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All Saints Day is a time to remember those who have gone before us in the faith. We remember their lives, give thanks for them, and grieve their absence. Death is real, and so is the pain it leaves behind. But because Jesus is risen, grief and death do not get the final word. Jesus promises, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). That comfort isn't simply the hope that someday our grief will hurt less. It's the promise of a day when death itself will be no more. Because Jesus died and rose again, all who belong to Him will also be raised to new life. We still mourn those we love, but we do not grieve without hope. The resurrection changes how we remember, how we grieve, and how we look toward the future. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! And that changes everything. Scripture Readings: Revelation 7:9–17 1 John 3:1–3 Matthew 5:1–12   We Learn from God's Word, grow together in Love, and are equipped to Lead. Use these questions to continue the conversation with your family or friends. What is a favorite memory you have of someone who has passed away? Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). How does knowing that Jesus rose from the dead change the way we grieve? Who in your life is grieving right now, and what is one way you could share the comfort and hope of Jesus with them this week?

Reformation is a big deal in the Lutheran Church but Luther’s desire was not to not be Catholic.  His desire was for the church to get back on point when it comes to Freedom, Freedom from sin.    It eventually became crystal clear to him that freedom from sin isn’t something we can earn.  Freedom from sin is something that has been earned for us by Jesus.  It was not and is not some kind of human process.  Penance doesn’t forgive you.  Pilgrimages don’t forgive you.  Venerating holy relics doesn't forgive you.  Special masses don’t forgive you.  Indulgences don’t forgive you.   Forgiveness can’t be earned, performed or purchased by any human means.  Only Jesus forgives.  Freedom from sin is entirely a gift earned by Jesus, received through faith.    Revelation 14:6-7 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36

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 - Mark 4:38b-41 Silent Meditation on God’s Word And the disciples said to him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?” 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.   And the disciples said to him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”   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.   And the disciples said to him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”   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. Ask 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.    And the disciples said to him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”   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.   And the disciples said to him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?” 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."

Last week, we looked at the Samaritan woman at the well who encountered "Living Water" and ran back to her town saying, "Come and see!" But when we actually take that step to come and see... who is it that we find? In THIS message, we unpack the ultimate question behind every Scripture promise: “Who is Jesus?” From calming the raging seas in Mark 4 to bringing everlasting light into our darkest moments in Isaiah 9,  God's Word, from the Old Testament prophecies to the Gospels, every promise points back to a single, central question: "Who is Jesus?" Discover how Jesus isn't just a figure from history, but the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Peace in the middle of whatever storm you're facing today.   Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Colossians 1:15-20 Mark 4:35-41

We simply can’t keep the good news of Jesus to ourselves. Jonah tried but was sent straight into a fish’s belly for three days. Peter in his first letter gives a gentle, relational posture for witness; be prepared to give a reason for the hope inside of you. With gentleness and respect.  What does that look like for each of us? Are you willing to do such a thing? Absolutely, is the answer! The Samaritan woman at the well certainly wasn’t an elegant speaker. She simply shared what she KNEW about Jesus. He is the One who would keep on living forever and ever. Our faith in Jesus is not complicated and yes, it needs to be and should be shared. We are ALL capable. YOU CAN DO IT.   It’s time to make that invitation for someone to join you this coming weekend at worship to see, hear and meet Jesus for themselves.     Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Peter 3:13-17 John 4:27-30, 39-42

God gives us far more than money. Our abilities, opportunities, relationships, time, resources, and even our ability to work are gifts He places into our care. Scripture invites us to see those gifts not simply as possessions, but as something entrusted to us for a purpose. David prayed, “All things come from You, and of Your own have we given You.” Generosity begins by recognizing whose gifts they really are. God entrusts His gifts to us, so we use them for His purposes. That can be difficult when fear tells us to hold tightly to what we have. But our security is not found in what we can save or accumulate. God has given us His Son, and in Jesus we have a promise that not even death can separate us from His love. Freed from asking God’s gifts to secure us, we can use them with thanksgiving and joy. Generosity becomes more than giving something away. It becomes an opportunity to participate in what God is doing. 1 Chronicles 29:10–18 2 Corinthians 9:6–15 Mark 12:41–44

Jesus couldn’t help himself.  Yes, Jesus did many signs and  miracles to slowly reveal that indeed He was the Son of God, but it was often for another reason, Jesus had compassion.  He had compassion on a grieving widow whose son had died bringing him back to life with his words.   He had compassion on the hungry multitudes listening to him for three days with no food to eat.  He had compassion on crowds who were lost, helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He had compassion on the blind who could not see.  He had compassion on, well, on everyone.   In every instance, Jesus didn’t just notice the need—He took action, allowing His heart to be moved into compassionate service for those right in front of Him. But His example doesn't end in the pages of Scripture; it calls us to follow in His steps. Who has God placed in front of you today? Take a moment to look around your daily life, your neighborhood, and your workplace. Where might God be calling you to open your eyes, notice someone in need, and reflect the very same heart of Christ’s compassion? Ruth 2:8-16 Philippians 2:1-4 Mark 1:40-45

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