Notable Feast Days this Week:

May 1 - Philip and James Alphaeus, Apostles
(Anglican, Lutheran, Traditional)
May 2 - Athanasius the Great, Bishop, 373
May 3 - Philip and James Alphaeus, Apostles (Roman Catholic)
May 4- Monica, Mother of Augustine, 388 (Eastern)
May 5 - Fifth Ecumenical Council convened, 553

May 5 - Hilary of Arles, Bishop, 449
May 7 - John of Beverly, Bishop of York, 721

Revised Common Lectionary

Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10


Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - White or Gold

Share
Tweet
Forward
------ The Fourth Sunday of Easter ------ May 7, 2017 (Year A)

Fellowship and Communion with the Good Shepherd

"As the early church did, we are to gather together in fellowship, communion, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47). Just as Christ unjustly suffered, we may also experience injustice and suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). God watches over us; he protects us and leads us in the right direction if we trust him to do so (Psalm 23). Christ has come that we might live life to the fullest (John 10:1-10)." 
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Psalm of the Week
Scripture Readings

"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.”

Acts 2:42-47
Common Christian life

1 Peter 2:19-25
Follow the shepherd, even in suffering

Luke 10:1-10
Christ is our shepherd
 

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year
Chronological
"When you see yourself shepherded and guided safely by the Lord, rejoice in the words of Psalm 23." -Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms 17 (OIP 67)
Eastertide Prayer

Lord of Life,
by submitting to death you conquered the grave.
By being lifted on a cross you draw all people to you.
By being raised from the dead you restore to humanity all that we had lost through sin.
Throughout these fifty days of Easter,
we proclaim the marvelous mystery of your death
and resurrection.
For all praise is yours,
now and throughout eternity. Amen.
-from The New Handbook of the Christian Year, Abington Press.
Links
Practicing Prayer
"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." 
Contemplative Prayer (Click to View)
Daily Prayer (Click to View))
Audio Prayer Meditation - Pray As You Go
Spotify Playlist
More Spotify Psalms Playlists...
Singing Psalms and Hymns
Shepherd Me O God (Psalm 23) | by Marty Haugen | Leadsheet 

The Good Shepherd | Fernando Ortega | Leadsheet

Jesus, Lover of My Soul | Charles Wesley | Leadsheet

The King of Love My Shepherd Is | Words by Henry Baker (1868) Music: Traditional Irish Melody | Leadsheet 

Twenty Three | Aaron Strumpel | Leadsheet

Psalm 23 | Luke Morton | Leadsheet

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need | Isaac Watts | Leadsheet 


Paschal Troparion | Traditional Greek Hymn with music by The Opiate Mass | Leadsheet

Psalm 23:5-6 (Verses Project) | Dave Wilton 

Music for Easter from Cardiphonia (With Recordings and Leadsheets)

Psalm 23 Metrical Options

Hymn Suggestions for The Fourth Sunday of Easter from Hymnary.org 

Dan Sharp recommends choral anthems for Eastertide

Resources for Pointed Chant 

Resources for Plainchant

Read about "Singing the Psalms: A Guide for Modern Worship" by Ashley Danyew
Commentary on John 10:1-10
"... they will find pasture. That is, they will never lack anything. For all the saints receive the fullness of Christ; they eat the bread of God and drink living water, and so they never hunger or thirst. For more about this, read Psalm 23, which is entirely related to this text. Therefore, in the church there is salvation, safety and an abundance of goods, all of which come from Christ the shepherd. Outside of Christ and the church there is nothing but destruction, anxious fear and a lack of all good things. There is … an abundance of bad things and every kind of misfortune. Whoever, then, is wise will strive by God’s grace to climb up or to enter into the fold of the sheep through that door alone, Christ Jesus.
Music for Listening
Thematic Art 
Enjoying this newsletter? Become a patron of the Liturgy Letter on Patreon; an on-going crowd funding service where you can commit to as little as $1 a month or set a maximum limit. Anything helps!

Thank you for your support.
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*