Devotional Resources

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Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

THE FAMILY CATECHETICAL HOUR:  THE PRIESTHOOD AT PRAYER

                            Discussion, Study, and Prayer Guide for God's Priestly People

                             for the week of 20 - 26 May (THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY)

                                       Theme:  BLESSED BY THE HOLY TRINITY!

            VERSE: "ALLELUIA! Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! ALLELUIA!" (Is. 6:3b; VERSE)

            + HYMNS FOR NEXT SUNDAY:  604; 498; 621; 504; 876* in Lutheran Service Book. (In Lutheran Worship: 172; 157; 241; 175; 479*. In The Lutheran Hymnal: 233; 240; 541*. Meditate on and learn by heart the hymn(s) marked with an asterisk (*).)

            + THE Psalm 8 (Pray the Psalm daily)

                                           THE PROPERS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

           + PSALM 8: In this psalm we praise the Lord for the marvels of his creation, but especially for the honor that he has given human beings. Though mere creatures, he has given us dominion over the earth. Through our stewardship of his creation he abundantly provides us with all our needs. Do we serve him as faithful stewards? Do we praise him as we ought?

+ PROVERBS 8:1-4, 22-31: In these verses God's personified wisdom is speaking. Preexisting creation, "Wisdom", worked alongside God in his creation of the world. Because of its similarity to New Testament pictures of the pre-incarnate Christ—begotten in eternity and assisting in creation—"Wisdom" has often been identified with the second person of the Trinity. In any case, this reading prompts us to marvel at the wisdom and power of God as it is revealed in his intricate creation. What a God!

+ ACTS 2:14a, 22-36: In his Pentecost sermon Peter used the Old Testament Scriptures and Jesus' miracles as evidence for his case that, "God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified" (v. 36). Through God's Word from Peter's mouth more than 3,000 repented and believe that day, and God still hasn't stopped calling sinners to receive salvation through faith in Christ. God grant us his Spirit that we may believe and share the Gospel.

+ JOHN 8:48-59: As Jesus speaks to those who have been challenging him, he addresses his relationship with the Father and with their father Abraham. His words are clear, "Before Abraham was, I AM"—that is, Jesus is the Lord who, in the incident of the burning bush, revealed himself to Moses as Yahweh, the God who is. The Jews had asked Jesus, "Who do you make yourself out to be?" (v. 53). When he told them they showed they didn't believe him by picking up stones to kill him. God lead us instead to respond to what he says with the godly confession, "My Lord, and my God."    

                                             DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK

            Monday:                Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1, John 5:30-47

            Tuesday:               Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3, John 6:1-21

            Wednesday:          Song of Solomon 6:4-7:5, John 6:22-40

            Thursday:              Song of Solomon 7:6-8:14, John 6:41-59

            Friday:                   Ecclesiastes 1:1-18, John 6:60-71

            Saturday:              STUDY the Readings for Sunday (the Propers noted above)

                                 OR   Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, John 7:1-13

            Sunday:                 Ecclesiastes 2:1-22, John 7:14-31

                        CATECHISM FOR THE WEEK:  (Please learn by heart).

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT: You shall not murder.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: You shall not commit adultery.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

           THE COLLECT FOR NEXT SUNDAY [The Feast of the Holy Trinity] "Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever." AMEN!