Ornament - Sheep with Shepherd's hook
Materials - Inexpensive sheep ornament from Hobby Lobby - black pipe cleaner shaped like a shepherd's staff, hot glue
(Vespers of the 21st Sunday after Pentecost)
The prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning
thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: the Queen stood at Thy right hand. For God
Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father showed thee, His Mother, to be
the mediatress of life, that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions;
and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, He taketh it upon
His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, in
accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, and saveth the world, O Theotokos.
See also Law of God, Sacred History Chapter 34, King David,
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/law_of_god_slobodskoy_1.htm#_Toc36163705
(excerpt below):
For the great faith, meekness, and obedience of King David, the Lord blessed his reign and
helped him in everything. He successfully waged wars with neighboring peoples.
David captured the city of Jerusalem and made it the capital of the Israelite kingdom. Instead of
the dilapidated tabernacle of Moses, he placed in Jerusalem a new tabernacle and brought the Ark of
the Covenant to it with solemnity. David wanted to build a permanent temple but the Lord said, "Thou
shalt not build a house to my name because thou hast carried on great wars and hast shed blood
abundantly. Thy son will build a house to My name, who will be king after thee" (I Chron. 22:6).
But at that time the Lord announced to David, "Thy kingdom will stand forever" (I Chron.
28:7). This meant that from his descendants would come the Saviour of the world, Christ, Who would
reign forever. We know that Jesus Christ was often called the Son of David.
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