Our good Lord Jesus Christ says:

I am the good shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

John 10, 11b.27ff

Epitaph for Margarethe Drachstedt, ne Major and family: “The good Shepherd” by Lucas Cranach jr after 1573 (City church St. Marys, Wittenberg).

1 O little flock, fear not the foe
Who madly seeks your overthrow;
Dread not his rage and pow’r.
And though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o’er God’s saints
Lasts but a little hour.

2 Be of good cheer; your cause belongs
To Him who can avenge your wrongs;
Leave it to Him, our Lord.
Though hidden yet from mortal eyes,
His Gideon shall for you arise,
Uphold you and His Word.

3 As true as God’s own Word is true,
Not earth nor hell’s satanic crew
Against us shall prevail.
Their might? A joke, a mere facade!
God is with us and we with God—
Our vict’ry cannot fail.

4 Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer;
Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare,
Fight for us once again!
So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise
A mighty chorus to Thy praise
Forevermore. Amen.

Jacob Fabricius (1593-1654) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) LSB 666

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation. Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.
Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Psalm 23

The Lord’s message came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherdsof Israel; prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep from their hand. I will no longer let them be shepherds; the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they will no longer be food for them.

¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day. ¹³ I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land. ¹⁴ In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁶ I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them—with judgment!

And you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are my people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Ezekiel 34,12 (3-9) 10-16. 31

For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

1. Peter 2,21b-25

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10,11-16

„So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: ² Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. ³ And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. ⁴ Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.“

1.Peter 5,1-4

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs:

Loving Father, Your Son is the great Shepherd of the sheep, who faithfully gathers His flock to Himself in the pastures of the Church. Grant us steadfast faith to hear His voice and follow Him, even through the valley of the shadow of death, that we may receive our portion in His abundant life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, You provide shepherds in Your Church. Inspire the service of all pastors to feed Your flock with Your Word. Seek the scattered and bind up the injured, that we may abide forever in Your rich pasture. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord, You have called us to be Your people through Baptism and faith. Bless all the schools and seminaries of our Synod, that our pastors may be well trained for Your service and our young well prepared for their occupations, serving as Your children. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O gracious King, You have ordered the nations of the world so that men might seek security in You and not in earthly powers. Give servant-hearts to our leaders and grant peace through their labors, that many may find You in the sanctuary of Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Great Physician, by the wounds of Your Son on the cross You bring healing to the world. Extend Your healing to [_____________ and] all who suffer in this life, and instill in them the hope of resurrection and perfect healing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You gathered Your people of old to the Temple Mount. Gather us now to Your altar and feed us with Your Son, that we may never be scattered from You, but dwell forever in the rich pasture of Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, Your Son promises to gather His sheep into one flock. Join us with the faithful departed from all times and places to share in the feast that has no end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, out of Your fatherly goodness You have remembered us poor, miserable sinners and given Your beloved Son to be our Shepherd — not only to nourish us by His Word, but also to defend us from sin, death and the devil. Grant us Your Holy Spirit, that even as this Shepherd knows us and helps in every affliction, we also may know Him, trust Him, seek help and comfort in Him, heartily obey His voice, and obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (Sunday Prayers)

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon Thee and give Thee peace.

Numbers 6,24-26 (4th Book of Moses)