SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2023

by | Dec 30, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2023

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

NEWS: This morning we celebrate the First Sunday in Christmas. There will be NO Bible class again due to the holiday season. We will have our regular worship service at 10 AM and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “What Now?” It’s based on the Gospel reading, Luke 2:25-35 The Old Testament lesson is Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Our Psalmody is taken from Psalm 111 The Epistle comes from Galatians 4:4-7

After the Eucharist is celebrated and our service draws to a close, please join us for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then join us at Carl’s Jr. for continued fellowship time.

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:  OPEN

Ushers:   OPEN, OPEN

Flowers:  Melissa Carlisle

Fellowship:  Daria Roth

PRAYERS: Today we remember Chris Roth in our prayers.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Malachi 3, 4; Psalm 149, 150; Revelation 21:9-22:21

 Alleluia. My eyes have seen your salvation, a light forever to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“HEART’S DESIRE”

December 31, 2023

 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, … And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. … and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, … he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.” (Luke 2:25a, 26, 27b, 28-30)

God made Simeon a strange and wonderful promise: that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. He didn’t know when it would happen, or who it would be, but he firmly believed God would make it happen at the right time.

And of course, God did. He sent Simeon to the temple just in time to see Mary and Joseph standing in the courtyard, holding their baby. Of course he took Jesus up in his arms! Who could resist? And he looked into Jesus’ face—the face of his Lord and Redeemer. It was the high point of his life.

As Christian believers, we share in Simeon’s blessing. Oh, not because we have seen Jesus face to face yet; we look forward to that. But we too have our hearts’ desire, because Jesus has become our Savior, the One who loves us, closer to us than the breath in our bodies. Through His suffering He has rescued us, body and soul, from the power of evil; and death cannot hold on to us, because Jesus has risen from the dead, and gives life to us also.

What could be better?

WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, set my heart upon You forever. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* What would you ask of the Lord, if He offered you your heart’s desire?

* What would you give to obtain it?

* What did Jesus give to obtain His heart’s desire?

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Malachi 3-4; Revelation 22

 

WE HAVE TWO LIBRARIES AT CHURCH! One of them is in the back of our sanctuary. That has many books, 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.

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