SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: Today is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. That means we return to God’s house for Bible study and worship! Pastor Joel continues to lead us in studying the Lord’s prayer at 9 AM and all are invited to attend. Included in the resources used are writings from Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms. In our worship service, which starts at 10, the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Anxiety and Growing Faith and Righteousness.” It’s based on our Old Testament lesson for the day, our first reading, Genesis 15:1-6 Our second lesson is Hebrews 11:1-16 and the gospel lesson for the day is Luke 12:22-34 Please bring a family member, friend or neighbor with you to hear the wonderful gospel message!
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 Kolkmans
Flowers: Terry & Alba Reilly
Techies: Bruce Woodward, OPEN
Reader: K Berni
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Gail Adams
Ushers: Victor Dille, Keith Neblett
Alleluia. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” Alleluia.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Darryl Finley. Darryl requests prayers that his Algebra classes can go well and that he can have the discipline he needs. He requests prayers that his brother Dwayne may come to faith in the Lord. Prayers also for his nephew Dustin and his family. We also lift up to the Lord all those serving in our military, on or off the battlefield.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what you want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 144; 1 Samuel 20:24-42; 1 Corinthians 1:1-25
DIGGING DEEPER: Job 38:4-18; Psalm 18:1-6; Romans 10:5-17; Matthew 14:22-33
GRADUUAL: Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing! Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“At the Name of Jesus”
At the name of Jesus ev’ry knee shall bow, Ev’ry tongue confess Him King of glory now. ‘Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord, Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
“Humbled for a season, to receive a name, From the lips of sinners unto whom He came, Faithfully He bore it spotless to the last, Brought it back victorious when from death He passed.”
We often address our prayers to God, and rightly so, with titles such as Lord or Father, but God also has a name. When God called Moses to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Moses said that the Israelites would want to know the name of the God who set them free. God said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you … This is My Name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations'” (Exodus 3:15).
God, whose name is I AM, also has another name. It is a name He chose for Himself, but a name received “from the lips of sinners unto whom He came.” The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus” (Luke 1:31b). An angel told Joseph that Mary’s Son was to be named Jesus “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21b). I AM saved His people from slavery in Egypt. Jesus, whose name means “God saves”—or “I AM saves” (!)—came to deliver us from slavery to sin and death. Jesus bore His name “spotless to the last.” No stain of sin was attached to His holy name. He faithfully bore the name as it was posted on His cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19b). He bore the name as He was raised in triumph over death and the angel proclaimed: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here” (Mark 16:6b). Jesus fulfilled the promise of His name, the name that is above every name. By His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus—”God saves”—saved us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.
In later centuries, Hebrew scribes began to substitute the word Adonai, or Lord, in place of God’s name in the Old Testament Scriptures. The name Yahweh, from the Hebrew for I AM, was considered too sacred to write or pronounce. For this reason, the name of God is replaced in many English Bibles with the word LORD in all capital letters. We are sinners and we can readily understand the scribes’ fear of misusing the holy name of God. Yet we love God’s name and especially His precious human name, the name of Jesus. We do not hesitate to call on His name and, in fact, we joyfully proclaim repentance and forgiveness in the name of Jesus “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12b).
WE PRAY: Jesus, I love Your holy name. Lead me to bear the name of Christian in a way that honors You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “At the Name of Jesus,” which is number 512 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. What do you know about your name? Was there a reason why you have the name you do?
2. There’s a lot in a name. Do have a favorite attribute or definition about one of God’s names?
3. Have you named a child before? What were your reasons for doing so?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 133-135 1 Corinthians 2
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
