SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022
NEWS: From an email Allen Kolkman sent out Monday regarding this Saturday’s ThankFeast:
There are still opportunities!
What we still need –
Turkey (1). It’s supplied but we need a volunteer to cook, carve and bring it ready to serve.
Stuffing
Veggies
We seem “good” with mashed potatoes, gravy, pies, rolls, cranberries and drinks.
You are welcome to bring other things perhaps not on the list.
Here’s who is bringing what (according to the sign-up)
Ian Andrews: Pie and drinks
K Berni: Cranberry sauce
Amanda Cerny: Potatoes, cranberry sauce
Victor Dille: Green bean casserole
Darryl Finley: Rolls
Diane Finley: Potatoes
Debbie Kolkman: Gravy, veggies
Allen Kolkman: Potatoes, Drinks
The Latalls: Sweet Potatoes, pie
Amy Luckemeyer: Veggies
Tom Morofski: Drinks
Keith Neblett: Eggs
Margaret Paton: 3 pies
Suzette Prokopin: Turkey, Gravy, veggies, stuffing
The Reillys: Pie, rolls
Daria Roth: Turkey
Pat Sperberg: Gravy, Stuffing, rolls
Carole Woodward: Turkey, gravy, pie
Our thanks to Keith Neblett who donated the 4 turkeys! Thanks, Keith!
And to Thrivent Financial who donated all our supplies.
If you didn’t get a chance to sign up on Sunday, just email me back and I’ll put you down (with thanksgiving!)
If you’d like to volunteer for an opening (or anything else), again, just email me back and I’ll put you down.
We always get a number of people who don’t sign up but bring something “day of” (and that’s great). If you think of something at the last minute, know that it’s welcome!
REMEMBER: Please drop off your donation just BEFORE 2:00. Leave them in the kitchen in the Community Building where Amanda Cerny will receive them and then set out all the food. It’s helpful if you bring it in a way that helps keep it warm since we have very limited space in the oven.
Worship is in the chapel at 2:00 sharp. The service will be 30 minutes or less. We will gather in the Community Building at 2:30.
There will be lots of food and good fellowship! Please invite and bring those neighbors, friends, co-workers, fellow students – both to the Worship and to the Dinner. And at both, please befriend and welcome others…. perhaps sit with people you don’t usually sit with…. make a point to get to know others…. wear your name tag.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Strasman family.
READINGS: Psalm 54; Psalm 139:7-18; Jeremiah 31:1-17, 23-34; Matthew 27:1-10
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Take Another Look”
Colossians 1:13-20 – He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.
For most of us, Jesus is a familiar person. We talk to Him when we are in trouble. We wear His cross around our necks, or on a ring or tie pin. We celebrate His birth at Christmas, and His resurrection at Easter.
This is fine, this is good—and yet, it happens sometimes that we forget the other side of who He is—the awesome, incredible and, let’s be honest, sort of scary part. Who is Jesus? Well, first of all, He’s the image of the invisible God. That means that, if you want to know what God is like, you can just look at Jesus. Whoa!
More than that, He is the One we were created through—and not just us, but all things, the highest angel to the lowliest germ. He was there before anything else was, from all eternity, and the Father created all things for Him. Even today, Jesus holds everything together and keeps it going, day by day and minute by minute. And all the fullness of God lives in Him—this Man from Nazareth, this Man hanging on a cross.
That comes down with a thud, doesn’t it? The God who is everywhere and holds everything together, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful—making peace by the blood of His cross. That should jar us awake. Because it is this God, no one less, who has chosen you to be His own—who has called you to trust in Him—who has laid down His life to make you His own child. This God, nobody smaller. His blood on His cross has saved you. His resurrection from the dead gives you life.
How can we possibly take this in? I don’t know that we can. But it is good for us, every so often, to remember the less familiar side of our Savior. To remember, once again, who He is—the glorious God who loved us and gave Himself for us.
WE PRAY: Dear holy Lord, bring me to know You better and to trust You with all my heart. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you have a friend or relative that others consider great or important?
2. If so, what are the differences in how you see this person and in how others see him or her?
3. When you think of Jesus’ glory, what awes you the most?
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezekiel 3-4 1 Timothy 3
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 your 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.”
You can now 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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
