Pilgrim Worship Sunday November 20, 2022

 

The Crucifixion with the Two Thieves   Jan Snellinck (1549-1638)

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Last Sunday in the Church Year

November 20, 2022

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 TODAY

   Old Testament:  Malachi 3:13–18

                Psalm:  Psalm 46
               Epistle:  Colossians 1:13–20
               Gospel:  Luke 23:27–43

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY
The Church calendar has reached its annual conclusion; today is the Sunday of the Fulfillment, Christ the King Sunday, or simply the Last Sunday in the Church Year.  By any name, today concludes our emphasis begun on All Saints Sunday:  death, Christ’s return in judgement, heaven & hell, and the promise of a new Heaven and a new earth.  With our citizenship in heaven, we are all pilgrims, who have no lasting city in this dying world, but we’re looking forward to our enduring & eternal city, which is yet to come.

The “Last” Gospel text takes us to the cross, the foundation for all these themes.  Here, Jesus suffered so intensely, and endured pain beyond anyone’s understanding, taking the sin punishment for all people and praying  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  So, we’ll “come to Calvary’s holy mountain, sinners ruined by the fall…here the troubled, peace may find.”

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

"But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head."  Psalm 3:3

Thursday Psalms: My Soul Waits for the Lord!

 

This coming Sunday is the Last Sunday in the Church Year, and the year's Gospel lessons end with Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross, at the end of His earthly life.  As we focus on the last days we consider Jesus' last day, our own last days, and the Last Day when Christ will return in judgement.  And so we wait...

  PSALM 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!  

² O Lord, hear my voice!

     Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, 

      O Lord, who could stand?

⁴ But with You there is forgiveness,

      that You may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

     and in His word I hope.

⁶ my soul waits for the Lord, 

     more than watchmen for the morning,

         more than watchmen for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord! 

     For with the Lord, there is steadfast love,

          and with Him is plentiful redemption.

⁸  And He will redeem Israel from all her iniquities.

While we wait for Jesus Christ to return, we are more blessed than the psalmist, because we have seen the Father's promised salvation, in Jesus Christ!  In Jesus alone is there forgiveness, and He freely and generously gives His forgiveness to all who believe in Him!  In Him we receive steadfast love and plentiful redemption. 

And so, we wait...with forgiven hearts, full of thanks and praise for the Lord, our Savior.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!   Revelation 22:20

Peace in Christ,

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

"But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head."  Psalm 3:3 

A GREAT Way to Start Any Day!

How do you usually wake up and start a typical day? Do you jump right up and bound off to the day's tasks? Do you awaken more slowly, enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee, tea or something to eat? At some point, it's a good bet you turn your thoughts to... "What do I need to do today?". Consider this wonderful Psalm, especially verses 8-12.

PSALM 143 A Psalm of David.
  1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
       give ear to my pleas for mercy!
     In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness!
  2 Enter not into judgment with Your servant,
       for no one living is righteous before You.
  3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
       he has crushed my life to the ground;
          he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
  4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
       my heart within me is appalled.
  5 I remember the days of old;
       I meditate on all that you have done;
          I ponder the work of your hands.
  6 I stretch out my hands to You;
       my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.
  7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
       My spirit fails!
          Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
  8 Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust.
       Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.
  9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
       I have fled to You for refuge.
  10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God!
       Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
  11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
       In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble!
  12 And in Your steadfast love You will cut off my enemies,
       and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
          for I am Your servant.

David gives us such a great example; what a blessed way to start each day! First, acknowledging our sins and unworthiness as we plead for God's mercy [vv 1-2]. Second, we can't hide or escape our troubles, be they sickness, oppressing enemies or any other harsh thing [ vv 3-7]. Then, we remember [vv 5, 8] all that God has done for His people and for us, which leads us to trust in Him, to guide all our ways. And lastly, we join David in praying for our day; the tasks to be done, and the presence of God with us!

I know that this or a similar "first-of-the-day" prayer is a great blessing to me, and I suspect such a prayer would be to you also!
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness!

Peace in Christ to you this day, and every day!

Pastor Mark
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188
mobile: 248.881.7627

Soli Deo Gloria

"But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." Psalm 3:3