Pilgrim Worship Sunday October 29, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

October 29, 2023

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 9:30 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!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's 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 SUNDAY
At some point, we’ve all probably been on shaky ground; perhaps a rickety old chair, a rotted board on a dock or floor, possibly crossing a stream by jumping rock-to-rock.  Shaky ground is dangerous.  Spiritually, we live in a world & culture that offers even worse, a sinking sand which traps and kills.  This is no mystery since the devil desires one thing:  the spiritual death of all people.  For Luther, “…hordes of devils fill the land, all threatening to devour us.”  But more powerful than all the devil and his hordes, Jesus gives us the only firm foundation for our lives.  Today we’ll hear His good news in John 8:31-32.

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

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17        

Thursday Psalms: God's Great River!

Psalm 46 is historically assigned for Reformation Day, which we will observe in worship this coming Sunday.  Today I'd like to focus on verse four.

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.

The image of a river gladdening God's city probably was inspired by the Pool of Siloam which gathered fresh water for the residents of Jerusalem.  Another earthly location where the Most High dwelled with His people was the garden of Eden.  Check out Genesis 2:10 to learn of a river there.  We are also reminded of an eternal river, which flows from the heavenly temple.  You can read of that river in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Joel 3:18.  In each of these, we see the Most High God, making glad and giving life to His people.  

Of course, you and I are part of God's people, we're part of the city of God.  And this brings to mind another river whose streams make you & me glad.  In the cleansing river of your baptism, your sins were washed away and God gave to you saving faith!  Your baptism was a life-giving river, rich in grace and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit.  What a great river that was!  

The best thing is your baptism was not a one-time river, it was not a one-time bath.  God's great river of forgiveness washes you clean of your sins every single time you pray to God and confess your sins!  Martin Luther puts it this way in the Small Catechism:  by daily contrition & repentance, the Old Adam in us is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires.  The new person [YOU!] then daily arises, washed clean and living before God in righteousness and purity forever.  Wow, that's a great river!

So today, join me in giving thanks and taking another daily cleansing bath in God's Great river forgiveness!

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

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114   

Pilgrim Worship Sunday October 22, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

October , 2023

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 9:30 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!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

  Old Testament:  Isaiah 45:1-7

               Psalm:  Psalm 96:1-9
              Epistle:  1 Thessalonians 1:1–10
              Gospel:  Matthew 22:5-22

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY
In the Old Testament reading for today, God calls & deploys King Cyrus to do God’s work and will.  God promises to break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through bars of iron so Cyrus would be victorious.  God promises to give Cyrus rich treasures of earthly wealth.  What is up with this?  Cyrus did not even know God!  What can God be teaching us?

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

Peace in Christ, your Savior,

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

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17