SVLC DEVOTIONN WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

 ¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:14-16 ESV

 NEWS: You are invited to participate in the Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI) Community Yard Sale.  BCDI is a non-profit organization that works with four preschools in North County, located in low-income neighborhoods. Children learn about farm supplies, sustainably-grown vegetables, and are able to enjoy a safe place to enjoy outdoors. BCDI has a community farm located on our property. Check it out if you haven’t already!

If you would like to reserve a space, please register at www.svlchurch.org/community.  There are 22 spaces available (first registered, first reserved). LAST day to register is TODAY!!! Wednesday, November 8th. The sale will be held in our parking lot on Saturday, November11^th from 

8 am to noon.

  Guidelines: 

 This sale is a fundraiser for BDCI. The cost to register is $20.00 per space. Or, you can donate the proceeds of your sale to BCDI for a free spot!  There are 22 spaces available and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please sign up for a space on the form provided at www.svlchurch.org/community. We will also be advertising on Facebook and on our church website: www.svlchurch.org.

1. Set-up time is between 6:30-7:30 am.  Breakdown is between Noon-1:00 pm.
2.   Please bring your own tables, shade, and “stuff”.
3.   A restroom will be onsite for sellers only.
4.   All trash and leftover merchandise are YOUR responsibility; please clean your area and leave it as you found it as we have church services the following day. The church dumpster is not availableto use and we are not providing any post-sale pickup services!  
5.   Cost of a space is $20.00, which goes towards helping Botanical Community Development Initiatives’fundraiser. (to be paid on the day of the event).

 Questions? Refer general questions about the sale to Desiree Tuttle @ desiree@plantspeoplecommunity.org.

Any questions about registering, contact Rick at daddams@hotmail.com.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Gordon and Lois Friske in our prayers.

 READINGS: Daniel 2:17-45; Psalm 119:9-16; 1 Peter 4

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Waiting Our Turn” November 8, 2023

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. From the look of this passage, some of the Thessalonians were worried about their loved ones who had died. Were they going to miss out in some way on the blessing of Christ? Was salvation only for the living, and not for the dead? When Jesus came back, would the dead be forgotten? Were they damned? This sounds really weird, and at this end of history it’s not clear exactly what the Thessalonians were worried about, or why. Still, whatever they were thinking, it was bad enough that Paul describes it as grieving like people with no hope. And he puts a complete, absolute end to the misunderstanding. According to Paul, so far from missing out, the dead people who believe in Christ will actually get to go first! The rest of us, the living believers, will have to wait our turn. (I can’t help wondering about this. Will my younger sister claim to be the older now, since she died first—and rose first? I can just imagine her teasing me about this.) However Jesus arranges things on the day of His return, we can take comfort, knowing that He has all of His people in His hands, all the time. Death doesn’t change that. After all, Jesus has authority over death and life alike. And that is no surprise, since He has experienced both of them—and is Lord over both. Jesus’ death for us set us free from the power of sin and death; and His resurrection guaranteed our resurrection, because Jesus has promised to share His everlasting life with us. None of us will miss out. And when He comes again to bring us home to God forever, we who are still alive will have the joy of waiting our turn while our dead fellow Christians, whom we love, go first. “And so we will always be with the Lord.” WE PRAY: Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. Are you good at waiting your turn, or do you get impatient? 2. Who is someone you love who has died in Christ? When you think of them now, how do you feel and why? Name as many feelings as you want to. 3. How does Jesus help you through your grief when a fellow Christian dies?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Lamentations 1-2; Hebrews 12

 

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 has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hour  s: 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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org