SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
NEWS: We will be celebrating All Saints Day in our worship tomorrow, when we remember those friends, family and loved ones who went to be with the Lord this past year. The day starts with Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel continues to lead us in a study of the Lord’s prayer. In our 10 AM worship, the title of Pastor Joels sermon is, “Sealed and Washed.” It’s based on our first reading of the day, Revelation 7:1-17 Our other readings are 1 John 3:1-3 and the Gospel, Matthew 5:1-12 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 continues as we meet up at the Oceanside Bakery, near police headquarters and the Pit Stop, on Mission Ave. It’s a great place to grab some late breakfast or lunch, not to mention a great place to socialize!
Also serving us tomorrow are:
Fellowship: Suzette Prokopin
Flowers: Bruce & Carole Woodward
Techies: OPEN, OPEN
Reader: Allen Latall
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Rick Adams
Ushers: Victor Dille, Bill Sperberg
Hey techies: both spots are open as of this writing.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Neemia family: Mike, Fale, Easter, Penny, Josephine and Jeremiah.
READINGS: Psalm 38; Jeremiah 7:1-29; Matthew 23:1-12
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Truth Be Told”
John 8:31-32 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Our text today is a message that has brought comfort to untold millions of people, but let’s be clear about this: the truth that makes people free is the truth of Christ. This is not just the truth about Christ. It is the truth that is in Christ, the truth that is Christ Himself. “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14:6b). Jesus said this, and He meant exactly that.
Part of Christ’s statement about truth is sometimes found inscribed above library doorways or on the gates of institutions of higher learning: “The Truth Will Set You Free” (John 8:32b). Taken out of context, this line might seem to say that any kind of truth about anything at all will help set people free. People would like to believe that. They would like to think that man’s search for knowledge, which has made tremendous strides forward in so many areas, will eventually free mankind from all error, all pride and prejudice, and everything else that has undermined human existence for millennia.
Christ calls us everywhere to freedom. He offers this freedom, this genuine liberty, from the slavery to conform and from the nagging fears which are so much a part of modern life. When Christ sets a person free, buck-passing and excuses go out the window. When Christ sets us free, we are free to live as we were intended to live. “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The disciples of Christ were ordinary folk, like you and me. They were not educated in the formal sense of the word, but they were intelligent. They saw Christ and recognized Him for what He was: the Son of God and the Savior of the world. And then they show how intelligent they really were: they followed Him and they became His disciples. They continued in His Word and understood it as truth, that truth which alone can make you and me free from everything that holds us down and condemns us.
We have the Word of Christ that all of this is true. It was Christ Himself who said to Nicodemus one night: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This promise of life, true and real life, free as life was meant to be, is for all people everywhere. That is why we proclaim it each week here in the United States and around the world, to anyone and everyone who will listen.
This is why we proclaim it to you today.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You have given us the truth in Your Son Jesus. By Your Holy Spirit, may we believe and trust in Him as our Savior. Amen.
From “And the Truth Shall Make You Free!” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. When was the last time you did a double take in recognizing someone? Who was it?
2. How does abiding in Jesus’ Word indicate to others that we are His disciples?
3. When did you last hear someone speak about God in an especially insightful way?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 39, 52, 40 Hebrews 10:19-39
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
