SVLC DEVOTION SUNDAY, MAY 15

by | May 14, 2022 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION

SUNDAY, MAY 15, THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!

NEWS: Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter and it’s time to be in God’s house! At 9 AM Pastor Joel will continue the study on the miracles of Jesus and how they apply to our lives. Our worship happens at 10 and Pastor Joel’s sermon is titled, “A Little While.” It’s based on John 6:12-22 That is also our Gospel reading for the day. Our other readings are Acts 11:1-18 and Revelation 21:1-7 After the Lord’s supper and the conclusion of our service, it’s Potluck time! Proceed to the Fellowship Hall to engage in fellowship and good food! If you can, please bring a main dish, salad or dessert to share with everyone. Anyone can volunteer to help with clean-up if they so desire. Thanks in advance to anyone participating. Also serving the Lord and our congregation are:

Fellowship:  None this week due to the potluck

Flowers:  Terry and Alba Reilly

Techies:  Bruce Woodward, open

Reader:  Allen Kolkman

Acolyte:  Open

Greeter:  Open

Ushers:  Rick Adams, Victor Dille

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.

PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Brandon Reilly.

COLLECT OF THE DAY: O God, you make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what you have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

READINGS: Psalm 37:1-9; Psalm 150; Leviticus 20:1-16, 22-27; Luke 11:37-54

DIGGING DEEPER: Acts 6:1-9; Acts 7:2, 51-60; Psalm 146; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Alleluia. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Alleluia.

DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”

May 15, 2022
“Now all the vault of heav’n resounds In praise of love that still abounds: ‘Christ has triumphed! He is living!’ Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! Repeat their song of glory here: ‘Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!’ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

“O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; Set heart and will on things above That we conquer through Your triumph; Grant grace sufficient for life’s day That by our lives we truly say: ‘Christ has triumphed! He is living!’ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!”

“All the vault of heav’n resounds!” How is Jesus’ resurrection celebrated in the courts of heaven? A glimpse through heaven’s open door shows us the eternal acclaim. Before the throne of God stands a Lamb that had been slain, but now lives. Saints and angels shout their praise: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12). The Lamb, our crucified Savior, has risen from the dead. “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

How do we, the saints on earth, celebrate the triumph of the Lamb? We gather to worship on Easter morning to hear sermons and Scripture readings and offer up our prayers of thanksgiving and hymns of praise. The words that we hear and say and sing carry the same joyous message of hope and salvation, the celebration of Jesus’ victory over death: “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

What about the weeks after Easter? How do we keep the joy going? Every Sunday is another Easter, a reminder that on a Sunday, “the first day of the week” (Matthew 28:1b), Jesus rose from the dead. In our hymn, we pray to be filled with “dauntless love,” so that our Savior’s “love that still abounds”-love that cannot be overcome, love that does not give up—would flow through our lives to others. With heart and will set “on things above,” earthly trials, grief, fear, or weariness cannot overcome us. In Baptism we died with Christ. We were buried with Him and raised to new life. As the apostle Paul explains, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

God grants to us “grace sufficient for life’s day” so that in our daily lives we will show that Christ has triumphed. We forgive as we have been forgiven. We offer comfort and hope to the grieving, the hope of life and resurrection through faith in Jesus, the Lamb who was slain and raised. On Easter morning and each and every day after, in our thoughts, words, and actions, the celebration continues: “Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I pray that by my life I will show that You are living. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” which is number 465 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. How do our lives bear witness to the salvation we have in Jesus?

2. Do you write poetry? Can you write a poem about Christ’s triumph over sin?

3. What types of habits or routines do you practice to keep your mind set on the things above?
Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Samuel 15; Psalms 3, 69; John 4:27-54

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.svlchurch.org

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.