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.

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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October 10, 2026 •

Weekly Message from Pastor Paul for October 10, 2026

Rev. Pastor Amlin

Senior Pastor

October 3, 2026 • 4 Minute Read

Weekly message from Pastor Paul

Dear Church, Grace and peace to you, in the name of Jesus. Amen. Your church is back in action this weekend, driven by the Holy Spirit to love and serve all. SATURDAY: 8:00 AM Property Team meets to care for the lawn 10:00 AM Blessing of the Animals takes place under the oaks 10:00 AM Oktoberfest Planning Team Meeting 10:30 AM Worship & Music Committee Meeting 5:00 PM Café Style Worship Service in fellowship hall SUNDAY: 9:30 AM Worship service in-person and online 10:30 AM Fellowship Hour in fellowship hall SOCIAL MEDIA - YOU CAN HELP! Are you following us on social media? Resurrection has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. When you like a post, comment, or share a post from the church you help us be elevated in the recommendations on each platform. That really makes a difference! Will you please follow our social media channels and join our evangelism efforts just by liking our posts? PET BLESSING - FUN, EASY WAY TO INVITE A FRIEND TO CHURCH! Today, if you are reading this on Saturday morning, you can invite a friend in one the easiest invites to church you will ever offer. Everyone loves their pets, you love your church, it’s a win-win! OKTOBERFEST - JOIN THE TEAM, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! As we ramp up for our first Oktoberfest, we are looking for team members to help in a variety of ways in a wide range of time and effort commitments. This is a major OUTREACH effort by your church and we are all involved. Talk to Sue Hall or email office@goresurrection.com to find out how to help. THIS WEEK’S READINGS Isaiah 5:1-7 The song of the vineyard Psalm 80:7-15 Look down from heaven, O God; behold and tend this vine. (Ps. 80:14, 15) Philippians 3:4b-14 Nothing surpasses the value of knowing Christ Matthew 21:33-46 The parable of the vineyard owner’s son Jesus, Cornerstone of Our FaithGod has showered humanity with gifts and blessings, but humanity continues to abuse those gifts. We have been entrusted with a creation to care for, and in our shortsightedness we abuse and pollute the earth, even bringing about the extinction of entire species. We have been given the ability to create so many wonderful things, and even this gift we abuse as we gather and keep as much as we can for ourselves. This is nothing new. Even in the days of Isaiah it was clear the people turned away from God’s gifts. God expected righteousness and justice. Instead the people responded with bloodshed and suffering, turning away from God. Even if you can think of all the ways you have not turned from God and all the ways you have been faithful, it does no good. As Paul reminds us in the reading from Philippians, “Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ” (Phil. 3:7). Even all of Paul’s good and faithful acts add up to nothing. For Paul, and for us, all that matters is Jesus. As Christ himself reminds us, he is our rock, our cornerstone. Jesus is the foundation for our faith and the foundation for our lives. Even as we turn from Jesus, even as we reject Jesus, he returns to us with love and forgiveness. This is the grace of God, the love of God coming into our world and into our lives. To our joy we discover the open arms of Jesus on the cross, bringing life into this world even where there is death; bringing hope where there is despair; and bringing resurrection to all creation. The gospel has a way of making us look at ourselves and our actions and work out whether we are following Jesus (or someone/something else). This weekend as we worship (and what a gift it is to worship together!) we will look at these readings, offer our prayers and give our thanks to God, even as we are reminded through confession and the Lord’s Supper, that we are treasured and loved by God. I can’t wait to worship with you this weekend! In peace and hope, Pastor Paul ✝️

Rev. Pastor Amlin

Senior Pastor

September 5, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

Weekly Update

Weekly Message from Pastor Paul 👋 Dear Church, Grace and peace are yours through Jesus Christ. Amen. This weekend at Resurrection... Saturday 8:00 AM Property Team Mowing and Care 10:00 AM Fall Festival Planning Team Meeting Fellowship Hall 5:00 PM Café Style Worship Service in Fellowship Hall Sunday 9:30 AM Worship [Welcome new Director of Music, Gina Jones!] 10:30 AM Fellowship Hour in Fellowship Hall NEXT WEEKEND "God’s Work. Our Hands." Sunday Next Week! We will support Matthew’s Hope by collecting pouches (no cans, please) of meat, (tuna, chicken, spam) on September 5 and 13. There will be a special basket at the baptismal font for these donations. REMEMBER to wear your GWOH t-shirts to worship NEXT SUNDAY. Service projects will include, • Making sandwiches for Matthew's Hope for distribution to the homeless and hungry • Preparing snack bags for children with The Children's Hunger Project. These bags will be distributed to children through Brevard County Schools. • Writing cards of encouragement and support for shut-ins and thank you cards for first responders. And finally, our readings for this weekend for your review before worship. Ezekiel 33:7-11 The prophet’s responsibility to warn the people Psalm 119:33-40 I desire the path of your commandments. (Ps. 119:35) Romans 13:8-14 Live honorably as in the day Matthew 18:15-20 Reconciliation in the community of faith Called to Community Content provided by Sundays & Seasons Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matt. 18:20). In these Sundays after Pentecost, we are repeatedly reminded that God has not abandoned us and that Christ’s resurrection and ascension are a beginning for us, not an end. The readings this week focus on the practical work of the gathered Christian community: turning from sin to repentance, from conflict to reconciliation. The question is as relevant today as it was for the disciples and the first Christians: How do we live together, work together, as the body of Christ? We have been saved by grace, liberated by God’s love to love one another. What does it mean for us and for our community to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 13:14) and to clothe ourselves in love? We keep asking these questions because the way we gather as Christians continues to be profoundly countercultural. We do not gather as a social club, drawn and kept together only by shared demographics and interests. If church is only a social club, there is no reason to continue to gather if conflict arises, if uncomfortable issues are raised, or if “the way it’s always been” begins to change. If church is only a social club, there is no reason to do the hard work of reconciliation and forgiveness. God calls us into community knowing that being in community is hard. In scripture we can find practical guidance for gathering through good and hard times. The Holy Spirit is always at work—in, through, and among us—to gather and regather us again. In community we meet and become Christ’s body in ways that are impossible for us as individuals; all the commandments are fulfilled in this call to neighbor-love (Rom. 13:9). What a gift we share in this community at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection! We gather this weekend around Christ and with Christ all around us. I can’t wait to worship with you! In peace and hope, Pastor PaulWatch OnlineSubscribe To Our Podcast Giving Your generosity makes our work in our community possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Here

Rev. Pastor Amlin

Senior Pastor

Currently Reading

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.

Rev. Pastor Amlin

Senior Pastor