Easter III (or IV): Good Shepherd Sunday

The Sunday of the Resurrection marks only the beginning of the Easter Season. The Church has to calendars to go by, one that repeats every year and one that repeats every three years.

On the one-year calendar, Good Shepherd Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter. On the three-year calendar, Good Shepherd Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Easter. Note to the next lectionary comittee, one reason we have a lectionary is so that the church celebrates the same themes on the same day. That's hard when some of us get the Good Shepherd on Easter 3 and the rest on Easter 4.

The readings and psalmody should always include Psalm 23 and John 10.

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The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.



My soul He doth restore again
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness
E'en for His own name sake.



Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.



My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint
and my cup overflows.



Goodness and mercy all my days
Will surely follow me;
And in God's house forever more
My dwelling place shall be.