When the Earth Recites Psalm 23

In this message for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Rev. Dr. Charissa Clark Howe reexamines the familiar words of Psalm 23 alongside Jesus' teaching of the Good Shepherd in John 10:1-10. While "The Lord is my shepherd" is frequently read as a private, individualized comfort during times of personal grief, this sermon challenges listeners to expand their theological imagination.What happens when the "I" in the Psalm is expanded to represent our collective church community, or even the Earth itself? Exploring the congregation's need for "unstructured fellowship" and the call to practice "active hope" through holistic Earth care, this message reveals that God's compassion is not compartmentalized. Instead, the Good Shepherd's care encompasses an interconnected ecosystem, leading us together and preparing a table of abundant life right in the middle of our most difficult valleys.