Coming and Going

for April 26, 2026

Opening Prayer

Note to leader: before the prayer and the beginning of worship, take a moment to encourage God’s people to settle into God’s Spirit, to breath, to be open to Christ’s presence.

Holy God,

you are our refuge and our guide,

the One who gathers us and the One who sends us.

You call us by name and lead us in your ways.

You open the gate before us

and show us the path of life.

When we are weary,

bring us in and give us rest.

When we are afraid,

draw us close and remind us we are yours.

When we are uncertain,

teach us to recognize your voice.

And when it is time to go,

send us out with courage—

not alone, but held in your care.

Form us as a people

who know the rhythm of your grace:

to come in and be fed,

to go out and find life,

and to return again with joy.

Through Jesus Christ,

the gate, the shepherd, and the way of life.

Amen.

Call to Worship

Psalm 23 (TSW)

As we begin, listen for where you are in this moment of life and faith.

You may hear yourself as one who is weary, or searching, or returning.

When your part is spoken, join your voice with others.

At the end, we will all speak together.

Those who are weary:

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not lack.

The LORD makes me lie down in green pastures;

leads me beside still waters;

Those who are searching:

restores my life;

leads me in paths of righteousness

for the sake of the LORD’s name.

Even though I walk through the valley of deepest darkness,

I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—

they comfort me.

Those who are returning:

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

All together:

Surely goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

for length of days.

Hymn of Praise

The King of Love My Shepherd Is, GTG #802

Assurance of Grace

Hear the good news:

Jesus says, “I am the gate.

Whoever enters by me will be saved,

and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

This is not a promise for one moment only—

it is a promise for the whole of life.

In Christ, we are not trapped in our sin,

nor are we sent out alone to make our own way.

We are forgiven,

we are held,

and we are led.

When we have wandered,

Christ calls us back.

When we have been burdened,

Christ restores us.

When we have lost our way,

Christ opens the path again.

Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven,

and given life—

a life of coming and going in the grace of God.

Thanks be to God.

Trusting in God’s grace and mercy, let us confess our sins and brokenness together.

Responding to God’s Grace

Unison Prayer of Confession

Holy God,

you are our shepherd,

and in you we lack nothing.

And yet, we confess

that we do not trust the life you offer.

We stay where it feels safe,

afraid to follow where you lead.

We go our own way,

ignoring your voice

and choosing paths that do not give life.

We resist the rhythm of your grace—

unwilling to come in and be known,

unwilling to go out and be sent.

We have listened to other voices:

voices of fear,

voices of scarcity,

voices that pull us away from you.

Forgive us, O God.

Call us again by name.

Gather us in with your mercy.

Lead us out with your truth.

Restore our lives,

that we may walk in your ways

and trust your care.

Through Jesus Christ,

the gate and the shepherd of our lives.

Amen.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

An Embodied Sign of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus

Friends, we have been reminded that God’s grace extends to all. We have confessed our sins, knowing that we have been forgiven and that God is making us a new creation.

In this spirit, let us share the peace of Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

(Share Christ’s peace in ways fitting to your community.)

The Written Word

A Reading from the Early Church

Acts 2:42–47

The Life of the Community

42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Coming of the Spirit

1And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues, as of fire, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in our own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Address to the Crowd

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my servants, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

25For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36Let all the house of Israel therefore know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The Response and Baptism

37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Life of the Community

Notes

v42–47The community is described through practices rather than structure; devotion precedes organization.

Notes

v01–04The Spirit’s coming is marked by sensory imagery—sound, sight, speech—without collapsing into explanation.

v06–08The miracle is heard as much as seen; understanding occurs within each listener’s own language.

v12–13Wonder and dismissal coexist; the same event generates divergent interpretations.

v17–21Joel’s prophecy frames the moment as expansive—across age, gender, and status—without narrowing its scope.

v23Divine purpose and human responsibility are held together without resolution.

v24“It was not possible” expresses necessity without specifying mechanism.

v29–31Peter interprets David not as speaking of himself but beyond himself, reframing scripture through resurrection.

v33The visible event (Pentecost) is interpreted as evidence of exaltation.

v36The declaration “Lord and Christ” gathers authority and identity into a single claim.

v37“Pierced to the heart” signals recognition that is both emotional and moral.

v38Repentance and baptism are paired as response; forgiveness and the Spirit are given, not achieved.

v39The promise extends outward without defined boundary, grounded in divine calling.

v42–47The community is described through practices rather than structure; devotion precedes organization.

Vocabulary

v42κοινωνία (koinōnia)

“Fellowship.” Shared life and participation within the community.

Vocabulary

v01πεντηκοστή (pentēkostē)

“Pentecost.” A festival occurring fifty days after Passover; here the setting for the Spirit’s outpouring.

v02πνοή (pnoē)

“Wind” or “breath.” Connotes both natural force and life-giving presence.

v04γλῶσσα (glōssa)

“Tongue” or “language.” Carries both physical and linguistic meaning.

v17πνεῦμα (pneuma)

“Spirit.” Can mean wind, breath, or Spirit; the term remains layered.

v23πρόγνωσις (prognōsis)

“Foreknowledge.” Indicates prior knowing without detailing causation.

v24ὠδῖνες (ōdines)

“Pains.” Often used for birth pangs, suggesting both suffering and transition.

v36κύριος (kyrios)

“Lord.” A title of authority; in this context, associated with divine status.

v37κατανύσσομαι (katanussomai)

“To be pierced” or “cut.” Indicates deep internal impact.

v38μετάνοια (metanoia)

“Repentance.” A turning or reorientation of mind and life.

v42κοινωνία (koinōnia)

“Fellowship.” Shared life and participation within the community.

Gospel Reading

John 10:1–10

The Shepherd and the Sheep

1“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way—that one is a thief and a robber. 2But the one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4And when he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6Jesus spoke this figure of speech to them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jesus the Door

7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance.

The Shepherd and the Sheep

6Jesus spoke this figure of speech to them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jesus the Door

The Good Shepherd

11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Division Among People

19There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?” 21Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

At the Festival of Dedication

22At that time the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

Attempt to Arrest Jesus

31The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hand.

Beyond the Jordan

40He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41And many came to him. And they were saying, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42And many believed in him there.

Notes

v01–05The contrast between shepherd and intruder establishes legitimacy through relationship rather than force or access.

v03“Calls his own sheep by name” emphasizes particularity; belonging is not abstract but personal.

v06The narrative marks misunderstanding without resolving it, allowing the discourse to unfold interpretively.

v07–09“I am the door” reframes access—not merely guidance but entry itself is located in Jesus.

v10“Life in abundance” is qualitative, not merely extended duration.

Notes

v01–05The contrast between shepherd and intruder establishes legitimacy through relationship rather than force or access.

v03“Calls his own sheep by name” emphasizes particularity; belonging is not abstract but personal.

v06The narrative marks misunderstanding without resolving it, allowing the discourse to unfold interpretively.

v07–09“I am the door” reframes access—not merely guidance but entry itself is located in Jesus.

v10“Life in abundance” is qualitative, not merely extended duration.

v11–15The shepherd imagery intensifies into self-giving; knowledge and sacrifice are held together.

v16“Other sheep” expands the scope beyond the immediate audience without specifying boundaries.

v17–18Authority over life and death is presented as both given and enacted, holding divine commission and agency together.

v19–21Division arises not from obscurity alone but from competing interpretations of the same signs.

v25–27Belief is linked to recognition; hearing and following are relational, not merely cognitive.

v28–29Security is expressed through layered belonging—held in both the Son’s and the Father’s hand.

v30“I and the Father are one” is stated without elaboration, leaving its implications contested within the narrative.

v34–36Jesus appeals to Scripture to destabilize the charge of blasphemy without offering a direct doctrinal clarification.

v37–38Works function as interpretive evidence, though they do not compel belief.

v40–42The return beyond the Jordan recalls earlier testimony, linking present recognition to prior witness.

Vocabulary

v01κλέπτης (kleptēs)

“Thief.” One who takes secretly; contrasted with open, legitimate entry.

v03φωνή (phōnē)

“Voice.” Carries recognition and authority; relational rather than merely auditory.

v09θύρα (thyra)

“Door.” A point of access and transition; here metaphorically central.

v10ζωή (zōē)

“Life.” In John, often denotes life as participation in God, not mere existence.

Vocabulary

v01κλέπτης (kleptēs)

“Thief.” One who takes secretly; contrasted with open, legitimate entry.

v03φωνή (phōnē)

“Voice.” Carries recognition and authority; relational rather than merely auditory.

v09θύρα (thyra)

“Door.” A point of access and transition; here metaphorically central.

v10ζωή (zōē)

“Life.” In John, often denotes life as participation in God, not mere existence.

v11καλός (kalos)

“Good.” Connotes nobility, beauty, and fittingness—not only moral goodness.

v15γινώσκω (ginōskō)

“To know.” Indicates relational, experiential knowledge.

v18ἐξουσία (exousia)

“Authority.” The capacity to act with legitimacy and power.

v27ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō)

“To follow.” Implies ongoing allegiance and movement, not a single decision.

v28ἁρπάζω (harpazō)

“To snatch.” Suggests forceful removal; negated here to emphasize security.

v30ἕν (hen)

“One.” Unity without specification of form, leaving the nature of oneness open within the text.

Coming and Going

Sharing God’s Word Together

Where in your life right now do you feel most like you are “coming in” (needing rest, safety, or care), and where do you feel sent to “go out”?

Jesus says his sheep know his voice. In a normal week, what voices most shape your decisions—and how do you recognize Christ’s voice among them?

Which part of the rhythm is hardest for you: coming in, going out, or returning? What usually gets in the way?

Jesus says those who enter through him “find pasture.” Where are you actually being nourished right now—and where are you running on empty?

Acts 2 describes a community that gathers, shares life, and grows together. Where do you experience that kind of community—and where is it missing?

If our church truly lived this rhythm—people coming in to be known, going out to live faithfully, and returning again—what would need to change?

Hymn of Reflection

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, GTG #187

Affirmation of Faith

Spoken together.

We believe in God,

our shepherd and our guide,

who calls us by name

and gathers us into life.

We trust in Jesus Christ,

the gate through whom we live,

who leads us into rest

and sends us into the world,

that we may find life in him.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

who helps us recognize Christ’s voice,

restores us when we wander,

and forms us as a people

who come, go, and return in grace.

We are the church,

called to be a community of welcome and sending,

where all are known,

all are nourished,

and all are invited into the life of God.

In this faith, we live—

coming in, going out, and returning again,

held always in the steadfast love of God.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the church, the world, and one another.

Good Shepherd,

you call us by name,

you gather us in,

and you lead us into life.

Hear us as we pray.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to life.

For this world,

where many are weary and searching—

for those who long for rest,

and those who have no safe place to return—

Gather them in.

Lead them beside still waters.

Restore their lives.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to rest.

For places of conflict and war,

where fear drives people apart

and violence scatters communities—

Be a shepherd to the vulnerable.

Bring protection where there is danger,

and peace where there is harm.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to shalom.

For leaders of nations and communities,

and for all who are entrusted with care—

Guard them from the temptation to serve themselves.

Teach them to lead with justice and humility,

seeking the good of all.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to faithfulness.

For those burdened by uncertainty—

those struggling to provide,

those anxious about what lies ahead—

Lead them into places of provision.

Open paths where there seem to be none,

and restore hope for the days ahead.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to nurture.

For those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit—

for those walking through valleys of deepest darkness—

Be present with them.

Comfort them with your nearness,

and surround them with care.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to light.

For those who feel lost or forgotten—

those who have wandered far from community,

or who do not know where they belong—

Call them again by name.

Lead them back into places of welcome,

where they may be known and loved.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to relationship.

For this community,

and for the life we share together—

Form us as a people

who know when to come in and be restored,

and when to go out and serve with courage.

Make us a place of refuge and sending,

where all are welcomed, nourished, and sent in your love.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

(pause)

Lord, be our gate to Christian community.

For the prayers we carry in silence—

(A time of silent prayer)

Good Shepherd,

you lead us through every season of life—

in our coming and our going,

in our wandering and returning.

Receive these prayers, spoken and unspoken,

and guide us always in your way,

through Jesus Christ,

who gives us life in abundance.

Lead us as we come and go,

and hold us in your care.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

We pray together, saying:

(The Lord’s Prayer is prayed in the words familiar to the community.)

Hymn of Sending

Go to the World!, GTG #295

Sending

Jesus says, “I am the gate.

Whoever enters by me will be saved,

and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

Go now in that promise—

to come in and be restored,

to go out and live with courage,

and to find life in the care of the Good Shepherd.

Amen.

Reflections for Later

For Newcomers

It can take courage to walk through a new door.

Maybe you are not sure what you believe,

or where you belong,

or whether this place will feel like home.

The good news is this:

in Christ, faith is not about having everything figured out.

It is about learning the rhythm of coming and going.

You are invited to come in—

to rest, to listen, to be known at your own pace.

You are also free to go—

to ask questions, to explore, to take time.

There is no pressure to perform here.

Only an invitation to begin noticing

where you are being led,

and where life is being offered to you.

And if you leave for a time,

you can return again.

Because in Christ,

the door is not closed behind you.

For Those Rooted in This Community

Over time, it is easy to forget the rhythm.

We learn how to come in—

how to gather, to worship, to belong.

But sometimes we stop going out.

Or we go out so often

that we forget how to return and be restored.

Christ calls us back to a deeper pattern:

to come in and be fed,

to go out and live faithfully,

and to return again.

This is not routine—it is formation.

The question is not whether you are present,

but whether you are living this rhythm.

Where is Christ leading you now?

To step out with courage?

Or to come back and be renewed?

The life of faith is not static.

It is lived in movement—

always through the care of the Shepherd.

For Churches Without a Pastor

There are seasons

when a community feels the absence of a familiar voice.

It can be disorienting—

like standing at the gate, unsure which way to go.

But the promise of Christ remains:

“I am the gate…

you will come in and go out and find pasture.”

The life of the church

has never depended on one voice alone.

Christ is still the one who calls,

who gathers,

who leads.

In this season, you are invited to trust the rhythm again:

To come in—

to care for one another,

to listen together,

to be rooted in what is already given.

To go out—

to continue the work of love,

to remain present in your community,

to live the faith you share.

And to trust that Christ is still at work—

guiding, sustaining, and opening the way forward.

You are not without a shepherd.

You are being led,

even now.

Need Help?

Follow the link for tips and pointers to help you lead and design worship using this resource.

Tips for Leading Worship

Rights and Use

These materials may be used and adapted for worship and educational purposes within Christian communities. They may not be sold or redistributed for commercial purposes without permission.

Resource Details

Date: April 26, 2026

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

Theme: Coming and Going

Lectionary: RCL Year A

Scripture on this page is from The Shared Word Translation (SWT), an ongoing translation project within ChurchCommons.org.