SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
NEWS: This morning the Men have their monthly Bible study/breakfast at 9 AM in our Fellowship Hall. All men are invited to attend and participate.
The monthly Work Party takes place at 10 AM to clean-up, fix-up and tidy-up our church and property. If you have some time, please come and pitch in for as much time as you can spend.
Also at 10 AM, the Fellowship Team meets in the Fellowship Hall. The team does the fun stuff! It empowers things like fellowship time after church, lunch outings or potlucks after that and other fun things like Thankfeast, Easter Brunch, progressing dinners, pizza/bowling and more! Already on the team are: Gail Adams, Amanda Cerny, Allen & Debbie Kolkman, Keith Neblett, Dania Roth – but there’s room for YOU! We’d love to have YOU on the “Fun Team.” J
Tomorrow we celebrate the HOLY TRINITY or TRINITY SUNDAY. The title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “What Does the Doctrine of the Trinity Mean to You?” It’s based on John 8:48-59 which is our gospel reading for the day. Our other readings are Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 and Acts 2:14, 22-36 After we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and our service concludes, we have our fellowship time with coffee and goodies outside. Then, for those hungry for lunch, we’ll be meeting up at Jersey Mikes, mup the road from church, right near Dollar Tree and Starbucks.
PRAYERS: Taken from the LSB (Lutheran Service Book), today we pray for faithfulness to the end; for the renewal of those who are withering in the faith or have fallen away; for receptive hearts and minds to God’s Word on the Lord’s Day; for pastors and people as they prepare to administer and receive Christ’s holy gifts.
READINGS: Psalm 97:6-12; Psalm 85; Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27; Luke 24:1-27
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Perfect As Is”
Galatians 1:6-9 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
In Jesus Christ the foundation of a new life is laid for everyone. The Gospel of God’s Son is the test of everything. It’s the test of every religion and every denomination, no matter how big, centuries old, or well organized it may be. Christ is all in all; on Him everything stands (see Ephesians 2:19-22).
This is what St. Paul was saying. There were people trying to add things to be done or observed for the Gospel to be truly effective. How typical this is! People have a deeply ingrained sense that they ought to be doing something to win God’s favor. It cuts against the grain to hear the wonderful news that God forgives and accepts sinful people … simply for the sake of Christ.
The true treasure of the church, said Martin Luther, is the Gospel of God’s grace and glory: His Son Jesus. Salvation comes from Him, and from Him alone. Jesus died for our sins, and God forgives our sins for the sake of His Son Jesus. God raised His Son from the dead, and declared Him to be the Son of God with power. His Lordship is God’s glory. Jesus Christ is God’s very good news to each one of us.
You, my friend, don’t have to get right with God. You are made right with Him, put right with Him, justified by Him, and forgiven by Him for the sake of Jesus Christ. You are saved by God through faith in Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to God. There is no other gospel. Paul was so insistent about the Gospel because his life depended upon it. The lives of all those who heard Paul depended on it, too, as do the lives of you and me.
Give glory to the Name of God, my friend. He is God and there is no other. Give glory to Him and obey the Gospel. Believe in His great Son Jesus Christ and in the grace God offers you in Jesus Christ. Accept His forgiveness, and live His life. That’s the way to salvation. It’s the only way to salvation. There is no other.
This is the Gospel, and it’s very good news for each of us! Thanks be to God!
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You are the Giver of Good News—the Gospel of Your Son. Thank You! Amen.
From “No Other Gospel,” a sermon from Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Reflection Questions:
1. Is it easy to get caught up in thinking something we do adds to the reason why God would save us?
2. What kind of different “gospel” were some of the Galatians turning to and unsettling the faith of believers? (See Galatians 2:3-5, 5:2-6, 6:12-13).
3. How can we stay close to Jesus and not lose sight of what He’s done for us on the cross?
Today’s Bible Readings: Proverbs 2-4 John 19:23-42
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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:
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/
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 weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
