Author: Julie Raffa

Introit Psalm 51:1–3, 10–12; antiphon: v. 17
The sacrifices of God are a broken | spirit;* a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will | not despise. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your | steadfast love;* according to your abundant mercy blot out my trans- | gressions. Wash me thoroughly from my in- | iquity,* and cleanse me | from my sin! For I know my trans- | gressions,* and my sin is ever be- | fore me. Create in me a clean heart, | O God,* and renew a right spirit with- | in me. Cast me not away from your | presence,* and take not your Holy Spirit | from me. Restore to me the joy of your sal- | vation,* and uphold me with a willing | spirit. Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen. The sacrifices of God are a broken | spirit;* a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will | not despise.
Collect of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Gradual Hebrews 12:2
[O come, let us fix our eyes on] Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Second Reading 1 Chronicles 21:1–2, 7–19, 26–27
1Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.”
7But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10“Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 11So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: 12either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
14So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”
18Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord.
26And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
Holy Gospel Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
1[Jesus said:] “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. . . .
16“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Announcements
Lenten Services will continue at 1 & 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays during Lent.
Lenten Dinners will be served at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays during Lent.
Lost & Found: The Lost and Found is getting full. If you are missing an item, please check the lost and found. Items not picked up by mid-February will be donated or disposed of. Thank you.
Aluminum tabs are being collected to help support Children’s Hospital. Please save your aluminum tabs and place them in the containers you can find in the Narthex and the Fellowship hall.
Lenten Dinners: The sign up sheet for the 2023 Lenten Dinners is available for you and your group to sign up. Please make sure to list your groups name and what will be served for the dinner. Ladies Guild is serving for the Ash Wednesday dinner.
Cable Worship Schedule Pilgrim’s Sunday 8:00 a.m. Divine Service is broadcast on WB 987 and AT&T Uverse 99 multiple times during the week: Sundays: 6:00 a.m. Mondays: 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. Bible Study, Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. This service is also live streamed and archived on the church’s YouTube channel:
Pilgrim Lutheran Church- West Bend, WI

Ash Wednesday - Count on it: David
Divine Service
Lutheran Service Book: Page:
Liturgy: Setting 1 Apostles Creed 151 Hymn of Praise is omitted.
Litany for Prayer of the Church
Hymns:
Savior, When in Dust to Thee 419
Jesus Sinners Doth Receive 609
Communion Hymns:
Your Table I Approach 628
Jesus Grant that Balm and Healing 421
To Thee, Omniscient Lord of All 613
Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness 636
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth 438
Scripture Readings:
Epistle: 2 Chronicles 21:1-2,7-19, 26-27
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
In our prayers, we remember:
X all who live under the flag of our nation,
X our government and judicial officials,
X law enforcement officers, military personnel, and their families,
X those struggling with health issues:
Rev. Clark Davis, Jeff Kreuser, Dan Grosskreuz, Michael Ferguson, Dorothy Kroll, Ella Wilkens, Rev. John Wille, Mary Margaret Hatfield, Phyllis Laabs-Darkow, Suzanne Stadelmayer, George Muth, Joyce Virchow, Rev Donald & Carolyn Bren, Jerry Sullivan, Richard Lewandowski, Mark Selzler, Ethan Tinlin, Sheryl Pajewski, Paul Lierman, Judy Clark, Louise Kreis, Betty Steely, Inez Schwoch, Ruth Mertz, Elaine Kuenzel, Diane Behrens
X pastors, missionaries, and those who serve God’s people with the gifts of Christ,
X Christians persecuted for the confession of the faith, and especially we remember
X all who have forsaken the faith, that they may be restored to gladness of heart and be made wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Preacher: Rev. Christopher Raffa
Liturgist: Rev. Joseph Fisher
Elder: Gary Jenovai, Tanner Schmidt
Organists: Kathy Greve, Ben Grosskreuz

Coming Up at Pilgrim
Sunday, February 26:
8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service
9:15 a.m. Sunday School: Bible Studies
9:30 a.m. Adult Class: Small Catechism
12:30 p.m. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel
Monday, February 27:
10:30 a.m. Chapel @ Jackson Crossing
Tuesday, February 28:
2;00 p.m. Chapel @ Auxiliary Court
Wednesday, March 1:
4:00 p.m. Youth Catechesis
6:30 p.m. Adult Class: 1 & 2 Kings
Thursday, March 2:
9:00 a.m. Adult Class: 2nd Samuel
1:00 p.m. Lenten Divine Service
5:30 p.m. Lenten Dinner/ Altar Guild
7:00 p.m. Lenten Divine Service
Friday, March 3: Office Closed
Saturday, March 4:
7:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

Ash Wednesday
Count On It: David
February 22, 2023
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20-21
Welcome and blessings to you through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We welcome all who gather with us around the Altar and Pulpit to hear the Word of God. If you are visiting, we are happy that you could join us today. Please sign the guest book in the narthex and fill out one of the pew cards and pass it in with the offering plate to leave a record of your visit.
Communion Statement: By the design and specific warning of our Lord Jesus Christ in His Word, the precious gift of the Lord’s Body and Blood is to be shared with His blessing only with those prepared to take it rightly. (1 Cor 11:23-32) At the first communion our Lord did not commune all believers, but only those who had been instructed by Him daily for three years. The custom of our church is to offer the Sacrament only to confirmed members of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. So that our pastors would faithfully fulfill their obligations, (1 Cor 4:1; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 11:27), all first-time visitors should speak to one of the pastors prior to communing. Our pastors are eager and available to provide instruction leading to a right and salutary reception our Lord’s holy Body and Blood, so that in the future you may join us in the blessing of this sacrament.

Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 334-0375 www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org