Advent Calendar 2025 and Prayer Diary
Shepherds
You know the LORD is God!
He created us, and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep in his pasture. Psalm 100 v31
The LORD cares for his nation,
just as shepherds care for their flocks.
He carries the lambs in his arms,
while gently leading the mother sheep. Isaiah 40 v11
I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. John 10 v14
That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. Luke 2 v8
Listen and sing along (opens in YouTube)
Rise up shepherd and follow!
Daily Prayer: Shepherds were just ordinary people, often going unnoticed or even deliberately ignored, but they showed how God cares for his people. When Jesus was born it seems very appropriate that the Good Shepherd would be visited by shepherds.
Let’s pray for all the ordinary people, the unnoticed people and those who are shunned. They have a special part in God’s story.
Let’s also pray today for anyone who has gone astray, asking the Good Shepherd to employ us in his rescue mission.
Please send prayer requests and suggestions to be included in the Prayer Diary by using the contact form below.
[Tap here] Daily Bible reading: John 10 v1-11
Daily Bible reading: John 10 v1-11
1 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.
6 Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
7 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.
All-Age Activity: True or false? There are some statements about sheep below, but some are true and others are false. Can you tell which is which? And if a statement is false can you say what the true statement should be?
(Answers will be given tomorrow – Dec 16th)
1 A female sheep is called a ewe. True or false?
2 A male sheep is called a bull. True or false?
3 A young sheep is called a kid? True or false?
4 Sheep sometimes wander off and get lost. True or false?
5 When a sheep is sheared it gives us cotton. True or false?
6 A bad shepherd runs away when there is danger. True or false?
7 Jesus once told a story where 99 sheep were lost. True or false?
8 Sheep meat is called pork. True or false?
9 Sheep like to eat green grass. True or false?
10 Sheep meat is eaten at the Passover festival. True or false?
Answers to yesterday’s (Dec 14th) activity:
THE BEST WINE IS ALWAYS SERVED FIRST.
THEN AFTER THE GUESTS HAVE HAD PLENTY,
THE OTHER WINE IS SERVED.
BUT YOU HAVE KEPT THE BEST UNTIL LAST.
Here’s a picture for you to download to save or colour:
Please use this form to send prayer requests, comments and suggestions
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 
You must be logged in to post a comment.