SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, JUNE 26
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: Today we return to God’s house, on the third Sunday after Pentecost, to learn, worship and confess with our fellow brothers/sisters in Christ. The day starts with our Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading us on a study of the Lord’s Prayer, including insights from the Small and Large Catechisms. Our worship follows at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “You are Righteous! Judge Not.” It’s based on Luke 9:51-62 which is our Gospel lesson for the day. Our other readings are 1 Kings 19:9-21 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25 After we’ve taken the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for our fellowship time outside with coffee and goodies. Then, for those hungry for a late breakfast or for lunch, please meet up with us at the Pit Stop, at Mission and El Camino Real. Enter off of Mission, where Express Fuel, the library and police headquarters are located.
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: Open
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Keith Neblett
Acolyte: Josphine Neemia
Greeter: Open
Ushers: Victor Dille, Keith Neblett
GRADUAL: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Ian Andrews. We pray for a speedy recovery as Ian is dealing with Covid. We also pray for our nation on Friday’s Supreme Court release on the reversal of the Roe vs. Wade decision. We ask that God may continue to protect our unborn, bring peace to the hearts, minds and souls of those bent toward violence against this decision and that our land can be swept with revival, turning our eyes hearts souls and minds toward the Lord.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty Gog, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 31; Joshua 1:1-18; Acts 8:1-25
DIGGING DEEPER: Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 119:153-160; Romans 7:1-13; Matthew 10:34-42
Alleluia. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared”
“Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared this feast for our salvation; It is Your body and Your blood, and at Your invitation As weary souls, with sin oppressed, we come to You for needed rest, For comfort, and for pardon.
“Though reason cannot understand, yet faith this truth embraces; Your body, Lord, is even now at once in many places. I leave to You how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me; I trust its truth unfailing.”
The apostle John ends his Gospel account with an interesting observation: “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). God has told us in Scripture all that we need to know for our salvation, but we would really like to know some of those “other things” that Jesus did when He lived on earth. What were the miracles that were never recorded? What happened during His childhood years? There are mysteries, things that “reason cannot understand,” that we would like to see explained. One of those mysteries is the Lord’s Supper: the feast prepared for our salvation.
We may want to know just how the body of our risen and ascended Lord is present “now at once in many places,” wherever the faithful gather to celebrate the Sacrament, according to the Savior’s command. Yet we come to the table at Jesus’ invitation, content to leave the mystery in His hands: “I leave to You how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me; I trust its truth unfailing.”
During His earthly ministry, Jesus called on people to trust the unfailing truth of His Word. A Roman centurion, seeking healing for his servant, understood the authority of Jesus’ words and said to Him, “Say the word, and let my servant be healed” (Luke 7:7b). Simon Peter, after a frustrating night of fishing, obeyed Jesus and cast the nets again: “At Your word I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5b). Jesus told the people, “Whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life” (John 5:24a). Jesus’ Words are true. The centurion’s servant was healed; the nets began to break with the catch of fish; and all who believe in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior have eternal life.
When we are weary and oppressed by sin, at Jesus’ invitation we come to His Table. There, too, we trust the truth of His Word. Jesus said, “This is My body, which is given for you … This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:19b, 20b). It is a mystery, yet there is no doubt about it. We receive Jesus’ body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Celebrating His Last Supper, we look forward to a holy meal still to come: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb … These are the true Words of God” (Revelation 19:9b).
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I trust the unfailing truth of Your Word. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared,” which is number 622 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you trust in God when times are really, really hard?
2. What might be some things Jesus did that didn’t get mentioned in the Bible?
3. How does celebrating the Lord’s Supper strengthen our faith?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Kings 8-9 Acts 8:1-25
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/
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.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
