SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2023

by | Aug 26, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 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 thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and we’re back in God’s house today! Bible study starts at 9 AM as Pastor Joel continues teaching us in the book of Genesis. Our worship service takes place at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “The Strongest Rock.” It’s based on our Gospel reading, Matthew 16:13-20 The Old Testament lesson is Isaiah 51:1-6 Our Psalmody is taken from Psalm 138 Our Epistle comes from Romans 11:33-12:8 We celebrate the Eucharist every week and after our service is finished, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. We’ll then go to In N’ Out burgers off Mission Ave. to continue 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, OPEN

Reader:  Keith Neblett

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Allen & Margie Latall

Ushers:   Bill Sperberg, OPEN

Flowers:  Debbie and Allen Kolkman

Fellowship:  Diane Finley

PRAYERS: Today we remember the Jerome family in our prayers: Denae, Chris and Evelyn. We continue to pray for the Woodward family: Eric, who is still hospitalized, as well as Carole and Bruce. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray that the cost of living would stabilize and even go down for the residents of Oceanside.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and merciful God, defend Your Church from all false teaching and error that Your faithful people may confess You to be the only true God and rejoice in Your good gifts of life and salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Ester 3; Psalm 55; Colossians 4:7-18

 Alleluia. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Built on the Rock”
August 27, 2023

 

“Built on the Rock the Church shall stand Even when steeples are falling. Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land; Bells still are chiming and calling, Calling the young and old to rest, But above all the souls distressed, Longing for rest everlasting.

“We are God’s house of living stones, Built for His own habitation, He through baptismal grace us owns Heirs of His wondrous salvation. Were we but two His name to tell, Yet He would deign with us to dwell With all His grace and His favor.”

We may imagine steeples falling and spires crumbling everywhere, even though the church buildings that support those towers are still standing. In many places, church attendance has dwindled. The pandemic kept people away, and many have not returned. The tempting voices of the world drown out the bells that summon people to worship. A growing segment of the population is sometimes referred to as “nones” because they mark “none” as their choice of religion on surveys.

Yet the nones are still “souls distressed.” They long “for rest everlasting,” even if they are unaware of, or deny, that distress and longing. They are not really nones—as if they did not exist. They are people loved by God, people for whom Jesus died and for whom church bells “still are chiming and calling.”

The church may be a building, but it is much more than that. “We are God’s house of living stones.” All who trust in Christ for salvation are the “temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16b). It is not the bells in church steeples that ring out the Good News, but our own voices calling out in witness as our lives reflect Jesus’ love. We invite others, including the nones, or however they may define themselves, to find rest in Jesus, who suffered and died on the cross for their sins and who lives to grant them forgiveness, hope, and eternal rest.

Church buildings, with spires and steeples intact, are still standing. We love to gather for worship in those beautiful structures and long to see them filled with people. Yet wherever we are, we are the church, the living, breathing, actively loving body of Christ. In the power of the Spirit, an offered prayer, a quiet word of encouragement in Jesus’ Name, and the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel ring out louder than crashing steeples or ringing bells. We may not be able to keep up with a loud, tempting, and rapidly changing culture, but we know and proclaim an unchanging truth. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and in Him alone we have life and hope! It is a message that will not be silenced.

WE PRAY: Jesus, help my voice to ring out with the Good News of salvation. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Built on the Rock,” which is number 645 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Churches may dwindle and fail, but the body of Christ, the true church, will prevail. Do you take courage in that fact?

2. How does God support and provide for His body of believers?

3. Just because people don’t attend church doesn’t mean they’re not seeking God. How can we be authentic reflections of Jesus in the lives of others?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Chronicles 4-6; 2 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