All Creatures Great and Small: The Voice of the Shepherd

April 24, 2026

All Creatures Great and Small: The Voice of the Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd Sunday | April 26, 2026

Opening Thought

If you are looking for a television show that feels like a warm blanket for the soul, look no further than the wonderful British series, All Creatures Great and Small. Set in the breathtaking, rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s, it follows a small veterinary practice. I absolutely love watching this show. There is an immense, grounding comfort in seeing James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon out in the fields in the middle of the night, muddy and exhausted, doing whatever it takes to care for the animals entrusted to them. They know the animals, they know the unpredictable landscape, and they are fiercely devoted to their work.

That beautifully messy, deeply invested care is the exact image the church gives us this week.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is universally known as "Good Shepherd Sunday." In a modern world filled with technology, concrete, and constant digital noise, the ancient, pastoral imagery of sheep and shepherds might feel a bit distant. But at its core, this Sunday is about the profound comfort of being known and protected.

Jesus doesn't describe himself as a detached, corporate manager of our souls. He is the shepherd who smells like the sheep. He is the one who sleeps across the opening of the pen to act as the physical gate, ensuring that nothing can get to the flock without going through him first. In a world that constantly bombards us with competing, anxious, and sometimes destructive voices, the promise of Good Shepherd Sunday is that there is one Voice—steady, loving, and fiercely protective—that calls us by name.

Engaging the Word

Our readings today wrap us in the imagery of the flock, the shepherd, and the community that is formed when we listen to His voice.

Acts (2:42-47) gives us a beautiful snapshot of the early church functioning exactly as the flock of Christ should. They are devoted to teaching, fellowship, and the breaking of bread. They share everything they have so that no one is in need. It is a portrait of the "abundant life" lived out in real, messy human community.

Psalm 23 is the quintessential song of the Shepherd, and today we will read it in unison. It is arguably the most famous poetry in all of scripture, reminding us that even when we walk through the deepest, darkest valleys, we do not have to be afraid, because the Shepherd is walking right beside us.

1 Peter (2:19-25) draws on the imagery of the suffering servant. The author reminds us that, "you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." It is a profound reminder of the lengths to which the Shepherd will go—even to the cross—to bring the wandering sheep home.

John (10:1-10) presents Jesus declaring, "I am the gate for the sheep." He warns of thieves and bandits who come only to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus offers a radical alternative: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides

This Sunday, our music is steeped in the rich, rolling pastoral traditions of England, beautifully reflecting the comfort and joy of the Shepherd's care.

Opening Voluntary: We begin with Percy Whitlock’s "Pastorale" from Seven Sketches. Whitlock’s music is famously rooted in the English countryside, and this piece gently evokes the peaceful, still waters and green pastures of Psalm 23.

Entrance Hymn: We stand to sing the classic Irish melody, "The King of Love my shepherd is" (#645). It is a brilliant, lyrical paraphrase of Psalm 23 that sets the theological tone for the entire morning.

Sequence Hymn: As the Gospel is brought into the midst of the congregation, we sing the earnest prayer, "Savior, like a shepherd lead us" (#708), asking for His daily guidance and protection.

Offertory Anthem: The choir offers Philip Ledger's exquisite "Loving Shepherd of thy sheep." Ledger’s setting is tender and intimately scaled, capturing the vulnerability of the flock and the gentle strength of the Shepherd who keeps them from harm.

Communion Hymns: As we gather at the altar for the breaking of the bread, we sing two beloved texts: "Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless" (#343) and Isaac Watts's masterful paraphrase, "My shepherd will supply my need" (#644).

Post-Communion Hymn: We pivot slightly from the pasture to the stone of the church itself with "Christ is made the sure foundation" (#618). Knowing that Christ, our Shepherd, is also the unshakeable cornerstone helps keep us safe and grounded. It is a powerful reminder that we are securely kept in His fold and under His protection—a truth that propels us back out into the world with stronger hearts and minds to face the coming days.

Closing Voluntary: We conclude with the exuberant "Tuba Tune" by C. S. Lang. After a morning of gentle, pastoral beauty, Lang’s piece gives us a blast of joyful, triumphant British brass on the organ—sending us out of the sheepfold and into the world with absolute confidence in the Shepherd's victory.

A Closing Note on our Journey

At the very end of today's Gospel, Jesus says something that we often quote but rarely fully unpack: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

We often mistake "abundant life" for an "easy life." We think it means a life without struggle, without grief, and without the valley of the shadow of death. But if you watch All Creatures Great and Small, or if you know anything about actual farming, you know that life in the pasture is rarely perfectly safe or easy. There are storms, there are predators, and there is illness.

The abundant life Jesus promises isn't an escape from the reality of the world. The abundant life is the absolute certainty of the Shepherd's presence in the midst of the world. It is the peace of knowing that when the storms come, and when the valley gets dark, you are not wandering alone. You belong to a Shepherd who knows your name, who stands at the gate, and who will never, ever abandon His flock.

This week, amidst all the noise, fear, and distraction of the world, take a moment to be still. Listen for the voice of the one who calls you by name.

Prayers of the People: For the Flock

As we rest in the care of the Good Shepherd, let us offer our prayers for the church and the world.

For the Church, that we may be a faithful flock, listening closely to the voice of the Shepherd and opening our gates to welcome the lost, the wandering, and the weary.