Good Shepherd" hymn texts available in The Hymnal 1982. How many more can you identify?



Music for April 22, 2018
Hymns: 208, 193 (stanza 5), 645, 304, 205
Service Music: S-278, WLP 748, S-128, WLP 877
Anthem: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us   -William Bradley Roberts
Organ music
Improvisation-Toccata: The Strife Is O'er   -Alfred Fedak
Resurrection Suite: Epilogue   -Alec Wyton

 

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