SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: Today is the Second Sunday after Epiphany. The day starts with our Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel will discuss the second week of our five-week study in the book, “Why Pray.” Anyone who hasn’t can still pick up a copy to use as a daily devotional or to join in with others attending the study.
At 10 our worship service takes place and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Behold!” It’s based on the Gospel reading, John 1:29-42 Our other readings are Isaiah 49:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 After the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time, where there will be coffee and goodies. Then, all are invited for continued fellowship as we go to Killer Pizza from Mars! It’s just past the Post Office and before Stater Brothers, off El Camino Real.
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:
Fellowship: Terry and Alba Reilly
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Allen Kolkman
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Margaret Paton
Ushers: Terry Reilly, Bill Sperberg
Flowers: Charlene Simpson
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray Berand Kirschner.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-10; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
Alleluia. You are my servany, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Arise and Shine in Splendor”
“The world’s remotest races, upon whose weary faces, The sun looks from the sky, shall run with zeal untiring, With joy Your light desiring that breaks upon them from on high.
“Lift up your eyes in wonder—see, nations gather yonder, From sin to be set free. The world has heard Your story; Her sons come to Your glory; her daughters haste Your light to see.”
We are accustomed to seeing nations threaten one another or go to war, so we may look on in wonder when nations gather to seek peace or find answers to economic problems. Countries come together to cooperate in exploring the earth or space or to develop cures for diseases. It may not happen often, but it is a wonder to see the nations working together as they seek solutions to troubling issues.
Our hymn celebrates a wonder beyond anything we might imagine, looking to a day when people from all around the world will “run with zeal untiring” to gather for a new reason. The nations will not come to make war or even seek the blessings of earthly peace. They will come in fulfillment of God’s promise because the Messiah has come, born among the people of Israel, born in Bethlehem. Isaiah tells us to lift our eyes at the wonder of it all: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you … And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you” (Isaiah 60:1, 3-4a). The nations will gather “from sin to be set free.” They will flee the darkness of sin because the light of God’s grace will break “upon them from on high.” They will come, called by the Holy Spirit to hear and believe God’s story of life and salvation through faith in Jesus.
God said of His Messiah, His Anointed One, “I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b). Jesus the Messiah died on the cross to atone for the sins of all people. He rose up in victory over death to destroy the shroud of death that covered the world. The crucified and risen Lord sent His disciples out to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations. We too are called to share—with gentleness and respect—the hope that we have in Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 3:15). Through our words of witness, the nations will hear God’s story of salvation through faith in Jesus. By God’s grace, in the power of the Holy Spirit, they will come running to the Light.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I pray that Your saving love will be known in every nation. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Arise and Shine in Splendor,” which is number 396 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Can you give an example of two or more nations working together in a cooperative way?
2. Can you imagine a time when “nations will gather ‘from sin to be set free'”? What would that even look like?
3. There are ways to reach remote people other than with on-the-ground missionaries. What are some ways that hard-to-reach people might hear and receive the Gospel?
Today’s Bible Readings: Job 17-19 Matthew 10:21-42
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 you 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.”
Now you can 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 Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org.
