SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2,2022
Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
NEWS: This evening we begin the Lenten season with our Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 PM. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and for those who desire, Pastor Joel will apply ashes to the forehead. Starting next week, we will have Potluck meals before each Lenten service, starting at 6:00 PM, in our Fellowship Hall, before our 7:00 PM services. Also note that the Women’s Wednesday evening Bible study is now on hiatus until after Lent.
Tomorrow evening our Board of Directors meet, in person, at 7:00 PM in our Fellowship Hall. This is our first in-person meeting since the Covid crisis began two years ago.
Friday evening, “Wine on The Patio” takes place at the Kolkman’s house but it will be in the living room this time! Please bring something to share, adult or all-ages drinks, finger foods, treats or deserts. It goes from 6:30 to 8 PM.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Berand Kirschner. Margaret Paton gives thanks for the blessings of another birthday (February 28), thanks that her grandson and his wife are expecting their first child (her first great-grandchild) and also thanks that herson-in-lawe is on the road to recovery after his brain surgery. Also thanks for her adult children. More praise and thanks to our heavenly father from Margie and I: although the report from my lung biopsy last Thursday isn’t 100% complete, we do know that they did NOT find any cancer cells in my lungs! They did find bacteria, possibly fungi strange, to say the least) and maybe (not sure) some kind of pneumonia, although I am vaccinated against that. Anyw2qay, I am being referred to a pulmonologist, but much better than needing an oncologist now (been there though.) We thank everyone for their continued prayers as we work toward finding out what is going on.
READINGS: Joel 2:12-19; Psalm 51:1-19; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
COLLECT FOR TODAY: Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
DEVOTION:
“SERVANT OF THE LORD”
For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as One from whom men hide their faces … Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. … All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:2-3a, 4, 6)
This is part of the famous Song of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah 53. God gave the prophet Isaiah a vision of what Jesus would be like—of how He would save God’s people from the power of evil.
Jesus wasn’t what people were expecting. In God’s eyes He was like a root out of dry ground—we would say, like a drink of cool water on a hot day. But to us? He was nothing special.
And so we ignored Him—rejected Him—and then turned on Him and put Him to death on a cross. That was the end of Him, we thought. Who could have predicted the resurrection?
Isaiah did. And now we rejoice, because we finally understand—Jesus was bearing our sin, taking our grief and sorrow on His own back. He is God in the flesh, come in the form of a Servant, to give us life—life that will last forever.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, give me a heart that trusts in You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What do you think Jesus looked like? Why?
* Do you think you would have recognized Him for what He was, if you had been alive then?
* What are you hoping for, during these days of Lent?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Leviticus 14 Mark 8:1-21
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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:
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
