SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted
NEWS: This evening we have our solemn Good Friday service. Our focus is on the “Seven Last Words of Christ.” There is no Potluck before the service or fellowship time afterwards. We enter and depart quietly as we reflect and contemplate the sacrifice our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made on our behalf. Please refer to the Weekly Church E-News sent out yesterday by Allen Kolkman for additional, important news.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Daria Roth. Prayers are requested for Pastor Joel as he, Beth Jeremy and Lucy transition to this area and start moving into their new house…hopefully at months end.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY: Almighty God, graciously behold this your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who ives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“NO ACCIDENT”
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last. (Luke 23:44-46)
Three hours of darkness. An earthquake. And Jesus’ final words, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”
And then He died.
For most of us, death comes unchosen. It happens when we can no longer escape it. But that’s not true for Jesus. His death was planned from the foundation of the world, chosen by Father, Son, and Spirit in the council of the Trinity. Now it has come, the climax of history.
See the darkness and the earthquake, tearing the temple curtain in two. God the Father is honoring the death of His Son. Listen to Jesus call out with a loud voice even from the cross, which normally kills its victims by slowly suffocating them. Clearly Jesus can still breathe—but He has finished His work of salvation. He chooses to lay down His life at this moment, entrusting Himself to the Father.
Jesus has finished the work that love drove Him to do. The devil has been defeated; the great ransom has been paid; God’s people are free. They don’t know it yet, but they will soon—and they will rejoice.
For on the third day Jesus will rise from the dead, never to die again—a thing that has never happened since the beginning of the world. He will share this gift of life with the people He loves and has saved—with you and me, everyone who trusts in Him. And the long course of history will begin to bend upward, into the light—as millions and billions of people come to know Jesus as their Savior, until the day He returns again in glory.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for saving us. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What emotions does Good Friday usually inspire in you? Why?
* Why do you think God caused the curtain of the temple to be torn in two?
* How has Jesus’ death affected the darkness you’ve experienced in your own life?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Judges 4-6 Luke 13:1-22
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 Friday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
