SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: This Saturday, December 17th, the Kolkman’s invite the church family to their home between 3 and 5 PM as a kind of an open house. While the focus is primarily on adults, kids are more than welcome! Debbie and Allen will provide drinks (including “adult” ones) and sandwich stuff. YOU are asked to please supplement that with perhaps a salad or dessert, or any holiday goodie. Dress? Holiday fare. No need to sign up or RSVP, just please come if you can! Questions? Contact me at kolkmanallen@gmail.com
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Tom and Gloria Morofski. Tom requests prayers as he is having a surgical procedure today to remove basil cells. He also requests prayers for his daughter whom is starting a new job on Monday.
READINGS: Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 11-14; Psalm 24; Isaiah 30:15-26; Revelation 2:1-29
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“VISITED”
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.” (Luke 1:67-68)
It’s a homely term—God has “visited” His people. It’s the same word you’d use for going to see a relative you love, or a friend in the hospital. A phone call is not enough. You go there in person, to see them with your own eyes.
And Zechariah puts it in the past tense, too! That makes sense, actually—because at this point, Jesus has been in Mary’s womb for three months. God has in fact already come into the world as a human being—to visit and redeem His people. He didn’t write a letter or do a phone call. He came Himself.
That is the kind of God we have—a God who cares about us so much that He came down into our world to be with us, to be one of us, to live and to suffer and die for us so that we could live forever with Him. A God who rose from the dead to share that everlasting life with us—the people He visited, the people He loves. He wants you to be with Him forever.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for visiting us—and for opening the way for us to be with You forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Who is the last person you visited?
* What makes a visit good or bad? Why?
* How does God’s visit to our world make a difference in your life?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 77-78 Revelation 6
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
