St. Andrew UMC Podcast

By standrewumcReligion & Spirituality

St. Andrew UMC Podcast episodes

April 24, 2023 ”STRANGER THINGS: What the Donkey Said” (Numbers 22:21-33) - Rev. Mark Feldmeir - April 23, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "STRANGER THINGS"

Sometimes, the Bible gets ridiculously weird.

From a talking donkey to a man being eaten by a giant fish, from burning bushes to hard-hitting, teen-mauling she-bears, there are a handful of cringe-worthy stories in the Bible that defy our sense of what’s right and reasonable and acceptable and believable.

But throughout history, some of the best stories humans have ever told are those that were never meant to be taken factually or literally. Instead, their very strangeness and absurdity create the context for us to reimagine how God so often works in unpredictable, inexplicable, and sometimes laughable ways in our lives.

What’s the Divine word behind all the biblical weirdness? Join us for this five-part series as we explore some of the surprising ways the Bible gets really weird—and why, after all these years, it still matters.
32 min
April 17, 2023 ”Embracing An Open God” - Guest Speaker Dr. Thomas Jay Oord - April 16, 2023
www.thomasjayoord.com
37 min
April 11, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Newness of Life” (Mark 16:1-8) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - (EASTER) April 9, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
25 min
April 03, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Forgiveness For Our Betrayals” (Matthew 26) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - April 2, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
31 min
March 26, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Freedom From Our Tombs” (John 11) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - March 26, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
26 min
March 20, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Vision For Our Blindness” (John 9:1-12, 25b) - Rev Jerry Lee Butler - March 19, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
26 min
March 20, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Assurance For Our Self-Doubt” (Exodus 17:1-7) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - March 12, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
29 min
March 07, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Curiosity for Our Certainty” (John 3:1-9, 16) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - March 5, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
34 min
February 27, 2023 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: ”Wholeness for Our Shame” (Genesis 2:15-17 & Genesis 3:1-7) - Rev Amy Stapleton - February 26, 2023
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: "Beauty for Ashes"
On the outside, most of us might seem to have it all together—at least most of the time. We try to keep busy, to keep showing up, to keep up appearances, and to Keep on Truckin’, as that old, familiar bumper sticker used to say.

But truth be told, most of us, on the inside, are trying just to hold it all together. We stumble, fumble, and tumble through life—through triumph and tragedy, through ups and downs, through long days and dark nights—often trying desperately to protect the image we want to project in this world.

Until eventually, what may appear like beauty on the outside starts to feel more like ashes on the inside. We each carry within us the shame and secrets, the betrayals and bondage, the fears and self-doubt, that come to every human life.

Over time, we learn we can no longer hold these inside for the sake of holding it all together. We long for the beauty that once dwelled in us. The season of Lent is a time of cleansing and purging ourselves of the lifeless ashes we carry.

By letting them out and letting them go, we make room for the grace and freedom and beauty that only God can give us.

Join us for this honest and heartfelt series about God’s eternal promise to bestow on each us “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
35 min
February 22, 2023 ”WHY CHRISTIAN: Why Hope?” (Isaiah 43:16-21) - Rev Mark Feldmeir - February 19, 2023
Why Christian: Finding Faith When You Can’t Believe Anymore
You see the beauty of God and you can’t say no. But you see the messiness of religion and you can’t say yes. The awe and wonder of life make it almost impossible not to believe. But the ache and evil of the world make it utterly irrational to believe.
Maybe you were promised that Christianity would resolve life’s paradoxes and answer your deepest questions, only to discover that it unearthed even deeper and more unanswerable ones, like: Who is Jesus and why did he really come? What is salvation and what are we actually saved from? Who are Christians and why do too many of them seem so un-Christian? What is the Bible and how are we supposed to read it in the modern world? What is the meaning and purpose of life and where is all of this headed?
It turns out, Christianity is not a religion of finite answers. Christianity is an ongoing conversation about the infinite possibilities of experiencing God in the beauty and the mess of life, the awe and the ache of the world.
If you’re inclined to say no to religion, you can still say yes to the conversation. Join us for this provocative new series, “Why Christian”— a generous five-week conversation about how we might still find faith even when we can’t believe anymore.
Jan 15:             Why Christianity?
Jan 22:             Why Jesus?
Jan 29              Why Church?
Feb 5:              Why the Bible?
Feb 12:            Why Hope?

27 min