SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
PATRIOT DAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We return to God’s house today, with Bible study, beginning at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading and all are invited. Our worship service starts at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Radical Grace.” It’s based on the Gospel reading for the day, Luke 15:1-10 Our other readings are Ezekiel 34:11-24 and 1 Timothy 1:12-17 After we’ve taken the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for our fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then, to continue fellowship, meet up with us at El Polo Loco, on Mission Ave., in the Mission Marketplace.
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:
Fellowship: Josh and Amanda Cerny
Flowers: Margaret Paton
Techies: Bruce Woodward, OPEN
Reader: K Berni
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: OPEN
Ushers: Keith Neblett, OPEN
We have a couple openings, so if anyone can help out, please do. Thank you!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Theodora Elias. We pray for the health needs of Theodora. We also pray for her son, dealing with workplace issues.
We have a prayer, taken from Portals of Prayer, as we have solemn remembrance of the events that took place on this day in 2001: “Father of mercies and God of all comfort, be with those who are hurting today. As we remember the many lives lost that day, as well as the heroic efforts of the first responders, we are humbled by the brevity of life. Preserve our nation from future attacks and, even more, guard our hearts from the attacks of the evil one. May we live this day and every day in light of eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, hear the devout prayers of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 44:1-8; Psalm 100; 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21
DIGGING DEEPER: Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:1-12; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
Alleluia. If you forgive other their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart”
“Lord, Thee I love with all my heart; I pray Thee, ne’er from me depart, With tender mercy cheer me. Earth has no pleasure I would share. Yea, heav’n itself were void and bare if Thou, Lord, wert not near me. And should my heart for sorrow break, my trust in Thee can nothing shake. Thou art the portion I have sought; Thy precious blood my soul has bought. Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, Forsake me not! I trust Thy Word.”
Life without Jesus? The disciples could not imagine it. Jesus repeatedly told them that He would be killed and raised to life, but the disciples could not understand what He was saying. How could Jesus be taken from them? Peter even rebuked the Lord for saying such things and was, in turn, rebuked by Jesus for opposing the plans of God. Jesus told the disciples that He was returning to His Heavenly Father, and He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them. The disciples would be sad when Jesus left, but He would return and everything would change—forever: “You have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
Life without Jesus? We cannot imagine that any more than the disciples could. In our hymn we plead with our Savior, “Ne’er from me depart!” Without Jesus, life on this earth would be without hope and would hold no pleasure for us. Without Jesus, heaven itself would not be at all heavenly. It would be “void and bare” if Jesus was not with us. Yet even when our hearts—like the hearts of the disciples—break for sorrow in suffering, grief, and loss, nothing can shake our trust in our crucified, risen and ascended Lord.
Life without Jesus? Never! Jesus bought us for Himself, shedding His holy, precious blood on the cross. He is our portion, our inheritance. He rose from the dead, and in Him we have the promise of life and resurrection. The disciple Thomas saw the risen Lord and joyfully confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28b). With the eyes of faith, we too have seen our risen Savior and in our hymn we confess, “My God and Lord, my God and Lord!” We pray, “Forsake me not,” knowing that we will never have to worry about being apart from Jesus because He promised, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). At the end of this age, on the Last Day, Jesus will still be with us. He said, “I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3b). Life without Jesus? That is not going to happen because where Jesus is, that is where He wants us to be!
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, in all things I trust the promises of Your Word! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart,” which is number 708 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How has losing a loved one in your life changed your perspective?
2. What did the disciples need to remember once Jesus was no longer physically with them?
3. Why is it so crucial for us to stay close to Jesus as He’s revealed in God’s Word?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 29-30 Acts 19:21-41
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 Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
