SVLC DEVOTION, TRINITY SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2023

by | Jun 3, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2023

TRINITY SUNDAY

 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1

NEWS: Today we open the longest season on the church calendar with Trinity Sunday. Bible study begins at 9 AM as Pastor Joel continues looking at the book of Genesis with us. In our 10 AM worship service, the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Let There Be Light.” It’s based on our first reading of the day, Genesis 1:1-2:4 The second lesson is taken from Acts 2:14, 22-36 Our Gospel is Matthew 28:16-20 After we’ve celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for the fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then come up the road to Jersey Mikes for continued fellowship.

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, Bruce Woodward

Reader:  Allen Latall

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Daria Roth

Ushers:   Terry & Alba Reilly

Flowers:  Daria Roth

Fellowship: Suzette and Leonard Prokopin 

PRAYERS: Today we remember Deeana and Victor Dille in prayer.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in the faith and defend us from all adversaries; for You, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; John 3:1-17

 GRADUAL: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and hisn greatness is unsearchable. On your wonderous works I will meditate, and I will declare your greatness.

 Alleluia. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory! Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Holy, Holy, Holy”
June 4, 2023

 

“Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy Name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!”

“The Lord reigns … Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him” (Psalm 97:1-2). Darkness hides the Lord God, and Scripture tells us that light also hides Him. God dwells “in unapproachable light” as the King of kings and Lord of lords, “whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16). As people lost in sin, we cannot see God. We cannot come to Him. Instead, in His boundless grace, He came to us.

In fields near Bethlehem on the first Christmas night, the darkness was shattered—and shepherds were frightened!—by God’s shining glory as an angel announced the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. In Jesus, God was both concealed and revealed. When the disciple Philip asked to see God the Father, Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). God, whose glory “the eye of sinful man … may not see,” walked on earth in flesh and blood in the Person of His Son.

The glory of God was revealed in Jesus in His mighty works and the wisdom of His teaching. Yet on Good Friday, the powers of darkness were allowed to overcome, for a short time, the glorious Light. Jesus took onto Himself the sins that separate us from God, the sins that held us captive. As the sun’s light failed, the Savior suffered the penalty of death for the sins of the world. His body was sealed in a tomb, but on the third day after His death the dawning light revealed the empty tomb. Jesus has risen from the dead!

God has “called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9b). As children of light, we reflect the light of Jesus in our lives so that others will see our good works and glorify God. We proclaim repentance and forgiveness in Jesus’ Name as we invite others, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk in the light. One day, God will welcome us into His presence where we “will need no light of lamp or sun” because God will be our light (Revelation 22:5b). We will join the saints and angels and all of His created works to shout out in eternal praise, “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!”

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, lead me to live as a child of the light. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” which is number 507 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you seen anything on earth that speaks to God’s magnificence?

2. Though God reigns in glory, He came to us as a baby in a manger. Why do you think that is?

3. How can we reflect God’s glory in our lives in a way that points others toward Him?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 68, 72, 86; John 14

 

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