Thursday Psalms: Adorned Forever!

Psalm 149 is assigned for the Feast of All Saints, which we will celebrate in worship at Pilgrim this Sunday.

Psalm 149

¹ Praise the Lord!

     Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly!

² Let Israel be glad in His Maker;

     let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

³ Let them praise His name with dancing,

     making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre!

⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;

     He adorns the humble with salvation.

⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;

     let them sing for joy on their beds.

⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats

     and two-edged swords in their hands,

⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations

     and punishments on the peoples,

⁸ to bind their kings with chains

     and their nobles with fetters of iron,

⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!

     This is honor for all His godly ones.

         Praise the Lord! 

Check out verse four!  The Lord is almighty, all-knowing and all-creating and still He takes pleasure in YOU!  Praise the Lord!  Thank God for how much He loves you!

Even though we sin and are not the perfect people He created, God loves us so much that He "adorns" us, humbled by sin, with salvation!  I'm reminded of Revelation 7 verses 9 & 14, where St. John the Apostle is given this vision of "a great multitude",  adorned in  robes, having been "made white in the blood of the Lamb".   As confessing & believing Christians, by the grace & mercy of Jesus, you and I will be in this great crowd one day!   

Jesus has made you a saint and adorned you today and forever!  Praise the Lord!

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

"Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law

    and observe it with my whole heart."  Psalm 119:34     

Blessed Reformation Day!

 

Today please join me in prayer, giving thanks for Martin Luther, who so clearly spoke the truth of God's Word, still influencing many people today.  To commemorate the life of Martin Luther, consider watching Martin Luther the 1953 movie biography of his life-story.

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

"Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law

    and observe it with my whole heart."  Psalm 119:34 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday October 27, 2024

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Festival of the Reformation

October 27,  2024

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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

    First Reading:  Revelation 14:6-7

               Psalm:  Psalm 46
              Epistle:  Romans 3:19-28
              Gospel:  John 8:31-36

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
What does it mean to be free of something?  Have you ever experienced being “set free” from something?  Do you remember feeling this way as a child on the last day of school, looking forward to a summer vacation?  What about the opposite?  Where in your life might you feel enslaved or entrapped?  In our gospel reading for today, Jesus tells you “…the truth will set you free”.  On most days, our sins trap us and we don’t really feel very free.  Do our sinful mistakes contradict what Jesus is telling us?   Come hear what God’s Word tells us and be encouraged again: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

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

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5    

Thursday Psalms: Fear Not!

 

Fear Not; God is Your Fortress

This coming Sunday we will be celebrating the Reformation, and the assigned psalm in our lectionary is Psalm 46.  Dr. Martin Luther paraphrased this psalm as the basis for his most well-known and beloved hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.  Notice the symmetry in these verses, with verse six being the central verse. 

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy habitation of the Most High.

⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

    God will help her when morning dawns.

⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

    He utters His voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how He has brought desolations on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

        He burns the chariots with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.

     I will be exalted among the nations,

        I will be exalted in the earth!”

¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;

      the God of Jacob is our fortress.

In verse six we view our life & the world’s culture contrasted with the indescribable power of the LORD our God.  All around us we see the world’s biggest, most powerful institutions rage and totter.  These are institutions we trust, which control and affect our daily lives, such as world governments, our own government & its agencies, major companies & businesses, our employers, and so on.

We see & experience wars, pandemics, economic hardships, hatred & violence among our fellow citizens, strife & divisions in our families, and so forth.  All of these can seem so hopeless and overwhelming.  But in this psalm, as He so often does, God gives us His eternal perspective on the rage-filled and tottering world.  
God clears His throat, God speaks His Word, and the earth melts.  God is in complete control of everything which appears to us as complete, hopeless chaos.  When God decides, this world is judged and over, and He will create a new heaven and new earth, perfect and sinless.  In verse 10, the LORD speaks clearly to us about who He is, what we should do and what the future holds for His creation.

At the beginning, the middle and the end of this psalm, we see the loving encouragement from the LORD our God:  He is your very present help in trouble, He is always with you, and He is your Fortress.  This is true throughout all time:  the world’s existence, our country’s existence, and your life.  

The LORD is with you and protecting you all the days of your life, no matter what is going on around you or with you!  Thanks be to God, for His very present help!

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

"Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law

   and observe it with my whole heart."  Psalm 119:34    

Pilgrim Worship Sunday October 20, 2024

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

October 20,  2024

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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:   Ecclesiastes 5:10–20

                Psalm:   Psalm 119:9–16
               Epistle:   Hebrews 4:9-16
               Gospel:   Mark 10:23–31

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
Sometimes Jesus’ teaching is challenging because it is unclear.  Consider Luke 16:9, Matthew 10:34 and Luke 14:26 as examples.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ teaching isn’t challenging because it’s confusing.  It is problematic because it is clear.  “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  [Mark 10:25]  The clear message from Jesus is that wealth and the reign of Jesus have a conflicted relationship.  The dialog which follows with Peter reveals even greater truths about our lives in God’s kingdom.

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

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5   

Thursday Psalms: Live in God's Word!

There are few things more important to your life than reading, meditating and praying over God's Word!

Psalm  119:9-165

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?

      By guarding it according to Your word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek You;

      let me not wander from Your commandments!

¹¹ I have stored up Your word in my heart,

      that I might not sin against You.

¹² Blessed are You, O Lord;

      teach me Your statutes!

¹³ With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth.

¹⁴ In the way of Your testimonies I delight

      as much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.

¹⁶ I will delight in Your statutes;

      I will not forget Your word. 

God's Word is central to everything.  It is your foundation for remaining pure & for guarding your life against the attacks from the devil, the world and your sinful nature.  We all are so prone to wander away from God, and His Word helps pull us back and keep us close to Him.  Memorizing God's Word stores it in your heart, ready for you to grab a verse and wield it like a sword in battle!  More valuable than all earthly riches or pleasures, God's Word fills you with all truly good things!

Let's challenge each other today:  make a new habit of Bible reading & meditation.  You'll be so blessed, strengthened and encouraged every time you remember God's Word!

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

"Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law 

       and observe it with my whole heart."  Psalm 119:34    

Pilgrim Worship Sunday October 13, 2024

  

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The 21st Sunday after Pentecost

October 13,  2024

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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

  Old Testament: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

               Psalm:  Psalm 90:12-17
              Epistle:  Hebrews 3:12-19
              Gospel:  Mark 10:17-22

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP

Amos is known as one of the “minor” prophets, not as “major” as Isaiah, Jeremiah or others.  While neither well-known nor prominent, Amos powerfully speaks God’s funeral lament to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  They are dead to God and the Assyrian Empire will soon destroy them.  Why?  They sought evil and not good.  They robbed the poor of justice and exploited them for financial gain.   They sought “the good life” at the expense of helpless others.  God is calling them to a deadly accounting.  Are you under this same judgement from God?  What does God say to us, when we seek evil and not good?  

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

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5  

Thursday Psalms: God's Favor on You!

 

Hello to each of you on this beautiful autumnal Thursday!  Some frosty mornings this week confirm we're soon leaving summer behind.  We see many changes around us in God's amazing creation; shorter days, trees becoming splashes of color and texture.  The green, lush gardens of summer are giving way to the brown, dried death of autumn.  We know the stark, bare days of winter are just around the corner.  The first part of Psalm 90 uses these changes to reflect our lives and our times in relation to God.  

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. 

The following verses are assigned for this coming Sunday:

¹²  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

¹³  Return, O Lord! How long?

        Have pity on Your servants!

¹⁴  Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love,

        that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

¹⁵  Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,

         and for as many years as we have seen evil.

¹⁶  Let Your work be shown to Your servants,

        and Your glorious power to their children.

¹⁷  Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

        and establish the work of our hands upon us;

            yes, establish the work of our hands!

How quickly life passes us by!  We see this in the natural world around us, in the chronicles of our own lives, and in the death of those we love and have befriended.  Pray verse twelve today, that in the few days God has given to you, that you might use them wisely, seeking after His will and His work.  More than simply counting your days, cherish each one as the Godly gift that it is!    Pray that God's favor be shown to you, so the every-day work of your hands, done in grateful praise for your salvation, be established and made holy by the Lord your God for His purposes.  Amen!

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

"Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law 

       and observe it with my whole heart."  Psalm 119:34