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How can I possibly forgive someone who has hurt me deeply? We know God calls us to forgive, but some hurts feel too great to let go. In this message, Pastor Gerber explores Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant and the enormous debt the master forgives. We often compare our sins with others and underestimate how much forgiveness we need. But Jesus gave His life to forgive a debt we could never repay. Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending the hurt wasn't real or that trust must immediately be restored. It means living in the freedom Christ has already given us. As we recognize how fully we've been forgiven, His mercy changes how we see the debts others owe us. As God forgives me, I forgive others. Is there someone you need to forgive? Genesis 50:15–21 Colossians 3:12–17 Matthew 18:21–35

Opening O Lord, open my lips And my mouth will declare Your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord.   Candle Lighting   Prayer of Approach (from St. Augustine) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy.   Psalm Reading - Psalm 117 - NLT (Pentecost) Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!   Scripture Reading - John 20:16-17 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   Silent Meditation on God’s Word   As we enter this time of meditation on God’s Word, we pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses on the presence of God, and to take a moment of silent prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us through His Word.   -Pause 0:15-   As I read our text for today, listen for one word or phrase that is being spoken by God to you. Ask yourself: Through which word or phrase is God wanting to speak to me today? Allow that word or phrase to guide your meditation today. Repeat it over and over in your mind. Let it wash over you. Let it fill you.   Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   As the Holy Spirit speaks to You today through His Word, take a moment now to pause and repeat that word over and over in your mind as you allow God’s Word to wash over you and fill you.   -Pause 1:00-   Now we reflect on the word or phrase that God is highlighting for us today. Ask yourself: What part of my life needs to hear this word from God? The Spirit has highlighted something in this text for you today. What part of you really needs to hear that? Here, I will read the text again, and then we will have a longer time of silence to reflect on what God is highlighting for you today.   Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What part of your life needs to hear this word from God today?   -Pause 1:15-   Now we respond to God’s Word.   As yourself, What is my response to God based on what I have encountered in His Word? Because God speaks to us all in different ways, your response can also take on many different forms. Maybe that response is in the form of a prayer. Use this time to thank and praise God. Speak to and listen to Him. Ask Him for something. Allow your prayer to flow from your heart freely and fully. Or maybe God is reminding you of something. Maybe He’s reminding you of your identity in Him. Or of His promises. Or of His presence in your life. And so I encourage you to sit in that reminder. Or is God inviting you to respond in some physical way to the word that you have heard? Maybe it’s an encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to stop doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to start doing something new. We hear God's Word and respond to it.    Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What is your response to God based on what you have encountered in His Word?   -Pause 1:30-   And now we rest in God’s Word. We have read God’s Word. We have reflected on it. You have responded to it. Now we return to a place of rest.  Remember that this rest is not based on your works. It is not based on your response to God’s Word. But today and every day, we can rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today.   Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   Take a moment now to rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today.   -Pause 1:00-   Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven: hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven:  Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:  and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   Invitation to Share   Benediction Eternal Creator of light, Yours is the morning and Yours is the evening. Draw us to Yourself so there will be no darkness within us. Amen. Let us go in peace. Thanks be to God.

We often answer that question with our roles. Parent. Student. Worker. Coach. Pastor. But those are vocations, places where God gives us to live as His children. They were never meant to become our identity. In this message, Pastor Gerber looks at Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb and the moment Jesus simply speaks her name. “Mary.” Before she is sent, she is known. Before vocation comes identity. Our identity is not something we achieve. It is something we receive. "I am a child of God, known and loved by Jesus." Jesus gives us an identity to live from, and then He gives us vocations to live in. Isaiah 43:1–7 1 John 3:1–3 John 20:11–18

Joyfully We Reflect     What does it mean to reflect the light of Jesus? Like the moon reflecting the sun, we don’t create the light. We receive it. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). As we remain in Him, He gives us life, bears fruit through us, and makes His light visible in the world. Reflecting Jesus isn’t about trying harder to look like Him. It’s about receiving from Him so that His grace, compassion, generosity, mercy, and love become visible through us and point others back to the source. Exodus 34:29–35 Philippians 2:12–16 John 15:1–11

What does leading look like as a follower of Christ?   Doing,  Giving and Telling is how we can lead in our walk with Jesus.   Doing, our actions, are a way to lead as Christians. People pay attention to whether what we are doing matches with we say we believe, who/what we stand for.   Giving is another way to lead.  Where our dollars go, Jesus can go. Vicariously being a missionary is absolutely possible through our giving and it doesn’t just have to be in a far away place.  Giving right here at Trinity is a form of leading by supporting the Word and Sacrament ministry that WE receive.   Finally, telling, telling others who Jesus is.  What does that look like for you personally?  Have you ever tried it?  Has God put those opportunities in front of you but you maybe weren’t ready for them?  How do you get ready for them and lead people to Jesus through telling others who Jesus is?   Ultimately, we can all joyfully lead, lead people to Jesus.  There is nothing more important, but it is also quite a challenge.  With God’s help, you too can lead joyfully, through the strength and guidance of His Spirit.   Isaiah 6:1-8 Ephesians 4:11-16 Matthew 28:16-20

Evening Prayer Opening From the rising of the sun to its setting,  The name of the Lord is to be praised You, O Lord, are my lamp.  My God, You make my darkness bright.  Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God. Candle Lighting Prayer of Approach (from St. Augustine) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy. Psalm Reading – Psalm 117 – NLT (Pentecost) Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! Scripture Reading – 1 John 4:10-11 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another  Silent Meditation on God’s Word As we enter this time of meditation on God’s Word, we pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses on the presence of God, and to take a moment of silent prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us through His Word. -Pause- As I read our text for today, listen for one word or phrase that is being spoken by God to you. Ask yourself: Through which word or phrase is God wanting to speak to me today? Allow that word or phrase to guide your meditation today. Repeat it over and over in your mind. Let it wash over you. Let it fill you. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another  As the Holy Spirit speaks to You today through His Word, take a moment now to pause and repeat that word over and over in your mind as you allow God’s Word to wash over you and fill you. -Pause- Now we reflect on the word or phrase that God is highlighting for us today. Ask yourself: What part of my life needs to hear this word from God? The Spirit has highlighted something in this text for you today. What part of you really needs to hear that? Here, I will read the text again, and then we will have a longer time of silence to reflect on what God is highlighting for you today. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another  Take a moment now to pause and consider: What part of your life needs to hear this word from God today? -Pause- Now we respond to God’s Word. As yourself, What is my response to God based on what I have encountered in His Word? Because God speaks to us all in different ways, your response can also take on many different forms. Maybe that response is in the form of a prayer. Use this time to thank and praise God. Speak to and listen to Him. Ask Him for something. Allow your prayer to flow from your heart freely and fully. Or maybe God is reminding you of something. Maybe He’s reminding you of your identity in Him. Or of His promises. Or of His presence in your life. And so I encourage you to sit in that reminder. Or is God inviting you to respond in some physical way to the word that you have heard? Maybe it’s an encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to stop doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to start doing something new. We hear God’s Word and respond to it.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another  Take a moment now to pause and consider: What is your response to God based on what you have encountered in His Word? -Pause- And now we rest in God’s Word. We have read God’s Word. We have reflected on it. You have responded to it. Now we return to a place of rest.  Remember that this rest is not based on your works. It is not based on your response to God’s Word. But today and every day, we can rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another  Take a moment now to rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today. -Pause- Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven: hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven:  Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:  and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Invitation to Share Benediction Eternal Creator of light, Yours is the morning and Yours is the evening. Draw us to Yourself so there will be no darkness within us. Amen. Let us go in peace. Thanks be to God. *Liturgy was compiled using resources from Lectio 365 and Ruth Haley Barton’s “Invitation to Retreat.”

Love can be used in so many ways when referring to parts of speech.  Of course it can be a thing, a noun, likely its most common use.  Love is from God.   It can be an adjective.  Throw an -ing on the end and there are MANY ways love can be used.  An adjective: A loving God sent His Son.  An adverb: God lovingly gave His Son to die for us.   It can be the subject of a sentence.  It can be a predicate adjective or a predicate noun.  It can be an the object to a preposition.   But the way James uses the word love is the most important way to use the word Love - as a verb.  Not just a verb, but an action verb. When we love others it is the grateful, obedient, joyful response toward God and toward our neighbor, especially the vulnerable and the stranger.  Joy arises not from the duty alone to love one another, but from knowing we are already loved and chosen.  Loved by our God who would and did die for us.  He took our place.   God gives.  We respond by loving.  Loving with joy, because He first loved me.   Deuteronomy 10:12-19 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21 John 3:14-21

What does it mean to joyfully learn from Jesus? In the story of Mary and Martha, Mary chooses the good portion by sitting at Jesus’ feet and receiving from Him. Jesus Himself is the gift. As His disciples and apprentices, we continue to hear His voice through His Word, where He teaches, corrects, forgives, and forms us throughout our lives. Joyful learning isn’t about checking spiritual boxes. It’s the gift of sitting at the feet of Jesus and being shaped by Him. Acts 17:10–12 Colossians 3:12–17 Luke 10:38–42

Midday Prayer Opening O Lord, open my lips And my mouth will declare Your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord.   Candle Lighting   Prayer of Approach (from St. Augustine) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy.   Psalm Reading - Psalm 117 - NLT (Pentecost) Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!   Scripture Reading - Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Silent Meditation on God’s Word   As we enter this time of meditation on God’s Word, we pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses on the presence of God, and to take a moment of silent prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us through His Word.   -Pause-   As I read our text for today, listen for one word or phrase that is being spoken by God to you.   Ask yourself: Through which word or phrase is God wanting to speak to me today?   Allow that word or phrase to guide your meditation today. Repeat it over and over in your mind. Let it wash over you. Let it fill you.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   As the Holy Spirit speaks to You today through His Word, take a moment now to pause and repeat that word over and over in your mind as you allow God’s Word to wash over you and fill you.   -Pause-   Now we reflect on the word or phrase that God is highlighting for us today.   Ask yourself: What part of my life needs to hear this word from God?   The Spirit has highlighted something in this text for you today. What part of you really needs to hear that?   Here, I will read the text again, and then we will have a longer time of silence to reflect on what God is highlighting for you today.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What part of your life needs to hear this word from God today?   -Pause-   Now we respond to God’s Word.   As yourself, What is my response to God based on what I have encountered in His Word?   Because God speaks to us all in different ways, your response can also take on many different forms.   Maybe that response is in the form of a prayer. Use this time to thank and praise God. Speak to and listen to Him. Ask Him for something. Allow your prayer to flow from your heart freely and fully.   Or maybe God is reminding you of something. Maybe He’s reminding you of your identity in Him. Or of His promises. Or of His presence in your life. And so I encourage you to sit in that reminder.   Or is God inviting you to respond in some physical way to the word that you have heard?   Maybe it’s an encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to stop doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to start doing something new.   We hear God's Word and respond to it.    Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What is your response to God based on what you have encountered in His Word?   -Pause-   And now we rest in God’s Word.   We have read God’s Word. We have reflected on it. You have responded to it.   Now we return to a place of rest.    Remember that this rest is not based on your works. It is not based on your response to God’s Word. But today and every day, we can rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today.   -Pause-   Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven: hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven:  Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:  and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   Benediction Eternal Creator of light, Yours is the morning and Yours is the evening. Draw us to Yourself so there will be no darkness within us. Amen. Let us go in peace. Thanks be to God. *Liturgy was compiled using resources from Lectio 365 and Ruth Haley Barton's "Invitation to Retreat."

When Jesus tells his disciples and us today to “do his words” it doesn’t mean there won’t be storms in our lives as all of us absolutely know.  Sometimes it’s storm after storm.  Where is the calm?   The calm is in our hearts and minds through one thing - faith in Christ Jesus.  He is THE Rock, not just “A” rock.  How we hold up during the storms of our lives is dependent upon our faith in Jesus, our Rock, our Redeemer.   What a foundation He gives us.  A foundation built for us by blood, sweat and tears of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, yes, but not the storms of the world although He could if He desired.  But that isn’t the way He works.  He does the heavy lifting.  We do the trusting and believing.  Living inside the will of God is the safest place to be.  Living outside God’s will, well, we are asking for trouble.   But even then, our Rock and Redeemer isn’t going anywhere.  He is always ready to forgive, ready to lift us up again.  It’s what our God does.  It’s who our God is.     Isaiah 28:14–18 James 1:19–27 Matthew 7:24-29

Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. That doesn’t mean we stop planning or doing the work in front of us. It means we stop asking our money, plans, abilities, and anxiety to guarantee the future. Instead, Jesus points us to the birds and the lilies. They receive what the Father gives and do what He created them to do today. In the same way, our heavenly Father knows what we need, provides for us, and frees us to live faithfully in the present. Because tomorrow already belongs to the Father, we can receive today with gratitude, see the people and needs around us, and use what God has placed into our hands without asking those gifts to control the future. Exodus 16:1–6, 13–21 1 Timothy 6:6–19 Matthew 6:19–34

Jesus warns against practicing righteousness in order to be seen by others. Whether we are giving, praying, or fasting, the praise of the world can feel like a reward. But it is an incredibly small one. It doesn’t last, it can’t save us, and it can’t hold us together when life falls apart. Again and again, Jesus points us to something greater: “your Father.” The greatest reward is not simply what the Father gives, but the Father Himself. And through Jesus, our great High Priest, we are invited to draw near to Him with confidence. In Christ, the Father gives us not only daily bread, but the Bread of Life. Not only clothing, but the righteousness of Jesus. Not only His gifts, but Himself. Isaiah 58:1–12 Hebrews 4:14–16 Matthew 6:1–18

"Missionary Gary" Theis shares his thoughts on the bible and  miracles God still provides. The joy the Lord that is found in not being normal.

Changed hearts.  This is what Jesus is after in this part of His Sermon on the Mount.  It is not about check lists.  They will ALWAYS be imperfect.  Even when we have a TO DO list, and start crossing things off on it, you can still see through the scribbles and be reminded of not being able to be perfect when it comes to DOING what is needed to be done.  Also, there are some things that remain on our TO DO lists unchecked as we either run out of time to do them or ignore them out of inconvenience.   Jesus reminds us in these verses that our imperfections are not going to go away on our own.  However, Jesus, Himself, absolutely can and did perfectly fulfill the LAW for us.  His righteousness redeems us, not our “trying” hard enough to DO the things we have to do.  No, God promises to give us NEW HEARTS through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our lights shine because of our transformed hearts, not out of our ability or inability to be righteous by upholding, perfectly, the Law of God, which we can’t.  But HE can and HE did, for You and for me.  He took our imperfections to the cross and he finished what was needed for us to be saved.  Check√ Isaiah 49:1-6 Philippians 2:12-18 Matthew 5:13-16

Last week we heard that we are empty vessels filled with Jesus. This weekend we ask: What does a life look like when that vessel is full, oozing out? In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus declares, “You are the light of the world” and commands us, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This is not about hiding Jesus or shining our own light, but allowing Christ’s light to shine through us. When we are filled with Him, our good works, done in faith, love, and service, become visible reflections of His grace. Others see them and are drawn to glorify our Father in heaven. Isaiah 49:1-6 Philippians 2:12-18 Matthew 5:13-16