SVLC DEVOTION, HOL:YN SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2023

by | Apr 7, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2023

 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,[a] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2

 NEWS: Mens Bible Study/Breakfast takes place this morning at 9 AM in our Fellowship/Community building today. Please join us for good food, the study of God’s word and fellopwship. Yes, coffee too! At 10 AM we’ll be doing the setup for our Easter breakfast and the work party. The goal is to have things looking good for Easter Sunday.

TOMORROW we celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior! The day starts with our Easter breakfast at 8:30 AM in the Fellowship/Community building. All are invited to attend! Around 9:15 or so, we will have an EASTER EGG HUNT for the kids. I’m sure they all have a sweet tooth…along with some of us adults! Note that there is no Bible study tomorrow.

Atb 10 AM our Easter service takes place in our sanctuary. The title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Who Do You Say Jesus Is?” It’s based on the Gospel text for the day, John 20:1-18 Our Old Testament reading is Exodus 14:10-15:1 The Epistle lesson comes from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

We wish all of you a very blessed Easter Day! Since many of you will be spending the day with loved ones or enjoying other plans, the devotional email will return on Monday.

 PRAYERS: Today we pray for Suzette and Leonard Prokopin. On Sunday we include Brandon Reilly in our prayers.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, creator of heaven and earth, grant that as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the coming of the third day and rise with Him to newness of life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Daniel 6; Psalm 88; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“MINI-RESURRECTION”

April 8, 2023

 

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. … And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:50, 51b, 52-53)

The whole story is very odd. Jesus dies, the tombs break open, and many people are raised from the dead, making their way into the city of Jerusalem a couple days later. There must have been a lot of freaked-out people!

The first, I imagine, would be the resurrected people themselves. Some of them would have been dead for weeks, months, maybe even years. Now suddenly they find themselves back in the life they thought was over. No wonder it took them a while to find their way home again!

And then there’s the families, opening the door to find Uncle Ephraim or Grandma Sarah standing there smiling and alive. Imagine the fear, the joy, the utter confusion. Because these people weren’t zombies—they could eat and drink and hug and dance. They were truly alive—but why?

Someone finally figured it out. They were alive because Jesus had died—and somehow His death broke the power of death. Their mini-resurrection is a foretaste of the time when Jesus returns in His glory and the whole earth rises to stand before Him. Already His death has broken the power of death over us, and His resurrection means that we, too, shall rise—to be with Him in joy and love forever.

WE PRAY: Lord, thank You for bringing me from death to life, even now. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* What do you imagine the newly alive people did next?

* If this happened to your family, would you have publicized it? Why or why not?

* What difference does the promise of your own resurrection make in your life right now?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Joshua 7-9; Luke 9:37-62

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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 broadcasts sacred music. Their website is 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 Holy Saturday and Easter weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org