SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023

by | Oct 7, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023

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

NEWS: We return to God’s house this morning on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Our day begins with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading and teaching us about the book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship, the title3 of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Built Up or Crushed.” It’s based on our Gospel reading, Matthew 21:33-46 The Old Testament lesson is Isaiah 5:1-7 Our Psalmody is taken from Psalm 80 Our Epistle comes from Philippians 3:4-14

After we have taken the Eucharist and our serve comes to a close, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then please head over to the Pit Stop restaurant off of Mission Ave. for continued fellowship. It’s a great place to have a late breakfast or lunch/dinner!

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:  Carole Woodward

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Darryl Finley

Ushers:   Victor Dille, Keith Neblett

Flowers:  Suzette Prokopin

Fellowship:  Suzette Prokopin

WE HAVE TWO LIBRARIES AT CHURCH! One of them is in the back of our sanctuary. That has many books,m DVD’s and (I believe) CD’s that are available to check out and return on the honor system. We also have our “Little Library” just inside the driveway to our parking lot. Please feel free to take a book or leave a book. The main focus is childrens or Christian material, but other, appropriate for a church setting, is acceptable.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Chet Laird in our prayers. Chet requests prayers for patience and humility for himself and his family.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit, we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ,, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reignswith You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 35; Psalm 96; Hebrews 7:11-28

 GRADUAL: He will command his angels concer4ning you to guard you in all your ways. Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 Alleluia. Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Christ, the Word of God Incarnate”
October 8, 2023

 

“Christ, the Alpha and Omega, Christ, the firstborn from the dead, Christ, the life and resurrection, Christ, the Church’s glorious head: Praise and thanks and adoration and unending worship be To the Father and the Spirit and to You eternally.”

Surrounded as we are by images on screens, we may not give much thought, if any, to the letters of the alphabet. As children we learned the letters, those lines and shapes that designate sounds and, when properly put together, form words. Histories, stories and songs, poems, letters, and legal documents are all written with alphabet letters.

Our hymn verse singles out two letters from Scripture, Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Those two letters help to spell out the story of our salvation. In His revelation to the apostle John, the Lord uses those two letters to name Himself. “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'” (Revelation 1:8). When John falls at Jesus’ feet, Jesus reaches down to reassure His apostle, telling him: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17b-18).

The Son of God was in the beginning, the Word by whom all things were created. At the appointed time, the Word became flesh and His Name is spelled out with letters we have come to love: Jesus. To opponents who challenged His claims and His authority, Jesus responded with the challenge of another name for Himself, a name of only a few letters: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Jesus is I AM, the God who saved the people of Israel from slavery, the Word in human flesh who saved us from bondage to sin and death.

On Good Friday, a few letters spelled out another identity for the Lord. Sometimes we see it written as “I.N.R.I,” Latin initials for “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” the sign posted on the Savior’s cross. Jesus died and was the first to rise from death, never to die again. His story was written down in words and letters “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name” (John 20:31b). For us, Jesus is the beginning and the end, the first and the last and everything in between. Jesus, the beginning, will be there at the end, when He returns to judge the living and the dead. On that day there will be no need for letters to spell out “The End,” because for us and all creation, it will be a new beginning.

WE PRAY: Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, You are everything to me. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Christ, the Word of God Incarnate,” which is number 540 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever tried learning another language? Which one and why? Did you like it?

2. Jesus was identified by four Latin letters on His cross. How significant is this inscription?

3. What would be appropriate as an epitaph for your tombstone? Why?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Hosea 5-8; Romans 15:1-13

 

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