Pilgrim Worship Sunday December 4, 2022

  

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Second Sunday in Advent

December 4, 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:  Isaiah 11:1–10

                Psalm:  Psalm 72:1–7
               Epistle:  Romans 15:4–13
               Gospel:  Matthew 3:1–12

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY

A diptych painting is an artistic genre where there are two panels joined together by a common theme or storyline.  The two panels inform and teach each other.  In the Old Testament text for today we have a similar situation.  We have two prophecies, joined together by a common person and by a covenant promise.  If this text were a painting, we might title it “Justice and Peace”.   

You and I live in constant tension, in many ways.  Our lives are triptych paintings.  We live in a sinful, mostly Godless world at the same time as we live in the mercy & grace of our heavenly Father.  We look forward to celebrating Jesus’ first Advent, while we wait & long for His second coming.  How can we find comfort and peace in our Advent lives today?

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: Praying for Leaders

  

We know God commands and desires us to pray for the leaders He has placed over us.  However, when we judge a leader, or group of leaders and decide they are evil or unGodly, or corrupt, we often refuse to pray for them.  Why would we desire their success, when they appear to be leading contrary to God's will?  We may be right or wrong in our judgement; we still don't pray for them.

Psalm 72 is a prayer for the success of king Solomon, but it's likely this prayer would have been used for other kings also.  For us, this psalm is an encouragement to rightly pray for our leaders, whether they govern by God's commands or not.  Notice the focus of this psalm; it is not really on the king.  

PSALM  72:1-7

¹ Give the king Your justice, O God,

     and Your righteousness to the royal son!

² May he judge Your people with righteousness,

     and Your poor with justice!

³ Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

      and the hills, in righteousness!

⁴ May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

     give deliverance to the children of the needy,

          and crush the oppressor!

⁵ May they fear You while the sun endures,

     and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

⁶ May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

     like showers that water the earth!

⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish,

     and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 

The focus of this prayer is really on God and His justice, His righteousness, His people, His poor & needy children, and His created world.  The psalmist is praying for God's success to be given through the king and to God's people.  I commend this prayer and this mindset to you, as you pray for our leaders to be God-led in all they decide & do.  We also then must trust in God, that even if we do suffer under evil and Godless leaders, it is God's will and purpose.  

Praise be to You, O Lord!

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 

Advent Vespers Wednesday November 30, 2022

 

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Advent Vespers

November 30, 2022

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

For three Wednesdays in Advent, we will gather for Vespers worship at 4pm and 7pm.  

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us for either of these services!

Here is information about this Wednesday's worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR TODAY

   Old Testament:  Genesis 4:1–16

                Psalm:  Psalm 146:3-5
               Epistle:  Romans 5:12–17
               Gospel:  Matthew 5:17–26

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY

The very first murderer.  That’s how Cain will be known for all time.  Imagine Adam and Eve’s pain.  Not only did they lose their son, Abel, to death, but another son, his brother, was his murderer.  As sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we have a common inheritance from them. We are all murderers in our words and thoughts toward others.  Imagine God the Father’s pain as His children rebel against Him.  

But out of His great love for us, God sent forth His Son, the Prince of Life, to be murdered.  Through Jesus, the true Son of Adam, we have been given the gift of life!

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