News/Announcements

Pandemic Precautions Update - December 2021

• Masks are encouraged though not required. Masks and hand sanitizer are readily available.
   
• Half of the pews are sectioned off for those who desire increased social distancing.
   
• When coming up for Communion, feel free to spread out as much as you like and/or mention to the usher if you'd like to be more spread out from others. Please be mindful of those around you as they may be distancing more than you.
   
• The Pastor and Lay Minister will continue to sanitize their hands and wear masks while distributing the elements.

If you are vulnerable or have additional concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with Pastor or a Lay Minister so we can accommodate you as possible. As always, we seek to meet one another's needs with love and respect.

Lifting of Pandemic Restrictions

Thanks be to God, the risks from the COVID pandemic are now much lower in our communities.  All around us, nearly all the COVID safety precautions have been removed. The following was approved by a congregational survey on Sunday, June 27th.

 This is a summary of our plans for Sunday mornings:

Sunday July 4th

· Restricted seating in half the pews, unrestricted seating in other pews.

· No plates for communion, groups may be closer together

· Masks are still required but may be removed when seated.

Sunday July 11th

· Unrestricted seating in nearly all the pews.

· Wearing masks becomes optional.

Sunday July 18th

· No COVID restrictions required

· Masks and social distancing will always be optional and greeted with love and respect.

· Communion will return to pre-COVID process, but no common cup

In all cases, if you’d like space between you and others, simply hold out your hand so folks will know to stay apart.

Note: It has been our priority over the past year to love our neighbors in body AND soul by taking necessary pandemic precautions like mask wearing and social distancing, while also ensuring all have access to Word and Sacrament ministry. As we walk forward to more "normal" procedures, we do so in the same spirit of love for one another. If you are vulnerable or still have concerns about Covid-19, know that we want to help you feel safe and welcome here at Pilgrim! Please feel free to speak with an usher, layminister, or the pastor if you have questions or concerns before a service. As mentioned above, mask wearing and social distancing will always be optional and greeted with love and respect.

And if you are especially vulnerable and/or homebound, we encourage you to watch our services live HERE, or recordings of past services HERE. You can also contact Pastor Matheny to arrange further spiritual care like home visits, receiving Holy Communion etc. Call the church at 810-744-1188 or email pastor Matheny at pastormarkplb@gmail.com

June 20, 2020

Thanks be to God! On Sunday, June 21st Pilgrim will begin serving communion again as part of our second phase of re-opening. It is a tremendous blessing to receive the Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of our faith! Please note the following procedures and may His Body and Blood strengthen and preserve you!

Phase 2  Procedures

Communion:

• Members will be ushered to the rail by pew sections.
   
• Please cup hands to receive wafer (rather than receiving on the tongue)
   
• Pastor and Lay Ministers will sanitize hands frequently.

Procedures from Phase 1 will continue:

• Please wear masks, if you have them. If you do not have a mask one will be provided for you. (please note that it may be difficult to sing while wearing a mask. Please use caution while singing the hymns. Stop singing if you feel short of breath or dizzy.)
   
• Please keep appropriate distancing with no physical contact. (Families are welcome to sit together, but leaving at least six feet between families. Please sit in every other pew.)
   
• The pastor and lay ministers will stay in the front or the back of church.
   
• There will be no ushering out or greeters. (please usher yourselves out during the postlude hymn, starting with the front pews and working your way back. Please keep the six foot rule in mind, while leaving the pews.)
   
• There will be no communion during this phase. (we are working on a plan to safely begin offering communion again in the very near future.)
   
• Offering plates are at the back of church on a table.
   
• Please greet one another without physical contact and with the proper distancing.
   
• Please avoid large gatherings in the narthex or in the parking lot. (we understand the need for fellowship, but please be respectful of everyone’s boundaries and keep safe distances.)

May 22, 2020

Dear Members of Pilgrim,

It has been since March 15th that we last gathered at Pilgrim for a church service. Governor Whitmer's stay at home order ends on May 28th. (Edit: The order was extended to June 12. However, this does not apply to Houses of Worship.) After much deliberation and prayer, it is with great joy that the Lay Minister board, with some of the church counsel have decided to have our next church service on May 31st.

In Matthew 9:1-7 Jesus says to the paralytic, ”Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” and then he says, ”Get up, take your mat and go home.” Jesus forgives sins first and then he heals the body. Jesus cared for the spiritual well being of the paralytic first before attending to his physical needs. As a church body, we must continue to meet the spiritual needs of our congregation and to offer the same to the community around us. Matthew 5:13-16 says, “Your are the salt of the earth...a city on a hill...let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds..."

God has given us physical Means of Grace through the Sacraments and through His Word. The gathering of the Saints is a vital part of the life blood of our church. God made us in His image. We were not created to be alone. To see our brothers and sisters in Christ, in person, to speak to one another, to laugh together, to pray together, to worship together, to sing together and yes, eventually to shake hands and hug one another once again, should be our ultimate goal.

We understand that many of our members are at a more vulnerable age and may have preexisting conditions that may dictate they still stay at home during this time. You may fall into this category, or you may not feel comfortable going out into the public yet. We respect your decision to stay at home and encourage the most vulnerable to do so.

We will be looking into ways of reaching out to those of you that will not be attending our services for a while. Please know that you are our brothers and sisters in Christ and as the leadership and as a congregation, you are in our hearts and prayers.

For those of you who are ready and willing to come back to church, we welcome you with “virtual open arms” and can't wait to see you again. Be confident that your leadership will be making this transition as safe as possible for everyone involved. We will be reopening in phases. For instance; in the first stage, there will be no communion, no bible study, no coffee hours and no large gathering in the narthex or church parking lots. As more information about keeping everyone safe in social environments becomes available to us, we can begin additional phases of our reopening plan.

Please be patient with your leadership. We are in uncharted waters. We need your prayers, your support and your cooperation in these matters. As your leadership, we are willing to listen to any concerns you may have about our reopening.

Phase one will be implemented as follows;

Phase I

We will conduct our service much like we did on March 15th.

• Please wear masks, if you have them. If you do not have a mask one will be provided for you. (please note that it may be difficult to sing while wearing a mask. Please use caution while singing the hymns. Stop singing if you feel short of breath or dizzy.)
   
• Please keep appropriate distancing with no physical contact. (Families are welcome to sit together, but leaving at least six feet between families. Please sit in every other pew.)
   
• The pastor and lay ministers will stay in the front or the back of church.
   
• There will be no ushering out or greeters. (please usher yourselves out during the postlude hymn, starting with the front pews and working your way back. Please keep the six foot rule in mind, while leaving the pews.)
   
• There will be no communion during this phase. (we are working on a plan to safely begin offering communion again in the very near future.)
   
• Offering plates are at the back of church on a table.
   
• Please greet one another without physical contact and with the proper distancing.
   
• Please avoid large gatherings in the narthex or in the parking lot. (we understand the need for fellowship, but please be respectful of everyone’s boundaries and keep safe distances.)

(Please see your email for a full letter including phone numbers for contacting Pastor and leadership)

March 21, 2020

In light of the recent Covid-19 ( Corona Virus) outbreak, and in the interest of the health and safety of all our members, Pilgrim will be cancelling all worship services until it is deemed safe to gather again. In the mean time, Pilgrim is committed to helping you stay in the Word, which brings comfort, peace, and strengthens faith no matter our circumstances. 

• Please make use of the resources listed at the bottom of our home page for yourself, your family, and to witness to other's. Additionally, our Facebook page will be updated daily with announcements, resources, and encouragement.
   
• If you are in need of pastoral care or have physical needs we can help with (grocery drop off etc.), please call the church office at 810-744-118
   
• We are currently working to be able to post audio and/or video of weekly sermons from Pastor Warsinski and will update when the first of those is available.

It is important to remember in times such as these that while our building is an important meeting place for the Body of Christ, where we receive Word and Sacrament, God's Word and the power it contains is not confined to a building. "The word of the Lord remains forever” and we know that through His Word, God will sustain, uplift, forgive, and sanctify His people as He has from the foundations of the earth. Please read and dwell upon the following passages from Scripture:

Psalm 46:1-7
"God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Isaiah 41:10
"fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 43:1-2
"But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you."

Matthew 10:28-31
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:32
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."