Pilgrim Worship Wednesday February 25, 2026

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Wednesday Evening Prayer

February 25, 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

       First Reading:  Micah 5:2-5a

                   Psalm:  Psalm 104:1-10, 33-35

  Second Reading:  Hebrews 1

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY

Why did Jesus have to come among us as a human being? Why didn’t He come as an angel or some other kind of being that is stronger and more powerful than us? While angels may be a source of endless fascination to the Christian and to the world, they have no power to save us. 

In this week’s sermon, we will hear why taking on the “robe of  human frame” was not only a good idea but also necessary for our salvation. Angels are wonderful, but they are not Jesus. He came as one of us so that He could redeem us as His own.

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: The LORD Keeps You!

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

Today's Psalm proclaims "The Lord is your keeper!"   But we endure, from which we would really like to be kept safe and unaffected.  Why doesn't  the Lord keep me from cancer, dementia, harsh relationships, hatred of others, temptations of my flesh, etc....  This list of things literally goes on forever.  We pray the Lord protects us from harm, and we await His response, trusting His will is best for us.  So, what is our Lord speaking about in this psalm?

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?

² My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

⁸ The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in 

     from this time forth and forevermore. 

First, the psalmist reminds us that all help comes from one place; the Lord, the all powerful owner of His created world.  Why does this encourage us?  Because He is the only true and loving Helper, who cares for us and always does what is best for us.  

The Lord will not let your foot be moved, as you stand in faith and trust of Him.  Picture in your mind those brave (...eccentric?) reporters who stand in the winds of a hurricane while talking to the camera.  They stand firmly (most of the time), even though they are buffeted by the harsh weather.  This is a picture of our lives; we are buffeted by the storms of sin and life, but our Lord keeps our feet grounded in His care.  Unless you directly reject the forgiveness and faith God gives to you, no storm or trial will take away these from you!  The Lord who keeps you and His church (Old Testament Israel and today, the new Israel) in relationship with Him, never takes His "eye off the ball", even for a short nap!

So the answer to our earlier question is now more clear, and is punctuated in verse seven.  It is evil, from which your Lord keeps you.  Evil reflects being separated from God by the devil, the world and our sinful nature.  Your heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus to live and die on Calvary's cross, to bridge this separation caused by sin.  By the forgiveness of your sins, freely given to you following your confessions, you are no longer separated from the God who loves you!  God the Holy Spirit keeps your life, walks with you every day, keeping you in saving forgiveness and faith through all the storms of your life!  In baptism He named and claimed you as His beloved child and your Lord keeps you in that relationship no matter what!

Thanks be to our Lord, who keeps all His promises, and keeps you in His care from this time forth and forevermore!

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 February 25, 2026

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The First Sunday in Lent

February 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:  Genesis 3:1–21

               Psalm:  Psalm 32:1–7

              Epistle:  Romans 5:12–19

              Gospel:  Matthew 4:1–11

THEME FOR WORSHIP

We’re measurement people, fascinated with keeping score, measuring all kinds of things, including ourselves.  In various ways & situations, how often do we ask ourselves, how we’re measuring up?  How do we measure up to the rules and expectations around us?  It’s not just you & me, we live in a culture which is obsessed with measuring up, pushing all members of our society to constantly measure up.

In today’s Gospel text, Satan’s temptations of Jesus remind us of our own daily failures.  We can’t measure up under temptation, so what will become of us?

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: Refreshing Forgiveness!

 

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

Today's psalm is one of my favorites, a penitential psalm which describes our confession of our sins and the forgiveness which God gives to us.  David speaks of this daily rhythm in our lives:  sinning, confessing, and being forgiven. Every day you drown your old sinful self in the waters of your baptism and by God's forgiveness, your new self rises up, clean & ready for the new day coming.

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.

Each one of us knows how it feels to waste away in the guilt & shame from our sins, which build up, burning within us.  As long as we keep silent, we groan and feel the convicting hand of God resting upon us.  Eventually we come to our senses and exclaim with David “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”.  Then, like a fever which finally breaks, we feel the cooling rush of God's forgiveness.  Once again we know how blessed we are to be loved and forgiven children of God.

Give thanks to God that He has given you faith to trust in Him, faith which draws you to humbly confess your sins and receive God's free and forever forgiveness!

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 Ash Wednesday February 18, 2026

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Ash Wednesday

February 18, 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:  Joel 2:12-19

               Psalm:  Psalm 51:1-13

              Epistle:  Ephesians 3:14-19

              Gospel:  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

THEME FOR WORSHIP

God’s love for you is deep, broad and high, far beyond all understanding (Ephesians 3:14–19). God's love for you NEVER ends!

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

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 15, 2026

 

The Transfiguration of Christ   Tiziano Vecellio  1488-1576

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

February 15, 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:  Exodus 24:8–18

               Psalm:  Psalm 2:6–12

              Epistle:  2 Peter 1:16–21

              Gospel:  Matthew 17:1–9

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Transfiguration Sunday is the culmination of Epiphany, God’s revealing of Jesus’ identity and work.  It began weeks ago with the Magi worshiping Him and giving Him gifts.  Then Jesus was identified as the Son of God in His baptism.  Jesus proceeds to heal the sick, cast out demons and preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God.  

Today we come to His transfiguration, a turning point in the narrative of His life.  Once Jesus comes down the mountain, we begin the journey to the cross in the season of Lent.  God the Father tells us:  “This is My beloved Son…, listen to Him.”

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: Take Refuge in God!

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

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 a believer & child of God, your spiritual life & 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].

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

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 February 8, 2026

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 8, 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 58:3–9a

               Psalm:  Psalm 112:1–9

              Epistle:  1 Corinthians 2:1–12

              Gospel:  Matthew 5:13–20

THEME FOR WORSHIP 

Tonight, during the Super Bowl many people will consume lots of salty foods like pizza, chips and countless other snacks.  The bright lights of the game & the commercials will flood all who watch with their own ideas of what is good and right.  Sadly, in many cases the lights of immorality and sinful passions will shine way too brightly.

This morning, Jesus reveals a far, far better salt & light, both of which have great power now and last for eternity.  God gives you salt & light for your own good, and for you to share with others.

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