SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, JULY 24
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We are back in the house of the Lord today! At 9 AM Pastor Joel will continue to lead us in our study of the Lord’s Prayer. Our worship service follows at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Preparing for Battle, Receiving Peace.” It’s based-on Luke 11:1-13 which is our Gospel lesson for the day. Our other readings are Genesis 18:20-33 and Galatians 2:6-15 After we finish the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies outside. Then, for those desiring lunch, we’ll continue fellowship together at El Pollo Loco, in the Mission Marketplace on College Ave. It’s right by Fitness19 and close to Target.
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:
Fellowship: Chad & Marika Doan
Flowers:
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: K Berni
Acolyte: Josphine Neemia
Greeter: Allen Kolkman
Ushers: Victor Dille, Doug Lara
NOTE: This morning we are having a door offering for Samped Scut who immigrated here from Haiti. Even though he is here legally, he is in the process of securing his work permit and social security card so that he can begin legal work. While it looks like he may be able to start work within the next month, Sam still has needs that need to be met. If you have helped Sam or are currently helping him, thank you. This is just another opportunity to help our brother in Christ, who is at the mercy of our nation’s bureaucracy. Even if you cannot give, please pray for our brother, Sam. In Christ, Pastor Joel
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Charlene Simpson.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope and love, that, receiving what you have promised\m, we may love what you have commanded; through Jesus Christ,m Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 24; 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Acts 21:15-36
DIGGING DEEPER: Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Psalm 125; Romans 8:28-39; Matthew 13:44-57
Alleluia. I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter whatv has been hidden since the foundation of the world. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“May We Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfill”
May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfill And do on earth our Father’s will As angels do above; Still walk in Christ, the living way, With all Thy children and obey the law of Christian love.
“So may we join Thy name to bless, Thy grace adore, Thy pow’r confess, From sin and strife to flee. One is our calling, one our name, The end of all our hopes the same, A crown of life with Thee.”
We may not even be aware of all of the national, state, and local laws that touch nearly every aspect of our lives. New laws are added all the time, and we may not hear about those either, but we know God’s Law because it is written on our hearts. The written expression of God’s Law is found in the Ten Commandments. These commands guide our relationships with God and with one another.
In our hymn we pray that we might fulfill our Lord’s precepts, or commands, especially “the law of Christian love.” This new law of love was not issued by any earthly governing body or given at Mount Sinai. It was given by our Lord Jesus on the night before He died on the cross. As a humble servant, the Master washed His disciples’ feet. He spoke to them of the glory to come through His death and resurrection. Then Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus Himself obeyed this new commandment fully and faithfully, as He did all of His Father’s commands. On that same night, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). That is what the Savior did as He took up His cross for the sake of our salvation. Innocent of all sin in Himself, Jesus suffered and died for our sins.
Jesus told His disciples, “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:15b-16). As we live according to the Lord’s precepts and do our Father’s will on earth “as angels do above,” we bear fruit to the glory of God. Following Jesus’ new command—”the law of Christian love”—we seek to love one another as He loved us. Jesus’ love is a self-sacrificing love that gives and expects nothing in return. It is love that leads us to “walk in Christ, the living way.” It is love revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who laid down His life for us, sinners He names as His friends.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to love others as You love me. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “May We Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfill,” which is number 698 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do laws impact the way citizens relate to each other?
2. What did Jesus mean when He gave us a “new commandment”? How is it different than those God gave mankind on Mount Sinai?
3. How do we love others as Jesus loved us?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 89, 92 Psalm 91 Philippians 3
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 you 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.”
Now you can go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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 Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
