Thursday Psalms: God's Time Is Forever!

This is the final 2023 edition of Thursday Psalms, as the turn of a new year is upon us. Our focus is on time; the year past with all of our experiences and the year ahead, full of expectations. These verses from Psalm 90 remind us of a couple of things. As we look back on 2023 and all our previous years, Moses reminds us that God has always been our protection and provider, from everlasting to everlasting, He is God!

Psalm 90   A Prayer of Moses, man of God.

¹ Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

² Before the mountains were brought forth,

      or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

             from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

³ You return man to dust

      and say, “Return, O children of man!”

⁴ For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past,

      or as a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away as with a flood;

      they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:

⁶ in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

      in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷ For we are brought to an end by Your anger;

      by Your wrath we are dismayed.

⁸ You have set our iniquities before You,

      our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

⁹ For all our days pass away under Your wrath;

      we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

¹⁰ The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;

      yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who considers the power of Your anger,

      and Your wrath according to the fear of You?

¹² So teach us to number our days

      that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Moses’ prayer also reminds us of the difference between God’s time and ours: For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past. In this you can find great encouragement in your suffering and struggles. When God promises to always be with you, He means more than just getting you through your current suffering. He means longer than even your life on this earth. God will be with you, and you with Him through all eternity!

The same thing applies to healing our bodies. When God promises to heal you, your current suffering is so temporary, compared to eternal life perfectly healed! The number of our suffering days here on earth is TINY compared to our days of eternal life!

So we can look forward to 2024, fully wise in God’s promises & healing for us. Godspeed in the New Year, whatever comes your way!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Arise, shine, for your Light has come, 

   and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you."  Isaiah 60:1

 

Pilgrim Worship Christmas Eve 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve 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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 9:2-7

                Psalm:  Psalm 96
                Epistle: Titus 2:11-14
               Gospel:  Luke 2:1-20

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAY

O Come, O Come, Immanuel!  

This is the prayer of every believer since Adam & Eve.  And why would we join with Christ’s Church in this prayer?  Because our sins separate us from God.  We are lonely exiles, held captive by the devil, the world, and our sinful natures.  We can do nothing else than cry out to the Christmas Baby Jesus.  Come and save us!  Come and be with us!  Come and forgive our sins and ransom us back into Your family!   As we gather around the manger, we celebrate and give thanks because Jesus has come and saved us, all of us!  

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a  

Pilgrim Advent Vespers December 20, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Advent Vespers

December 20, 2023

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

We gather for Advent worship at 4pm and 7pm each Wednesday before Christmas!  

In this final midweek worship service we focus on TRUE PEACE and how we need to step aside and trust in God's control of our suffering & difficult times.

Here is information about today's worship service:

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Arise, shine, for your Light has come, 

   and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you."  Isaiah 60:1

       

Thursday Psalms: O, Sing to the LORD a New Song!

Our Psalm for this 3rd Thursday in Advent is a majestic song, proclaiming the grandeur and majesty of the Lord.  The first few verses are included below.  God is Lord over all the earth, among the nations & all peoples.  The Lord is great, feared above all gods, and full of splendor, majesty, strength and beauty.  Nothing but glory is due His name from everyone and everything He has made!  All the earth should and will tremble before Him.  What a glorious mountain-top view of the Lord who rules over all the earth!  

From our point of view, it is simply astounding that the mighty & majestic God would send His Son Jesus to save this broken world, to be born a humble baby boy, wrapped in straw and cradled in a manger!

PSALM 96:1-9

¹ Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

     sing to the Lord, all the earth!

² Sing to the Lord, bless His name;

     tell of His salvation from day to day.

³ Declare His glory among the nations,

     His marvelous works among all the peoples!

⁴ For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

     He is to be feared above all gods.

⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

     but the Lord made the heavens.

⁶ Splendor and majesty are before Him;

     strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

     bring an offering, and come into His courts!

⁹ Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

     tremble before Him, all the earth! 

But there is another powerful and glorious message here.  Check out verse 2 for a promise & gift, given to you, me, and all the people.  The Lord gives you His salvation, day to day!

Day to day, the Lord saves you from your sins, by forgiving them!   Day to day, the Lord saves you from despair, by loving and caring for you!  Day to day, the Lord saves you from many struggles and hardships and attacks of Satan, the deceiver and liar.  Day to day, you are a loved and cared-for child of God, who rules over all the earth!  

So, sing to the Lord a new song of thanks & praise!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Arise, shine, for your Light has come, 

   and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you."  Isaiah 60:1

Pilgrim Worship Sunday December 17, 2023

Two Crowns  Frank Bernard Dicksee  (1853–1928)

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Third Sunday in Advent

December 17, 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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11

                Psalm:  Psalm 126
                Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
               Gospel:  John 1:6–8, 19–28

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAY
The Old Testament lesson for today reminds us that we live in the year of the LORD’S favor and that Jesus still brings good news to us who are of a faint spirit.  We rejoice greatly in the LORD, who gives us glorious new clothing, robes of righteousness and garments of salvation!

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a 

      

Pilgrim Advent Vespers December 13, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Advent Vespers

December 13, 2023

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

We gather for Advent worship at 4pm and 7pm each Wednesday before Christmas!  

In this first midweek worship service we focus on TRUE PEACE and following the Advent star which shows us where to find it.

Here is information about today's worship service:

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a 

      

Thursday Psalms: Shouts of Joy

Today's Psalm was likely written after the Israelite's returned from their captivity & exile in Babylon.  The first three verses celebrate their restoration, the final three proclaim the joyful harvest to be gathered.  Their dreams, prayers and hopes have become reality, as they returned to their homeland and the cherished city of Jerusalem.  Their tears and prayers were sown, and the joyful harvest was their returning home.

PSALM 126      

¹ When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

² Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;

      then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

³ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

      like streams in the Negeb!

⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

⁶ He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

      shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. 

Perhaps today finds you sowing bitter tears as you struggle with a difficult concern.  Yours may be tears of sickness or worry, tears of frustration or sadness.  Trust in God's power to produce His harvest, and do what you are only able to dream.  Know that God is able to restore your fortunes, to carry you through your personal times of captivity &  exile.  By His terrible death on Calvary's cross, Jesus your Savior has already rescued you from the captivity & exile of your sins!  Jesus has turned those tears of repentance, shame and disappointment into your shouts of joy.  Shout out today:  "Thank You, Jesus, for saving me!"  No, really.  Right now, shout out loud!

We are all captives, exiled in this earthly life, living in this "veil of tears".  But we are not dismayed or defeated; our "shouts of joy" come from Jesus!  He has set you free to live joyfully today, and He will bring you home to spend eternity in heaven with Him!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a   

 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday December 10, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Second Sunday in Advent

December 10, 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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, 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 later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 40:1–11

                Psalm:  Psalm 85
               Epistle:  2 Peter 3:8–14
               Gospel:  Mark 1:1–8

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
In today’s readings we are called to repentance, to be prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ.  God is coming to restore His people!  In the First Testament reading, Isaiah reminds us that God is coming in forgiving love and in mercy: “Comfort, comfort my people…Her iniquity is pardoned.” God comforts you, forgives you and restores you!

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a