Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Magill

08/08/2026

05/08/2026

DOES THE CHURCH HAVE A BLINDSPOT?
Look at the life of John Newton (author of Amazing Grace). On business trips, he would spend several hours praying and reading the bible each morning, with another round of prayers at midday. As a ship captain, he enjoyed long hours of solitude on deck, keeping a diary and recording that he knew no "calling that...affords greater advantages to an awakened mind, for promoting the life of God in the soul." His expensive cargo required extra officers and crew, reducing his onboard responsibilities. "I never knew sweeter or more frequent hours of divine communion, than in my last two voyages to Guinea, when I was either almost secluded from society on shipboard, or when on shore I have wandered through the woods reflecting on the singular goodness of the Lord to me." John Newton recorded those words while transporting African slaves and having his savings invested in the slave ship business. "For more than thirty years after he left the slave trade, during which time Newton preached thousands of sermons, published half a dozen books, and wrote Amazing Grace and 279 other hymns, he said not one word in public against slavery."

When he truly became "sighted" he devoted the remainder of his life to speaking out and attempting to end the slave trade.

Source: The Externally Focused Quest - Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw

While I let that settle, I wonder, do we have any blind-spots in the church or in our own lives?

04/08/2026

WHAT MILLENIALS REALY WANT FROM THE CHURCH
by Rachel Held Evans (2013)
“…not a change in style but a change in substance. We want and end to the culture wars. We want a truce between science and faith. We want to be known for what we stand for, not what we are against. We want to ask questions that don’t have predetermined answers. We want churches that emphasize allegiance to the kingdom of God over an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation. We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in faith communities. We want to be challenged to live lives of holiness, not only when it comes to s*x, but also when it comes to living simply, caring for the poor and oppressed, pursuing reconciliation, engaging in creation care and becoming peacemakers. You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual and expect us to stick around. We’re not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; we’re leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there. Like every generation before ours and every generation after, deep down, we long for Jesus…I would encourage church leaders eager to win millennials back to sit down and really talk with them about what they’re looking for and what they would like to contribute to a faith community. Their answers might surprise you.”

01/08/2026

Supporting the fantastic work of Blueprint Ministries at their Annual Dinner. You can support their work by making a bid in their online auction http://www.blueprintministries.org.au/blueprintdinner

29/07/2026

I saw not one, not two but three of the most vivid rainbows today. While the rainbow as a symbol has become complicated in recent times, at its heart it is a reminder of God's promise to bless his people. What does the rainbow mean to you?

28/07/2026

We are LEARNING to BE the church again. Rediscover what it means to follow Jesus with us.
Drop in and say hello!

25/07/2026

More photos from our Christmas in July Quiz night. See anyone you know?

25/07/2026

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (in July). Thanks to all who showed up for our Christmas in July Quiz Night. It was a fiercely fought contest (with lots of fun along the way). The Grinch almost spoiled the party. The team from Glynde Lutheran Church aptly named 'Claus for Celebration' took out the win with help from our very own Emma Brew-Bevan. A bit of local knowledge helped in the end. Watch this space for the next exciting event.

29/06/2026

Step 1 — Ask
Ask God to bring one person to mind — someone in your circle who might be open to a short, honest conversation about faith.

Step 2 — Invite
Invite them to watch a 7 minute video with you. At home. In a café. On a walk. On the bus. Wherever life happens naturally. All you need is a mobile, laptop or computer and internet access. The title is ‘What does it all mean?’

Step 3 — Talk
After the video, simply talk about what stood out. No pressure. No perfect answers needed. Just a human conversation. There is a downloadable discussion guide to help you.

22/06/2026

Join us in person this Sunday from 9am for week 3 of our sermon series on prayer. Also available online at http://tiny.cc/PilgrimYT