MVLC Director of Music Ministries Susan Bloomfield’s devotion.
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Today’s devotion is inspired by last week’s Jazz Vespers service for Ascension of Our Lord. (If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, please do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhXt685OSco)
For me, the service was very uplifting and brought a renewed sense of hope.
It has been difficult to be separated from one another, to learn new social protocols, and to have to deal with increased stress and constant change, including Pastor John’s transition away from Mountain View. But even in the midst of all this, Jesus’ words come to us as they did his disciples, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” (John 14:18)
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Reading
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
—EPHESIANS 1:15-23
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The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the Lord!
Your decrees are very sure;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
—PSALM 93
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Song
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus ELW 392 (vs. 1, 2, 4)
Listen to it at https://mtviewlutheran.org/hyfrydol.mp3
[1] Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! his the triumph,
his the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of ev’ry nation
has redeemed us by his blood.”
[2] Alleluia! Not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! he is near us;
faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received him
when the forty days were o’er,
shall our hearts forget his promise:
“I am with you evermore”?
[4] Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary,
earth your footstool, heav’n your throne.
As within the veil you entered,
robed in flesh, our great high priest,
here on earth both priest and victim
in the eucharistic feast.
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Prayer
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Image: Photograph, 2020, by Troy Kehm-Goins. Stained glass window in the MVLC Gathering Space, 2020, by Mark Gulsrud.