SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022
We are out of town for a couple nights and the devotions will come from Portals of Prayer
NEWS: We are celebrating Reformation Sunday tomorrow in Gods house. Our liturgical color for the day is red. At 9 AM we meet for Sunday Bible study. Pastor Joel continues to teach us about the Lord’s prayer, including parts from Martin Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms. Our worship takes place at 10 AM. The readings for tomorrow are Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28 and the Gospel reading, John 8:31-36 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, fellowship time continues at Carl’s Jr., on Douglas, between the Arco gas station and CVS. Please plan to join us for all your morning and early afternoon! Also serving us and our Lord tomorrow are:
Fellowship: Suzette Prokopin
Flowers: Deanna Dille
Techies: Bruce Woodward
Reader: Darryl Finley
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Margaret Paton
Ushers: Rick Adams, Bill Sperberg
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Allen and Debbie Kolkman.
READINGS: (for the Portals of Prayer devotion) Matthew 19:16-30; Psalm 118:1-21
DEVOTION: (Taken from Portals of Prayer)
Nothing Is Impossible
With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.Matthew 19:26
Nothing Is Impossible
Sometimes we respond to a difficult task by saying, “That’s impossible!” Sometimes we say this because the task is hard. Other times, the task is simply not possible.
When it comes to our salvation, it truly is impossible for us to do anything to save ourselves from the eternity in hell that we deserve. Left up to us, there is nothing—regardless of what we do or how hard we try—we can do to erase our sins. Our reading for today is about a young man who thought he had lived a life that was good enough to earn his way to heaven. But when Jesus told him to give all of his possessions to the poor, the young man walked away. Giving up his wealth was impossible for him.
Nothing is impossible for God. He created this world and everything in it out of nothing. God the Son turned water into wine and walked on the water. He told a storm to be still, and it was. He healed people and restored life to others after they had died.
Nothing is impossible for Jesus, not even saving you from your sins. Jesus gave up everything, even His mortal life, to earn eternal life for you. You may still face difficult tasks, but you can rejoice that Jesus did the impossible for you!
Jesus, thank You for doing what would be impossible for me to do, save me from my sins. Amen.
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:
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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
