SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022, CHRISTMAS EVE
NEWS: Our Christmas celebration are here! This eveningwe have a 5:00 PM worship service. It includes Christmas carols, readings (for children and adults), a timely message and a Candlelight signing of Silent Night. Everyone is invited, including family members, friends and neighbors.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day Sunday and although there is NO Bible study, we do have our 10 AM service. The title of Pastor Joels sermon is, “It’s All About Jesus” and is based on our Gospel reading for the day, John 1:1-18 Our other reading s are Hebrews 1:1-6 and Isaiah 52:7-10 After we have celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Daria Roth. We pray for all those who are traveling, by road or plane, that they may be safe. We also pray for those who can’t be with loved ones or just simply have no one to be with over the holiday season, that our Lord and Redeemer will brighten their days. Prayers as well for those in the Midwest, East and southland dealing with the brutal arctic chill.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when he comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 110:1-4; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 1:18-25
GRADUAL: To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“SUBJECT”
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child. (Luke 2:1-5)
You would think that of everyone, God would be exempt from a tax registration. But God didn’t think so. At almost nine months along, Jesus traveled to Bethlehem within His mother’s womb, going with Joseph to be registered for a project of the Roman government. Even God didn’t get out of that one.
It couldn’t have been comfortable for any of them. In pictures we usually see Mary riding a donkey—but there’s nothing in the Bible text to say she had one. She may have walked, like everybody else. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was a long one—about 80 or 90 miles. It would have involved camping on the side of the road if they were not lucky enough to find a family kind enough to take them in. And how Joseph must have worried!
This is the way God chose to enter the world—subject to human laws, even the annoying ones; subject to the uncertainties and dangers of ordinary life; subject to, well, everything. God came down from His throne to be, not the ruler, but a subject. A Roman subject. Why? For us. For you. For the ones He came to save.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord, for humbling Yourself for me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What do you think was the hardest part of Mary’s experience?
* Why do you think God chose to handle things this way?
* What does God’s humility say about the way He will care for you?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezra 8-10 Revelation 15
Alleluia. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Alleluia.
From our home to all of yours, Margie and I wish everyone of you a Very Merry, Blessed, Christ-filled Christmas! There will be no devotional email for Sunday.
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 Christmas Eve to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
