SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: A big Thank You to all who assisted in our monthly Work Party yesterday. Everyone’s efforts are appreciated!
DID YOU SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR? It’s time to “Spring Ahead.” You’ll be late for Bible study and church if you didn’t.
We are in God’s house for the Third Sunday of Lent today. We start with our Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading the congregation in a study of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship, the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “The Calling of The Outcast.” It’s based on our Gospel reading for the day, John 4:5-42 Our Old Testament lesson comes from Exodus 17:1-7 and our second reading is taken from Romans 5:1-8 After we have celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then we’ll head over to Carl’s Jr. on Douglas Dr. to continue fellowship time. Please join with your friends from Shepherd of The Valley!
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:
Techies: Ian Andrews, OPEN
Reader: K Berni
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Rick Adams
Ushers: Victor Dille, Bill Sperberg
Flowers: Debbie Kolkman
Fellowship: Suzette Prokopin
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Glen and Deb Strassman. They request prayers for their autistic son Eric, who is looking for gainful employment.
Bill and Pat Sperberg give thanks and ask prayers for health and well being for them, their children and grandchildren.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Oh God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Micah 5:7-6:8; Psalm 66; Luke 3:15-22; Psalm 95:1-9
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“BORROWED PARADE”
Now … Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” … The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (Matthew 21:1b-3, 6-8)
Have you ever noticed that everything on Palm Sunday is borrowed? The colt and its mother, definitely. But what about the cloaks of the disciples? Jesus sits on them, because He has no saddle. The crowd also lend Him their cloaks, this time for a royal red carpet. Others borrow branches from the trees beside the road. And of course there are the palm branches people are waving!
It makes perfect sense for Jesus to borrow all this, because in less than a week, He is going to borrow something even greater—the sin, shame, guilt, and death of the whole world. None of that belongs to Jesus by right; it is ours, bought and paid for. But He takes it. He takes it away from us, all the way to the cross. He takes it to His borrowed tomb. And He leaves it behind when He rises from the dead.
What has He given us in exchange, then? Life. Love. Forgiveness. A new creation.
WE PRAY: Thank you, Lord, for what You took, and what You gave me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* How do you think Jesus knew about the donkeys and where they would be?
* If you’re going to ride an unbroken young colt, why would you want the mother animal around?
* What specific gift from Jesus do you treasure most?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Numbers 5-6 Mark 13:1-20
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
