Message from Pastor Paul for September 12, 2026

Rev. Pastor Amlin • Senior Pastor
September 12, 2026

3 Minute Read
 
 
Dear Church,
Grace and peace to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This weekend we have a lot happening at church.
Today (Saturday):
8am Property Team - caring for our lawn and landscaping
9-11am Sari’s Food Pantry - grocery distribution
10am-Noon Bike Ministry - Refurbishing and giving away bikes
5pm Cafe Style Worship Service - Fellowship hall around the tables
Sunday: [Wear your God’s Work. Our Hands. shirts to church!]
9:30am Worship Service (in person and livestreamed)
10:30am Fellowship hour
10:30am God’s Work. Our Hands. service projects in fellowship.
  1. Project options include making sandwiches for Matthew’s Hope street team to hand out to the homeless and hungry
  2. Pack snack bags for children in Brevard schools through The Children’s Hunger Project
  3. Hand written encouragement and thank you cards
 We’ll have something for everyone to do. Bring your smiles and desire to help.
On Sunday we will officially install Gina Jones as our new Director of Music Ministry during the 9:30 a.m. service. If you haven’t had a chance to welcome her or if you’d like to let her know of your interest in the vocal or bell choirs, click on her photo to find a link to her staff page and email.
 
THIS WEEKEND’S READINGS
Genesis 50:15-21
Joseph reconciles with his brothers
Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13
Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8)
Romans 14:1-12
Accepting diversity in the community of faith
Matthew 18:21-35
A parable of forgiveness in the community of faith
New Perspective
Being a disciple requires an expansive perspective on forgiveness. Today our perspective is broadened by the good news that God’s forgiveness is not based on our idea of fairness, but rather on abundant, unimaginable grace. God “[has] not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). The king forgives our entire debt, no matter how enormous it is (Matt. 18:23-27). We also are challenged to stretch our perspective and forgive each other. With Peter, we learn to stop keeping score (Matt. 18:21-22).
It’s not an easy thing to do. Again and again we fall back on limited human understandings of what is “fair.” Looking at the story of Joseph and his brothers, it’s easy for us to say that his brothers really didn’t deserve forgiveness. Even their plea for forgiveness is dishonest and manipulative—have they really repented (Gen. 50:15-17)? Joseph takes the wider view and realizes that it isn’t his brothers’ intentions that matter, but God’s. God’s forgiveness is much greater than what is fair, what we deserve.
So what does this new, broadened perspective look like in the lives of Christians and congregations? Paul provides a pragmatic glimpse: “Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat, for God has welcomed them” (Rom. 14:3). If all are truly welcomed by God, we are called to share the good news of that welcome in all we say and do.*
This weekend, see if you can follow the thread that connects all of our readings together. I’ll be asking you to think about one big question during the sermon. “How many times do you want God to forgive you?” I’ll be talking about that and much more as we gather for worship on this “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday.
I can’t wait to worship with you this weekend!
In peace and hope,
Pastor Paul
 
*The weekly perspective on the readings is taken from Sundays and Seasons, our worship planning website for the ELCA.
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From this Author: Rev. Pastor Amlin
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September 12, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Message from Pastor Paul for September 12, 2026
Dear Church, Grace and peace to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. This weekend we have a lot happening at church. Today (Saturday): 8am Property Team - caring for our lawn and landscaping 9-11am Sari’s Food Pantry - grocery distribution 10am-Noon Bike Ministry - Refurbishing and giving away bikes 5pm Cafe Style Worship Service - Fellowship hall around the tables Sunday: [Wear your God’s Work. Our Hands. shirts to church!] 9:30am Worship Service (in person and livestreamed) 10:30am Fellowship hour 10:30am God’s Work. Our Hands. service projects in fellowship. Project options include making sandwiches for Matthew’s Hope street team to hand out to the homeless and hungry Pack snack bags for children in Brevard schools through The Children’s Hunger Project Hand written encouragement and thank you cards We’ll have something for everyone to do. Bring your smiles and desire to help. On Sunday we will officially install Gina Jones as our new Director of Music Ministry during the 9:30 a.m. service. If you haven’t had a chance to welcome her or if you’d like to let her know of your interest in the vocal or bell choirs, click on her photo to find a link to her staff page and email. THIS WEEKEND’S READINGS Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph reconciles with his brothers Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13 Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8) Romans 14:1-12 Accepting diversity in the community of faith Matthew 18:21-35 A parable of forgiveness in the community of faith New Perspective Being a disciple requires an expansive perspective on forgiveness. Today our perspective is broadened by the good news that God’s forgiveness is not based on our idea of fairness, but rather on abundant, unimaginable grace. God “[has] not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). The king forgives our entire debt, no matter how enormous it is (Matt. 18:23-27). We also are challenged to stretch our perspective and forgive each other. With Peter, we learn to stop keeping score (Matt. 18:21-22). It’s not an easy thing to do. Again and again we fall back on limited human understandings of what is “fair.” Looking at the story of Joseph and his brothers, it’s easy for us to say that his brothers really didn’t deserve forgiveness. Even their plea for forgiveness is dishonest and manipulative—have they really repented (Gen. 50:15-17)? Joseph takes the wider view and realizes that it isn’t his brothers’ intentions that matter, but God’s. God’s forgiveness is much greater than what is fair, what we deserve. So what does this new, broadened perspective look like in the lives of Christians and congregations? Paul provides a pragmatic glimpse: “Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat, for God has welcomed them” (Rom. 14:3). If all are truly welcomed by God, we are called to share the good news of that welcome in all we say and do.* This weekend, see if you can follow the thread that connects all of our readings together. I’ll be asking you to think about one big question during the sermon. “How many times do you want God to forgive you?” I’ll be talking about that and much more as we gather for worship on this “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday. I can’t wait to worship with you this weekend! In peace and hope, Pastor Paul *The weekly perspective on the readings is taken from Sundays and Seasons, our worship planning website for the ELCA.

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