SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022
NEWS: If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the Parables of Jesus, now is your chance. Those are being studied at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman tonight. Their Bible study is in their home and it starts at 6:30 PM. After a short devotion is conducted everyone dives into the study material. The evening winds up with fellowship time, where coffee and goodies are served. Things then conclude at 8 PM. All are invited to attend.
This Saturday the men meet for their monthly Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast. Bagels are on the menu this month and Bruce Woodward sent out an email to (to the best ofmy knowledge) those who attend or have attended in the past to get their bagel order from I Love Bagels. If you didn’t receive the email and would like to attend and get your favorite bagel, please contact Bruce Woodward by email. We will then view a video on The Real St. Nicholas. At 10 AM our monthly Work Party takes place and goes until Noon. This is where we clean up and fix up our church and property. All are invited to, pitch in…just show up and talk to Bruce about what you can do.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Pam Gosdis.
READINGS: Psalm 56; Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“JOY AND FEAR”
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
Mary would have recognized this promise—any Jewish girl would. A son to inherit the throne of David? To rule over Israel forever? This baby will be the Messiah. Two thousand years after He said it to Abraham, God is keeping His promise at last.
And Mary is overjoyed! She will be a part of this great thing. But it’s going to be very intimate—her body, for nine long months. Her labor and delivery—for the very first time. She will be nursing this baby, changing His diapers, teaching Him to walk, to talk, to do His chores and mind His manners—all the things any human child must learn.
She must have felt joy. She must have felt fear.
But God would be with her, as He is with us when He asks us to take on life-changing challenges. And as God uses our bodies and minds to care for others, we glorify Jesus, who gave Himself for us first—who lay down His very life for our sakes, and rose from the dead to make us God’s own.
WE PRAY: Lord, as I face challenges, be closer to me than my own body and mind. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What is one intimate kind of care you have had to provide for someone?
* What made it easy? What made it hard?
* What is one intimate kind of care God provides for you?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezra 3-4 1 John 5
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 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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
