SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Our Sunday starts with “Pastor Joel” Luckemeyer teaching our Bible study at 9 AM. The miracles of Jesus are being focused on and how they relate to us. Pastor Joel then leads our worship service at 10 and the title of his sermon is, “Listening for Eternal Life.” After church and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we have our fellowship time with coffee and treats. When that concludes and for all who are hungry for lunch, we are going to Pollo Loco on College Ave., right by Fitness19 and Target. We are blessed with good weather and our prayer is all can attend. For those who can’t get to God’s house today, our service is streamed live on our Facebook page. The link is below under “Other Resources.” Click on the Facebook link, click on More and then click on Live. Others helping with our worship today are:
Greeter – Keith Neblett
Ushers – Rick Adams and ?
Reader – K Berni
Fellowship – Alba and Terry Reilly
Flowers – Margaret Paton
Communion Assistant – Allen Latall
Acolyte: OPEN
For more on the Transfiguration, here is an article from The Lutheran Witness Magazine: https://witness.lcms.org/2011/the-final-crescendo-2-2011/
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Barbara and Gunti Galleisky.
COLLECT FOR TODAY: 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: Psalm 146:5-10; Psalm 119:89-96; Job 30:16-31; John 9:1-23
DIGGING DEEPER: Exodus 24:8-18; Psalm 2:6-12; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
Alleluia. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
“Alleluia, Song of Gladness”
“Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die; Alleluia is the anthem ever raised by choirs on high; In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.
“Alleluia cannot always be our song while here below; Alleluia, our transgressions make us for a while forgo; For the solemn time is coming when our tears for sin must flow.”
On the final Sunday before Lent, some churches may “bury” the word alleluia, perhaps placing a banner with the word in a box or carrying the banner out of the sanctuary. Even without such ceremonies, many congregations will not sing alleluia during Lenten worship. Lent is a season of repentance rather than rejoicing as we remember Jesus’ suffering and death. We save our glad alleluias for the joy of Easter morning.
Alleluia (from a Greek word; the spelling Hallelujah is from Hebrew) means “Praise the Lord!” This happy word is a “voice of joy” that never really dies away. It is praise that ceaselessly resounds through the courts of heaven: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1b). In heaven the song continues, but here on earth our alleluias are not always heard.
For now, during Lent, our transgressions make us forego the use of that joyful word of praise. Remembering the sins for which our Lord died, the songs we sing are songs of repentance: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). Our tears must flow as we grieve over our sins, but it is a “godly grief” that leads to salvation (see 2 Corinthians 7:10), the salvation won for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That is what Lent is all about. We will sing eternal praise for our salvation in Christ Jesus, but in our earthly worship there are no alleluias along the road to the cross. That joyful praise will wait until Easter morning when we stand together at Jesus’ empty tomb.
On this last Sunday before Lent, we sing our alleluias one more time. During the solemn season that begins on Ash Wednesday, repentance will shape our praise. Our joy in the Lord is always with us, but for a short time, it is a subdued joy as we sing of Jesus’ final steps to the cross. But we really do not have to wait too long, just forty days. On Easter morning we will gather to worship and our glad alleluias will echo from earth to heaven and back again. But perhaps, just for today, we can anticipate the joy to come and use that happy word one more time: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as I remember Your suffering and death, I look forward to the glad alleluias of Easter morning. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Alleluia, Song of Gladness,” which is number 417 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Can a “godly grief” over our sins be beneficial to our spiritual growth?
2. How has God’s abundant mercy in Jesus blotted out all our transgressions?
3. Lent is a season of reflection and repentance. How does singing “Alleluia!” fit in?
Today’s Bible Readings: Leviticus 8-10 Mark 6:30-56
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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 are to go to your work 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.”
Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
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.
