SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS
HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 14
NEWS: Today we have our monthly Saturday work party from 9 AM to Noon. Part of it will be spent setting up for our Easter Sunday brunch. It’s also the time when the church and its property get cleaned up and tidied up. Anyone is invited to help for however long they can.
Tomorrow is our wonderful Easter celebration! It starts with an Easter breakfast that runs from 8:45 to 9:45 AM in our Fellowship Hall. At 9:30 there will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids. At 10 we have our worship service and Pastor Joel’s sermon is aptly titled, “Why Do You Seek the Living Among The Dead.” Its based on Luke 24:1-12
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Krag Ross. We add Andrea, a neighbor of Linda Johnson. Andrea is a retired doctor and is leaving for the Ukraine on Wednesday as a Red Cross volunteer. We also remember Margaret Paton and the family of her nephew Johnny, who passed away yesterday from complications after an amputation.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY: O God, creator of heaven and earth, grant that as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the coming of the third day and rise with Him to the newness of life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Daniel 6:1-24; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“LOVE IN DARK TIMES”
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid Him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. (Luke 23:50-56)
It comforts me to see these people caring for Jesus. Joseph, who got up his courage at the last moment—after the last moment—and went off to claim Jesus’ body, when the only thing likely to happen now was Joseph getting in trouble with the rest of the council. The women, who could do nothing at the cross, but are determined to see that Jesus’ funeral is done right. It looks like a waste of time—except that love is never wasted.
And of course they did all this in hopelessness—maybe not even remembering what Jesus had said about rising on the third day. No, they thought Jesus was dead forever and would never know about their care. They did what they did because they loved Him. That was all they had. And that was enough. Because God was handling the rest of it, unknown to them—just as He does for us when we walk in the darkness.
Their sun was about to rise.
THE PRAYER: Father, make Your love shine through me even in times of darkness. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* In times of tragedy, are you more likely to sit stunned or to get busy?
* When have you acted in darkness simply because you loved, and not because you saw any good coming out of it?
* Did God bring good out of it regardless?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Judges 7-8 Luke 13:23-35
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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
