Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 26, 2023

 

Temptation of Christ,  Vasily Surikov    1872

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The First Sunday in Lent

February 26, 2023

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!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 10:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament:  Genesis 3:1–21

                Psalm:  Psalm 32:1–7
               Epistle:  Romans 5:12–19
               Gospel:  Matthew 4:1–11

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
Nobody likes to suffer; nobody I know looks forward to suffering.  Even if a particular suffering leads to a good outcome, we still wouldn’t choose to suffer again.  “I’ll take the good, thank you, and please hold the suffering.”  One thing we can say about suffering: it shapes us, it changes us, either positively or negatively.

As the first action of His salvation ministry, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.  Through these three well-known temptations, Jesus was perfectly obedient to the will of His Father, and completely victorious over Satan.  Jesus reveals the mystery of His Kingdom.  He did not come to save Himself or accomplish His will.  He came to sacrifice Himself and accomplish His Father’s will.  Jesus came to save you!

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

Peace in Christ, who saves us,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with each other and the World.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17 

Thursday Psalms: You're Covered!

Today we'll look at the first seven verses of Psalm 32, one of several Penitential psalms in the psalter.  As we look first at verses 3-5, all of us will say "Oh yeah, that describes me every day."  Soak in these verses today; I'm sure you'll find them very relevant & personal.

PSALM 32:1-7

¹ Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

     whose sin is covered.

² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, 

     and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

     through my groaning all day long.

⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

     my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; 

     I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” 

        and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found; 

     surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach Him.

⁷ You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; 

     You surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Keeping silent, keeping sins unconfessed and hidden is never a good idea.  Doing so harms us and those against whom we've sinned.  We feel God's heavy hand upon us a when our guilty conscience steals our peace.  Unconfessed sins entirely disrupt our relationships with others and especially with God.  David paints vivid pictures of this:  wasting bones, constant groaning, our strength gone.  These are terrible places to be, yet often do we keep going there!

God gives you the solution to these sin results in verse five:  acknowledge, confess, stop covering up.  Our sinful natures hate doing these things, but we know we must.  Then, God does the really hard part:  He forgives your sins, all of them!   This takes us back to the first verse.  Blessed are YOU whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!  

There's another beautiful discovery here for us; consider the word covered in verses one and five.  In verse five, our covering does nothing except prolong our guilty shame and suffering.  Our covering only extends our separation from God, and reinforces the divisions in our relationships.  But in verse one, God the Father covers your sins with the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son!  Jesus covers your sins, having redeemed you, paid your debt and taken your punishment on Calvary's horrid cross!  God covers your sins with the white robe of righteousness which will be given to you and is described in Revelation 7:14.

O, how blessed we are, that God covers our sins!  Give thanks, you're covered!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:2 

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:2 

Pilgrim Ash Wednesday Worship February 22, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Ash Wednesday Worship

February 22, 2023

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

Dear brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ, on this day the Church begins a holy season of prayerful and penitential reflection.  Our attention is especially directed to the holy sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, we consider the disciples. They failed to see that Jesus had to leave them so He could die and rise for them and for us. And they misjudged the selfless, loving act of the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment. He saw it as a beautiful, selfless act of devotion that prepared Him for burial. We need to examine ourselves, lest we seek public approval or divine reward for our good deeds. Only what our Lord has done for us makes us pleasing to the Father.

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings and on Wednesdays [ & 7pm services] in Lent!  

Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

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

Peace in Christ, who saves us,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 19, 2023

 

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

February 19, 2023

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!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 10:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Exodus 24:8–18

                Psalm:  Psalm 2:6–12
               Epistle:  2 Peter 1:16–21
               Gospel:  Matthew 17:1–9

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAY
The Gospel reading for today is Matthew’s account of The Transfiguration of Our Lord.  Today brings the end of the Epiphany season, in which Jesus reveals Himself to us, and reveals how we should live as His disciples.  Of course, this text also points us forward to the penitential season of Lent and ultimately to Jesus’ Passion and death on Calvary’s horrid cross. 

But today, we’ll focus on the three disciples Jesus took up the mountain with Him.  They’re clearly an important part of this glorious scene; both God the Father and God the Son spoke directly with them.  

What is Jesus revealing to them and to us, in these glorious few mountain-top moments?

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

Peace in Christ, who saves us,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17

Thursday Psalms: God Is Speaking!

 

Psalm 2 puts us right in the middle of a power dispute.  Who has power and who does not?  On one side are nations & kings; on the other are the Lord and His Son.  In these verses, the Lord speaks.  First, He speaks to us, proclaiming His Son is King over all things [vv6-7a].  In the next verses, the Lord speaks directly to Christ His Son.  In the final three verses, the Lord speaks specifically to all rulers of the earth, and in a general way He is speaking to all people.

PSALM 2:6-12

⁶ “As for Me, I have set My King

     on Zion, My holy hill.”

⁷ I will tell of the decree:

     The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son;

        today I have begotten You.

⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage,

     and the ends of the earth Your possession.

⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron

     and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

     be warned, O rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear,

     and rejoice with trembling.

¹² Kiss the Son,

     lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,

        for His wrath is quickly kindled.

     Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. 

In these final verses, the Lord speaks the obvious and terrifying fact for all earthly kings:  they are under the power of God's Son, and can be destroyed with a simple request [v8].  For many of us, the dominion and coming wrath of the Lord is "old news", we fully believe these realities.  So, is there anything in these verses which give us encouragement today, living in these days of war, rumors of wars and geo-political unrest?

First, no matter how bad things look or become, the Lord is in control and His King reigns over us in mercy and grace.  One day, on the Last Day, the King of kings will return and triumph over all His enemies, including Satan himself.  The God who amazingly and continually loves & forgives you is completely in control of all things, until the end of time and beyond.  This is very encouraging!  As believers & children of God, our spiritual lives & eternal future are completely assured.  Thanks be to God!

Another encouragement comes from the promise the Lord speaks in the final sentence in this text.  He gives us refuge in Himself.  The Lord blesses us with peace, even when surrounded by chaos, fear and trembling!  Jesus Himself tells us "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  [John 14:27].

We are indeed blessed to be able to serve the Lord and rejoice today, taking refuge in Him and living in His peace!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:2 

The Perfect Love

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is a day of Commemoration in the Church calendar.  Today is so named in honor of Valentine, a physician and priest living in Rome during the rule of Emperor Claudius,  Valentine became one of the noted martyrs of the third century. The commemoration of his death, which occurred in AD 270, became part of the calendar of remembrance in the Early Church of the West.  Tradition suggests that on the day of his execution for his Christian faith, Valentine left a note of encouragement for a child of his jailer, written on an irregularly shaped piece of paper.  This greeting became a pattern for millions of written expressions of love and caring that now are the highlight of Valentine's Day in many nations.

I'm praying you enjoy a blessed and happy Valentines Day!

Please click HERE for a short Valentines Day message.

Peace in Christ, who loves us perfectly,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“There is none holy like the Lord, there is no rock like our God.”  1 Samuel 2:2

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 12, 2023

 

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 12, 2023

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!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 10:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
                Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8
               Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
               Gospel: Matthew 5:21–37

THEME FOR WORSHIP

The Jewish church in 1st century Palestine was in spiritual chaos.  Over the previous centuries, the leaders of Jesus’ church body had created countless rules and rationalizations of the original Ten Commands.  In the time of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, two main “seminaries” of Jewish theology continued these arguments and rationalizations.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks four of six “But I say to you…” rebuttals to six “You have heard…” rationalizations [there are two more in the rest of Matthew 5].  But you and I don’t particularly care for what Jesus has to say.  Jesus peels back our public rationalizations and forces us to confront what is really in our heart.  Do we really love our neighbors as Jesus commands us, or do we prefer an easier rationalization we've heard elsewhere?  Do we really love God with our whole heart, or are there other gods ahead of Him in line?   

There's lots of law in this text; what hope does Jesus show us?

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

Peace in Christ, who saves us,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“There is none holy like the Lord, there is no rock like our God.”  1 Samuel 2:2

Thursday Psalms: Blessed Are the Blameless!

The Psalm reading for this coming Sunday is below, the first eight verses of Psalm 119.

PSALM 119:1–8

¹  Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

        who walk in the law of the Lord!

² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,

        who seek Him with their whole heart,

³ who also do no wrong,

        but walk in His ways!

⁴ You have commanded Your precepts

        to be kept diligently.

⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast

        in keeping Your statutes!

⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame,

        having my eyes fixed on all Your commandments.

⁷ I will praise You with an upright heart,

        when I learn Your righteous rules.

⁸ I will keep Your statutes;

        do not utterly forsake me! 

The first three verses are quite clear; who can argue with these statements?  NOBODY!  Just like the law of the Lord itself, there's no wiggle-room here, no room for rationalizing and explaining down God's requirements.  [See Sunday's Gospel reading for what Jesus says about the law's requirements!]  Who can do these things?  NOBODY!  Verse four reinforces this point; God doesn't bend His rules or look away from our guilt.  So, what can we do?  How do we respond to these truths?

I suggest we follow the psalmist's lead, and pray the beautiful prayer of verses 5-8.  This prayer recognizes our failures but also seeks to please God in our obedience, as limited as it is.  But there's another benefit.  A steadfast striving lifestyle with our eyes on God's commandments also produces an unashamed and upright heart!  And the key to all of this we find in the final verse.

What is the key to being blessed & blameless?  What is the key to our walking & keeping & seeking?  What is the key to our steadfast & righteous ways?  The key is this:  God has NOT forsaken you, even though you utterly deserve it!  Jesus perfectly did all these things, fulfilling the law of the Lord for you!  In exchange for your sins, Jesus gives to you His righteousness!  Jesus sets you free to live your joyful & forgiven life, living each day in His mercy & grace!

As a forgiven child of God, you are blessed & blameless in His eyes!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:2 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 5, 2023

 

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 5, 2023

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!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 10:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, 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!

Here is information about today's worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 58:3–9a

                Psalm:  Psalm 112:1–9
               Epistle:  1 Corinthians 2:1–12
               Gospel:  Matthew 5:13–20

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP SUNDAY
In the first half of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is giving His disciples their calling and their identity.  “You [and no others] are that which salts the earth.” and “You are that which gives light to the world.”  Jesus speaks with authority, “You are…salt & light” and later “I command that your light shine before men…”.  

We know that Jesus is speaking to all His disciples, both ancient and contemporary.  We know the world is evil & corrupt and needs to be salted with God’s Word.  We know the world is darkened by sin, with so many people lost and unable to see their way.  We know the world needs the light of God’s Word.  How can our “good works” bring salt & light around us?

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

Peace in Christ, who saves us,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  sharing God’s love & mercy with each other and the world.

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“There is none holy like the Lord, there is no rock like our God.”  1 Samuel 2:2