SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: Today we return to God’s house, starting with our Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading a study of the Lord’s Prayer, which includes sections from Martin Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms. Our worship service takes place at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “True Gratitude.” It’s based on our Gospel reading for the day, Luke 17:11-19 Our other readings are Ruth 1:1-19 and 2 Timothy 2:1-13 After we’ve celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then, please join us at the Oceanside Bakery, off of Mission Avenue (near police headquarters) for more fellowship.
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: Bruce & Carole Woodward
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: K Berni
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: OPEN
Ushers: Victor Dille, OPEN
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Woodward family: Carole, Bruce and Eric. Prayers are requested for Ruth, who is the caregiver for Bruce’s father. She has been hospitalized with heart issues.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty God, You invite us to trust in You for our salvation. Deal with us not in the severity of Your judgement but by the greatness of Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 103; Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Matthew 10:24-42
DIGGING DEEPER: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:4-13; Matthew 22:1-14
Alleluia. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” Let the one who hears say, “Come.” Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“O Lord, We Praise Thee”
“O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee, In thanksgiving bow before Thee. Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish Our weak souls that they may flourish; O Lord, have mercy! May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary, That our sins and sorrows did carry, And Thy blood for us plead in all trials, fear, and need: O Lord, have mercy!”
God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. He made a covenant with Israel, telling them, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples” (Exodus 19:5a). God gave His Law to the people, “the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:28b). The covenant was put into effect as Moses took the blood of sacrifices, the blood of the covenant, and sprinkled it over the people (see Hebrews 9:18-19).
But Israel broke the covenant. They disobeyed God’s commands and worshiped false gods, but God’s covenant love remained unchanged. He would make a new covenant with Israel, not like the old covenant that was broken by His people. Under the new covenant, He would be their God and His Laws would not be engraved on stone tablets, but on the hearts of His people. His people would know Him and under this covenant, God said, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b).
The new covenant, the covenant of God’s unchanging love, is fulfilled in Jesus. He is the Lamb of God, the perfect Sacrifice. Under the old covenant, the Israelites were sprinkled with the blood of sacrificed animals. In the new covenant, the blood shed by Jesus on the cross cleanses us from sin. On the night before His death, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. He gave to them, and to us, His holy Supper, saying of the bread, “This is My body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19b). Of the wine, Jesus said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20b). The Lamb of God has shed His blood for us; the new covenant has been put into effect in our lives. Our faith is nourished as we receive Jesus’ body, which “our sins and sorrow did carry,” and His blood that pleads for us “in all trials, fear, and need.”
God established His covenant of love and salvation. It is not a two-sided agreement. God set the terms of the covenant and He fulfilled them. We often fail and fall to temptation. Yet God’s covenant love, His steadfast love, is unfailing. Nourished by Jesus’ body and blood, confident in the forgiveness won for us at the cross, we pray in repentant humility: “O Lord, have mercy!”
WE PRAY: Lord, have mercy on me and forgive my sins. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “O Lord, We Praise Thee,” which is number 617 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever made a covenant or pact with someone? Is it still in place between the two of you?
2. What is the covenant God made with His people in the Old Testament?
3. What is so remarkable about the new covenant God has made with all people through Jesus?
Today’s Bible Readings: Hosea 9-11 Romans 15:14-33
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
