SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13
THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: A great big THANK YOU to EVERYONE who worked so hard to make yesterday’s installation service for “Pastor Joel” Luckemeyer the special occasion and big success that it was. There were too many to name individually, but many people did much good and hard work to help pull it off.
Today, Pastor Joel conducts his first service as SVLC’s pastor. Bible study is at 9 AM and our worship is at 10. We pray that all of you, especially those who couldn’t join us yesterday, can be here to welcome our new pastor and show him the support he and his family need and will need to minister to our church and community. The title of his sermon is, “I’m Not the One, but I Can Point You to Him.” It’s also a special time as he will be baptizing his daughter! Afterwards we will have fellowship time and there will be more of a chance to meet our pastor. For those who just can’t be with us, our service will be streamed live on our Facebook page. The link is below under Other Resources. Click on that, click on the More tab and then click on Live. Remember to “Like” us and leave a comment that you are there with us. Also serving our Lord and congregation are:
Altar Flowers – Darryl Finley
Altar Care – Margaret Paton
Greeter – OPEN
Acolyte – OPEN
Ushers – Victor Dille, Darryl Finley
Reader – K Berni
Fellowship – Joel & Amy Luckemeyer
Communion Assistant – Allen Latall
We do have a couple of Open spots if you are able to help out. Thank you!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Rick and Gail Adams. We pray for their son Jacob and his wife who had a foster child, but the child has been given back into an undesirable family situation.
COLLECT FOR TODAY: O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of your people that we who justly suffer the consequences of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 95:1-7a; Psalm 70; Job 9:1-35; John 4:46-54
DIGGING DEEPER: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37
Alleluia. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
“Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing”
“Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing, A cheerful trust maintain; For God the source of ev’rything, Your portion shall remain.
“His wisdom never plans in vain, Nor falters nor mistakes. All that His counsels may ordain, A blessed ending makes.”
“All that His counsels may ordain, a blessed ending makes.” We might not always think of the endings we experience as “blessed.” Is the approach of death a blessed ending, or a struggle through serious illness, or the pain of grief and loss? We may not define some circumstances of our lives as blessings until we finally live in Jesus’ presence.
Although we may experience some of those doubtful blessed endings, our hymn reminds us that we must maintain “a cheerful trust.” Whatever the troubles and trials of life, God remains our “portion,” that is, our inheritance, even—and especially—in the midst of earthly sorrows. It is an inheritance of eternal life that is ours by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. It is an inheritance won by our Lord in events that, to those who lived through them, must have seemed like vain plans and mistakes.
After Jesus died, two disciples walking to Emmaus expressed their sorrow concerning the crucified Messiah: “We had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21a). Jesus’ followers had hoped for so much more. As the Messiah, surely Jesus could have restored Israel to glory and defeated Rome’s armies. Instead, Roman soldiers had nailed the Messiah to a cross and mocked Him as the “King of the Jews.” Hopes for a glorious, messianic kingdom came to an abrupt end when Jesus’ body was sealed in a tomb. For the sorrowful disciples, it was not a blessed ending.
The disciples on the way to Emmaus had heard rumors of Jesus’ resurrection, but they did not know what to believe until the risen Lord Himself joined the conversation. Jesus asked them, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). Jesus’ death and burial were not mistakes. He had been delivered up to death according to the plan of salvation that God ordained before the creation of the world. His wisdom did not falter or plan in vain. Through the blessed ending of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have forgiveness of our sins and the hope and promise of eternal life.
In times of sorrow, when the only endings we experience seem to be bleak instead of blessed, we are called by faith to maintain a cheerful trust in our Savior. God remains our portion, our inheritance. His wisdom never plans in vain, in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, or in our own lives. Whatever our earthly trials, we are safe in His hands. Finally, when Jesus returns on the Last Day, we will be raised up from death, transformed and glorified, to live in His presence forever. It will be a blessed ending that is really a beginning.
THE PRAYER: Lord God, help me to maintain a cheerful trust in Your promises and Your care. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing,” which is number 737 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you turn circumstances over to God when life is not going the way you would like it to?
2. Have you lost someone dear to death and come to see it as a “blessed ending”? Care to share?
3. Do you trust God for the final outcome of a thing, believing He will bless the situation in the end?
Today’s Bible Readings: Exodus 16-18 Matthew 27:1-26
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 are to go to your work 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.”
Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
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 hours: 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 Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
