SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, MAY 1st, THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
A BLESSED MONTH OF MAY TO ALL!
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We’re in God’s house today! It’s the best place to begin a new week, with the Lord and fellow believers in Christ. The day starts with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel continues to lead a study in the Miracles of Jesus and how they relate to our lives. Worship follows at 10and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Saved for Now, Saved for the Future, Saved for Eternity!” The text for the sermon is based on John 21:1-19 After the completion of our service we have Fellowship time with coffee and other goodies. Fellowship continues then as we join up at the Oceanside Bakery for a meal. It’s right by police headquarters and the Pit Stop. 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: The Neemia family
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, OPEN
Reader: Keith Neblett
Acolyte: OPEN
Greeter: OPEN
Ushers: Rick Adams, Bill Sperberg
We have a couple of openings for anyone who can help out, thanks!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Darryl Finley. He requests prayers for the class he is taking, that things go well.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant tom your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 119:49-56; Psalm 79; Exodus 32:15-35; Luke 6:39-49
DIGGING DEEPER: Acts 2:14, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-14; 1 Peter 1:17-25
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“With High Delight Let Us Unite”
“With high delight let us unite In songs of great jubilation. Ye pure in heart, all bear your part, Sing Jesus Christ, our salvation. To set us free forever, He is ris’n and sends To all earth’s ends good news to save ev’ry nation.
“True God, He first from death has burst Forth into life, all subduing. His enemy doth vanquished lie; His death has been death’s undoing. ‘And yours shall be like victory O’er death and grave,’ saith He, Who gave His life for us, life renewing.”
News reports of disasters are often announced with exaggerated headlines: “Worst Storm of the Century!” “Heaviest Snowfall in Decades!” News changes quickly and reporters want to catch and keep our attention and spark our curiosity. In Christ Jesus, we have very different news to announce, and it is no exaggeration. It is “good news to save ev’ry nation.”
Earthly news may or may not be good, but usually it does not save, unless perhaps it warns of some approaching disaster. The good news of Jesus saves because it “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16b). This Good News, this Gospel, is not recent news, but the story of all that Jesus, the Son of God, did more than 2,000 years ago. It is the eyewitness account of His birth and life, of His identity, His teaching and His miracles. It is the good news of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Implanted within this good news is the sure and certain promise that all who believe in Jesus will receive forgiveness for their sins and the gift of eternal life. This good news delivers what it promises!
Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross, taking onto Himself the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins. He was buried and then—in the most astonishing news ever announced (no exaggeration!)—Jesus rose from the dead. As our hymn reminds us, He “first from death has burst.” No one had ever done such a thing before! His death was “death’s undoing.” What is more, Jesus tells us, “And yours shall be like victory o’er death and grave,” that is, our victory over death and the grave will be like His. Jesus has risen from the dead and “will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9b). His victory is our victory. We will fall asleep in Christ Jesus and live in His presence. On the Last Day our bodies will be raised from death as Jesus was raised, never to die again. Death no longer has dominion over us. Death and the grave are not the end. Jesus Christ has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10b). This is news that must be proclaimed, at Jesus’ command, “to all earth’s ends.” How is this for a headline? “Jesus Christ Has Abolished Death!”
WE PRAY: Jesus, in You I have new life, now and forever. Help me to share this Good News! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “With High Delight Let Us Unite,” which is number 483 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How does media sensationalism distort the news? How does it shape the public’s thinking?
2. Do you think it was hard for people in the first century to grasp the headlining good news of Jesus’ resurrection?
3. How can we proclaim Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in the quiet living of our day-to-day lives?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 20-21 Psalms 34 Luke 21:20-38
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
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:
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.
