SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, MAY 28
NEWS: It’s time to return to God’s house tomorrow and we are open for Bible study and worship. Bible study is at 9 AM and Pastor Joel continues to lead us, talking about the miracles of Jesus and how they apply to our lives. For our 10 AM worship the title of Pastor Joels sermon is, “Who We Are is Because of Who He Is.” It’s based off of Revelation 22:12 Our other readings for the day are as follows: Acts 1:12-26; Revelation 22:1-6; John 17:20-26 After we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for our Fellowship time with cocffee and other goodies, as we celebrate our Memorial Day weekend! Those also serving tomorrow are:
Fellowship: The Neemia family
Flowers: Monika Doan
Techies: open, open
Reader: Charlotte Neblett
Acolyte: Open
Greeter: Allen Kolkman
Ushers: Victor Dille, Keith Neblett
Please note the OPEN spots. If anyone can help us out with these, please let us know. We appreciate any help that can be offered.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for David Clem.
READINGS: Psalm 119:97-104; Psalm 122; Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; Luke 18:1-17
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“God Working Inside of Us”
Zechariah 4:6 – Then he [the angel] said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”
I’d like to tell you a story, a very old one. The children of Israel had returned to the Promised Land from captivity in Babylon and were trying to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. But on every side they faced seemingly insurmountable barriers. All the power and might seem to be on the side of their enemies. No doubt they longed for the armies that once had fought brilliantly under the command of their great King David, so that they might crush the opposition.
God, however, had a message for their governor Zerubbabel. It was delivered by an angel to Zechariah, the prophet. It was a message of hope. Zerubbabel was so discouraged that an attitude of defeatism threatened to scuttle the whole temple-building project. Nevertheless, time showed that there was a way through the difficulty, and that peace might prevail with the help of God.
Visions of universal and permanent peace are as old as the hills. They go back further into history than the night when the angel brought the message of peace on earth to shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem (see Luke 2:8-20). Even earlier, Isaiah, at the beginning of his book, speaks of the time when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4b).
But the perpetual conflict that seems to play out between individual nations, of course, extends to each of us on the individual level, too, right? There are folks in my town who are very hard to love. But when I have stood at the foot of Calvary and heard the Savior—who loved me enough to die for me-say to me as He points to every other human being: “These are My children for whom I died, love them, preach the Gospel to them, pray for them, help them in every possible way,” then I see God’s truth is brought home to me on a personal level.
When I contemplate how Christ suffered and died for all sins—mine as well as those of the meanest of sinners—it begins to soften my callous heart. In time, as God’s Holy Spirit works inside of me, the dislike I’ve harbored against others begin to lessen; its vile grip on my mind and emotions weakens. Christian love does not spring into existence by itself; it’s God’s Spirit who shapes and transforms us to be more like Jesus (see John 16:12-15; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18; Philippians 2:1-18).
Put simply: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). This is where we begin: generously demonstrating love toward others, wanting them to share in the hope of the Gospel and the joys of the Christian faith. We may find ourselves at odds with the world, but God’s Spirit can shape us from the inside out, giving us the desire to love and be more like Jesus.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, help me to love my enemies. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
From “Doing Your Part for Peace,” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Armin Oldsen, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been involved in a church’s building project? How did that go?
2. Why was it so important for the returning Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem?
3. Do you pray for those you don’t get along with? How has that helped?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 24-26 John 10:22-42
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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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 Saturday and Memorial Day weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
