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Psalm 23

By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

When I began working on my sermon for last Sunday, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, I had no idea what John and I were going to experience a few days later. On Wednesday, we got a call from a family member, letting us know that John’s sister Sylvia had passed away without warning. Suddenly, the words of the Twenty-third Psalm seemed even more timely and significant.

Placing complete trust in God following a loss is difficult. As humans, we aren’t comfortable being vulnerable. Yet the words of the psalmist give us hope. Psalm 23 comforts us following death because it tells the truth with tenderness:

  • Death is real.
  • Grief is expected.
  • Fear is understandable.
  • God is present.
  • Love is not finished.
  • Time is not the final authority.

Psalm 23 does not hurry us as mourners forward, instead it walks us through the dark times of grieving.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

May 3, 5th Sunday of Easter
10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Announcements

  • Baptism: God, who is rich in mercy and love gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of holy baptism, this coming Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Sophie Memory LaLonde Cole.
  • Fellowship: Join us after worship Sunday for our First Sunday potluck. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday Book Club: Cancelled for 4/29/2026, will resume next week.
  • Children’s Choir: Choir practice is at 3 p.m. today in the Fellowship Hall.
  • 5-Loaves Volunteers Needed: Thank you to everyone who helped with 5-Loaves delivery this month. Our next deliveries will be Saturday, May 30.
  • God’s Work Our Hands: Terri Watson, our GWOH coordinator, is continuing to match people who can support our members of Zion’s who need assistance – rides, errands, etc. Talk to Terri for details. Sign-up sheets also are in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Time of Prayer and Coffee: We are invited to join our siblings in Christ from the Methodist church for a time of prayer and coffee at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at Kangaroo Coffee -in the Marketplace on Commercial Street.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com
  • Bad Faith Film & Discussion: Our follow-up discussion of the movie Bad Faith, which we viewed April 16 at the Methodist Church, will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, in the Zion’s Fellowship Hall. Light snacks will be provided. If you did not get to view the film, it is available on both Tubi and Prime Video. We look forward to you being part of our discussion.
  • Zion’s Camp Out: Mark your calendars! We have reserved the group camping area at Trinidad Lake State Park May 31 (Sunday) through Wednesday June 3. Let Pr. Lisa know if you can help lead activities or help coordinate this adventure.

E-formation

As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, Sunday’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth, our life.

John 14:1-14
Placed in John’s gospel as a commentary on the crucifixion as constituting Jesus’ glorification, John 14 is appointed during the Easter season as if the discourse applies also to the ascension, which is not recorded in John. On Sunday we see the Son in his body, and so we are seeing also the Father.

Acts 7:55-60
The Acts readings in Year A now skip to the narrative of the martyrdom of Stephen. The resurrection opens the church to share in both the Holy Spirit and the sufferings of Christ. Since the fourth century, the church has commemorated the martyrdom of Stephen on the day after Christmas, for the coming of Christ may bring about the death of his servants. Expressing Luke’s Christology, Stephen addresses the same prayer to the Lord Jesus that on the cross Jesus had addressed to God; the risen Christ is God for us.

1 Peter 2:2-10
Year A now backtracks in 1 Peter to hear a richly metaphoric description of the Christian community. Now we, the community of the resurrection, are the infants fed on God’s milk, the building erected on the cornerstone of Christ, a nation of priests invited to approach the Almighty, a people enjoying divine light.

Zion's Lutheran Church
zionsluth@gmail.com
719-846-7785