SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, JULY 10
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: It’s beautiful outside and time to return to God’s house. The day starts with our Sunday Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is helping us study the Lord’s Prayer, with insights from the Small and Large Catechism’s. At 10 AM we are celebrating Sanctity of Life Sunday in our service. The title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “My Unborn Neighbor,” and the text is based on Luke 10:25-37 Our other readings are Leviticus 19:1-18 and Colossians 1:1-14 After we’ve taken the Lord’s supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for our fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then, for those needing lunch, please meet up with us at In and Out burgers, by Mission and Frazee Rd. Enter on Mission by 24 Hour Fitness.
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: Daria Roth
Flowers: Terry & Alba Reilly
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Keith Neblett
Acolyte: Josphine Neemia
Greeter: Open
Ushers: Open, Open
We do have some open positions so please pitch in if you are so led.
Because we are talking about life issues today, here is a link to Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Allen and Debbie Kolkman. They give thanks to God for helping them through recent health struggles and ask for blessings on their grandchildren.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, opur Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 125; Psalm 7:1-8; Judges 6:1-24; Acts 14:19-15:5
Here is an article I found from an older edition of The Lutheran Witness magazine called, “Affirming Life In All Its Forms.” It seems just as relevant today as in 2011, when it was first published: https://witness.lcms.org/2011/affirming-life-in-all-its-forms-11-2011/
Alleluia. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Our Father, Who from Heaven Above”
“Your kingdom come. Guard Your domain, And Your eternal righteous reign. The Holy Ghost enrich our day, With gifts attendant on our way. Break Satan’s pow’r, defeat his rage; Preserve Your Church from age to age.
“Your gracious will on earth be done, As it is done before Your throne, That patiently we may obey, Throughout our lives all that You say. Curb flesh and blood and ev’ry ill That sets itself against Your will.”
It is a familiar petition: “Your kingdom come.” Why do we pray for the kingdom to come when we are already citizens of that kingdom? The apostle Paul writes that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). According to our hymn, when we pray “Your kingdom come,” we are asking God to guard the kingdom to which we belong and to wage war against the evil foe who wants to drag us back into his dark kingdom. We will face temptation and we humbly repent of our sins. We must be watchful in prayer, yet we do not need to be afraid. By His death and resurrection, Jesus won the victory over Eden’s ancient serpent and tore the deadly weapons of sin and death from the devil’s grasp. God’s ever-increasing kingdom will continue to “break Satan’s pow’r” and “defeat his rage.” As our Savior promised, “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against His church (Matthew 16:18b).
“Your gracious will on earth be done as it is done before Your throne.” God’s will is always done, yet with these words we declare that we want what God wants. God’s holy angels are the “mighty ones who do His Word … who do His will” (Psalm 103:20b, 21b). In this petition we ask that we might join the angels in joyful obedience and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, do all that God commands in His Word. We pray that God’s will would surround us like a great, shielding wall to “curb flesh and blood and ev’ry ill.” On the night He was betrayed, Jesus prayed this same petition, that the Father’s will would be done. Whatever the Father wanted, that is what the Son wanted, too. In deep distress over the cup of suffering and death from which He must soon drink, Jesus said, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). The Father’s will was done, and Jesus took up His cross for the sake of our salvation.
The kingdom of God is here now—and the Kingdom is coming! God, as He has promised, will preserve His church “from age to age” until Jesus returns and the Kingdom comes in the fullness of glory. Until that day, we pray that the Holy Spirit would enrich us “with gifts attendant on our way” that we might live according to God’s will. After all, we are citizens of the kingdom of God and we want what our King wants.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You have brought me into the kingdom of Your Son. Help me by Your Spirit to live according to Your will. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Our Father, Who from Heaven Above,” which is number 766 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you get a sense in this world of two kingdoms at odds with each other? Please explain.
2. How important is the Holy Spirit’s help to us in combatting the kingdom of darkness?
3. How is God’s kingdom both here and coming?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Kings 10-12 James 4
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 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 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
