SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022
PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY (December 7, 1941)
NEWS: This Saturday the men meet for their monthly Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast. Bagels are on the menu this month and Bruce Woodward sent out an email to (to the best ofmy knowledge) those who attend or have attended in the past to get their bagel order from I Love Bagels. If you didn’t receive the email and would like to attend and get your favorite bagel, please contact Bruce Woodward. We will then view a video on The Real St. Nicholas. At 10 AM our monthly Work Party takes place and goes until Noon. This is where we clean up and fix up our church and property. All are invited to, pitch in…just show up and talk to Bruce about what you can do.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Jerome family: Denae, Chris and Evelyn. We also pray for those brave men and women currently serving our country in the military, especially with the modern day stresses they face. We thank God for those who are with us who served in the past, as well as those no longer with us.
READINGS: Psalm 25:1-7; Psalm 73; Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 Johnn 1:1-2:14
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“PRACTICAL”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34-35)
One must be practical. Mary has a question, and she needs a straight answer: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Mary is not doubting like Zechariah. But she needs to know: Does God want her to move up the wedding ceremony, or what? Because it sounds like this is going to happen soon. Or does He have entirely different plans?
As it turns out, He does indeed have different plans—He’s going to handle the whole thing by miracle. As God promised long ago through the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel” (7:14b). God is doing a new thing in the world-taking the old, sinful human race and injecting new, pure, divine, holy life into it. The baby will be both fully God and fully Man—God from all eternity, now taking on true human nature as the Man Christ Jesus.
Nobody who knows about His beginning will ever be in doubt that God is doing something special here—something to pay attention to. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19a) And God is doing it on His own—no human arrangements are necessary. God’s salvation is entirely His own work—from Jesus’ conception to His suffering, death, and resurrection. And we are the joyful receivers!
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You that You came to be God with us, Immanuel. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Do you think Mary was surprised by the answer?
* Why or why not?
* Why does it matter that Jesus is really human and really God both?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Haggai 1-2 2 John
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
