SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022,
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We return to God’s house this morning with Bible study beginning at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is coming into home stretch, teaching us about the Lord’s prayer. Our worship service is at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Stones Will Be Thrown.” It’s based on our Gospel lesson for the day, Luke 21:5-28 Our other readings are Malachi 4:1-6 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 After we have celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. That’s not the end of the socialization though as we will then proceed to In ‘N Out Burger near Mission and Frazee Rd.
Remember that this Saturday, the 19th, is our THANKFEAST. The sign-up sheet will be out again for anyone who hasn’t thought about what they’d like to bring. You can also contact Allen Kolkman by email and he will sign you up. We are doing things differently this year: We will have a BRIEF Thanksgiving worship service in our sanctuary at 2 PM. We ask that anyone bringing food drop it off in the Fellowship/Community building before 2 PM so it can be set up. After worship, around 2:30 or so, we can all proceed to the Fellowship building and be ready for our feast!
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: Margaret Paton
Flowers: The Neemia family
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Kay Berni
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Diane Finley
Ushers: Victor Dille, Keith Neblett
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Sam Scull.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and ever-living God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting.; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 116:12-19; Psalm 50:7-15;, Jeremiah 26:1-19; Matthew 26:20-35
DIGGING DEEPER: Zephaniah 1:7-16; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
Alleluia. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide”
“Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, For round us falls the eventide. O let Your Word, that saving light, Shine forth undimmed into the night.
“In these last days of great distress, Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness That we keep pure till life is spent, Your holy Word and Sacrament.”
Throughout the church year, in the Scripture readings and hymns of our worship, we have followed the life of our Lord and the growth of the early church. We have grown in grace as we celebrated all that God has done, and is doing, in our lives. Now we are approaching the end of the church year. As we look to the new church year that will begin in Advent, we turn our attention to the last days and the end of this world’s history at Jesus’ Second Advent.
We do not know when our Lord will return. We do not waste time trying to guess information that is not revealed in Scripture and that is not for us to know. We do know that we are living in the last days, the time extending from Jesus’ earthly ministry and ascension until His return on the Day of Judgment. Our hymn describes them as “days of great distress.” The inspired apostles warned that these days will be difficult. Paul writes that “people will be lovers of self … treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2a, 4). Peter warns that unbelievers will mock Jesus’ own words because they do not believe that He is coming back: “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4b).
As the darkness of sin deepens around us, we pray that Jesus would abide with us with the shining light of His Word. That Word is “a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns” (2 Peter 1:19b), the day of Jesus’ return. We ask that God would help us by His Spirit to remain steadfast in faith. His gifts of Word and Sacrament fill us with hope and courage as we face these days of great distress. In the Sacrament of the altar, we have the sure and certain promise of Jesus’ presence—right now—in His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. In His Word we hear Jesus’ promise that we will, in time, enjoy the fullness of His glorious presence in a way we have never known before. He said, “Surely I am coming soon.” In the darkness of these last days, we reply with joy, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, keep me strong in faith in these last days. I look forward to Your return. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide” which is number 585 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is Christmas a good time to review the year just past and look forward to our lives ahead?
2. How does God’s Word and the Sacraments help us stay on track in our spiritual lives?
3. In life’s frenetic hustle and bustle, it’s hard to imagine the world coming to an end. What do you think about when you think of the end of the world?
Today’s Bible Readings: Daniel 8-10 Philemon
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
