SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024

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

NEWS: Today is the Second Sunday after Epiphany and we start the day in God’s house at 9 AM with a brand-new Bible study. Entitled, “Praying God’s Will,” participants are encouraged to bring a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism. However, if they can’t find a copy they will still be able to participate. Everyone is encouraged to attend.!

In our 10 AM worship service the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “How Do You Know Me?” It’s based on Mark 1:4-11 The Old Testament lesson is 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Our Psalmody is taken from Psalm 139 The Epistle reading comes from 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 The Gospel is John 1:43-51   We will have a guest musician with us this week!  He is Christian Walker, he’s 9 years old, very talented and skilled. 

After we have taken the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then fellowship will continue at In N’ Out Burger off of Mission near Frazee Rd

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, Victor Dille

Reader:  Allen Kolkman

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Rick Adams

Ushers:   Terry Reilly, OPEN

Flowers:  Joy

Fellowship:  Melissa and David Carlisle

PRAYERS: Today we remember the Doan family: Marika, Chad, Lydia and Lucille in our prayers.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 36:33-37:14; Romans 5

 Alleluia. This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. Alleluia.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens” January 14, 2024

 

“Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens, Let Your Word to me come near; Newborn life and spirit give me, Let each promise still my fear. Death’s dread pow’r, its inward strife, Wars against Your Word of life; Fill me, Lord, with love’s strong fervor That I cling to You forever!” There is a war going on and it is not a war between nations, although we know our world sees far too much of that kind of conflict. This war will not make the morning news, but it is a battle that has been going on for a very long time. Satan, the ancient serpent of Eden, started the war. From the beginning, the serpent hated the Word. He wants nothing more than to destroy God’s work and His Word. What did the subtle serpent first ask Eve in the Garden of Eden? He suggested that she should doubt the Word, asking her, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'” (Genesis 3:1b). It was a clever question, and it worked. Eve, and Adam with her, ate the fruit forbidden to them. Like our first parents, we too fall victim to the same deadly question. We may doubt the promises of God’s Word or turn away from His commands to follow our own desires. However effective Satan’s question may be—and we know from sad experience that it works against us too—ultimately the ancient foe is fighting a losing battle or, rather, a battle that is already lost. His downfall was foretold in the beginning. The Offspring of the woman would come to do battle with the serpent. Both would fall in battle but as we now know, only one would rise! Jesus, the Word made flesh, the woman’s Offspring, came to fight for us: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b). By His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan, who had held the power of death. Now Jesus, who is “alive forevermore,” holds “the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18b). All authority belongs to our risen Lord! Although his battle is lost, the ancient serpent fights on, warring against the Word of life. Still caught up in the struggle, we pray in our hymn, “Let Your Word to me come near … let each promise still my fear.” We trust God and His Word, and through the study of the Word we become more aware of the ancient serpent’s tempting lies. When we fail and fall, we repent and hear again the welcome word of forgiveness through Jesus our Savior. We cling to our Lord and His triumphant, enduring Word: “‘The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this Word is the Good News that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:24b-25). WE PRAY: My God and Lord, I cling to You and to the promises of Your Word. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens,” which is number 589 in the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. When do you feel a “war” going on inside you most? 2. What does it mean to you that Jesus holds “the keys of Death and Hades”? How did He get them? 3. What promises of God do you rely on when things are difficult for you?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Job 14-16; Matthew 10:1-20

 

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