This episode is for Reformation Sunday, which was October 27th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from John 8: 31-36.

On Election Day 2024, we invite you into a moment of prayer, song, and reflection. No matter where you find yourself today, peace be yours.

Find a video of this project here: https://youtu.be/5ztlafSTMkk?si=3lU6FmeNVCj5cusP

All people are made in the image of God, beloved by God. This is true for women, all people who seek reproductive health care, all people who are pregnant, and unborn life in the womb. In this episode, Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah talk about what ELCA Lutherans teach about abortion - a complex topic that can stir up strong emotions. At the core of this conversation is love for all of God's Beloved people and acknowledgement of the messiness of reality.

Readings that compliment this conversation:

ELCA Abortion Social Statement & Summaries: ⁠https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Abortion⁠ 

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s Pastoral Letter on Abortion 5/17/2022 ⁠https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8141?_ga=2.38352871.59788112.1727902623-495929399.1720960172⁠  

ELCA Presiding Bishop Pastor Letter on SCOTUS Overturn Roe v. Wade ⁠https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8158?_ga=2.76093393.59788112.1727902623-495929399.1720960172⁠  

ELCA Presiding Bishop Letter on Abortion 5/30/2019 ⁠https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7976?_ga=2.96932059.59788112.1727902623-495929399.1720960172⁠  

Book: Reengaging ELCA Social Teaching on Abortion by Dr. Caryn D. Riswold ⁠https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/productgroup/2235/ReEngaging-ELCA-Social-Teaching-on-Abortion⁠  

Webinar Kindling Faith ELCA Social Statements: Abortion sponsored by United Lutheran Seminary. Dr. Caryn D. Riswold. ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BxYdwpdmQgcsduuxx43rECH2lATF3zY⁠  

Journal of Lutheran Ethics Article Feb 2023 ⁠https://learn.elca.org/jle/editors-introduction-13/?_ga=2.133585738.59788112.1727902623-495929399.1720960172⁠  

Opening & Closing Music Credit:

"How Deep, How Wide" Performed by Allen Sasser-Goehner. Text & Music: Jason Bendickson. Copyright © 2007 Beesnest Productions. CCLI License is #1150678

This is the 21st Sunday After Pentecost, which is October 13th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from Mark 10: 17-31. Here we get two of Jesus' famous sayings "for God all things are possible" and "the first shall be last and the last shall be first". These two, among others, get pulled out of context, but what does Jesus actually mean?

Christian Nationalism has been making the news a lot in the last few years. As Christians, we might wonder what it means... is a good thing? Building on our last episode "What Lutherans Teach About... Government, Civic Life, and God", Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah will share in this episode about what Christian Nationalism is, how to recognize it, and how it distorts and hurts both Christian faith and American patriotism.

Show Notes:

Christians against Christian Nationalism  https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/ 

ELCA Draft Civic Faith & Life  https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Current-Social-Writing-Projects/Civic-Life-and-Faith?_ga=2.129013967.2131013761.1728587460-495929399.1720960172&_gac=1.57270744.1728587460.CjwKCAjw9p24BhB_EiwA8ID5Bk3M__8ItpZjuz5KMa_eHQJP_2LgJJ8LoQdnDK9WVgpqd90pIS5EVBoCAlQQAvD_BwE ELCA Advocacy Statement March 2024 

https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/wearechristiansagainstchristiannationalism.pdf

Disarming the Leviathan – Missionaries to Christian Nationalists podcast  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disarming-leviathan-missionaries-to-christian-nationalists/id1690452731 

Respecting Religion Podcast  https://bjconline.org/respectingreligion/

Opening & Closing Music Credit:

Text & Music: Jason Bendickson

Copyright © 2007 Beesnest Productions

CCLI License #1150678

This is the 19th Sunday After Pentecost, which is September 29th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from Mark 9:38-50. In the beginning of this story, one of Jesus' followers is upset because someone else is healing in Jesus' name. It brings up the age-old questions of "us vs. them"... who is in and who is out? And Jesus reminds us that God isn't confined to the boxes or categories that we make.

It's election season and words like government and politics get us fired up before we even hear the rest of the sentence. In this episode, Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah turn to some of the ELCA's teachings and messages about government and civic engagement to help unpack the Lutheran privilege and responsibility to be active in the political sphere - not in a partisan way, but in a way that lifts up the good of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Resources for further learning:

ELCA Social Message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy”  https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Messages/Government 

ELCA DRAFT Social Statement “Civic Life and Faith”  https://www.elca.org/civicsandfaith 

ELCA Social Statement “Faith in Society”  https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Church-in-Society 

Civility in Politics: Lutheran legislators speak out on the importance of being respectful” https://www.livinglutheran.org/2024/08/62448/ 

ELCA Civic Engagement Guide  https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wpcontent/uploads/ELCAvotes_civic_engagement_and_voter_education_guide.pdf 

ELCA Civic Engagement Guide Video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBT2v4P7wVo 

ELCA Votes  https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/ELCAvotes_Overview_public.pdf 

Guidance for Churches & Clergy in Elections  https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/Being_A_Public_Church.pdf

Opening & Closing Music Credit:

"How Deep, How Wide" performed by Allen Sasser-Goehner

Text & Music: Jason Bendickson

Copyright © 2007 Beesnest Productions

CCLI License is #1150678

Join Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah for a conversation about what Lutherans teach about sin and suffering. At some point in life, we experience something that makes us ask "Where is God in this suffering?". The Bible offers many examples of how people have been in relationship with God through suffering, yet our experiences of suffering are so complex that no one answer seem so be sufficient all the time. In this episode, we offer a Lutheran understanding of suffering, how sin plays a role, and where God might show up in the midst of it all.

Opening & Closing Music Credit:

Text & Music: Jason Bendickson

Copyright © 2007 Beesnest Productions

CCLI License is #1150678

This is the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, which is September 22nd, 2024 and The Good Word comes from Mark 9:30-37.  In this text, Jesus’ disciples are confused and perhaps unnerved by some of Jesus’ statements and the prediction of his own death, but they’re too afraid to ask him about it and end up arguing about things that don’t matter, like who is the greatest, which in turn sets them up for more misunderstandings in the future. 

In this episode, Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah share what Lutherans teach about scripture and biblical interpretation. The Bible is complex and has been used in all kinds of ways over the centuries. For Lutherans, we see scripture as a sacred story. We seek an expansive understanding that takes into account historical context, literary intention, and the identities or "lenses" that color our reading.

Opening and Closing Music Credit:

"How Deep, How Wide" performed by Allen Sasser-Goehner

Text & Music: Jason Bendickson

Copyright © 2007 Beesnest Productions

CCLI License is #1150678