St. Paul Podcast

Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Luke. God cares about the quality of our lives, the depth of our lives, the scope of our lives. The passion for important things. To live fully is to risk dying, to hope is to risk despair, to try is to risk failure. If we don’t take certain risks, are we really free? With faith, there are some beautiful risks to take. It’s about living a life that matters. How can we live a life that really matters?

Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the last days of loved ones. When our loved ones are dying, our whole world shrinks to focus on them, they are the center of our attention, the here and the now is what matters. Because the time we once thought of as endless now has a finish line, a finite end. When we come face to face with death, we come to know that we do not have forever so we may experience more joy, more generosity because these moments are so utterly precious. 

Your Will Be Done / Mayenziwe
Arr. © 1990 Iona Community, admin. GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534

Pastor Katy Warren preaches on the story of the prodigal son. We are vulnerable when we love someone else; a child, parent, spouse, friend, family pet. When you love another person, you open yourself up to the joy and goodness and happiness of that relationship but you are also opening yourself up to hurt, sadness, heartache. God has the willingness to love us despite the vulnerability or the risk that it involves. 

Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Isaiah and the poetry of prophets. Poet Jane Kenyon “It is to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in such a beautiful way that people cannot live without it. The poet's job is to put into words those feelings we all have that are so deep, so important, and yet so difficult to name, to tell the truth in such a beautiful way, that people cannot live without it.” 

See the hands-free Whopper Holder video mentioned in Pastor Marty’s sermon. 

Surely God Is My Salvation
Text: Zebulon M. Highben, b. 1979, based on Isaiah 12:2-6 Music: Hasidic melody. Text © 2009 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.

Kindness
Words and music: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Jesse Reeves. © 2000 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.

Pastor Katy Warren preaches on Genesis and placing trust in God to guide us where we’re meant to go. Trust takes courage. God is willing to take a risk in trusting us so maybe one of the miracles of our faith is hearing the whispers of the promises of God and believing God is worthy of our trust. 

Word of God
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Andi Rozier. © 2012 Thankyou Music | Sony/ATV Tunes LLC. Used with permission, CCLI # 2900188

Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Luke and remaining sustained during wilderness moments, holding on to faith, hope, courage. Staying grounded in faith during wilderness times may help you find meaning, a new sense of strength, or growth.

O Lord, throughout These Forty Days
Text: based on Claudia F. Hernaman; para. Gilbert E. Doan Jr. Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.

The River Is Here
Words & Music by Andy Park. © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. CCLI Song #1475231

Peter W. Marty preaches on Exodus. After coming down from the mountaintop, Moses’ face was luminescent, radiant with everything that constituted the fullness of God. God is known in the face, through light and brightness. You have the power to make someone else’s day or to bring them joy, to show empathy and love through the light in your face.  

Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Brian Doerksen, © 2000 Vineyard Songs. Used with permission. CCLI License # 2900188

Katy Warren preaches on Luke Chapter 6 and the Golden Rule. It can be easy to ignore the commandment to ‘Love your enemies’ when it feels like you don’t have many. But what is Jesus’ definition of enemy? Could it be someone who irritates you, gets under your skin, makes you annoyed or resentful? Loving your enemy frees you up to care for others, to love others. We can choose anger and resentment or compassion and love but there is rarely room for both. 

God, When Human Bonds are Broken
Text: Fred Kaan; Music: William H. Monk; Text © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.

Micah's Song
Text: Micah 6:8 Music: Bill Campbell © 1999 Bill Campbell. Used with Permission.

Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches Luke’s Gospel. For those of us who are worn down from living too long with too little, who are hollowed out by hunger, or who are exhausted by too many nights full of tears, hearing Jesus’ words, “blessed are you who are poor, who are hungry, who are weeping” may bring some comfort and healing. The beauty in every one of us is in the eyes of God. 

Let Justice Flow Like Streams
Text: Jane Parker Huber. Music: Aaron Williams. Text © 1984 Jane Parker Huber, admin. Westminster John Knox Press. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.

All the People Said Amen
Words and Music by Matt Maher, Paul Moak, and Trevor Morgan © 2013 Thankyou Music | Valley of Songs Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188

Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on grace. “By the grace of God, I am what I am and it is God’s grace that has been shown to me that has not gone to waste.” God loves each of us because we are who we are. 

To Be Your Presence
Text: Delores Dufner Music: Charles V. Stanford. Text © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.

Multiply Your Love
Words & Music by Andy Park ©2001 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing | Vineyard Songs Canada Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188