The Lutheran Podcast Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:04:18 -0400 http://thelutheranpodcast.buzzsprout.com en © 2026 The Lutheran Podcast yes Support this Podcast f22e6566-597f-5440-8be8-28d9e520a336 ericthelutheran episodic false I'm Rev. Eric Wolf, a pastor, writer, and musician.


I've previously posted almost exclusively sermons, but I'm writing a book called Myth of a Dying Church, and am now also posting episodes about the topics in and related to the book.


I believe strongly that the task of preaching is to engage Scripture as a mirror held up to our lives so that we can confront what we see with integrity. This image we engage helps us to understand what it means to be Children of God; gain perspective of what it means that our primary citizenship and allegiance belongs to God’s Kingdom; and discover how the love of God transforms what we see when we look at ourselves, the people in our lives, and the world that God so loves.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Faith, Jesus, Christian, Lutheran, love, hope, healing, forgiveness, football ericthelutheran https://storage.buzzsprout.com/q30sgq1mlqwvgagif4szjx3wd67k?.jpg The Lutheran Podcast http://thelutheranpodcast.buzzsprout.com What if Hell is Empty? What if Hell is Empty? What if Hell is Empty? 

For the sake of transparency, “What if Hell Is empty?” isn’t a question I actually ask during this sermon, but it’s a question I’ve long asked. One reason for this is the idea that the credal confessions that “Jesus descended to hell” occupy an interesting space in Christianity tradition in the form of the idea that Jesus died and then went to take God’s Grace and glory to the famed in what we call the Harrowing of Hell. 

The scriptures this week invite us to wrestle with our imperfection’s and brokenness, and our ability to love each other imperfectly. We ask the question, what does it mean when we say God loves us perfectly? If God loves us beyond understanding, and we sinful imperfect people can learn to love each other, what must God’s perfect love look like? What if Hell really IS empty?

Support the show

]]> What if Hell is Empty? 

For the sake of transparency, “What if Hell Is empty?” isn’t a question I actually ask during this sermon, but it’s a question I’ve long asked. One reason for this is the idea that the credal confessions that “Jesus descended to hell” occupy an interesting space in Christianity tradition in the form of the idea that Jesus died and then went to take God’s Grace and glory to the famed in what we call the Harrowing of Hell. 

The scriptures this week invite us to wrestle with our imperfection’s and brokenness, and our ability to love each other imperfectly. We ask the question, what does it mean when we say God loves us perfectly? If God loves us beyond understanding, and we sinful imperfect people can learn to love each other, what must God’s perfect love look like? What if Hell really IS empty?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-19159981 Mon, 11 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1047 full false Thomas’ Day of Visibility Thomas’ Day of Visibility Being a disciple wasn’t easy in the days but it was even harder being Thomas because the other disciples saw Jesus — and he missed it. I imagine this hurt. Jesus saw Thomas’ hurt and offered what he needed to heal. 

The kingdom of God os a place where love sees our wound’s and gives us what we need to heal.

Support the show

]]> Being a disciple wasn’t easy in the days but it was even harder being Thomas because the other disciples saw Jesus — and he missed it. I imagine this hurt. Jesus saw Thomas’ hurt and offered what he needed to heal. 

The kingdom of God os a place where love sees our wound’s and gives us what we need to heal.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-19001551 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400 1078 full false God Loves the Gays, and So Should We (Lent 1 2026) God Loves the Gays, and So Should We (Lent 1 2026) Our congregation is taking some bold steps during Letn this year, we're on the path to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation, meaning that we're becoming a congregation who intentionally and actively seeks out and welcomes LGBTQIA+ folks and persons of color.

The ACT of loving folks who have been traditionally eschewed by the Church isn't something new to St. James. We've welcomed LGBTQIA+ persons for a long time now. What's new is that we haven't enshrined it in writing as a core part of our identity as a congregation.

At its heart, while this is very much about learning to be more welcoming of people who society marginalizes, it's also more closely related to our identity as a congregation – one that's much like so many congregations right now. We've been here for over seventy-five years, but we look around our neighborhood and don't see our physical neighbors in worship like we used to. 

Part of what it means to reconcile ourselves to Christ and his welcome is learning to reconcile ourselves to our neighbors and meet them again for the first time. 

This is holy, hopeful work. Here's to a Lenten discipline that we hope will change us all for the better.

Support the show

]]> Our congregation is taking some bold steps during Letn this year, we're on the path to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation, meaning that we're becoming a congregation who intentionally and actively seeks out and welcomes LGBTQIA+ folks and persons of color.

The ACT of loving folks who have been traditionally eschewed by the Church isn't something new to St. James. We've welcomed LGBTQIA+ persons for a long time now. What's new is that we haven't enshrined it in writing as a core part of our identity as a congregation.

At its heart, while this is very much about learning to be more welcoming of people who society marginalizes, it's also more closely related to our identity as a congregation – one that's much like so many congregations right now. We've been here for over seventy-five years, but we look around our neighborhood and don't see our physical neighbors in worship like we used to. 

Part of what it means to reconcile ourselves to Christ and his welcome is learning to reconcile ourselves to our neighbors and meet them again for the first time. 

This is holy, hopeful work. Here's to a Lenten discipline that we hope will change us all for the better.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-18756411 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1557 full false Ashen Dreams (Ash Wednesday 2026) Ashen Dreams (Ash Wednesday 2026) Ash Wednesday is a singular moment, not only in the Church year, but in our culture as well. Very seldom do we feel comfortable engaging our mortality, and there are entire industries devoted to helping us forget that all of us are mortal and time comes for us all.

As challenging as it is to confront this reality, reckoning with our own mortality also brings an air of release. We aren't meant to be eternal in this life, but what we offer is something of the eternal mystery – love. We worship God, who doesn't need us for existence, sustenance, or power; yet God does desire relationship. 

What can we offer but a broken heart to the one who knows how to fix it?

Support the show

]]> Ash Wednesday is a singular moment, not only in the Church year, but in our culture as well. Very seldom do we feel comfortable engaging our mortality, and there are entire industries devoted to helping us forget that all of us are mortal and time comes for us all.

As challenging as it is to confront this reality, reckoning with our own mortality also brings an air of release. We aren't meant to be eternal in this life, but what we offer is something of the eternal mystery – love. We worship God, who doesn't need us for existence, sustenance, or power; yet God does desire relationship. 

What can we offer but a broken heart to the one who knows how to fix it?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-18756381 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 715 full false Transfiguring It Out Transfiguring It Out A prophet, a lawgiver, and the Messiah are transfigured on a mountain. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it's more about the identity of the Jewish people in Jesus' construction of the faith. It's about the discples' response and not knowing how to respond.

Faith isn't about morality or being a good person, but the lifelong pursuit of seeking the eternal in order to better understand ourselves. Faith is an exercise in identity. The transfiguration is about the identity of people who follow Jesus or seek faith two thousand years later in a moment when so many of us are wondering whether there's any way that we can share a national identity again.

And in a world that declares the best use of religion is to produce good people and good citizens, what Jesus brings is just as surprising as it was in the First Century – it's not about being good, but through learning to love faithfully, we learn to become human.

Support the show

]]> A prophet, a lawgiver, and the Messiah are transfigured on a mountain. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it's more about the identity of the Jewish people in Jesus' construction of the faith. It's about the discples' response and not knowing how to respond.

Faith isn't about morality or being a good person, but the lifelong pursuit of seeking the eternal in order to better understand ourselves. Faith is an exercise in identity. The transfiguration is about the identity of people who follow Jesus or seek faith two thousand years later in a moment when so many of us are wondering whether there's any way that we can share a national identity again.

And in a world that declares the best use of religion is to produce good people and good citizens, what Jesus brings is just as surprising as it was in the First Century – it's not about being good, but through learning to love faithfully, we learn to become human.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-18756314 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 976 full false Living Faith in a Deadly Moment Living Faith in a Deadly Moment It feels like our nation’s heart is broken by the enduring cruelty of our current leadership. The last two wells include the military takedown of Venezuela’s President and Renee Good’s murder at the hands of an ICE agents. Our conscience faith informs our conscience, demanding action. Yet our faithful action is driven by identity, not simply by the event of the moment. 

What do we do when we have no idea what to do?

Support the show

]]> It feels like our nation’s heart is broken by the enduring cruelty of our current leadership. The last two wells include the military takedown of Venezuela’s President and Renee Good’s murder at the hands of an ICE agents. Our conscience faith informs our conscience, demanding action. Yet our faithful action is driven by identity, not simply by the event of the moment. 

What do we do when we have no idea what to do?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-18493450 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500 908 full false Discovering the Sacred in Tragedy (Sanctuary South Shore) Discovering the Sacred in Tragedy (Sanctuary South Shore) There's a cliché that "bad things happen for a reason," and another, "God makes everything work out for good." Of the two, the first is kind of false unless the reason is, "sometimes things suck and people are evil." The second is more true, but also needs the caveat that the bad things aren't what God designs or wants — as far as I know, and I hold that to be very little on average. 

Ten years after the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9, I had the opportunity to be a guest preacher at Sanctuary South Shore in Plymouth, MA, and participate in the sermon series ONE, which this week was about how we find unity in tragedy and attempted division, and come to a deeper understanding of God, ourselves, and each other by giving up on our differences in ways that divide us, and digging into our differences in ways that bring us closer in our common humanity. 


Sanctuary's a young congregation, around fifteen years old, and the newest thriving mission plant in the New England Synod. What they do well is a lot, but in terms of worship, they do a great job at reflecting the depth of liturgical worship-done-well in a supremely casual way.  It was wonderful to be there!

Support the show

]]> There's a cliché that "bad things happen for a reason," and another, "God makes everything work out for good." Of the two, the first is kind of false unless the reason is, "sometimes things suck and people are evil." The second is more true, but also needs the caveat that the bad things aren't what God designs or wants — as far as I know, and I hold that to be very little on average. 

Ten years after the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9, I had the opportunity to be a guest preacher at Sanctuary South Shore in Plymouth, MA, and participate in the sermon series ONE, which this week was about how we find unity in tragedy and attempted division, and come to a deeper understanding of God, ourselves, and each other by giving up on our differences in ways that divide us, and digging into our differences in ways that bring us closer in our common humanity. 


Sanctuary's a young congregation, around fifteen years old, and the newest thriving mission plant in the New England Synod. What they do well is a lot, but in terms of worship, they do a great job at reflecting the depth of liturgical worship-done-well in a supremely casual way.  It was wonderful to be there!

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-17396089 Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0400 1094 full false Sometimes We Get What We Look For (Christ the King) Sometimes We Get What We Look For (Christ the King) Today’s gospel is one in which we find some stunning decisions. Some lead to great increase and new responsibility; others lead to a no good very bad terrible day. 

The Gospel isn’t concerned with what we produce, but that we use what we’re given somehow. The talents given are grace-filled opportunities to do what we can with what we have. How will you respond?

Support the show

]]> Today’s gospel is one in which we find some stunning decisions. Some lead to great increase and new responsibility; others lead to a no good very bad terrible day. 

The Gospel isn’t concerned with what we produce, but that we use what we’re given somehow. The talents given are grace-filled opportunities to do what we can with what we have. How will you respond?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-14034618 Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500 1005 full false What God Has Wrought — Reformation Sunday 2023 What God Has Wrought — Reformation Sunday 2023 Psalm 46 speaks of the desolations God brings to the earth, and it’s our habit to think of floods and disasters. What God desolates is the implements of war — the bow, the spear, the chariots — the M-16, the Tomahawk Missile, the tank. 

The ongoing work of reforming our hearts is the never ending process of tearing our wars apart. 

Support the show

]]> Psalm 46 speaks of the desolations God brings to the earth, and it’s our habit to think of floods and disasters. What God desolates is the implements of war — the bow, the spear, the chariots — the M-16, the Tomahawk Missile, the tank. 

The ongoing work of reforming our hearts is the never ending process of tearing our wars apart. 

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-13866261 Sun, 29 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400 925 full false Kingdom Visions New and Old Kingdom Visions New and Old Jesus calls us to see God’s kingdom, not as a place of easy living, but of living together in good times and in bad. 

What does this vision inspire in you?

Support the show

]]> Jesus calls us to see God’s kingdom, not as a place of easy living, but of living together in good times and in bad. 

What does this vision inspire in you?

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-13822456 Sun, 22 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0400 885 full false Grace May be Free, but it isn't Cheap (Matthew 18:15-20) Grace May be Free, but it isn't Cheap (Matthew 18:15-20) Note: I read the Gospel and begin the sermon from one of the pews, rather than from the pulpit. I move to the pulpit after a couple minutes. It may be impossible to know this from the audio context.

What does it mean to apologize; to forgive; to reconcile?

How do we judge the value of these things, and how do we recognize sincerity?

God offers us grace without any price, but grace always comes at the cost of settling for new opportunities for renewed relationship rather than an evening of the scales.

How do we find what God proclaims to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sake, the joy of forgiveness without any expectation that we'll return the favor?

Support the show

]]> Note: I read the Gospel and begin the sermon from one of the pews, rather than from the pulpit. I move to the pulpit after a couple minutes. It may be impossible to know this from the audio context.

What does it mean to apologize; to forgive; to reconcile?

How do we judge the value of these things, and how do we recognize sincerity?

God offers us grace without any price, but grace always comes at the cost of settling for new opportunities for renewed relationship rather than an evening of the scales.

How do we find what God proclaims to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sake, the joy of forgiveness without any expectation that we'll return the favor?

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-13562733 Sun, 10 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400 777 full false Not On My Watch, Jesus! (Matthew 16:21-28) Not On My Watch, Jesus! (Matthew 16:21-28) Immediately preceding this reading, Peter confessed Jesus to be Messiah, and Jesus told him "good job!" Well, essentially. 

This week we see a different side of Peter and a different message from Jesus, who tells Peter in no uncertain terms that love requires sacrifice. God is providing the lamb. Anyone trying to distract him from this is at odds with God's will.

What do we do with this?

Support the show

]]> Immediately preceding this reading, Peter confessed Jesus to be Messiah, and Jesus told him "good job!" Well, essentially. 

This week we see a different side of Peter and a different message from Jesus, who tells Peter in no uncertain terms that love requires sacrifice. God is providing the lamb. Anyone trying to distract him from this is at odds with God's will.

What do we do with this?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-13519664 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400 1021 full false A Sacred Gift (Matthew 10:40-42) A Sacred Gift (Matthew 10:40-42) This sermon takes place the week after a challenging congregational meeting. I don't mean "challenging", as in code for "look, the roof is fire and the floor is fire and everything is fire!". I mean it in the sense that we had a couple of important decisions to make, and a member spoke from the depths of their heart and then left the meeting when the vote went another way. 

It was **challenging**. But challenging is healthy, and we need to do the hard things sometimes.

During the week between these Sundays, I was in a person's house with whom I'd had a "challenging" conflict in September 2021. In this case, I mean "challenging" as code for "look, the roof is fire and the floor is fire and everything is fire!". The exceedingly short version is during this visit they disclosed to me that I hurt them deeply, that they felt ignored and marginalized after. More, I followed up ineffective attempts at reconciliation by accepting the terrible advice to "let it lie so it will settle". this made them feel like I didn't even find them important enough to worry about, and deepened their hurt and anger. 

As people of God, we're called not to hold grudges. In that vein, I don't believe this person is holding a grudge. I believe they're still wounded, and I believe I left it open and seeping by not pushing harder to help them dictate what healing looks like.

All that to say this: 

So I wrote a sermon, and all this is its context. 

Grace & Peace,

pew

Support the show

]]> This sermon takes place the week after a challenging congregational meeting. I don't mean "challenging", as in code for "look, the roof is fire and the floor is fire and everything is fire!". I mean it in the sense that we had a couple of important decisions to make, and a member spoke from the depths of their heart and then left the meeting when the vote went another way. 

It was **challenging**. But challenging is healthy, and we need to do the hard things sometimes.

During the week between these Sundays, I was in a person's house with whom I'd had a "challenging" conflict in September 2021. In this case, I mean "challenging" as code for "look, the roof is fire and the floor is fire and everything is fire!". The exceedingly short version is during this visit they disclosed to me that I hurt them deeply, that they felt ignored and marginalized after. More, I followed up ineffective attempts at reconciliation by accepting the terrible advice to "let it lie so it will settle". this made them feel like I didn't even find them important enough to worry about, and deepened their hurt and anger. 

As people of God, we're called not to hold grudges. In that vein, I don't believe this person is holding a grudge. I believe they're still wounded, and I believe I left it open and seeping by not pushing harder to help them dictate what healing looks like.

All that to say this: 

So I wrote a sermon, and all this is its context. 

Grace & Peace,

pew

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-13182222 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:00:00 -0400 804 full false Enough, but of what? (Pentecost 3) Enough, but of what? (Pentecost 3) Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the ninth chapter.  

Glory to you, O Lord!

35Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

10:1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 

12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 

16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

The Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ!


 

Plenty, but of what?

It feels like we’re interrupting something in all three scriptures today. 

In Exodus, Moses and the Israelites were camping out at the base of Mt. Sinai. They left Egypt ate manna, and though Moses went up to the Lord on Mt. Sinai, they won’t receive the 10 Commandments for a little while yet. 

Paul begins this passage with the phrase “Since we are justified by faith…”. This being Paul, we arrive at the beginning of Chapter Five knowing that Paul spent the entire first four chapters of this letter setting up all that follows “Since”. But what does it mean to be justified? What is this faith? Where does it come from?

Jesus went around cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news, curing illnesses and casting out demons — but who is this they, anyway? What’s the deal with laborers and harvests? What in the world is Jesus doing sending his disciples out alone with next to nothing like sheep among wolves? 

Honestly, it’s been a whole world of interruptions lately. 

We’re in the middle of graduations and new beginnings for those graduates and their families. We’re are in the middle of breakups and heartache. We’re in the middle between active addiction and recovery. We’re in the middle the latest test or screening and receiving the results. And sometimes, it just feels like we’re in the middle of the water, treading for all we’re worth.

My own family’s in the middle this week. On Wednesday morning I’ll fly to South Carolina to pick up my aunt and drive her to our house to live with us, and my br

Support the show

]]> Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the ninth chapter.  

Glory to you, O Lord!

35Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

10:1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 

12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 

16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

The Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ!


 

Plenty, but of what?

It feels like we’re interrupting something in all three scriptures today. 

In Exodus, Moses and the Israelites were camping out at the base of Mt. Sinai. They left Egypt ate manna, and though Moses went up to the Lord on Mt. Sinai, they won’t receive the 10 Commandments for a little while yet. 

Paul begins this passage with the phrase “Since we are justified by faith…”. This being Paul, we arrive at the beginning of Chapter Five knowing that Paul spent the entire first four chapters of this letter setting up all that follows “Since”. But what does it mean to be justified? What is this faith? Where does it come from?

Jesus went around cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news, curing illnesses and casting out demons — but who is this they, anyway? What’s the deal with laborers and harvests? What in the world is Jesus doing sending his disciples out alone with next to nothing like sheep among wolves? 

Honestly, it’s been a whole world of interruptions lately. 

We’re in the middle of graduations and new beginnings for those graduates and their families. We’re are in the middle of breakups and heartache. We’re in the middle between active addiction and recovery. We’re in the middle the latest test or screening and receiving the results. And sometimes, it just feels like we’re in the middle of the water, treading for all we’re worth.

My own family’s in the middle this week. On Wednesday morning I’ll fly to South Carolina to pick up my aunt and drive her to our house to live with us, and my br

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-13060294 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400 995 full false Now That's a Story (Pentecost 2) Now That's a Story (Pentecost 2) I'm experimenting with some different things, and one of them is moving to manuscript preaching after not using them in about fifteen years, except rarely. This sermon focuses on the idea that our own stories and the stories of those around us make a real difference, well beyond what we'd typically consider. 

December 2020. Now that’s a month to tell stories about.

I was concluding an interim at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Foxboro — I have a feeling y’all might be familiar with that town for some reason or another. I was working full time as a hospice chaplain in Fall River, and preparing to begin my call as pastor here at St. John. On Christmas Eve I led four services, two in Foxboro and two at St. John, then drove all night to see Lauren and Willoughby in South Carolina so I could spend Christmas with the rest of my family. 

It was a hard moment, because I began my time in Foxboro as a supply preacher in November 2019. Their pastor began medical leave in an effort to recover from an illness he’d been fighting for over two long years; an illness that the congregation had walked through with him, and as irascible as that man was, those people loved him even when they didn’t all always like him. After about two weeks, the medical leave became a medical retirement, and in the summer of 2020, he died.

That funeral was something to tell stories about.

It wasn’t just a funeral for an old pastor, though in my experience those are some of the most powerful services I’ve ever attended — and St. John does not disappoint in that regard — this was a funeral for a pastor who was teaching confirmation, preaching, visiting the sick, and tending his flock even in failing health until only a very short six months before.

But those months? We’ll be telling stories about those months for the rest of our lives, because just after Ash Wednesday 2020, the world ended for all of us.

I know, it sounds dramatic. Honestly, if I told Past Eric that week that the world had just ended, I’d’ve laughed it off by saying something like, “It’s only going to be two weeks, a month tops. How long do you think this could really last?”. How long could the end of the world really last? A lot longer than you’d think, apparently.

It wasn’t hard to leave Foxboro, but it was hard to leave those people in that pandemic foxhole who welcomed my family in a moment when we were still reeling and grieving and adjusting to life after a move from South Carolina to have our Great Adventure. It was hard to leave those people in that pandemic foxhole who I nurtured and came to love when they were still reeling and grieving and adjusting after their most recent loss in their great adventure.

But I remember reading the paperwork for this congregation around July or August 2020. I remember the interviews by ZOOM, and the unparalleled awkwardness of preaching for the call committee from a side room in our house over zoom. I remember realizing that I was once again following Larry Wolff, and nearly fell out of my chair laughing at the fact that I’d been doing that in one way or another my entire career.

And I remember telling Lauren that there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that St. John is a place we’ll tell some amazing stories about.

I met this congregation in earnest for the first time on Christmas Eve, 2020. For the first time since Ash Wednesday — March, y’all! — the congregation gathered for worship in person. We stood in the parking lot, and I described the order of worship this way, “all we’re going to do is pray, read the Christmas Gospel, maybe I’ll say something, then we’ll pray, and we’re going to sing Silent Night by candlelight at Noon and seven”. That’s what we did. I believe most of us cried in that parking lot that Christmas Eve.

Now that’s one heck of a story.

It’s a story of faithful resilience; courage in the face of fear. It’s the

Support the show

]]> I'm experimenting with some different things, and one of them is moving to manuscript preaching after not using them in about fifteen years, except rarely. This sermon focuses on the idea that our own stories and the stories of those around us make a real difference, well beyond what we'd typically consider. 

December 2020. Now that’s a month to tell stories about.

I was concluding an interim at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Foxboro — I have a feeling y’all might be familiar with that town for some reason or another. I was working full time as a hospice chaplain in Fall River, and preparing to begin my call as pastor here at St. John. On Christmas Eve I led four services, two in Foxboro and two at St. John, then drove all night to see Lauren and Willoughby in South Carolina so I could spend Christmas with the rest of my family. 

It was a hard moment, because I began my time in Foxboro as a supply preacher in November 2019. Their pastor began medical leave in an effort to recover from an illness he’d been fighting for over two long years; an illness that the congregation had walked through with him, and as irascible as that man was, those people loved him even when they didn’t all always like him. After about two weeks, the medical leave became a medical retirement, and in the summer of 2020, he died.

That funeral was something to tell stories about.

It wasn’t just a funeral for an old pastor, though in my experience those are some of the most powerful services I’ve ever attended — and St. John does not disappoint in that regard — this was a funeral for a pastor who was teaching confirmation, preaching, visiting the sick, and tending his flock even in failing health until only a very short six months before.

But those months? We’ll be telling stories about those months for the rest of our lives, because just after Ash Wednesday 2020, the world ended for all of us.

I know, it sounds dramatic. Honestly, if I told Past Eric that week that the world had just ended, I’d’ve laughed it off by saying something like, “It’s only going to be two weeks, a month tops. How long do you think this could really last?”. How long could the end of the world really last? A lot longer than you’d think, apparently.

It wasn’t hard to leave Foxboro, but it was hard to leave those people in that pandemic foxhole who welcomed my family in a moment when we were still reeling and grieving and adjusting to life after a move from South Carolina to have our Great Adventure. It was hard to leave those people in that pandemic foxhole who I nurtured and came to love when they were still reeling and grieving and adjusting after their most recent loss in their great adventure.

But I remember reading the paperwork for this congregation around July or August 2020. I remember the interviews by ZOOM, and the unparalleled awkwardness of preaching for the call committee from a side room in our house over zoom. I remember realizing that I was once again following Larry Wolff, and nearly fell out of my chair laughing at the fact that I’d been doing that in one way or another my entire career.

And I remember telling Lauren that there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that St. John is a place we’ll tell some amazing stories about.

I met this congregation in earnest for the first time on Christmas Eve, 2020. For the first time since Ash Wednesday — March, y’all! — the congregation gathered for worship in person. We stood in the parking lot, and I described the order of worship this way, “all we’re going to do is pray, read the Christmas Gospel, maybe I’ll say something, then we’ll pray, and we’re going to sing Silent Night by candlelight at Noon and seven”. That’s what we did. I believe most of us cried in that parking lot that Christmas Eve.

Now that’s one heck of a story.

It’s a story of faithful resilience; courage in the face of fear. It’s the

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-13017403 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400 995 full false Led Away From Temptation to Take the Hard Road to Justice (Matthew 4:1-11 Lent 1) Led Away From Temptation to Take the Hard Road to Justice (Matthew 4:1-11 Lent 1) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” that his opinion had become that the white moderate was the biggest obstacle to the cause of justice for black and brown people. He defines them, not by their ideology, but by their actions that frustrate the advancement of civil rights and prolong the suffering of black and brown people because the white moderate is more devoted to “order” than justice; prefers a negative peace which is lack of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of  justice; approves of the cause, but not direct action; sets a timetable according to a myth that liberation must wait for a “more convenient season”.

In a season of temptation to leave well enough alone, the Church is called to stand at the front of the cause of justice to be, in King’s words, the headlights rather than the tail lights on this ride to justice. 

Support the show

]]> Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” that his opinion had become that the white moderate was the biggest obstacle to the cause of justice for black and brown people. He defines them, not by their ideology, but by their actions that frustrate the advancement of civil rights and prolong the suffering of black and brown people because the white moderate is more devoted to “order” than justice; prefers a negative peace which is lack of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of  justice; approves of the cause, but not direct action; sets a timetable according to a myth that liberation must wait for a “more convenient season”.

In a season of temptation to leave well enough alone, the Church is called to stand at the front of the cause of justice to be, in King’s words, the headlights rather than the tail lights on this ride to justice. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-12330959 Sun, 26 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0500 1178 full false A Ball of Transfigury Wigury Stuff (Transfiguration Sunday Matthew 17:1-9) A Ball of Transfigury Wigury Stuff (Transfiguration Sunday Matthew 17:1-9) The Transfiguration is a moment that gives a foretaste of completion — not just of the Law and the Prophets, but of an old covenant as the disciples witness the birth pangs of a new one and wonder what they’ve really become a part of in following Jesus. 

And the voice says, “Listen to him”. 

And we, as ever, are bad at this. 

And now here we are, faced with a new reality that God is not only creating us, but we learn that God always was, is, and will be planning to make this deal much more one-sided. Jesus is the completion of the Law and the Prophets. Now we’re living in the after. 

Support the show

]]> The Transfiguration is a moment that gives a foretaste of completion — not just of the Law and the Prophets, but of an old covenant as the disciples witness the birth pangs of a new one and wonder what they’ve really become a part of in following Jesus. 

And the voice says, “Listen to him”. 

And we, as ever, are bad at this. 

And now here we are, faced with a new reality that God is not only creating us, but we learn that God always was, is, and will be planning to make this deal much more one-sided. Jesus is the completion of the Law and the Prophets. Now we’re living in the after. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-12283311 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500 898 full false Killing in the Name Of, A Story Shared (Matthew 5:21-37 Epiphany 6) Killing in the Name Of, A Story Shared (Matthew 5:21-37 Epiphany 6) Jesus raises the bar for what it means to love each other and to live in community by saying that words can kill, men can’t wantonly discard their wives, and putting a finer point on our accountability for what we promise and how. 

Life in God’s community means a deeper consideration of our role as saints and sinners, and what it means to be both. Though we flip flop between the two, God remains constant. 

Support the show

]]> Jesus raises the bar for what it means to love each other and to live in community by saying that words can kill, men can’t wantonly discard their wives, and putting a finer point on our accountability for what we promise and how. 

Life in God’s community means a deeper consideration of our role as saints and sinners, and what it means to be both. Though we flip flop between the two, God remains constant. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-12235835 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1019 full false No More Waiting No More Waiting This is a song I wrote for Christmas this year. It’s a rough recording, but love cone down is always a little rough — and even more welcome for its roughness. 

Merry Christmas!

I’ll post the lyrics later. 

Support the show

]]> This is a song I wrote for Christmas this year. It’s a rough recording, but love cone down is always a little rough — and even more welcome for its roughness. 

Merry Christmas!

I’ll post the lyrics later. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11929114 Sat, 24 Dec 2022 21:00:00 -0500 223 full false Love is Not Fragile (or What Did You Expect? Advent 3) Love is Not Fragile (or What Did You Expect? Advent 3) So often our belief and understanding of love is limited to our own fragile capacity. 

God’s love is not fragile. 

What difference can this make?

Support the show

]]> So often our belief and understanding of love is limited to our own fragile capacity. 

God’s love is not fragile. 

What difference can this make?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11851158 Sun, 11 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1209 full false Advent 1: Hope in All Times Advent 1: Hope in All Times We spend a lot of time looking up, forward, and backward trying to figure out what will happen in a future we aren’t guaranteed from the perspective of events and pasts we can’t change. Jesus reminds us that God is *here* with us, and knows what to do with us even if we don’t know what to do with ourselves. 

Support the show

]]> We spend a lot of time looking up, forward, and backward trying to figure out what will happen in a future we aren’t guaranteed from the perspective of events and pasts we can’t change. Jesus reminds us that God is *here* with us, and knows what to do with us even if we don’t know what to do with ourselves. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11767558 Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500 641 full false Grieving Club Q and a World Made Too Small by Bigotry (Christ the King 2022) Grieving Club Q and a World Made Too Small by Bigotry (Christ the King 2022) My plan for Christ the King’s sermon was much different before waking up to news of the tragedy at Club Q. This didn’t happen in a vacuum, but it the predictable result of increasingly bigoted rhetoric in our cultural, political, and even religious dialogues. 

Every day is the right time to say plainly that love leaves no room for any ideology that leaves no room for someone else. 

Support the show

]]> My plan for Christ the King’s sermon was much different before waking up to news of the tragedy at Club Q. This didn’t happen in a vacuum, but it the predictable result of increasingly bigoted rhetoric in our cultural, political, and even religious dialogues. 

Every day is the right time to say plainly that love leaves no room for any ideology that leaves no room for someone else. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11767320 Sun, 27 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500 845 full false Hope Comes After (All Saints 2022, Luke 6:20-31) Hope Comes After (All Saints 2022, Luke 6:20-31) We often think hope to be a function of love. It is. Yet hope in the midst of loss isn't something that always heals. Sometimes it has a dampening effect on our healing because it feels like a gloss over our woundedness for the easing of the present's awkwardness rather than a soothing balm for our wounded heart.

Love sits in pain, cleanses the wound, and walks forward with us. Jesus' pronouncements of blessedness in times of trouble aren't meant to offer easy fixes, but invite us into a deeper consideration of what reality is in the reign of God.

Support the show

]]> We often think hope to be a function of love. It is. Yet hope in the midst of loss isn't something that always heals. Sometimes it has a dampening effect on our healing because it feels like a gloss over our woundedness for the easing of the present's awkwardness rather than a soothing balm for our wounded heart.

Love sits in pain, cleanses the wound, and walks forward with us. Jesus' pronouncements of blessedness in times of trouble aren't meant to offer easy fixes, but invite us into a deeper consideration of what reality is in the reign of God.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11655488 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0500 517 full false The Miracle of Dignity (Luke 17:11-19) The Miracle of Dignity (Luke 17:11-19) Ten lepers were cleansed, one returned to give thanks. 

There’s something about being sick, either chronically or terminally, that robs a person of an identity separate from that illness. In a world where we often mistake cures for healing, this story forced us to explore what makes the one who returned well in a way the other nine somehow missed. 

Support the show

]]> Ten lepers were cleansed, one returned to give thanks. 

There’s something about being sick, either chronically or terminally, that robs a person of an identity separate from that illness. In a world where we often mistake cures for healing, this story forced us to explore what makes the one who returned well in a way the other nine somehow missed. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11465958 Sun, 09 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1044 full false When Rich People Laugh at the Poor, An Honest Response (Luke 16:19-31) When Rich People Laugh at the Poor, An Honest Response (Luke 16:19-31) “The Pharisees, who we’re lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.”

This was their response to the poorly named  Parable of the Dishonest Manager, and was the reason Jesus told this parable about Lazarus and the Rich Man.  It isn’t that Pharisees we’re particularly uncaring or insensitive, it’s more that they were comfortable as a social class, privileged as a religious class, and seemed to be people who thought more about systems than people. I often wonder if that’s why Jesus runs afoul dog them. I believe it’s reasonable to consider that Jesus is possibly a Pharisee or some other privileged member of the synagogue himself, given the fact that he preaches and teaches there without anyone asking why, so part of the Why is that we criticize the people most like ourselves the most. Also, Jesus preaches and teaches that people are more important than systems when the systems become a burden rather than a boon. 

As some of the most wealthy people who ever lived on this planet, many Americans have more in common with the Rich Man than we do with Lazarus. How can we learn the lesson of Jesus that loving concern for others is more important than wealth or comfort when we too are often too comfortable to take this seriously?

Support the show

]]> “The Pharisees, who we’re lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.”

This was their response to the poorly named  Parable of the Dishonest Manager, and was the reason Jesus told this parable about Lazarus and the Rich Man.  It isn’t that Pharisees we’re particularly uncaring or insensitive, it’s more that they were comfortable as a social class, privileged as a religious class, and seemed to be people who thought more about systems than people. I often wonder if that’s why Jesus runs afoul dog them. I believe it’s reasonable to consider that Jesus is possibly a Pharisee or some other privileged member of the synagogue himself, given the fact that he preaches and teaches there without anyone asking why, so part of the Why is that we criticize the people most like ourselves the most. Also, Jesus preaches and teaches that people are more important than systems when the systems become a burden rather than a boon. 

As some of the most wealthy people who ever lived on this planet, many Americans have more in common with the Rich Man than we do with Lazarus. How can we learn the lesson of Jesus that loving concern for others is more important than wealth or comfort when we too are often too comfortable to take this seriously?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11407488 Thu, 29 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400 928 full false A Virtuous Dishonesty? (Luke 16:1-13) A Virtuous Dishonesty? (Luke 16:1-13) When Jesus praises a dishonest manager, it brings about an uncomfortable moment that challenges the idea that Jesus brings morality — or at least a morality we understand. 

This is a chance to reconsider what true currency is, what a proper relationship to wealth, and who God really favors. 

Support the show

]]> When Jesus praises a dishonest manager, it brings about an uncomfortable moment that challenges the idea that Jesus brings morality — or at least a morality we understand. 

This is a chance to reconsider what true currency is, what a proper relationship to wealth, and who God really favors. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11340426 Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0400 1214 full false Turning Into Pain to Heal Turning Into Pain to Heal When we hurt, it’s human nature to shy away, to blame, to react defensively. What we see through the witness of God through Christ, in the account of God’s people worshiping another God, from the example of David who engaged in deep repentance is that it’s only by turning into what hurts us with an open heart and mind that we can heal. 

Support the show

]]> When we hurt, it’s human nature to shy away, to blame, to react defensively. What we see through the witness of God through Christ, in the account of God’s people worshiping another God, from the example of David who engaged in deep repentance is that it’s only by turning into what hurts us with an open heart and mind that we can heal. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11304268 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0400 1244 full false From What to Why From What to Why “What in the world are you doing?!?” are words we often hear during times of trouble. Less frequently, we hear the question, “why?”.

It doesn’t end there though, because too often we react to what happens rather than ask with true curiosity why someone might have done it, affording them the best of intentions. 

Moving from what to why is the act of rehumanizing “them” AND us in order to learn what it really means to love. 

Support the show

]]> “What in the world are you doing?!?” are words we often hear during times of trouble. Less frequently, we hear the question, “why?”.

It doesn’t end there though, because too often we react to what happens rather than ask with true curiosity why someone might have done it, affording them the best of intentions. 

Moving from what to why is the act of rehumanizing “them” AND us in order to learn what it really means to love. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11304251 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0400 1237 full false Loving in Conflict: Hope for a Loving Community Loving in Conflict: Hope for a Loving Community  Wherever there are people, there will be disagreements. One of the most unhealthy habits any community can exhibit is letting mean and hurtful comments in community spaces go unchallenged. Safe, loving space means the calling to let the consequences of hurtful words or actions rest on the one who say or do them, because to do otherwise is to comfort the offender while telling the wounded that it’s their problem because we don’t want the offender to feel bad. 

The calling of the church is a calling to make this community a space where conflict is loving and humanizing, so we can learn to live together in the love that heals. 

Support the show

]]>  Wherever there are people, there will be disagreements. One of the most unhealthy habits any community can exhibit is letting mean and hurtful comments in community spaces go unchallenged. Safe, loving space means the calling to let the consequences of hurtful words or actions rest on the one who say or do them, because to do otherwise is to comfort the offender while telling the wounded that it’s their problem because we don’t want the offender to feel bad. 

The calling of the church is a calling to make this community a space where conflict is loving and humanizing, so we can learn to live together in the love that heals. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11217016 Sun, 28 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0400 1237 full false Be Interruptible Be Interruptible When God shows up, it doesn’t happen at convenient moments. In every instance of God appearing is an interruption. 

The call to living a life of faith is also a call to be interruptible. We are called to be open to the concept of Sabbath that tells us not to be so concerned South what we want to do that we don’t miss what God is calling us to do. 

Support the show

]]> When God shows up, it doesn’t happen at convenient moments. In every instance of God appearing is an interruption. 

The call to living a life of faith is also a call to be interruptible. We are called to be open to the concept of Sabbath that tells us not to be so concerned South what we want to do that we don’t miss what God is calling us to do. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11173194 Sun, 21 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400 900 full false Imagining Hallelujah (Funeral Sermon for Roberts Apse) Imagining Hallelujah (Funeral Sermon for Roberts Apse) Roberts was 51, and I never met him but his family made me feel like I’ve known him for years. 

They wanted something less traditional for music, so we settled on me playing Imagine and Hallelujah For the prelude, Amazing Grace as a hymn, and Three Little Birds as closing hymn. 

This will be a funeral and family thatI carry for a long time. Thanks be to God for the chance to carry this with me. 

Support the show

]]> Roberts was 51, and I never met him but his family made me feel like I’ve known him for years. 

They wanted something less traditional for music, so we settled on me playing Imagine and Hallelujah For the prelude, Amazing Grace as a hymn, and Three Little Birds as closing hymn. 

This will be a funeral and family thatI carry for a long time. Thanks be to God for the chance to carry this with me. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11153784 Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400 833 full false Warninger and Hopier: Fire that Heals, Water that Frightens Warninger and Hopier: Fire that Heals, Water that Frightens We hear words of challenge, and often stop listening when it becomes uncomfortable. Jesus says that he brings fire, but it’s a fire that heals and makes whole. 

How do we encounter and embrace the wholeness that comes from what scares us and recognize the dangers of what it, on its face, comforting?

Support the show

]]> We hear words of challenge, and often stop listening when it becomes uncomfortable. Jesus says that he brings fire, but it’s a fire that heals and makes whole. 

How do we encounter and embrace the wholeness that comes from what scares us and recognize the dangers of what it, on its face, comforting?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11136225 Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -0400 1257 full false Hope in Warninger Times Hope in Warninger Times This passage begins with a word of comforting hope, but concludes with a  warning to remain watchful. Even so, this warning was a word of hope. 

Where does your hope reside in times of Covidian crap or the griefs that mark every life?

In the community of God’s presence and calling. God is most fully experienced together. 

Support the show

]]> This passage begins with a word of comforting hope, but concludes with a  warning to remain watchful. Even so, this warning was a word of hope. 

Where does your hope reside in times of Covidian crap or the griefs that mark every life?

In the community of God’s presence and calling. God is most fully experienced together. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-11095239 Sun, 07 Aug 2022 15:00:00 -0400 655 full false Pulse and the Emanuel 9, Hope Amidst Our Grief (Holy Trinity Sunday) Pulse and the Emanuel 9, Hope Amidst Our Grief (Holy Trinity Sunday) Today is the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre. June 17 is the anniversary of the murder and martyrdom of the Emanuel 9. 

Human evil is ambitious in its reach, yet even so, God’s Breath of Life continues to inspire and resurrect what is lost to good purpose. What makes it love isn’t that God jumps into action, but the promise to dwell with us as we heal. 

Support the show

]]> Today is the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre. June 17 is the anniversary of the murder and martyrdom of the Emanuel 9. 

Human evil is ambitious in its reach, yet even so, God’s Breath of Life continues to inspire and resurrect what is lost to good purpose. What makes it love isn’t that God jumps into action, but the promise to dwell with us as we heal. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10779147 Sun, 12 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400 1133 full false How to Heal Grief How to Heal Grief Uvalde and Buffalo are points of great pain. 

The disappointing failure of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to name as racist the actions of the bishop and leadership of the Sierra Pacific Synod. 

The joys and sorrows of change. 

Healing grief requires attention, intention, and community. 

Support the show

]]> Uvalde and Buffalo are points of great pain. 

The disappointing failure of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to name as racist the actions of the bishop and leadership of the Sierra Pacific Synod. 

The joys and sorrows of change. 

Healing grief requires attention, intention, and community. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10701504 Sun, 29 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400 1174 full false Love With No Buts About It (John 13 Easter 5) Love With No Buts About It (John 13 Easter 5) “Love one another”. It’s simple but hard. 

How do we love like God loves when it feels so foreign to us?

Support the show

]]> “Love one another”. It’s simple but hard. 

How do we love like God loves when it feels so foreign to us?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10620353 Sun, 15 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 891 full false The Hands of Love (Homily for the funeral of John Sera at Emanuel, Norwood, MA) The Hands of Love (Homily for the funeral of John Sera at Emanuel, Norwood, MA) It’s okay not to be okay, and where we’re together in God’s love, just because we aren’t okay doesn’t mean we aren’t alright. 

Support the show

]]> It’s okay not to be okay, and where we’re together in God’s love, just because we aren’t okay doesn’t mean we aren’t alright. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10617456 Sat, 14 May 2022 16:00:00 -0400 527 full false Scents of Love & Jealousy Scents of Love & Jealousy Whatever we do leaves its scent in the nostrils of those around us. Sometimes it's pleasing, sometimes not.

As people of faith, how can we leave God's aroma wherever we go?

Support the show

]]> Whatever we do leaves its scent in the nostrils of those around us. Sometimes it's pleasing, sometimes not.

As people of faith, how can we leave God's aroma wherever we go?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10393157 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0400 598 full false The Mother's Absence (Lent 3C Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32) The Mother's Absence (Lent 3C Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32) Sometimes what's missing is louder to us than what's present.

This Sunday, we have the parable often called The Prodigal Son. What I often remember is the insistence of the Father, the looseness of the son, and the hardness of the older brother. This time around, I noticed the absence of the mother, the father's wife. 

Lent is a time of exploration of mysteries. Today we explore the mystery of the mother's absence.

Support the show

]]> Sometimes what's missing is louder to us than what's present.

This Sunday, we have the parable often called The Prodigal Son. What I often remember is the insistence of the Father, the looseness of the son, and the hardness of the older brother. This time around, I noticed the absence of the mother, the father's wife. 

Lent is a time of exploration of mysteries. Today we explore the mystery of the mother's absence.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-10325938 Sun, 27 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1163 full false The Reverend Speaks - My Third Manuscript Sermon (Mark 10) The Reverend Speaks - My Third Manuscript Sermon (Mark 10) Since this is a manuscript sermon, the text is too long to paste in here. So this is a link to the manuscript in Google Docs!

This sermon is my attempt to communicate the most important parts of being the Church together, and address some of the things that hold us up along the way.

Support the show

]]> Since this is a manuscript sermon, the text is too long to paste in here. So this is a link to the manuscript in Google Docs!

This sermon is my attempt to communicate the most important parts of being the Church together, and address some of the things that hold us up along the way.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-9314738 Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400 1081 full false Off-Roading with Jesus (John 6:21-35, Bread of Life 2) Off-Roading with Jesus (John 6:21-35, Bread of Life 2) Here we are again: are we coming to the end of COVID or another beginning? 

This isn't fun, and I'm done with it. But here we are again in a space of not knowing and wrestling with the anxiety, fear, and anger that go with it. 

People are struggling. Now what?

Support the show

]]> Here we are again: are we coming to the end of COVID or another beginning? 

This isn't fun, and I'm done with it. But here we are again in a space of not knowing and wrestling with the anxiety, fear, and anger that go with it. 

People are struggling. Now what?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-8967588 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400 1036 full false No Going Back (John 6:1-21, Bread of Life 1) No Going Back (John 6:1-21, Bread of Life 1) The next few weeks we'll be dealing with John 6, which is called the Bread of Life series by pastors. In John 6, Jesus feeds five thousand people and drama ensues.

Jesus wrestles with what he's really called to do - are the signs and miracles the point, or is it something else? If it isn't the signs that are important, what really is?

The disciples wrestle with their exhaustion, their fear and disbelief, and face the real possibility that following Jesus won't lead them anywhere worth going when the crowds finally abandon him. Their test of faith leads to a climax in John 6:66-7.

The crowds are wrestling with their own hunger, physical and spiritual, and struggle mightily with the answer they hear.

Support the show

]]> The next few weeks we'll be dealing with John 6, which is called the Bread of Life series by pastors. In John 6, Jesus feeds five thousand people and drama ensues.

Jesus wrestles with what he's really called to do - are the signs and miracles the point, or is it something else? If it isn't the signs that are important, what really is?

The disciples wrestle with their exhaustion, their fear and disbelief, and face the real possibility that following Jesus won't lead them anywhere worth going when the crowds finally abandon him. Their test of faith leads to a climax in John 6:66-7.

The crowds are wrestling with their own hunger, physical and spiritual, and struggle mightily with the answer they hear.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-8967521 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400 1069 full false Twelve Long Years (Mark 5:21-43) Twelve Long Years (Mark 5:21-43) Where were you twelve years ago?

Today we hear the story of two daughters who each were in much different positions twelve years ago. One is a daughter of an important temple official, who is twelve years old and dies by the end of the story. The other is a woman who has dealt with hemorrhaging for twelve long years, whose faith makes her well.

At the center of all of this appears to be Jesus, but what if it's not actually about Jesus at all, even though we experience the signs of God's kingdom through him? 

Support the show

]]> Where were you twelve years ago?

Today we hear the story of two daughters who each were in much different positions twelve years ago. One is a daughter of an important temple official, who is twelve years old and dies by the end of the story. The other is a woman who has dealt with hemorrhaging for twelve long years, whose faith makes her well.

At the center of all of this appears to be Jesus, but what if it's not actually about Jesus at all, even though we experience the signs of God's kingdom through him? 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-8779403 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:00:00 -0400 27 full false The Nearness (Mark 1:14-20) The Nearness (Mark 1:14-20) Jesus leaves the wilderness and comes to the city to declare, "Time's up! The kingdom of God has come near, so repent and believe the good news!". 

But the good news about what? What's so good about this news, anyway, in a world beset by greed, anger, violence, death, and all the things that scare us? The good news is that when we recognize the voice of our Creator calling out to us, all those things fall away and we experience something new. 

Support the show

]]> Jesus leaves the wilderness and comes to the city to declare, "Time's up! The kingdom of God has come near, so repent and believe the good news!". 

But the good news about what? What's so good about this news, anyway, in a world beset by greed, anger, violence, death, and all the things that scare us? The good news is that when we recognize the voice of our Creator calling out to us, all those things fall away and we experience something new. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-7435036 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0500 1257 full false Come & See (Mark 1 4-11) Come & See (Mark 1 4-11) Can anything good come out of this place?
Can anything good come out of me?

Jesus answers by inviting us into the heart and mind of God so we can see in us what God sees.

Support the show

]]> Can anything good come out of this place?
Can anything good come out of me?

Jesus answers by inviting us into the heart and mind of God so we can see in us what God sees.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-7434952 Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500 855 full false All Saints: A Ghost Story (Mark 5) All Saints: A Ghost Story (Mark 5) A different Gospel for this day because this text grew on me this week. All Saints is a day when we commemorate the joyous hope of the resurrection, remember those we love and have lost, and ponder the mystery that God is present at all times and places.

Support the show

]]> A different Gospel for this day because this text grew on me this week. All Saints is a day when we commemorate the joyous hope of the resurrection, remember those we love and have lost, and ponder the mystery that God is present at all times and places.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-6324133 Wed, 11 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0500 1333 full false A Mountain Story Worth Hearing (LCOR, Foxboro Pentecost 20A) A Mountain Story Worth Hearing (LCOR, Foxboro Pentecost 20A) Jesus held a coin struck with the face of the Emperor and an impossible questions from the good church folks, who knew that whatever he answered would get him in trouble: either with the the crowds who resented spending a dime in taxes to their Roman oppressors, or with the Roman authority who made it very clear that they expected people to pay them whether they wanted to or not. 

Paul found himself in the mountains for what may have been an attempt to relax, but unable to do so, preached so powerfully that people began to believe in Jesus before the locals tossed him out.

Like the coin in Jesus' hand, there are lots of competing forces that brought it into being, but our task as people who follow Jesus is to identify whose minting truly defines us.

Support the show

]]> Jesus held a coin struck with the face of the Emperor and an impossible questions from the good church folks, who knew that whatever he answered would get him in trouble: either with the the crowds who resented spending a dime in taxes to their Roman oppressors, or with the Roman authority who made it very clear that they expected people to pay them whether they wanted to or not. 

Paul found himself in the mountains for what may have been an attempt to relax, but unable to do so, preached so powerfully that people began to believe in Jesus before the locals tossed him out.

Like the coin in Jesus' hand, there are lots of competing forces that brought it into being, but our task as people who follow Jesus is to identify whose minting truly defines us.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-5978509 Tue, 20 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400 1344 full false Life in the Shadow of Death, Third Week of Social Distancing (Lent 5,) Life in the Shadow of Death, Third Week of Social Distancing (Lent 5,) We hear a story of Ezekiel, who found himself brought to a valley of dry bones by the Spirit of the Lord and asked the question, "mortal, can these bones live?".

We hear of the death of Lazarus, and witness Jesus meeting Martha and then Mary in the road to abide with them in their grief. 

Throughout Scripture, joy and sorrow messily mingle, yet we see that God doesn't hurry either of them. God is the One Who Abides. 

In this moment of forced abiding, we stand in a space between the world as it was and the world as it will be, or could be. How do we dwell in this space and learn from what it has to teach about both joy and sorrow?

Support the show

]]> We hear a story of Ezekiel, who found himself brought to a valley of dry bones by the Spirit of the Lord and asked the question, "mortal, can these bones live?".

We hear of the death of Lazarus, and witness Jesus meeting Martha and then Mary in the road to abide with them in their grief. 

Throughout Scripture, joy and sorrow messily mingle, yet we see that God doesn't hurry either of them. God is the One Who Abides. 

In this moment of forced abiding, we stand in a space between the world as it was and the world as it will be, or could be. How do we dwell in this space and learn from what it has to teach about both joy and sorrow?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-3185986 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400 1164 full false Scripture & Sermon Only: The Second Sunday of Social Distancing (also Lent 4A) Scripture & Sermon Only: The Second Sunday of Social Distancing (also Lent 4A) Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship this morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person. 

What do we do when everything is crazy and we don't know which way to turn? 

We give thanks that even when everything has changed around us, God is with us.

Scriptures:
Psalm 23
John Chapter 9 (all of it)

Support the show

]]> Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship this morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person. 

What do we do when everything is crazy and we don't know which way to turn? 

We give thanks that even when everything has changed around us, God is with us.

Scriptures:
Psalm 23
John Chapter 9 (all of it)

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-3105907 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400 2164 full false The Second Sunday of Social Distancing - Complete Version (also Lent 4A) The Second Sunday of Social Distancing - Complete Version (also Lent 4A) Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship Sunday morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person. Please sing along, pray along, and worship along with us!

Scriptures:
Psalm 23
John Chapter 9 (all of it)

Music:
Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross


Join us in giving thanks to God in worship, trusting in God’s mercy and love.

Support the show

]]> Phil, Sergey, & Pastor Eric gathered for worship Sunday morning. This is for those who aren’t able to attend worship in person. Please sing along, pray along, and worship along with us!

Scriptures:
Psalm 23
John Chapter 9 (all of it)

Music:
Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross


Join us in giving thanks to God in worship, trusting in God’s mercy and love.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-3105085 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 07:00:00 -0400 2011 full false Nick at Night (Part 2 of 2): Born Again, Again (Lent 2A, LCOR, Foxboro) Nick at Night (Part 2 of 2): Born Again, Again (Lent 2A, LCOR, Foxboro) This is Part 2 of a two-part sermon. While you can listen to either one and have a “whole” sermon, part 1 is handily titled “Nick at Night (Part 1 of 2)”. 

(Here’s a link to Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/132881/2958247)

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, and he had some hard questions for Jesus. 

His most significant struggle was how to deal with Jesus’ statement that he needs to be born again from above, and by water and Spirit, in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus asks some heavy questions of Jesus trying to get him to bring some clarity to this whole situation. 

How can we hope to understand when someone who grew up in this culture couldn’t even get it? 

What if light is so foreign to us that we can’t even recognize what it is?

 

Support the show

]]> This is Part 2 of a two-part sermon. While you can listen to either one and have a “whole” sermon, part 1 is handily titled “Nick at Night (Part 1 of 2)”. 

(Here’s a link to Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/132881/2958247)

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, and he had some hard questions for Jesus. 

His most significant struggle was how to deal with Jesus’ statement that he needs to be born again from above, and by water and Spirit, in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus asks some heavy questions of Jesus trying to get him to bring some clarity to this whole situation. 

How can we hope to understand when someone who grew up in this culture couldn’t even get it? 

What if light is so foreign to us that we can’t even recognize what it is?

 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2958346 Mon, 09 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400 1436 full false Nick at Night (1 of 2): An Openness to Hope (Lent 2A LCOR, Foxboro) Nick at Night (1 of 2): An Openness to Hope (Lent 2A LCOR, Foxboro) This is Part 1 of a two-part sermon, handily identifiable by the label, “Part 2”.

(Here’s a link to Part 2: https://www.buzzsprout.com/132881/2958346)

Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. Part of what he was looking for was whether this was a crazy guy who just drove people out of the temple due to his own delusions of grandeur, or whether this was the principled action of someone sent by God to call people to some renewed sense of faithfulness. 

I don’t know that Nicodemus went in “believing in” Jesus, but I do think that he went in with a mind that had an openness to hope that perhaps Jesus was someone bringing renewal and restoration to God’s people living under the oppressive Roman regime. 

Sometimes in the deepest night, even a glimmer of hope is enough. 

Support the show

]]> This is Part 1 of a two-part sermon, handily identifiable by the label, “Part 2”.

(Here’s a link to Part 2: https://www.buzzsprout.com/132881/2958346)

Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. Part of what he was looking for was whether this was a crazy guy who just drove people out of the temple due to his own delusions of grandeur, or whether this was the principled action of someone sent by God to call people to some renewed sense of faithfulness. 

I don’t know that Nicodemus went in “believing in” Jesus, but I do think that he went in with a mind that had an openness to hope that perhaps Jesus was someone bringing renewal and restoration to God’s people living under the oppressive Roman regime. 

Sometimes in the deepest night, even a glimmer of hope is enough. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2958247 Mon, 09 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400 1001 full false The Temptation Triathalon: Love that is not fragile even when we are. (The LCOR, Foxboro Lent 1A The Temptation Triathalon: Love that is not fragile even when we are. (The LCOR, Foxboro Lent 1A Yeah, I said it: Temptation is tempting.

What?

It is; otherwise it would be called “the thing that I saw but didn’t feel compelled to take even a second look”; and part of what makes the temptation of Jesus an event worth mentioning is that in order for it to be called “the temptation of Jesus”, temptation has to be something that’s tempting for him, too. Yes, the fact that the Divine and Human natures both exist within Jesus means that he has a capacity to resist temptation and fully trust in God’s providence that we don’t, but it’s important that Jesus was tempted because it allows us to know a crucial thing about the love God has for us: God finds it important to share our experience.

It’s a good thing for us that God’s love is strong; nothing fragile could stand in the face of our brokenness without collapsing.

Support the show

]]> Yeah, I said it: Temptation is tempting.

What?

It is; otherwise it would be called “the thing that I saw but didn’t feel compelled to take even a second look”; and part of what makes the temptation of Jesus an event worth mentioning is that in order for it to be called “the temptation of Jesus”, temptation has to be something that’s tempting for him, too. Yes, the fact that the Divine and Human natures both exist within Jesus means that he has a capacity to resist temptation and fully trust in God’s providence that we don’t, but it’s important that Jesus was tempted because it allows us to know a crucial thing about the love God has for us: God finds it important to share our experience.

It’s a good thing for us that God’s love is strong; nothing fragile could stand in the face of our brokenness without collapsing.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2892817 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0500 1359 full false Living in the Spirit Found in the Letter (830 The LCOR, Epiphany 6A) Living in the Spirit Found in the Letter (830 The LCOR, Epiphany 6A) Today’s teaching is challenging for those of us who are human beings because it cuts to the heart of the most damaging and lasting effects of Sin and how it affects every aspect of our lives. This is a text where Jesus speaks clearly about divorce, but it’s spoken in the cultural context of his time and place. Jesus speaks clearly about anger and swearing, and when we dig in deeper, we see that this is more complex than we might otherwise imagine. 

Moses urges his people to “choose life”. 

When we hear the law, often what we hear is the word of conviction, the word of shame, the word of guilt — words of death.

How in the world can the law be seen as giving us words of life and hope?

How do we live into the spirit of the law while not removing its letter?

Support the show

]]> Today’s teaching is challenging for those of us who are human beings because it cuts to the heart of the most damaging and lasting effects of Sin and how it affects every aspect of our lives. This is a text where Jesus speaks clearly about divorce, but it’s spoken in the cultural context of his time and place. Jesus speaks clearly about anger and swearing, and when we dig in deeper, we see that this is more complex than we might otherwise imagine. 

Moses urges his people to “choose life”. 

When we hear the law, often what we hear is the word of conviction, the word of shame, the word of guilt — words of death.

How in the world can the law be seen as giving us words of life and hope?

How do we live into the spirit of the law while not removing its letter?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2755498 Sun, 16 Feb 2020 10:00:00 -0500 1114 full false I Fought the Law... (11am The LCOR, Epiphany 5A) I Fought the Law... (11am The LCOR, Epiphany 5A) Late post...this is from February 9...oops. :)

When we hear that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, it can fill us with some rightful dread because usually when someone talks about God’s laws, it isn’t because they plan to regale us with tales of God’s love for creation.

Jesus says in the Gospel that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. What IS the law that Jesus fulfills? How can we ever live into the righteousness of God when we so often rebel against this law of which Jesus IS the fulfillment?

Support the show

]]> Late post...this is from February 9...oops. :)

When we hear that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, it can fill us with some rightful dread because usually when someone talks about God’s laws, it isn’t because they plan to regale us with tales of God’s love for creation.

Jesus says in the Gospel that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. What IS the law that Jesus fulfills? How can we ever live into the righteousness of God when we so often rebel against this law of which Jesus IS the fulfillment?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2754841 Sun, 16 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0500 1156 full false I Fought the Law...and Surrendered (830 The LCOR, Epiphany 5A) I Fought the Law...and Surrendered (830 The LCOR, Epiphany 5A) Late post...this is from February 9...oops. :)

When we hear that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, it can fill us with some rightful dread because usually when someone talks about God’s laws, it isn’t because they plan to regale us with tales of God’s love for creation.

Jesus says in the Gospel that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. What IS the law that Jesus fulfills? How can we ever live into the righteousness of God when we so often rebel against this law of which Jesus IS the fulfillment?

Support the show

]]> Late post...this is from February 9...oops. :)

When we hear that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, it can fill us with some rightful dread because usually when someone talks about God’s laws, it isn’t because they plan to regale us with tales of God’s love for creation.

Jesus says in the Gospel that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. What IS the law that Jesus fulfills? How can we ever live into the righteousness of God when we so often rebel against this law of which Jesus IS the fulfillment?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2754832 Sun, 16 Feb 2020 08:00:00 -0500 1095 full false Podcast Unplugged: Legacies of Love: Sowing What We Will Not Reap (LCOR 11am Luke 2:22-40, Presentation of Our Lord) Podcast Unplugged: Legacies of Love: Sowing What We Will Not Reap (LCOR 11am Luke 2:22-40, Presentation of Our Lord) We’re a results-oriented society, and it’s often challenging to think about doing things that we can’t see to completion. 

This week we celebrated The Presentation of Our Lord, a minor feast day that commemorates the presentation of Jesus to the Temple, and Simeon and Anna were there to see him. Simeon was promised that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Messiah. Anna was a widow who had served the temple for many years following the death of her husband. Both saw Jesus and rejoiced, seeing that generations of hope and faith in the promise of Messiah had been fulfilled in their own generation! 

We have many things that we’re a part of that won’t end, but we take part in them anyway. We think of people like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who is prominently featured in this sermon. He joined the long and continuing work of striving for equality for all people, and speaks poignantly about the fact that, like Moses, he wouldn’t live to see the Promised Land, but that from the mountain top he can see the glory of the coming of the Lord. 

We too can see the hope of new life from the mountaintop; some of the fruit of this land is fruit we will taste, and some we will not. Even so, we follow faithfully. We share the faith faithfully, knowing that one day we’ll all get there.

****Correction***

Nunc Dimittis means “Now you are dismissing”, not “Now Lord”. I’m bad at words.

Support the show

]]> We’re a results-oriented society, and it’s often challenging to think about doing things that we can’t see to completion. 

This week we celebrated The Presentation of Our Lord, a minor feast day that commemorates the presentation of Jesus to the Temple, and Simeon and Anna were there to see him. Simeon was promised that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Messiah. Anna was a widow who had served the temple for many years following the death of her husband. Both saw Jesus and rejoiced, seeing that generations of hope and faith in the promise of Messiah had been fulfilled in their own generation! 

We have many things that we’re a part of that won’t end, but we take part in them anyway. We think of people like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who is prominently featured in this sermon. He joined the long and continuing work of striving for equality for all people, and speaks poignantly about the fact that, like Moses, he wouldn’t live to see the Promised Land, but that from the mountain top he can see the glory of the coming of the Lord. 

We too can see the hope of new life from the mountaintop; some of the fruit of this land is fruit we will taste, and some we will not. Even so, we follow faithfully. We share the faith faithfully, knowing that one day we’ll all get there.

****Correction***

Nunc Dimittis means “Now you are dismissing”, not “Now Lord”. I’m bad at words.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2681863 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0500 1211 full false Choosy Choosers Choose Jesus - Unplugged (1030 LCOR Epiphany 3A) Choosy Choosers Choose Jesus - Unplugged (1030 LCOR Epiphany 3A) This is from the 1030 service, and apparently my microphone failed. Thus, enjoy the unplugged version, featuring occasional pocket scratches and strange noises that I choose to interpret as the rustling of the Spirit... :) 

When we choose anything, we also choose against other options. One of the most challenging parts of discipleship isn’t choosing those things that we like over and above the things we don’t like, but making the choices that force us to choose against things we want — sometimes things we’ve wanted our whole lives. 

The disciples chose to follow Jesus, and in doing so they left behind their careers, their families, their old lives — and sometimes even their names — and engaged in a new risky venture with this new teacher who was taking on the mantle of John the Baptist’s ministry. 

How do you choose when it’s hard? What’s something you might need to choose to give up in order to choose to follow the calling of God in your life?

Support the show

]]> This is from the 1030 service, and apparently my microphone failed. Thus, enjoy the unplugged version, featuring occasional pocket scratches and strange noises that I choose to interpret as the rustling of the Spirit... :) 

When we choose anything, we also choose against other options. One of the most challenging parts of discipleship isn’t choosing those things that we like over and above the things we don’t like, but making the choices that force us to choose against things we want — sometimes things we’ve wanted our whole lives. 

The disciples chose to follow Jesus, and in doing so they left behind their careers, their families, their old lives — and sometimes even their names — and engaged in a new risky venture with this new teacher who was taking on the mantle of John the Baptist’s ministry. 

How do you choose when it’s hard? What’s something you might need to choose to give up in order to choose to follow the calling of God in your life?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2596780 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0500 1102 full false Choosy Choosers Choose Jesus (830 LCOR Epiphany 3A) Choosy Choosers Choose Jesus (830 LCOR Epiphany 3A) When we choose anything, we also choose against other options. One of the most challenging parts of discipleship isn’t choosing those things that we like over and above the things we don’t like, but making the choices that force us to choose against things we want — sometimes things we’ve wanted our whole lives. 

The disciples chose to follow Jesus, and in doing so they left behind their careers, their families, their old lives — and sometimes even their names — and engaged in a new risky venture with this new teacher who was taking on the mantle of John the Baptist’s ministry. 

How do you choose when it’s hard? What’s something you might need to choose to give up in order to choose to follow the calling of God in your life?

Support the show

]]> When we choose anything, we also choose against other options. One of the most challenging parts of discipleship isn’t choosing those things that we like over and above the things we don’t like, but making the choices that force us to choose against things we want — sometimes things we’ve wanted our whole lives. 

The disciples chose to follow Jesus, and in doing so they left behind their careers, their families, their old lives — and sometimes even their names — and engaged in a new risky venture with this new teacher who was taking on the mantle of John the Baptist’s ministry. 

How do you choose when it’s hard? What’s something you might need to choose to give up in order to choose to follow the calling of God in your life?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2596738 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0500 963 full false Innocents Lost (Christmas 1A LCOR Matthew 2) Innocents Lost (Christmas 1A LCOR Matthew 2) This Sunday of Christmas we commemorate the slaughter of the innocents, the dreams that lead the Holy Family to flee to Egypt, and wrestle with the ways human nature hasn’t changed as much as we’d like...and maybe neither had our situation. 

Support the show

]]> This Sunday of Christmas we commemorate the slaughter of the innocents, the dreams that lead the Holy Family to flee to Egypt, and wrestle with the ways human nature hasn’t changed as much as we’d like...and maybe neither had our situation. 

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2368931 Sun, 29 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500 855 full false Christmas Hype: My Best Tuesday Sermon? (9pm LCOR 2019 Christmas Eve) Christmas Hype: My Best Tuesday Sermon? (9pm LCOR 2019 Christmas Eve) We try so hard to make everything live up to the hype, but life sometimes disappoints; people disappoint; life just doesn’t seem to live up to what’s advertised. At Christmas we look to the promise of Messiah and wonder — can God’s promises made over generations and millennia live up to the hype?

When we meet God, it never goes like we expect. The good news is that God’s faithfulness always lives up to the hype.

Support the show

]]> We try so hard to make everything live up to the hype, but life sometimes disappoints; people disappoint; life just doesn’t seem to live up to what’s advertised. At Christmas we look to the promise of Messiah and wonder — can God’s promises made over generations and millennia live up to the hype?

When we meet God, it never goes like we expect. The good news is that God’s faithfulness always lives up to the hype.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2351891 Wed, 25 Dec 2019 08:00:00 -0500 665 full false Christmas Hype (5pm LCOR 2019 Christmas Eve) Christmas Hype (5pm LCOR 2019 Christmas Eve) We try so hard to make everything live up to the hype, but life sometimes disappoints; people disappoint; life just doesn’t seem to live up to what’s advertised. At Christmas we look to the promise of Messiah and wonder — can God’s promises made over generations and millennia live up to the hype?

When we meet God, it never goes like we expect. The good news is that God’s faithfulness always lives up to the hype.

Support the show

]]> We try so hard to make everything live up to the hype, but life sometimes disappoints; people disappoint; life just doesn’t seem to live up to what’s advertised. At Christmas we look to the promise of Messiah and wonder — can God’s promises made over generations and millennia live up to the hype?

When we meet God, it never goes like we expect. The good news is that God’s faithfulness always lives up to the hype.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2348831 Tue, 24 Dec 2019 19:00:00 -0500 853 full false God Adopted (830 LCOR Advent 4A Matthew 1 18-25) God Adopted (830 LCOR Advent 4A Matthew 1 18-25) So often we think of family as being the people we’re born with. In God’s family, and throughout the whole of Scripture, we see something different: we are the family of God though adoption, and the miracle of Christmas is the final adoption of creation by God as Jesus adopts human flesh to become one of us. 

The Fourth Sunday of Advent offers a more subtle Christmas miracle though, that through Joseph’s faithfulness, humanity adopts God right back. 

In Christ through baptism, we enter God’s family through adoption, and it’s a family in which water is thicker than blood.

Support the show

]]> So often we think of family as being the people we’re born with. In God’s family, and throughout the whole of Scripture, we see something different: we are the family of God though adoption, and the miracle of Christmas is the final adoption of creation by God as Jesus adopts human flesh to become one of us. 

The Fourth Sunday of Advent offers a more subtle Christmas miracle though, that through Joseph’s faithfulness, humanity adopts God right back. 

In Christ through baptism, we enter God’s family through adoption, and it’s a family in which water is thicker than blood.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2330552 Sun, 22 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -0500 645 full false Perfectly Messy is Oerfrcly Normal (LCOR 830 Advent 3A) Perfectly Messy is Oerfrcly Normal (LCOR 830 Advent 3A) Jesus hears from John the Baptist a question: “are you the one, or are we supposed to keep waiting for someone else?”. Jesus answers by pointing to healings, signs, and miracles — and then takes a direct shot at the powers of the world with a message that the Kingdom of God is not some reed easily shaken, but robust and blooming even in the least hospitable places.

How do we respond to the Messiah we have when we’re challenged by the one that we want?
What about all these  questions we continue to have?

God is enough to handle these struggles and more. God is not so easily shaken.

Support the show

]]> Jesus hears from John the Baptist a question: “are you the one, or are we supposed to keep waiting for someone else?”. Jesus answers by pointing to healings, signs, and miracles — and then takes a direct shot at the powers of the world with a message that the Kingdom of God is not some reed easily shaken, but robust and blooming even in the least hospitable places.

How do we respond to the Messiah we have when we’re challenged by the one that we want?
What about all these  questions we continue to have?

God is enough to handle these struggles and more. God is not so easily shaken.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2285585 Sun, 15 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -0500 911 full false Repentance & Fire (LCOR 830am Advent 2A) Repentance & Fire (LCOR 830am Advent 2A) John the Baptist was more than some strange desert guy who preached about fire and repentance to a few people, he was more than some strange desert guy who preached about fire and repentance to huge crowds from across the countryside. 

How does this message of repentance from so long ago relate to us today in a day when what we want is almost singularly important? 

How do we hear this message of fire and forgiveness in a world that tells us that our sins exclude us from being able to be a part of the culture? 

The love of God is a refining fire, not an all-consuming one. How do we deal with this in an all or nothing world?

Support the show

]]> John the Baptist was more than some strange desert guy who preached about fire and repentance to a few people, he was more than some strange desert guy who preached about fire and repentance to huge crowds from across the countryside. 

How does this message of repentance from so long ago relate to us today in a day when what we want is almost singularly important? 

How do we hear this message of fire and forgiveness in a world that tells us that our sins exclude us from being able to be a part of the culture? 

The love of God is a refining fire, not an all-consuming one. How do we deal with this in an all or nothing world?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2241881 Sun, 08 Dec 2019 23:00:00 -0500 903 full false Making Peace With Conflict (LCOR, Foxboro Luke 20 20-37) Making Peace With Conflict (LCOR, Foxboro Luke 20 20-37) We find ourselves conflicted about a lot of articles of faith, not the least of which is the resurrection of the body. 

In a world that’s so contentious, knowing that our humanity permeates even the Church where we think we’re supposed to be somehow “better” than we are everywhere else (prepare to be disappointed), somehow conflict remains a reality of our lives. 

How can we trust in the promises of God when we can’t even trust ourselves not to be jerks?

Support the show

]]> We find ourselves conflicted about a lot of articles of faith, not the least of which is the resurrection of the body. 

In a world that’s so contentious, knowing that our humanity permeates even the Church where we think we’re supposed to be somehow “better” than we are everywhere else (prepare to be disappointed), somehow conflict remains a reality of our lives. 

How can we trust in the promises of God when we can’t even trust ourselves not to be jerks?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2033811 Thu, 14 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0500 1042 full false Mike Taylor Funeral Homily (LCOR, Foxboro John 14 1-7) Mike Taylor Funeral Homily (LCOR, Foxboro John 14 1-7) Preached for the funeral of Mike Taylor at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Foxboro on Saturday November 9, 2019.

Support the show

]]> Preached for the funeral of Mike Taylor at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Foxboro on Saturday November 9, 2019.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2033790 Sun, 10 Nov 2019 23:00:00 -0500 560 full false Certainty Without Answers (11am LCOR, Foxboro Luke 20:27-38) Certainty Without Answers (11am LCOR, Foxboro Luke 20:27-38) There is so much we want to know but can’t ever be certain about, and one of the most prevalent issues we face is the understanding of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. 

What’s that mean? What age body, what health of the body, what’s healed and what remains? 

Sometimes we get no answers, but trusting in the fact that God is faithful leads us into the ability to be certain without clutching for answers. When we trust God, even though we might not know, we can gain a comfort in the certainty that God is faithful.

Support the show

]]> There is so much we want to know but can’t ever be certain about, and one of the most prevalent issues we face is the understanding of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. 

What’s that mean? What age body, what health of the body, what’s healed and what remains? 

Sometimes we get no answers, but trusting in the fact that God is faithful leads us into the ability to be certain without clutching for answers. When we trust God, even though we might not know, we can gain a comfort in the certainty that God is faithful.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-2033745 Sun, 10 Nov 2019 14:00:00 -0500 1068 full false Speaking the Unspeakable for All the Saints (11am at LCOR All Saints Day Luke 6:20-31) Speaking the Unspeakable for All the Saints (11am at LCOR All Saints Day Luke 6:20-31) Loss changes us, grief changes us, and the way we feel compelled to keep our humanity secret changes us in ways that eat away at our hearts. How can we live in the joy and sorrow that exist together and speak the truth that our world needs to hear? 

We are not alone. God is with us and has given us to each other in community so that whether we’re laughing or crying, we never do it alone.

Support the show

]]> Loss changes us, grief changes us, and the way we feel compelled to keep our humanity secret changes us in ways that eat away at our hearts. How can we live in the joy and sorrow that exist together and speak the truth that our world needs to hear? 

We are not alone. God is with us and has given us to each other in community so that whether we’re laughing or crying, we never do it alone.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1985818 Sun, 03 Nov 2019 16:00:00 -0500 1340 full false For All the Imperfect Saints, Even When We’re Enemies (830 at LCOR All Saints Day Luke 6:20-31 For All the Imperfect Saints, Even When We’re Enemies (830 at LCOR All Saints Day Luke 6:20-31 When we hear that someone is a saint, we get all sorts of different images. When we find ourselves on the wrong side of love it often makes us feel like that kind of holiness is out of our reach. While it goes against our every impulse, we know that one thing remains true about Jesus and his enemies: he loves them, and this love changes everything.

How can this love change you?

Support the show

]]> When we hear that someone is a saint, we get all sorts of different images. When we find ourselves on the wrong side of love it often makes us feel like that kind of holiness is out of our reach. While it goes against our every impulse, we know that one thing remains true about Jesus and his enemies: he loves them, and this love changes everything.

How can this love change you?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1985767 Sun, 03 Nov 2019 15:00:00 -0500 1059 full false Reformation? Isn’t that the day when we wait to see if Martin Luther sees his shadow? (LCOR 11am John 8 31-36) Reformation? Isn’t that the day when we wait to see if Martin Luther sees his shadow? (LCOR 11am John 8 31-36) We live in a culture that has its own measure of time and meaning that takes place away from the Church. How do we reform our understanding and thinking in a way that helps us engage a culture that doesn’t seem to be made for all of us to tell them that God is creating a world that is made for us — all of us — even if we don’t know how to see it?

Support the show

]]> We live in a culture that has its own measure of time and meaning that takes place away from the Church. How do we reform our understanding and thinking in a way that helps us engage a culture that doesn’t seem to be made for all of us to tell them that God is creating a world that is made for us — all of us — even if we don’t know how to see it?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1943640 Sun, 27 Oct 2019 14:00:00 -0400 1221 full false Meeting Jesus at Dunks (LCOR 830 Luke 18:1-8) Meeting Jesus at Dunks (LCOR 830 Luke 18:1-8) What do a widow fighting with an unjust judge, Jacob using his family as protection against a brother who might still want to murder him, and Dunkin Donuts all have in common? 

This Sunday I could spend weeks unpacking the texts from the Bible, but I stopped at Dunks for a sandwich and met Jesus out front, and it changed everything I had planned. 

We meet Jesus in the strangest places, but we always find him at the point where our humanity leaves us open to the experience of the Divine, whose love causes a powerlessness that only makes sense when viewed through the lens of the cross.

Support the show

]]> What do a widow fighting with an unjust judge, Jacob using his family as protection against a brother who might still want to murder him, and Dunkin Donuts all have in common? 

This Sunday I could spend weeks unpacking the texts from the Bible, but I stopped at Dunks for a sandwich and met Jesus out front, and it changed everything I had planned. 

We meet Jesus in the strangest places, but we always find him at the point where our humanity leaves us open to the experience of the Divine, whose love causes a powerlessness that only makes sense when viewed through the lens of the cross.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1899521 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400 1023 full false I Met Jesus at Dunks This Morning (LCOR 1100 Luke 18:1-8) I Met Jesus at Dunks This Morning (LCOR 1100 Luke 18:1-8) What do a widow fighting with an unjust judge, Jacob using his family as protection against a brother who might still want to murder him, and Dunkin Donuts all have in common? 

This Sunday I could spend weeks unpacking the texts from the Bible, but I stopped at Dunks for a sandwich and met Jesus out front, and it changed everything I had planned. 

We meet Jesus in the strangest places, but we always find him at the point where our humanity leaves us open to the experience of the Divine, whose love causes a powerlessness that only makes sense when viewed through the lens of the cross.


Support the show

]]> What do a widow fighting with an unjust judge, Jacob using his family as protection against a brother who might still want to murder him, and Dunkin Donuts all have in common? 

This Sunday I could spend weeks unpacking the texts from the Bible, but I stopped at Dunks for a sandwich and met Jesus out front, and it changed everything I had planned. 

We meet Jesus in the strangest places, but we always find him at the point where our humanity leaves us open to the experience of the Divine, whose love causes a powerlessness that only makes sense when viewed through the lens of the cross.


Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1899476 Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:00:00 -0400 1009 full false The Gift of Strangers (LCOR Luke 17:11-19) The Gift of Strangers (LCOR Luke 17:11-19) We make a lot of assumptions about ourselves and the people around us. For instance, we assume that just because we grew up in a place we understand it better than just about anyone else. Sometimes familiarity doesn’t make us the experts we think it does, but it takes someone from the outside to help us gain a more true perspective on things.

Today, we learn from the Samaritan who returned to give thanks for healing and from the Syrian general Naaman (who washed in the Jordan and was cleansed of his leprosy) that there’s a lot we can learn about the Kingdom of God from strangers. 

What can we learn about the Kingdom of God from the strangers God puts in our lives?

Support the show

]]> We make a lot of assumptions about ourselves and the people around us. For instance, we assume that just because we grew up in a place we understand it better than just about anyone else. Sometimes familiarity doesn’t make us the experts we think it does, but it takes someone from the outside to help us gain a more true perspective on things.

Today, we learn from the Samaritan who returned to give thanks for healing and from the Syrian general Naaman (who washed in the Jordan and was cleansed of his leprosy) that there’s a lot we can learn about the Kingdom of God from strangers. 

What can we learn about the Kingdom of God from the strangers God puts in our lives?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1858573 Sun, 13 Oct 2019 10:00:00 -0400 1172 full false Enough (830 @ LCOR, Foxboro Luke 17:5-10) Enough (830 @ LCOR, Foxboro Luke 17:5-10) Sometimes the choices we make dictate the kind of response we get. Through the sayings of Jesus we learn many things, and today we learn that even when all we have is a little, God can make it enough.

Support the show

]]> Sometimes the choices we make dictate the kind of response we get. Through the sayings of Jesus we learn many things, and today we learn that even when all we have is a little, God can make it enough.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1822324 Tue, 08 Oct 2019 08:00:00 -0400 1222 full false Enough (11am at LCOR, Foxboro Luke 17:5-10 Enough (11am at LCOR, Foxboro Luke 17:5-10 “Increase our faith”, said the disciples. They must have known that making a request like this of Jesus is a risky proposition. The law tells us that we have to guard what we have because it’s likely to run out. The Gospel tells us that when all we have is a little, God will make it enough.

Support the show

]]> “Increase our faith”, said the disciples. They must have known that making a request like this of Jesus is a risky proposition. The law tells us that we have to guard what we have because it’s likely to run out. The Gospel tells us that when all we have is a little, God will make it enough.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1822297 Sun, 06 Oct 2019 13:00:00 -0400 1228 full false I Pity the Fool (Silverstreet, Silverstreet) I Pity the Fool (Silverstreet, Silverstreet) This is probably the last sermon I'll preach as a pastor in the South Carolina Synod or as an assistant to the bishop. It's weird to think of this ending because I feel like I still have plenty to do, but then I saw this Gospel reading and remembered that it's not really about my plans, but about what God has planned for me.

How do we respond to the times in life where what we want conflicts with what God has prepared? How do we reconcile the cold reality that lays waste to our plans?

Support the show

]]> This is probably the last sermon I'll preach as a pastor in the South Carolina Synod or as an assistant to the bishop. It's weird to think of this ending because I feel like I still have plenty to do, but then I saw this Gospel reading and remembered that it's not really about my plans, but about what God has planned for me.

How do we respond to the times in life where what we want conflicts with what God has prepared? How do we reconcile the cold reality that lays waste to our plans?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1510267 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400 1240 full false How Am I a Neighbor? (St. James, Summit - Luke 10:25-37) How Am I a Neighbor? (St. James, Summit - Luke 10:25-37) The question "Who is my neighbor?" is a stunningly relevant question today, as the US immigration services prepare to deport members of some 2000 families over the next few days. More, it's stunningly relevant to our lives, as we continue to struggle with how we can care for "those people" whoever they might be when they make us so mad, frustrated, frightened, or stressed. 

Fortunately for us, the question "Who is my neighbor?" is answered for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus — everyone is my neighbor. Unfortunately for us, the challenge Jesus levels at the lawyer is "How do YOU act like neighbor?" when Jesus tells the man, "Go and do likewise". 

This is not only the struggle of our age, but a central issue for the Church for the better part of 2000 years.

Support the show

]]> The question "Who is my neighbor?" is a stunningly relevant question today, as the US immigration services prepare to deport members of some 2000 families over the next few days. More, it's stunningly relevant to our lives, as we continue to struggle with how we can care for "those people" whoever they might be when they make us so mad, frustrated, frightened, or stressed. 

Fortunately for us, the question "Who is my neighbor?" is answered for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus — everyone is my neighbor. Unfortunately for us, the challenge Jesus levels at the lawyer is "How do YOU act like neighbor?" when Jesus tells the man, "Go and do likewise". 

This is not only the struggle of our age, but a central issue for the Church for the better part of 2000 years.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1407967 Sun, 14 Jul 2019 14:00:00 -0400 1659 neighbor, grace, immigrant, poor, kindness full false Life in an Older Brother Culture (Orangeburg, Orangeburg) Life in an Older Brother Culture (Orangeburg, Orangeburg) "There was a father who had two sons", the story goes. A question this week shaped how I hear this story, "who is missing?". As I wrestled with that question, another thought came to my mind: we live in an Older Brother culture. 

How do we begin to deal with this fact, and how can we begin to overcome the jealous judgementalism that gets in our way when it comes to accepting the unfair love of God, who calls us to the feast with "those people" who we know are not deserving?

Support the show

]]> "There was a father who had two sons", the story goes. A question this week shaped how I hear this story, "who is missing?". As I wrestled with that question, another thought came to my mind: we live in an Older Brother culture. 

How do we begin to deal with this fact, and how can we begin to overcome the jealous judgementalism that gets in our way when it comes to accepting the unfair love of God, who calls us to the feast with "those people" who we know are not deserving?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1022083 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400 1524 full false God the OG (Original Gardener) (St. Michael, Greenville) God the OG (Original Gardener) (St. Michael, Greenville) We often think of God as the most powerful being in the universe, but God teaches us that powerful leadership looks like service. What if God is not the landowner, but the Gardener?

Support the show

]]> We often think of God as the most powerful being in the universe, but God teaches us that powerful leadership looks like service. What if God is not the landowner, but the Gardener?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-1021781 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400 923 full false Meeting God In (and Out of) Good Church People (Good Shepherd, Columbia) Meeting God In (and Out of) Good Church People (Good Shepherd, Columbia) Have you ever wondered why God called you, or how you could possibly be worthy of a calling? Yeah...me too...and Isaiah too...and Paul too...and Peter too.

God equips us to do what we're called to do in surprising ways!

Support the show

]]> Have you ever wondered why God called you, or how you could possibly be worthy of a calling? Yeah...me too...and Isaiah too...and Paul too...and Peter too.

God equips us to do what we're called to do in surprising ways!

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-951589 Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500 1409 full false Silent Night — Guitar Only Silent Night — Guitar Only I'm not particularly known for nuance or sensitivity, and when I describe my guitar playing I often tell people that God gave me only two tools, a hammer and a guitar, and I'm likely as not to use both together. 

Having said that, here's a fingerpicked version of Silent Night. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or whatever floats your boat and increases your love for  yourself, other people, and helps reveal to you the mystery of the Divine.

Support the show

]]> I'm not particularly known for nuance or sensitivity, and when I describe my guitar playing I often tell people that God gave me only two tools, a hammer and a guitar, and I'm likely as not to use both together. 

Having said that, here's a fingerpicked version of Silent Night. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or whatever floats your boat and increases your love for  yourself, other people, and helps reveal to you the mystery of the Divine.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-883950 Sun, 09 Dec 2018 12:00:00 -0500 78 full false If Christ is King (Faith, West Columbia) If Christ is King (Faith, West Columbia) We live in a nation that lifts up our individuality as an idol, and pushes an angry guy false god as the deity of a cultural religion that has many people convinced that to be Christian means to pick and choose who's in and who's out. This false god is vengeful, and even its love looks like wrath.

What would it look like if we professed the one true God whose love looks loving as loudly as those who declare that false god who is just waiting to beat us down and punish us forever?

Do we even dare to hope for a God whose love looks like love?

When we do, the Spirit stirs something powerful inside of us. So powerful was this stirring that a LUTHERAN spoke and answered questions during the sermon that I expected to be rhetorical! 

If Christ is King, we can hope for even greater things than these!

Support the show

]]> We live in a nation that lifts up our individuality as an idol, and pushes an angry guy false god as the deity of a cultural religion that has many people convinced that to be Christian means to pick and choose who's in and who's out. This false god is vengeful, and even its love looks like wrath.

What would it look like if we professed the one true God whose love looks loving as loudly as those who declare that false god who is just waiting to beat us down and punish us forever?

Do we even dare to hope for a God whose love looks like love?

When we do, the Spirit stirs something powerful inside of us. So powerful was this stirring that a LUTHERAN spoke and answered questions during the sermon that I expected to be rhetorical! 

If Christ is King, we can hope for even greater things than these!

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-870090 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 14:00:00 -0500 1312 full false Suffering: Not My Favorite Thing (King of Glory, North Myrtle Beach, 830 Service) Suffering: Not My Favorite Thing (King of Glory, North Myrtle Beach, 830 Service) We are called to do many things in our lifetime. Some of them are wonderful, like eating steak; others are not, like eating salad. As we approach Thanksgiving, a holiday that for me has always been more about food and family than the generosity of Native Americans toward the struggling Pilgrims, we explore the purpose of suffering, something against which I have a general policy. 

In our suffering, in our doubt, in our failures, in our grieving, God is not a fair weather friend. God is with us, and chooses to sit in that space with us rather than cheapening it with quick fixes or platitudes designed to ease the anxiety of that space.

Through baptism, we hear God’s promise that in this family water is thicker than blood, and though the world may laugh with us but abandon us in our tears, God is always with us.

Support the show

]]> We are called to do many things in our lifetime. Some of them are wonderful, like eating steak; others are not, like eating salad. As we approach Thanksgiving, a holiday that for me has always been more about food and family than the generosity of Native Americans toward the struggling Pilgrims, we explore the purpose of suffering, something against which I have a general policy. 

In our suffering, in our doubt, in our failures, in our grieving, God is not a fair weather friend. God is with us, and chooses to sit in that space with us rather than cheapening it with quick fixes or platitudes designed to ease the anxiety of that space.

Through baptism, we hear God’s promise that in this family water is thicker than blood, and though the world may laugh with us but abandon us in our tears, God is always with us.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-868797 Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:00:00 -0500 1266 Suffering, grief, loss, doubt, relationship, God, presence, hope full false Red Slushees & Garlic Bread: It all belongs to God (St. Timothy’s, Midland, Michigan) Red Slushees & Garlic Bread: It all belongs to God (St. Timothy’s, Midland, Michigan) In a world where we try to possess everything, how do live in the knowledge that EVERYTHING belongs to God, and that we follow God - who gives everything away leaving nothing behind, and calls us to do the same?

Preached at St. Timothy’s in Midland, Michigan (I’m the North/West Lower Michigan Synod) because the pastor there got sick and we had an abundance of pastors present at the first ever Mitten Synod Youth Summit!

Thanks to Trinity, Midland for hosting us this weekend and to Pastors Danielle and Megan for your hospitality!

Support the show

]]> In a world where we try to possess everything, how do live in the knowledge that EVERYTHING belongs to God, and that we follow God - who gives everything away leaving nothing behind, and calls us to do the same?

Preached at St. Timothy’s in Midland, Michigan (I’m the North/West Lower Michigan Synod) because the pastor there got sick and we had an abundance of pastors present at the first ever Mitten Synod Youth Summit!

Thanks to Trinity, Midland for hosting us this weekend and to Pastors Danielle and Megan for your hospitality!

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-857031 Sun, 11 Nov 2018 11:00:00 -0500 1016 full false Free Love in a Transactional World (Reformation at St. John's, Irmo) Free Love in a Transactional World (Reformation at St. John's, Irmo) Faith is about more than being a good person, it's about finding freedom from the things that enslave us. How do we embrace the love that sets us free?

Support the show

]]> Faith is about more than being a good person, it's about finding freedom from the things that enslave us. How do we embrace the love that sets us free?

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-843973 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400 1145 full false Created to be Different (St. Matthews, Lexington Homecoming Mark 10:2-16) Created to be Different (St. Matthews, Lexington Homecoming Mark 10:2-16) so often we hear the words of the Bible as law — what we HAVE to do. How do we change the way we hear these verses that discuss things like divorce so that we can instead hear them as words of promise about who we were created to be, about relationship, about love, and about hope so that we can dwell in the love that only God has to offer?

We learn to approach God and each other more honestly and openly every day, and every day, God welcomes us home.

Support the show

]]> so often we hear the words of the Bible as law — what we HAVE to do. How do we change the way we hear these verses that discuss things like divorce so that we can instead hear them as words of promise about who we were created to be, about relationship, about love, and about hope so that we can dwell in the love that only God has to offer?

We learn to approach God and each other more honestly and openly every day, and every day, God welcomes us home.

Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-823471 Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400 1644 full false Bible in One Hand (St. John, Pomaria Mark 9:38-50) Bible in One Hand (St. John, Pomaria Mark 9:38-50) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-817233 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0400 1788 full false Our Racing Hearts Are Open (Augsburg, Union Homecoming) Our Racing Hearts Are Open (Augsburg, Union Homecoming) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-798631 Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0400 1217 full false The Food We Seek (Homecoming at Mt. Calvary, Johnston) The Food We Seek (Homecoming at Mt. Calvary, Johnston) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-768424 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0400 1108 full false Calling and Cross Bearing Calling and Cross Bearing Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-650026 Sun, 25 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0500 1477 lent, cross, faith, church, hope full false Rough Roads, New Hope (Advent 3 at Pleasant Springs at Christ Mission - Mark 1:1-8) Rough Roads, New Hope (Advent 3 at Pleasant Springs at Christ Mission - Mark 1:1-8) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-608111 Sun, 10 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1108 full false Reconciled to Christ (Christ the King Sunday at Reformation, Columbia) Reconciled to Christ (Christ the King Sunday at Reformation, Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran Buzzsprout-603051 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1103 Christ,King,RLC,ELCA full false Always Reforming (Redeemer, Columbia) Always Reforming (Redeemer, Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> Eric Wolf 2a3c7c84-bb26-11e7-a97f-06f2d5f4702d Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:00:00 -0400 978 false Angry Enough to Die (Homecoming at St. Thomas, Chapin Matthew 20) Angry Enough to Die (Homecoming at St. Thomas, Chapin Matthew 20) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> Eric Wolf 13b37e5a-a13f-11e7-8d24-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 24 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1153 false As We Forgive (Cedar Grove, Leesville Homecoming- Matthew 18) As We Forgive (Cedar Grove, Leesville Homecoming- Matthew 18) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran a26f11b8-9f3c-11e7-bed3-06f2d5f4702d Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1468 false Storms and Silence (St. Johannes, Charleston installation of Rev. Shrum) Storms and Silence (St. Johannes, Charleston installation of Rev. Shrum) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran ecab554c-8089-11e7-b857-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1266 false Living With the Enemy (Providence, Lexington - Matthew 13) Living With the Enemy (Providence, Lexington - Matthew 13) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 3656ba36-75f1-11e7-8e16-06f2d5f4702d Mon, 31 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1037 false Rest (St. John's, Spartanburg) Rest (St. John's, Spartanburg) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f4b0aea0-6a1c-11e7-aef4-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 16 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1719 false We Are Soil (Wittenberg, Batesburg-Leesville We Are Soil (Wittenberg, Batesburg-Leesville Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f9506220-6a2b-11e7-aef4-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 16 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1249 false Hearts of Dirt (Wittenberg, Batesburg-Leesville 11am Hearts of Dirt (Wittenberg, Batesburg-Leesville 11am Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 1a78c3e6-6a6f-11e7-aef4-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 16 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1257 false Go! (St. Matthias, Easley) Go! (St. Matthias, Easley) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran b58e6130-649b-11e7-9186-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 09 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1611 false LCY President Ben Bernstein, 2017 LCY Convention Sermon LCY President Ben Bernstein, 2017 LCY Convention Sermon Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran b62f590e-54ed-11e7-9cbd-06f2d5f4702d Mon, 19 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -0400 475 false A New Kind of Miracle (Pentecost at St. Nicholas, Fairfax Parish) A New Kind of Miracle (Pentecost at St. Nicholas, Fairfax Parish) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 93305d88-4938-11e7-a3ff-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 04 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1108 false God Speaking Our Language (Pentecost at Trinity, Fairfax Parish) God Speaking Our Language (Pentecost at Trinity, Fairfax Parish) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran bc770814-4946-11e7-b826-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 04 Jun 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1308 false St. Paul, Aiken, Second Service St. Paul, Aiken, Second Service Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran c80c86be-380b-11e7-99fd-06f2d5f4702d Sat, 13 May 2017 00:00:00 -0400 978 false A Joy Complete (Installation of Rev. Michele Fischer at Good Shepherd, Swansea) A Joy Complete (Installation of Rev. Michele Fischer at Good Shepherd, Swansea) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 9031b740-3820-11e7-99fd-06f2d5f4702d Sat, 13 May 2017 00:00:00 -0400 831 false God in Our Brokenness (830 St. Paul, Aiken God in Our Brokenness (830 St. Paul, Aiken Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 8667f83e-2db5-11e7-bad4-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 30 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 1044 false Crown in Sunday, Cross on Friday (University, Clemson. Palm Sunday) Crown in Sunday, Cross on Friday (University, Clemson. Palm Sunday) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f0e52b98-1d55-11e7-ae23-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 09 Apr 2017 00:00:00 -0400 913 false The Problem With Temptation: It's Too Tempting (Bethlehem, I The Problem With Temptation: It's Too Tempting (Bethlehem, I Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2e2734f0-01d7-11e7-a22b-06f2d5f4702d Sun, 05 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1596 false Love Your Enemies? Why is this so hard? (Joy, Moore -Matthew 5:38-48) Love Your Enemies? Why is this so hard? (Joy, Moore -Matthew 5:38-48) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 8b73f3f6-f6cd-11e6-a75b-0a2425a72593 Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1128 false Choose Life (11am All Saints, Mt. Pleasant) Choose Life (11am All Saints, Mt. Pleasant) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4396be72-f152-11e6-b950-0a2425a72593 Sun, 12 Feb 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1296 false When We Don't Know (Matthew 2:13-23) When We Don't Know (Matthew 2:13-23) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 120d5ff6-d59f-11e6-a312-0a2425a72593 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1721 false Water, and Words of Life (Matthew 3:13-17) Water, and Words of Life (Matthew 3:13-17) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 9592fb06-d617-11e6-aa07-0a2425a72593 Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500 1142 false God is With Us (Faith, West Columbia) God is With Us (Faith, West Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 83b64506-c54a-11e6-bb1b-0a2425a72593 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1016 false Advent 1: Slaying the Demon of Doomsday (Macedonia, Prosperity) Advent 1: Slaying the Demon of Doomsday (Macedonia, Prosperity) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 3086eeb0-b57f-11e6-b455-0a2425a72593 Mon, 28 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1769 false What Does It Mean That Jesus is Our King? (Hand in Hand) What Does It Mean That Jesus is Our King? (Hand in Hand) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran c34b5f74-b49e-11e6-868a-0a2425a72593 Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1081 false First Day Doomsday(Macedonia, Prosperity 830) First Day Doomsday(Macedonia, Prosperity 830) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4dc8b762-b4b5-11e6-b455-0a2425a72593 Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1101 false This is Who WE Are (Good Shepherd, Swansea Luke 215-19) This is Who WE Are (Good Shepherd, Swansea Luke 215-19) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2317a220-a9d5-11e6-868a-0a2425a72593 Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1636 false Hard to Be Humble (Bethel, White Rock) Hard to Be Humble (Bethel, White Rock) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 905ff05e-9e99-11e6-8a13-0a2425a72593 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1242 false Reformation Forever: Marked, Sealed, and Sent (St. Mark's, Isle of Palms) Reformation Forever: Marked, Sealed, and Sent (St. Mark's, Isle of Palms) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 54498616-9ec6-11e6-8350-0a2425a72593 Sun, 30 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1605 false Wrestling With God, or Faith is a Cage Match (St. James # Graniteville Luke 18:1-8) Wrestling With God, or Faith is a Cage Match (St. James # Graniteville Luke 18:1-8) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 6e73e968-93c8-11e6-8f25-0a2425a72593 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1273 false Increase Our Faith (Sandy Run, Swansea - Luke 17:1-5) Increase Our Faith (Sandy Run, Swansea - Luke 17:1-5) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4b77538a-88c1-11e6-8b61-0a2425a72593 Sun, 02 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1048 false When God Repents (Reformation, Columbia on the 15th Anniversary of 9-11) When God Repents (Reformation, Columbia on the 15th Anniversary of 9-11) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 833c494e-7839-11e6-82c0-0a2425a72593 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1917 false Bold to be Humble (Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Newberry - Luke 14) Bold to be Humble (Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Newberry - Luke 14) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 7280d038-6d27-11e6-a30d-0a2425a72593 Sun, 28 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1045 false Fear Not, no matter what they say (Summer Memorial, Newberry) Fear Not, no matter what they say (Summer Memorial, Newberry) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran a98ba5a0-5ce5-11e6-800b-0a2425a72593 Sun, 07 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1471 false Faith in Violence (Reformation, Columbia special service) Faith in Violence (Reformation, Columbia special service) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran a933b714-4ff7-11e6-a334-0a2425a72593 Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -0400 682 false Who is my Neighbor? (Reformation, Columbia) Who is my Neighbor? (Reformation, Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4acdfed4-46b8-11e6-8779-0a2425a72593 Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1730 false Freedom! (Mt. Tabor, West Columbia) Freedom! (Mt. Tabor, West Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 991a3ebe-3bae-11e6-8bf6-0a2425a72593 Sun, 26 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400 843 false Stand Free! (Mt. Tabor, West Columbia at 11am Service) Stand Free! (Mt. Tabor, West Columbia at 11am Service) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 0c77b20c-3bbd-11e6-8bf6-0a2425a72593 Sun, 26 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1506 false Ben Bernstein, LCY President - 2016 LCY Convention Sermon, "I Don't Get It, God" Ben Bernstein, LCY President - 2016 LCY Convention Sermon, "I Don't Get It, God" Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 3d038ca4-36f7-11e6-bd72-9ed7b0ccd3aa Mon, 20 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400 568 false Thine (and not mine) is the Power (St. David, West Columbia) Thine (and not mine) is the Power (St. David, West Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 29f55a1e-25c9-11e6-a036-862a78fc23d8 Sun, 29 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400 943 false Festival of Well Meant Heresy (St. Matthews, Charleston) Festival of Well Meant Heresy (St. Matthews, Charleston) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 5962d336-2406-11e6-a78f-4afde5d1f964 Fri, 27 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400 627 false Funeral Sermon for Grace Weed (Christus Victor, Columbia) Funeral Sermon for Grace Weed (Christus Victor, Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran cc465728-1304-11e6-bed1-96ea316f5fca Thu, 05 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400 441 false Desperately Seeking Peace (Cross & Crown, Florence) Desperately Seeking Peace (Cross & Crown, Florence) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 534c2088-0fa7-11e6-a52d-e2a4a0ba4fb8 Sun, 01 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1254 false Seeking Peace (St. John's, Spartanburg 11am Service) Seeking Peace (St. John's, Spartanburg 11am Service) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 3601119c-ff20-11e5-a0c7-fa028b35cfa6 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1032 false Jesus Finding Us (St. Andrews, Blythewood) Jesus Finding Us (St. Andrews, Blythewood) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 1678d8d6-ff2b-11e5-b8a9-a68afe83ba69 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1282 false Caught Naked (Gethsemane, Columbia) Caught Naked (Gethsemane, Columbia) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 6aa96b5a-ff3a-11e5-b8a9-a68afe83ba69 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1304 false pleasant Springs at Christ Mission (3/13) pleasant Springs at Christ Mission (3/13) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran aab1ef68-f997-11e5-8737-567ab78a6452 Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1086 false Peace in the midst of Doubt - St. John's, Spartanburg 9am Peace in the midst of Doubt - St. John's, Spartanburg 9am Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 5c205cb8-f9a6-11e5-a2aa-4e9e163eefde Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0400 1058 false Standing in the Presence of God (Amazing Grace & Crossroads • Transfiguration Sunday) Standing in the Presence of God (Amazing Grace & Crossroads • Transfiguration Sunday) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 79b3b524-cdda-11e5-ac6c-1e37f743f35e Sun, 07 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -0500 2185 false The Love That Endures (St. Luke, Florence 1030 & 830 • Luke 4) The Love That Endures (St. Luke, Florence 1030 & 830 • Luke 4) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2e9507c2-c85e-11e5-9852-1e6aee943352 Sun, 31 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 2459 false The Power of Our New Family (Grace, Rock Hill - Luke 3) The Power of Our New Family (Grace, Rock Hill - Luke 3) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f121357a-b7ad-11e5-ad4c-6a340b37380e Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1045 false Baptism: Seeing the Face of God (Grace, Rock Hill - Luke 3) Baptism: Seeing the Face of God (Grace, Rock Hill - Luke 3) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran cd6d9730-b7c7-11e5-b27e-e6f941ce912d Sun, 10 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 987 false Why Christmas Matters (Peace, North Charleston — John 1:1-18) Why Christmas Matters (Peace, North Charleston — John 1:1-18) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 9a442866-b244-11e5-81ec-fa05f5e08a15 Sun, 03 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 1532 false Great Expectations, Great Disappointments (Mt. Calvary, Johnston - Advent 4) Great Expectations, Great Disappointments (Mt. Calvary, Johnston - Advent 4) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4ad5885c-a758-11e5-a8c5-6e26af74debb Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -0500 983 false Asking Questions in a World of Answers (Advent 3 at St. John's, Clinton) Asking Questions in a World of Answers (Advent 3 at St. John's, Clinton) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 34c39abe-a1cb-11e5-b03a-868ba979b613 Sun, 13 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -0500 1274 false In the Wilderness (Epiphany, Rock Hill Advent 2) In the Wilderness (Epiphany, Rock Hill Advent 2) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f3191c12-9c23-11e5-9d4f-0e6db73cce0d Sun, 06 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -0500 804 false In the Wilderness: Out of Control (Epiphany, Rock Hill - Advent 2) In the Wilderness: Out of Control (Epiphany, Rock Hill - Advent 2) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 018ab2c6-9c4a-11e5-9d4f-0e6db73cce0d Sun, 06 Dec 2015 00:00:00 -0500 908 false God is With Us (Holy Spirit, Charleston — Advent 1) God is With Us (Holy Spirit, Charleston — Advent 1) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 3472ac00-96cf-11e5-98ff-ba44c6efb85b Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500 998 false Going Shoeless (@Lutheridge for Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Conference) Going Shoeless (@Lutheridge for Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Conference) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 78f20890-8751-11e5-8f2a-cebdcd49e26c Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0500 713 false Stronger than Death (Messiah, Mauldin, All Saints 2015) Stronger than Death (Messiah, Mauldin, All Saints 2015) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 51a2aaf0-80d6-11e5-8d90-2a34b9c373ba Sun, 01 Nov 2015 00:00:00 -0400 847 false Please God, don't give me what I want • St. James, Graniteville Please God, don't give me what I want • St. James, Graniteville Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 657f51f2-75c0-11e5-9c59-b2a85ab667e9 Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1020 false Who am I really? — St. Michaels, Irmo Who am I really? — St. Michaels, Irmo Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran e52ecf88-7037-11e5-91c9-ba15f4ec7ed9 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1413 false Called together (Immanuel, Greenwood 8:30 Called together (Immanuel, Greenwood 8:30 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran a4186a82-6523-11e5-be0f-c2d3bfa3671c Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400 903 false Wandering, But Not Lost (Immanuel, Greenwood) Wandering, But Not Lost (Immanuel, Greenwood) Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 27581982-653e-11e5-9a82-c2d3bfa3671c Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1145 false The Hero We Need The Hero We Need Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 02469174-5a4d-11e5-a049-6a0b484bfdaa Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1595 false Crunchy Jesus Crunchy Jesus Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran adc70262-4437-11e5-9395-165951e7c494 Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1421 false Soul Food Soul Food Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 79106c12-33b5-11e5-8d43-564e7746b0c0 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1181 false ELCA Youth Gathering 1 ELCA Youth Gathering 1 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 8d588536-2bc4-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 100 false ELCA Youth Gathering 2 ELCA Youth Gathering 2 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 32a36db2-2bc5-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 46 false ELCA Youth Gathering 3 ELCA Youth Gathering 3 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran cc77999a-2bc5-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 49 false ELCA Youth Gathering #4 ELCA Youth Gathering #4 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 849a19da-2bc6-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 38 false ELCA Youth Gathering 5 ELCA Youth Gathering 5 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran f10407e8-2bc6-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 101 false ELCA Youth Gathering #6 ELCA Youth Gathering #6 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2e8ecf5c-2bc8-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 73 false ELCA Youth Gathering #7 ELCA Youth Gathering #7 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 0e144076-2bc9-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 71 false ELCA Youth Gathering 8 ELCA Youth Gathering 8 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 93b0132c-2bc9-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 59 false ELCA Youth Gathering —10 NC ELCA Youth Gathering —10 NC Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 1481ab50-2bca-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 83 false ELCA Youth Gathering 11 ELCA Youth Gathering 11 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran d3745058-2bca-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 71 false ELCA Youth Gathering 12 ELCA Youth Gathering 12 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 8538f032-2bcb-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 32 false ELCA Youth Gathering 14 ELCA Youth Gathering 14 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 30c6fc0e-2bcd-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 61 false ELCA Youth Gathering 15 ELCA Youth Gathering 15 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 9f5abaac-2bcd-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 83 false ELCA Youth Gathering 16 ELCA Youth Gathering 16 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2e5a04c4-2bce-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 75 false ELCA Youth Gathering 17 ELCA Youth Gathering 17 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran cc737f6e-2bce-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 82 false ELCA Youth Gathering 18 ELCA Youth Gathering 18 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 6afd1cda-2bcf-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 97 false ELCA Youth Gathering 20 — outside of Lafayette Coney Island ELCA Youth Gathering 20 — outside of Lafayette Coney Island Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 62b8d5b6-2bd2-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 142 false ELCA Youth Gathering - The Community Life ELCA Youth Gathering - The Community Life Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 465dffa0-2bd6-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 69 false ELCA Youth Gathering 22 ELCA Youth Gathering 22 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 080e422a-2bde-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 93 false ELCA Youth Gathering 23 ELCA Youth Gathering 23 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran e4068b60-2bdf-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 71 false ELCA Youth Gathering 24 ELCA Youth Gathering 24 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2182e29e-2be1-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 109 false ELCA Youth Gathering 25 ELCA Youth Gathering 25 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 49529be2-2be2-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 63 false ELCA Youth Gathering 26 ELCA Youth Gathering 26 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran d8a42f4a-2be2-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 133 false ELCA Youth Gathering 27 ELCA Youth Gathering 27 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 890a2424-2be4-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 46 false ELCA Youth Gathering — St. John's, Spartanburg ELCA Youth Gathering — St. John's, Spartanburg Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran d780534e-2be4-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 28 false ELCA Youth Gathering 28 ELCA Youth Gathering 28 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran d35033f4-2be7-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 50 false ELCA Youth Gathering 29 ELCA Youth Gathering 29 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 982e2f54-2be9-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 72 false ELCA Youth Gathering 30 ELCA Youth Gathering 30 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran cb559d9a-2be9-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 37 false ELCA Youth Gathering 31 ELCA Youth Gathering 31 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran bfb0eed0-2bea-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 214 false ELCA Youth Gathering 32 ELCA Youth Gathering 32 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran a42ac78e-2beb-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 48 false ELCA Youth Gathering — LCM Habitat Build ELCA Youth Gathering — LCM Habitat Build Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran ad78cdc6-2bec-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 71 false ELCA Youth Gathering 34 ELCA Youth Gathering 34 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 77792206-2bed-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 36 false ELCA Youth Gathering — The Homeless Shelter ELCA Youth Gathering — The Homeless Shelter Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 7495179c-2bee-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 175 false ELCA Youth Gathering - Living Springs Columbia, SC ELCA Youth Gathering - Living Springs Columbia, SC Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 908fb514-2bef-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 86 false ELCA Youth Gathering — Raleigh Group ELCA Youth Gathering — Raleigh Group Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 720cc14e-2bf0-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 192 false ELCA Youth Gathering 39 ELCA Youth Gathering 39 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 9470b32a-2bf1-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 34 false ELCA Youth Gathering 40 ELCA Youth Gathering 40 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4714ce88-2bf4-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 142 false ELCA Youth Gathering 41 ELCA Youth Gathering 41 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 2e2b347e-2bf5-11e5-9983-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 127 false ELCA Youth Gathering 42 ELCA Youth Gathering 42 Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran d3225ed8-2bfc-11e5-934b-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 152 false ELCA Youth Gathering — Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton ELCA Youth Gathering — Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 0161943e-2c03-11e5-9ca1-8644f23e14aa Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 58 false Herod The Character Herod The Character Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 693a54f2-298c-11e5-bac2-4a38a4826941 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1077 false Don't lose your head Don't lose your head Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 72bc31d8-28a3-11e5-9a24-8e9548d6bc6d Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1231 false Welcome, this is a test! Welcome, this is a test! Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran ca8f458c-2310-11e5-96ad-4ea5eed9f938 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 11 false God's Strength, Our Weakness God's Strength, Our Weakness Support the show

]]> Support the show

]]> ericthelutheran 4832a450-232c-11e5-bd96-b209ddbc2d25 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0400 1163 false