Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church

06/14/2026

The prophet Elisha is remembered on June 14th in the Church Year. Elisha was the son of Shaphat and a member of the tribe of Issachar. He was God’s prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel from about 849-786 BC. His predecessor, Elijah, trained Elisha until Elijah was taken into heaven before his eyes. Elisha was active in political affairs in the kingdom and performed numerous miracles, including healing the Syrian army commander, Naaman, of leprosy. Elisha’s name means “my God is salvation,” and he confessed this in his life and words, especially in his opposition to Baal worship.

Let us pray: “Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Elisha, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Amen.

Prayer quoted from and description adapted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” p. 430-431.

Image: “Elisha Raising the Shunammite’s Son” by Benjamin West, 1766. Public Domain.

06/11/2026

St. Barnabas traveled with the Apostle Paul. Prior to his travels, he sold his land in Cyprus and gave the money to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. He was a Levite and a cousin of John Mark. He was sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem Council in order to oversee the Church there. He went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch to assist him. The church in Antioch then sent Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. On the second journey, a disagreement over taking John Mark along led Barnabas to head to Cyprus with Mark while Paul went to Syria and Cilicia with Silas. Tradition holds that Barnabas died as a martyr in Cyprus by stoning. Barnabas is only spoken about in Acts 4, 11, 13 and 15, as well as Colossians 4 and 1 Corinthians 9.

Let us pray: “Almighty God, Your faithful servant Barnabas sought not his own renown but gave generously of his life and substance for the encouragement of the apostles and their ministry. Grant that we may follow his example in lives given to charity and the proclamation of the Gospel; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen.

Description adapted from and prayer quoted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” 422-3.

Image: “St. Barnabas Curing the Sick” by Paolo Veronese. Public Domain.

05/31/2026

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

The first president of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is remembered on May 7th. Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (1811-1887) has become known as the “father of the LCMS”. He was born in Saxony, Germany, and immigrated to Missouri with other Lutherans in 1839. He served as pastor for several congregations in the St. Louis area, founded Concordia Seminary, and became instrumental in the formation of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in 1847. At the time, the synod was called German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States. Walther served as the first president of this new synod from 1847 to 1850 and again from 1864 to 1878. Working tirelessly to promote confessional Lutheran teaching, C. F. W. Walther was a prolific writer and speaker. His most influential works are “Church and Ministry” and “The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel”.

Let us pray: “Almighty God, through Your servant C. F. W. Walther You brought Lutheran pilgrims from Germany to confess the true faith. May the priesthood of Your saints now receive the Gospel of a crucified and risen Savior in faith as they offer back to You sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving in love, for You live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen.

Prayer quoted from and description adapted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” p. 1298.

Image: “C. F. W. Walther”. Public Domain.

05/01/2026

May 1st the festival day for two of Christ’s Apostles – St. Philip and St. James. Philip from Galilee was among the first disciples to be called by our Lord after Peter and Andrew. He brought Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-51). St. John’s Gospel also mentions that Jesus asked Philip the question about where to buy bread to feed 5000 men. On Maundy Thursday, Philip asked Jesus to show the Father to him and the rest of the disciples. According to tradition, Philip went to labor in Phrygia and was buried there.

St. James was a son of Alphaeus and was nicknamed “the Younger”. His mother Mary was one of the faithful women who stood at the cross of Jesus. James is mentioned in the same apostolic list as Philip, but there is no other mention of him in the New Testament. “There is also no information regarding his field of labor or the circumstances of his death, except that he may have been martyred by being sawed in two.” (1294)

Let us pray: “Almighty God, Your Son revealed Himself to Philip and James and gave them the knowledge of everlasting life. Grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the way, the truth, and the life, and steadfastly to walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen.

Prayer quoted from and description adapted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” p. 1293-1294.
Image: St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. Public Domain.

04/26/2026

04/19/2026

04/17/2026

While it’s not fully functional yet, the new sign has been set in place!

04/12/2026