We gather for a Worship Service on this April 30th, 2023 – the Fourth Sunday of Easter/Good Shepherd Sunday – in person at the Chapel (2700 W 14th Street) and via the Zoom platform (online and by phone) at 11:00 A.M.

To join us at the Chapel, buzz Zion Church (Bob Bucklew) from the Directory at the front of the 2700 Building on the campus of San Sofia apartments or enter from the accessible ramp from the rear parking lot. When you arrive, call Bob at 216-375-5323 to open the parking lot gate.

The Sunday Bulletin is attached in PDF format. You may use it to follow along with the service on Zoom or you may use it as a devotional during the week.

“GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY” – THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Good Shepherd Sunday is the day on which the Gospel passage of the Good Shepherd is read during the liturgies of certain Christian denominations (such as the United Church of Christ). This may be the:

• Third Sunday of Easter, the traditional Good Shepherd Sunday
• Fourth Sunday of Easter, the day to which many Christian denominations assigned the reading after the liturgical reforms of the 1970s.

The Good Shepherd (Greek: ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, poimḗn ho kalós) is an image used in John 10:1–10, in which Jesus Christ is depicted as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Similar imagery is used in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34:11–16. The Good Shepherd is also discussed in the other gospels, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the First Epistle of Peter and the Book of Revelation.

Zion’s Administrative Assistant, Beverly Wurm
Beverly will be keeping some limited Office Hours at church/home. The days and hours are:
Monday – 9am – 1pm
Wednesday – 10am – 2pm
Thursday – 9am – 1pm
Beverly can be reached at: [email protected] or by phone at: 216-273-7561 (church) or 216-310-6810 (mobile).

Our new website address is: zionchurchtremont.org
Check out our website and Facebook for updates

The Scripture Readings for Sunday, April 30th 2023 are:

First Reading: Act 2:42-47
The Revised Common Lectionary continues with lessons from the early church in Acts. Following the manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, we learn that awe came upon everyone in Acts 2:42-47. The new believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings, and became a new community that shared their resources with each other, broke bread together, worshiped and fellowshipped together. Their faithfulness was observed by others as they were “winning the approval of all the people,” and new believers came to join them every day because of how the Spirit was lived out in their life together as a community of faith.

Psalm Response: Psalm 23
The Shepherd’s Psalm of Psalm 23 has long been attributed to David, but this ancient song of assurance and comfort while facing evil and death continues to speak to us today of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love. God is the one who provides for us and cares for us as a good shepherd, and will be with us through life’s greatest challenges and loneliness. Even in the face of evil, God’s blessings overflow, and we know God is present with us, now and always.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25
The Epistle readings for the season of Easter are from 1 Peter. In this week’s selection of 2:19-25 (coming after next week’s selection of 2:2-10), the writer of 1 Peter identifies Christ’s suffering with that of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53. The writer assures the believers in the early church who were struggling that their suffering was in solidarity with Christ, who also suffered unjustly. The writer states that Jesus suffered on the cross for sin, so that sin would not have a hold on humanity. In Christ, believers have healing and hope, even while they suffer. Christ is our shepherd, the one who guards us and has delivered us from the sin of the world.

Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
The Gospel readings turn to John for the remainder of the season. In John 10:1-10, Jesus speaks of the shepherd as the one who guards the sheep and is the gate, for the sheep know the shepherd’s voice and know how to enter through the gate. Anyone who does not enter by the gate are thieves and marauders, those who want to cause harm to the sheep. Jesus as the gate wants to save the sheep, while others want to steal and kill (in the first century, there were others claiming to be the Messiah before Jesus). Jesus shared this metaphor but those listening did not understand that he wanted to lead the people to eternal life, not to a temporary safety, but an eternal assurance of God’s faithfulness.

The Sermon/Reflection is “Jesus, the Gate – Unlocked – Wide Open – Inviting – Free” by the Rev. Scott Rosenstein inspired by John 10:1-10.

Please join the Zion Church community to give thanks to God this Sunday, April 30th in-person in the Chapel, or via Zoom!

Pastor Scott Rosenstein
216-273-7561 – church
216-577-1514 – mobile

Bulletin Cover Image:
“Jesus As Our Good Shepherd”
art by Julie Lonneman, USA
created for the Liturgy Training Publication’s 2011 Year of Grace giant poster/calendar.
http://julielonneman.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-year.html/
The Good Shepherd Seeks and Finds the Lost with Love, 2016, Global Christian Worship.
https://globalworship.tumblr.com/