SVLC DEVOTION, ALL SAINTS DAY, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023, ALL SAINTS DAY

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS: Tomorrow the Board of Directors meet online, via Zoom, at 6 PM. Please look for the link in an email that Bruce Woodward sent out yesterday.

You are invited to participate in the Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI) Community Yard Sale.  BCDI is a non-profit organization that works with four preschools in North County, located in low-income neighborhoods. Children learn about farm supplies, sustainably-grown vegetables, and are able to enjoy a safe place to enjoy outdoors. BCDI has a community farm located on our property. Check it out if you haven’t already!

If you would like to reserve a space, please register at www.svlchurch.org/community.  There are 22 spaces available (first registered, first reserved). LAST day to register is Wednesday, November 8th. The sale will be held in our parking lot on Saturday, November11^th from 

8 am to noon.

  Guidelines: 

 This sale is a fundraiser for BDCI. The cost to register is $20.00 per space. Or, you can donate the proceeds of your sale to BCDI for a free spot!  There are 22 spaces available and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please sign up for a space on the form provided at www.svlchurch.org/community. We will also be advertising on Facebook and on our church website: www.svlchurch.org.

1. Set-up time is between 6:30-7:30 am.  Breakdown is between Noon-1:00 pm.
2.   Please bring your own tables, shade, and “stuff”.
3.   A restroom will be onsite for sellers only.
4.   All trash and leftover merchandise are YOUR responsibility; please clean your area and leave it as you found it as we have church services the following day. The church dumpster is not availableto use and we are not providing any post-sale pickup services!  
5.   Cost of a space is $20.00, which goes towards helping Botanical Community Development Initiatives’fundraiser. (to be paid on the day of the event).

 Questions? Refer general questions about the sale to Desiree Tuttle @ desiree@plantspeoplecommunity.org.

Any questions about registering, contact Rick at daddams@hotmail.com.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Melissa and David Carlisle in our prayers.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 READINGS: Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 149; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

 GRADUAL: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“We Shall Be Like Him” November 1, 2023

 

1 John 3:1-3 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies Himself as He is pure. Ears like Grandpa. Eyes like Dad. A chin like Mom’s. Families can spend hours looking at a newborn, tracing the baby’s features, figuring out who the baby resembles. It’s a game that never gets old. Why? I think it has to do with love. If we love someone, we rejoice to see every tiny link between us—even if it’s something as silly and unimportant as a cowlick in the same spot, just above the right eye. The shared trait says “We belong together,” and love delights to see that statement, again and again and again. But it isn’t just physical traits we trace. When it comes to God and His children, what we look for are similarities in the heart—in love; in patience; in kindness and respect. We look at other Christians and notice actions that remind us of Jesus—self-sacrifice; a patient willingness to listen; a humility that puts itself completely at the service of someone else the rest of the world considers unimportant. And we think to ourselves, “Yes! That person reminds me of Jesus. That person is acting like a child of God.” Of course, it’s always easier to see these things in other Christians, not ourselves. For most of us, it’s our sins that we think of first—and we see the resemblance to God later, if at all. And that’s okay. Because it doesn’t matter so much what we see in ourselves; it matters what God sees in us. And God, who sees all things truly, has called us His children. How can this be? Only through Jesus. Only through that newborn baby, come down from heaven into the human world of sin and loss. Only through that Man, fully grown, who lay down His life on the cross for all of us, so that everyone who believes in Him is born into eternal life. Because He lives forever, so do we; and when Jesus comes again, we will see Him as He is. And we will be like Him, to our everlasting joy. WE PRAY: Lord Holy Spirit, make me more and more like Jesus. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. Who do you resemble, either physically or through habits and actions? 2. How do we come to resemble Jesus more and more? What makes this happen? 3. Name one person who reminds you of Jesus. Specifically, how?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Jeremiah 51, 30; Hebrews 7

 

Alleluia. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us look tom Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith. Alleluia.

 

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 hour  s: 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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org