SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: Today we celebrate the Festival of The Transfiguration. Our morning in God’s house begins with Bible study, led by Pastor Joel, at 9 AM. We are beginning a new study of the book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship service the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Rise, Do Not Be Afraid.” It’s based on our Gospel reading for the day, Matthew 17:1-9 Our Old Testament lesson is Exodus 24:8-18 Our second lesson is taken from 2 Peter 1:16-21 As we do each Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. After we’ve finished with that and our service closes, please proceed to the Fellowship Hall for a POTLUCK MEAL. Whether you have brought something to share or not, its okay. Join us for the fellowship time together!
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:
Techies: Ian Andrews, Open
Reader: Allen Latall
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Open
Ushers: Victor Dille, Terry Reilly
Flowers: Debbie Kolkman
Fellowship: Potluck
THIS WEDNESDAY the season of Lent begins. We will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 PM and we will celebrate Holy Communion. Please plan on joining us this week and the following Wednesday evenings. Starting the Wednesday after this week, we will also have Potluck meals at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall, followed by our church service at 7 in our sanctuary.
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Barb and Gunti Galleisky. We also pray for Christian Galleisky, who asks prayers for strength and wisdom as times are trying.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18; Mark 9:2-9
Alleluia. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here”
“Fulfiller of the past and hope of things to be, We hail Thy body glorified and our redemption see.
“‘Tis good, Lord, to be here! Yet we may not remain; But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, come with us to the plain.”
What would it have been like to join the three disciples on the mountain to see the Lord transfigured in glory? Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothing shimmered white as light as Moses and Elijah appeared to speak with Him. Peter offered to set up three tents to preserve the divine glory, perhaps providing places to stay and worship, but he was babbling a bit out of sheer terror: “He did not know what to say, for they were terrified” (Mark 9:6). The disciples’ fear only increased when God the Father spoke out of a cloud, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7b). Falling face down on the ground, the disciples were relieved to look up and find no one but Jesus, the Jesus they had always known.
No tents were set up; no one stayed on the mountain. On the way down to the plain below, the experience changed—from the vision of glory to a conversation about suffering and death. Jesus spoke about His death and resurrection. He talked about John the Baptist, who had been imprisoned and murdered by King Herod. Soon Jesus Himself would be betrayed, arrested, and condemned. He would shoulder the burden of His cross and the heavier burden of the world’s sin. On another hill, He would die the death we deserve for our sins. Hearing all this talk of suffering, the disciples probably wanted to go back up onto that mountain.
We know the feeling. We may experience spiritual high points and a sense of God’s majesty in moments in worship or in the study of His Word. We would very much like to pitch a tent at that point and stay indefinitely. We want the high points to continue but, for now, they cannot last. We follow Jesus, and that means following Him across the flat plains of suffering and, finally, into the deep “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4b). Yet just as Jesus walked down the mountain with His disciples, He walks with us. When we must leave those high points behind and head down the mountain, we fix our eyes as the disciples did on “no one but Jesus only” (Matthew 17:8b). When we take up the cross to walk through suffering, our crucified and risen Lord hears our prayer: “Since Thou bidst us leave the mount, come with us to the plain.”
WE PRAY: Jesus, walk with me here until I walk with You in glory. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here,” which is number 414 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been someplace you didn’t want to leave? Where was it?
2. How do you think you would have reacted to Jesus’ transfiguration?
3. Sometimes church can give us an overwhelming sense of contentment and peace. Have you experienced that before?
Today’s Bible Readings: Exodus 29-30 Mark 2
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 Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.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
