Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 1, 2026

 
 The Sermon of the Beatitudes  James Tissot  1886-1896

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 1, 2026

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  We've returned to our regular Sunday schedule, starting with Adult Bible class at 9:15 am and then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

  Old Testament:  Micah 6:1–8

               Psalm:  Psalm 15

              Epistle:  1 Corinthians 1:18–31

              Gospel:  Matthew 5:1–12

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Today Micah reveals a haunting dialog between the LORD and His people.  The LORD indicts our sinfulness, we ask, “What can we do?” and the LORD gives us a simple reply.  But we can’t do what the LORD requires!  So we move on to the well-known Beatitudes in Matthew’s written gospel.  But wait, this looks like a list of “do this and you’ll be blessed in this way” statements.  But again, we can’t do what the LORD requires!  Is this really the LORD’s only epiphany for you and me today?

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"The LORD is a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: You Will!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

The psalmist David asks two eternally important questions in verse one.  For Israel, the first hearers of these questions, these were salvation questions.  These questions are equally vital for you and me today.  We might phrase them something like "How can I be saved?" or "Who will be saved?".  

     Psalm 15     A Psalm of David.

¹ O Lord, who shall sojourn in Your tent?

      Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?

² He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

      and speaks truth in his heart;

³ who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor,

      nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

⁴ in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord;

      who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

⁵ who does not put out his money at interest

      and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

             He who does these things shall never be moved. 

Foolish readers [...which I sometimes am!] are convinced they can meet these qualifications, or work toward fitting within these moral guidelines.  Foolish readers will conclude they are approximately blameless and approximately righteous; they think they're good enough to be right with God.  It is human nature for all of us to think we're as good as most and much better than some.

On the other hand, wise readers will see the demands in these few verses as impossible for them to accomplish on their own.  In a wise reader, we would say that God's Law has done its work.  The answer to this salvation question, "How can I be saved? is made clear:  ...not by my own reason or strength!  These verses burden and humble the wise reader, making clear their need for grace and mercy and forgiveness.  

This, of course, is the good news in this short psalm.  Only one man, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, walked blamelessly and did what was right.  Only Jesus fully and perfectly kept His Father's Law, living His entire life without a single sin.  This man Jesus, then suffered and died on Calvary's cross, taking the punishment you and I and all people deserve for all our mistakes and sins.  Only Jesus gives grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins to all who believe in Him.  

So, Who will sojourn in God's tent?  Who will dwell on God's holy hill?  Who will be saved?   The answer is you!  You will be saved, because Jesus has given His gifts to you!  All people who believe in what Jesus Christ has done for them will receive His gifts of forgiveness of sins and eternal life! [Romans 10:9]  

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188 

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website       Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"The LORD is a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday January 25, 2026

 
The First Disciples   Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld    1794-1872

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

January 25, 2026

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  We've returned to our regular Sunday schedule, starting with Adult Bible class at 9:15 am and then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

  Old Testament:  Isaiah 9:1–4

               Psalm:  Psalm 27

              Epistle:  1 Corinthians 1:10–18

              Gospel:  Matthew 4:12–25

THEME FOR WORSHIP

While not totally unconnected, there are two different sections in today’s Gospel reading.  In the second, Jesus formally calls Andrew, Peter, James and John to be follow Him and become fishers of men.  Both pair of men immediately drop everything (even their father!) and follow Jesus.  It seems certain they really had no idea how much their lives would change in the years ahead.  Does reflection on the disciples’ lives following Jesus tell us anything about ours?

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"The LORD is a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9