SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We had a GREAT THANKFEAST yesterday, with many stuffed bellies by the end! Many THANK YOU’S are in order: those who monitored the sign-up sheets and our food needs, those who helped set up yesterday morning, those who helped set up our food tables while we had our church service, those who cooked and/or brought food and drinks, those who helped serve the food, those who attended and all those who helped clean up after we were done eating. All these things are what makes this a great congregation and a wonderful church to be part of!
Today we return to the Lord’s house. It is the last Sunday of the church year and is known as Christ The King Sunday. The morning will start with our Bible study at 9 AM., with Pastor Joel leading. Our service takes place at 10 AM. Our Old Testament lesson for the day is Malachi 3:13-18 The second reading is Colossians 1:13-20 Our Gospel lesson comes from Luke 23:26-43 After we’ve celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please take the opportunity to join us for fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. We ask you stay then for an IMPORTANT, “ALL MEMBER MEETING.” We’ll be voting on the Budget Proposal for 2023 and your Board of Directors will inform you on the work they have been doing to help keep our congregation and church functioning. Please show your support for everyone by attending..
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
Techies: Ian Andrews, OPEN
Reader: Allen Latall
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: OPEN
Ushers: Victor Dille, Bill Sperberg
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Gail and Rick Adams. Prayers are requested for Noah, who is serving our nation and military in South Korea. Heather Zarnesky also requests prayers for her brother and his family.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 118; Daniel 1:1-21; Matthew 28:1-20
DIGGING DEEPER: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 95:1-7; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Matthew 25:31-46
Alleluia. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”
“May Christ our Intercessor be, And through His blood and merit, Read from His book that we are free, With all who life inherit. Then we shall see Him face to face, With all His saints in that blest place, Which He has purchased for us.
“O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation; We often tremble on our way, In fear and tribulation. O hear and grant our fervent plea: Come, mighty Judge, and set us free, From death and ev’ry evil.”
While many people like to share their daily experiences on social media, there are those who prefer a more traditional record of events and keep a written journal of their thoughts and the events in their lives. Even if we don’t keep a daily diary, our lives are on record, written by the Lord’s hand before we were even born. The psalmist expresses the wonder of God’s all-knowing care: “In Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16b). It is comforting to know that our lives are held so closely in God’s hand. He knows our days before we experience them. But would we like to be judged according to our detailed diaries?
In a vision of the Day of Judgment, the apostle John sees the nations summoned to stand before Jesus, the Judge and King. John writes, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened” (Revelation 20:12a). The dead are judged according to what is written in the books. It is a vision that inspires more terror than comfort, but those books are not the only written record to be opened on that day. John writes, “Then another book was opened, which is the book of life” (Revelation 20:12b). Jesus our Judge has another book, His own book, the Lamb’s Book of Life. The names of all who trust in Jesus for salvation are written in His book and, by God’s grace, our names were recorded in that book before we were born, “written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8b).
When Jesus was crucified, the dreadful record of our sins was nailed to the cross and our sins were washed away in the blood of the Lamb who was slain. When we write in our daily journals about days of trembling “on our way in fear and tribulation,” we have the comfort and hope of knowing that our sins are forgiven and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. When our mighty Judge and Savior returns on the Last Day, the books will be brought out. The Lamb’s precious book will be opened, and He will “read from His book that we are free.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, Savior and Judge, keep me safe in Your care until You return. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near,” which is number 508 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you keep a journal? If so, do you hand write it or do it on your computer?
2. How do you envision the appearance of the books mentioned in Revelation?
3. Though we all sin greatly, what has God done for us so we need not fear His eternal judgment?
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezekiel 14-15 2 Timothy 1
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
