SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS AND PRAYERS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2023
I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Psalm 122:1
NEWS: Today is the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost and the doors to God’s house will be open! At 9 AM, Bible study begins, with Pastor Joel leading us in studying the Book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship service the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Dogs, Crumbs and Perseverance.” It’s based on our Gospel selection for the day, Matthew 15:21-28 Our Old Testament reading is Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 The Psalmody is taken from Psalm 67 Our Epistle comes from Romans 11:1-2, 13-15, 28-32 After we have celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please proceed to the Community building for our monthly Potluck! If you can help, we need another main dish or two and drinks. Thank you!
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, Victor Dille
Reader: Allen Kolkman
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Carole Woodward
Ushers: Rick Adams, Neith Neblett
Flowers: OPEN
Fellowship: Potluck
PRAYERS: Today we remember Theodora Elias in our prayers. Theodora requests prayers for her health and for all to get through the storm system safely. In our Summer of Prayer series, we ask the Lord to help the people of Oceanside, to seek his kingdom first. Additionally, pray for everyone’s safety as Tropical Storm Hilary moves through our area and Southern California.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the very way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
READINGS: Lamentations 3:1-24; Psalm 48; Colossians 1:1-14
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“In Christ There Is No East or West”
“In Christ there is no east or west, In Him no south or north, But one great fellowship of love Throughout the whole wide earth.
“With God there is no tribe or race: In Him we all are one. He loves us as His children through Our faith in His dear Son.”
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God loves the world. He loves the people He created, people who are scattered across the globe, so the crucified and risen Savior sent His followers out to make disciples of all nations. They were to baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and to teach all that Jesus had commanded. Wherever the disciples went, they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. People listened and, in the power of the Holy Spirit, they believed. Then they, in turn, shared the Gospel with others. When persecution arose against the church and believers fled to new regions, “those who were scattered went about preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4).
Disciples went out in every direction to preach the Good News that Jesus died and rose from the dead “to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52b). Jesus Himself had said, “People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29). Yet even though people from around the world hear and believe the Good News, “in Christ there is no east or west, in Him no south or north.” The Holy Spirit unites us in faith. We are all clothed in the righteousness of Jesus our Savior, as the apostle Paul writes: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We represent different nations, cultures, and languages, yet we are one in faith. We are the body of Christ.
We continue to share the Good News of Jesus wherever we go. We pray that in the power of the Holy Spirit, more people—from north, south, east and west—will be brought to faith and worship Jesus as Lord. Finally, the day will come when we stand together before the throne of God, a great multitude that no one can number, “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9b). We will call out with one voice to praise the Lord who saved us!
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to live in unity as members of Your body, the church. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “In Christ There is No East or West,” which is number 653 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is your role in sharing the Gospel with others?
2. What does it say to you when Paul writes that we “are all one in Christ Jesus”?
3. What are some things the Christian church can do to spread the Gospel around the world?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 87-88 1 Corinthians 12
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
