Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 24, 2022

 Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

July 24, 2022

We're glad & 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 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 for any or all of these weekly events!

Here is information about todays worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament:  Genesis 18:17-33
                 Psalm:  Psalm 138
                Epistle:  Colossians 2:6–15
               Gospel:   Luke 11:1–13

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP 

Last week, Mary was commended by Jesus for sitting at His feet and receiving His gifts as her highest priority.  We too are blessed, to first receive His good gifts, and then we're even more blessed to serve and share with others.

In the Gospel text today, Jesus not only gives us a short version of The Lord’s Prayer, but also teaches us about how we should ask for and receive the good gifts He gives to us.  Imperfectly we pray, ask and give; but God is the giver of all good things.  God desires our persistent prayers, and perfectly gives us the best gifts!

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

Peace to you on this, the Lord's Day!

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Pilgrim Worship blog page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”  Psalm 37:7

Thursday Psalms, Psalm 138

This week's Psalm is a delightful song of thankfulness and praise for all the Lord gives to you and me!

PSALM 138   Of David.

¹ I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;    

     before the gods I sing Your praise;

² I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name

     for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness,

          for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.

³ On the day I called, You answered me;

     my strength of soul You increased.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give You thanks, O Lord,

     for they have heard the words of Your mouth,

⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

     for great is the glory of the Lord.

⁶ For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,

     but the haughty He knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life;

     You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, 

          and Your right hand delivers me.

⁸ The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;

     Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

          Do not forsake the work of Your hands.

I'd like to focus especially on the final three verses, which really summarize the loving relationship God gives to you and to me.   In verse six, David observes what is undeniably true:  the Lord, the Creator of all things, the One who is "higher" above and over all things/people/governments/etc..., "regards the lowly".  That's you and me!  This clause sums it up for us:  The God of the universe loves you, and cares for you, and provides all things for you!  How does the Lord "regard" us?  David reminds us, mentioning several things.  

First, the Lord preserves your life as you walk amidst trouble.  The Lord does not shield or protect us from all bad things, but He preserves our lives as we walk through those very difficult days.  The Lord preserves our earthly lives, keeping us in faith and promising that no person or thing can ever take away your salvation.  The Lord also preserves your eternal life, promising that He has already gone and prepared a mansion for you in heaven [John 14:2-3]!

Second, we read in verse 7b how the Lord works & fights against your "enemies''.  Of course, this doesn't mean that God is your special bodyguard, zapping your enemies at your command!  God's strong "right hand" [Jesus Christ] has already conquered and defeated our most important and dangerous enemy:  the devil, the world and our sinful natures.  The Lord has already DELIVERED you from sin, death and the power of the devil!  Those are you bad enemies and they're already defeated!

Finally, verse eight is just so powerful and beautiful!  Soak it in, pray over this verse as you wrap up this short devotion time.  And never forget the final clause:  You are the work of God's hands!  He created you, formed you in your mother's womb and has loved you INCREDIBLY since that moment you were conceived!  

Forsaken...?  Absolutely never!  Loved and forgiven?   Absolutely always & forever!

Thank You, O Lord for this psalm, and for how You wonderfully regard us, in Your love and mercy!  AMEN

Peace to you on this Lord's Day!

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”  Psalm 37:7

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 17, 2022

“Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary”

An engraving by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld,  1860  

 Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 17, 2022

We're glad & 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 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 for any or all of these weekly events!

Here is information about todays worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS SERVICE

  Old Testament:  Genesis 18:1–14
                 Psalm:  Psalm 27:1–14
                Epistle:  Colossians 1:21–29
               Gospel:   Luke 10:38–42

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY
The gospel text for today describes Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha & Mary, who react to Jesus’ presence in two very different ways.  These two sisters are familiar even to the anti-Christian culture around us; have you been called a “Martha”, as I have?
There are many popular misconceptions of this text, including the people and their actions.  Rather than compare and evaluate the two sisters, we’ll focus on Jesus and His loving, grace-filled encouragement to receive His gifts; “the one thing necessary”, “the good portion”.

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

Peace to you on this, the Lord's Day!

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Pilgrim Worship blog page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”  Psalm 37:7