SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023

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

NEWS: It’s the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost today as we return to the Lord’s dwelling place! The morning begins with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel continues to lead us in studying the book of Genesis. At 10 AM our worship service takes place and the tile of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “You Give Them Something to Eat.” It’s based on our Gospel lesson, Matthew 14:13-21 The Old Testament reading comes from Isaiah 55:1-5 Our Psalmody is included in Psalm 136 Our Epistle is Romans 9:1-5 After we have taken the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then fellowship continues at Carl’s Jr. on Douglas Dr.

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:  Kathy Andrews

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Darryl Finley

Ushers:   Victor Dille, OPEN

Flowers:  Margaret Paton

Fellowship:  Terry & Alba Reilly

PRAYERS: Today we remember Charlene Simpson in prayer. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for teachers in Oceanside, that the Lord would grant them wisdom to only teach subjects that are appropriate for children. We also ask God to lead our school districts away from agendas  that will harm our children.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Merciful Father, You gave Your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on Him in Your Word and Sacrement that we may be nourished unto life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 49:34-39; Psalm 35; Ephesians 3:1-13

 Alleluia. I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death” August 6, 2023

 

“Awake, O sleeper, rise from death, And Christ shall give you light; So learn His love, its length and breadth, Its fullness, depth, and height. “Then walk in love as Christ has loved, Who died that He might save; With kind and gentle hearts forgive As God in Christ forgave.” Jesus had a way of getting people moving. He would first heal them and then send them on their way, sometimes sending them on a mission of some kind. Jesus forgave the sins of the paralyzed man, healing him, and sending him with the words, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home” (Matthew 9:6b). A leper was healed and sent to show himself to the priest with the proper offering for cleansing (see Mark 1:40-44). When Jesus commanded the demons to leave a tormented man, the man who had been healed begged to stay with Jesus. Instead, Jesus sent him on a mission to go home and tell his friends what the Lord had done for him (see Mark 5:19). Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, who chose her own mission, rising up to serve the Lord (see Matthew 8:15). Today, the healing and the sending continue. In Baptism we are united with Jesus in His death and buried with Him. By God’s grace through faith we receive the healing forgiveness that Jesus won for us on the cross. In Baptism the Spirit calls to us: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14b). In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are raised up with Jesus to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4b). Awakened to new life in Christ Jesus, born again as a new creation, we are sent on our way as people on a mission. We follow Jesus, who set the pattern for our steps in a life of faith: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you … Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 4:32, 5:2). We have come to know the love of Jesus, “its length and breadth, its fullness, depth and height.” We are sent out to love others as Jesus loved us, to give ourselves in compassionate service to others, as Jesus gave Himself up for us. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven. When our love for others does not reach the fullness or depth that it should, we humbly repent, asking that Jesus would heal and forgive us and once again send us out in His service. We rise up, restored and forgiven to walk in newness of life, as Jesus gets us moving and sends us out on His mission. WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, heal and forgive me and send me out to witness for You. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death,” which is number 697 in the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. Do you sense a God-given path or direction for your life? Can you elaborate? 2. How does God come to us and motivate us, so to speak, when we lack faith and direction? 3. Following Jesus means living like Him—loving, serving, and forgiving others. How can we get better at doing these things?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 130-132; 1 Corinthians 1

 

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