Pilgrim Worship Sunday March 22, 2026

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

March 22, 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:  Ezekiel 37:1–14

                Psalm:  Psalm 130

               Epistle:  Romans 8:1–11

               Gospel:  John 11:1–45

THEME FOR WORSHIP

We’re still in the season of Lent, waiting for the salvation we so desperately need.  We’re waiting for Jesus’ death on Good Friday, which pays the price of our forgiveness.  But today’s readings point us beyond Calvary’s cross.  Ezekiel points the way perfectly, speaking these words of God:  “And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.”    

In chapter 11 of the gospel of John, we read again the powerful resurrection of Lazarus.  But this text is not really about Lazarus; it points us to Jesus’ power over death as He opens Lazarus’ grave and calls him out.  But it also shows Jesus’ deep love & compassion for all who suffer & grieve.  Jesus has many gifts here for you and me to receive.

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: Your Life, Forgiven!

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

When we read this short psalm, the memorable verses about waiting really jump out at us.  We wait so much, and waiting is such a challenge for us.  As Christians, we are very blessed to wait & hope in God's Word, by the faith God has given to us!  But first I'd like us to focus on another blessing the Lord reveals to us in this psalm.

Dr. Martin Luther included this psalm as one of his four "best psalms of all", because in it we find so clearly laid out the realities of our sin, God's grace and our salvation won for us on Golgatha's cross by Jesus Christ.

Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

² O Lord, hear my voice!

     Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

     O Lord, who could stand?

⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

     and in His word I hope;

⁶ my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,

        more than watchmen for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord!

     For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

        and with Him is plentiful redemption.

⁸ And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 

When we take a serious look at our sins, we join the psalmist in the depths of despair.  We plead for God's mercy, because without the mercy of Jesus Christ, we cannot even stand or come into God's presence.  In verse 3 the psalmist prays the Lord would not mark iniquities, which has the sense of writing down our sins as a legal record of offenses.  Unfortunately, this is our sinful habit; we're all too happy to remember, preserve and record others' sins for their future punishment.  If God did this for us, we'd be  hopelessly doomed!  But the psalmist quickly assures us God does not mark our iniquities, but with Him, there is forgiveness!  Thanks be to God!

And yes, we who ask the Lord's mercy must often wait.  We leave our requests to God's gracious will.  He will determine when, how, where, and by what means He will help us.  But remember, this is NOT a bad place to be, this is the BEST place to be!  Why?  Because we hope in His word where we find all of God's blessed promises to hear our prayers, to comfort and preserve us, and to never leave us nor forsake us!  We are so blessed to wait for the Lord, like watchmen for the morning;  joyfully anxious for the sun to arise, but never doubting that it will!

By God's mercy and grace, you can be JOYFUL today, living your life, FORGIVEN!  Be assured, for with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption!  He will redeem Israel [ & YOU!!] from all YOUR iniquities!  

Thank You God, for my life, FORGIVEN!

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 Wednesday March 18, 2026

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Wednesday Evening Prayer

March 18, 2026

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

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

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Psalm:  Psalm 71:1-8

  Epistle:  Romans 8:9-11

  Gospel:  Mark 5:1-13

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP:   

Today, we confront very real demons, fallen angels who rebelled against God and His giving of Himself to us.  Demons, with Satan chief among them, seek to undermine everything God is and does.  Demons hate us, harm us and work to kill us.

In our sermon, we will hear how Jesus heals a man with a demon by casting the demon out of him (Mark 5:1–13).  Jesus’ work of healing by dominating demons continues today, for you.

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