SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: Today is the fourth and final Sunday in Advent for 2022. As we come into God’s house, Pastor Joel will lead our Bible study at 9 AM. In our worship at 10, the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Sign From God.” It’s based on our first reading of the day, Isaiah 7:10-17 Our Epistle reading comes from Romans 1:1-7 Our Gospel lesson is Matthew 1:18-25 After we.ve participated in the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us outside for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then our fellowship continues at the Pit Stop restaurant, off of Mission, by El Camino Real. You can get lunch OR a late breakfast there.
Please don’t forget to pick up your copy of, ”Pray Now”, before or after our service. This is a whole congregation study that Pastor Joel will be starting on January 8th, 2023. The suggested donation for each copy is $5.00, if you can. We’ll be taking a few minutes during each service to go over material.
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: Bruce & Carole Woodward
Techies: Ian Andrews, Josh Cerny
Reader: Allen Latall
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Rick Adams
Ushers: Victor Dille, Terry Reilly
TAMALADA AT THE FARM is happening today too! It’s at the farm on our church property, the one run by Bianca Bonilla. It goes from Noon to 5 PM. You can enjoy a tamale, get a lesson on how to make tamales, enjoy Café de Olla, live music and a bonfire. Tamales made will be donated to Sunny Street Outreach for the homeless neighbors in our area. Everybody from Shepherd of The Valley and the neighborhood is invited…just come!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Margaret Paton. Margaret requests prayers for her sister and brother-in-law in North Carolina, dealing with health issues. Also for her as she is going through various medical tests through mid January.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Stir up your power, O Lord and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down my be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 119:81-88; Psalm 145; Isaiah 34:1-2, 8-17 and Isaiah 35:1-10; Revelation 6:1-17
Alleluia. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. Alleluia.
DIGGING DEEPER: 2 Samuel 7:1-11; Psalm 89:1-5, 19-29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18b)
This whole verse seems to emphasize Mary’s helplessness. It says she “had been betrothed” to Joseph—apparently somebody else did the marriage arrangement. It says she “was found to be with Child”—which sounds like someone made an unexpected discovery. And then there’s the phrase “before they came together”—which only emphasizes how alone Mary is, right here and now.
But she isn’t really, is she? As awful as things are, the Lord is still with her. She’s carrying Jesus. The Holy Spirit is guiding her, though she doesn’t yet see how or where. This is probably the lowest point of her life, at least until she sees her Son Jesus hanging on a cross. And yet, God is still with her.
God is with you, too—no matter how terrible your situation is, or how helpless and alone you feel. He has not abandoned you. He will not give you up. God came into the world as a tiny baby in order to make you His own, to live and to die for you. You matter to Him that much—when He suffered, when He died, when He rose again. And you matter now. Let Him care for you.
WE PRAY: Dear Savior, I cannot help myself. Help me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Why do you think Jesus came as a helpless infant?
* When have you felt helpless and alone?
* Tell about a time when God helped you, though you could not imagine how He would do that.
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 107, 126 Revelation 10
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
