SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
HOLY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
NEWS: Tomorrow we have our Maundy Thursday service at 7 PM. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper, followed by the stripping of the altar. We leave the church in silence. Our Good Friday service is also at 7 PM and traditionally we should enter and leave God’s house in silence. There are NO Potlucks before either service.
This Saturday there is NO Men’s Bible study/breakfast. We WILL have an expanded Saturday Work Party, from 9 AM to Noon. Anybody can assist for any amount of time that they are able.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Brandon Reilly.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY: Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare your only Son but delivered him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Isaiah 62:11-63:7; Psalm 70; Romans 5:6-11; Luke 22:1-23:56
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“TWO WAYS—ONE SAVIOR”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other rebuked Him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
We usually treat the two criminals in this story as a contrasting pair. One takes out his pain and anger on an innocent bystander, Jesus. The other rebukes him and speaks politely.
The obvious moral of the story, humanly speaking, is “Be like the second man; don’t be like the first!” But that’s not good enough. Both of these men are dying; neither of them is going to escape, no matter how polite or kind they are. If that’s the way life is, why not rage? Why not vent our feelings on everyone around us? It makes no difference in the end.
Except for one thing. Hanging between the two men is Jesus. He too is dying. He too is helpless—to save Himself, that is. But He can save them. He wants to save them. No sooner does the one man ask, “Remember me,” than Jesus is already assuring him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
When we suffer—when we are angry and hurting and afraid—when we are dying—there is very little we can do, either. But Jesus can do something, and He does. He says to us, “I love you. I died and rose for you. Trust in Me, and you will be with Me in paradise. I am with you now, and I will never leave you, no matter what.”
THE PRAYER: Lord, stay with me and deliver me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Why do people “vent”?
* When you are afraid and hurting, how do you usually react?
* How has God helped you during a time of great suffering?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Joshua 22-24 Luke 12:1-31
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
