Episode Notes Ben and Keith talk about what might make a podcast "ELCA Lutheran", why there aren't a whole lot of them, and why they're hard to find. They also do some self-reflection about this podcast and give some advice to anyone who is considering starting their own. Links The Bible for Normal People The Bible Project United Lutheran Seminary …

Episode Notes Ben and Keith dig into a Social Message that was adopted by the ELCA Church Council in 2020. It has some parts that are useful in helping us look at our human-built structures (government, economy, and social systems) in a way that sees God at work in the world. Links ELCA Social Message on Civic Engagement in the United States. Marti…

Episode Notes Keith is back! We discuss the ELCA's extravagant welcome of all people and what that means. Links ELCA Who is Welcome? ELCA What We Believe Reconciling Works www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic So…

Episode Notes Ben talks with Rev Drew Tucker about the history of Lutheran Camps and how they are adapting to our changing world and ways of being church. Pastor Drew even gives us a Catechism Question! Links Hopewood Outdoors Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Sacred Playgrounds Camp Research and Support by Jacob Sorenson www.mainstreetlutherans.com Inst…

Episode Notes Win Kurlfink joins us to talk about the Perennial Waters Project, an environmental stewardship group operating from St Philip Lutheran Church in Trenton, MI. Ben and Keith talk about how the ELCA Social Statement, Caring for Creation from 1993, helps congregations focus efforts to help renew the environment. Links Perennial Waters Pro…

Episode Notes Ben & Keith talk about their time at the Festival of Homiletics in Pittsburgh. Links The Festival of Homiletics Ben's Photos and videos from the Festival Greenfield Village, where Ben works www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com…

Episode Notes Keith and Ben talk about translations, editions, formats, and disposal of the Bible.And Judi Tyler is our first Catechism Question winner! Links Oremus Bible Gateway www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epi…

Episode Notes Keith talks with Deacon Margaret Folkemer-Leonard, Director of Music (and other things artsy) at St Matthew Lutheran Church in York, PA. They discuss the Church Year and the Lutheran Worship Liturgy. Links Festival of Homiletics May 13-16, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by V…

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss how the ELCA creates and approves of Social Statements and Messages that are published. And we bring you another Catechism question. Links ELCA Social Statements www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through …

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss Luther's Small Catechism, whether it's still relevant, and why we use it for our ending segment each episode. Links Festival of Homiletics Faith Inkubators The Bible Project Luther's Small Catechism with African Descent Reflections www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor Hallma…

Episode Notes Pastor Elizabeth Friedman returns to talk with us about the future of the ELCA and the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). Ben gets confused about years. The Columbus Churchwide Assembly was in 2022, not 2023. TLDR: The ELCA is trying to reorganize the denomination structure through our constitutions (Churchwide, Synods, …

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Links Use of the Means of Grace (PDF) An Arizona priest used one word wrong in baptisms for decades. They're all invalid. (NPR) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Throug…

Episode Notes Pastor Elizabeth Friedman joins us to talk about how Campus Ministry works to help young adults in ways that represent the essence of being an ELCA Lutheran. And we get a new Catechism Question. Links Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, MI Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook …

Episode Notes We start out talking about the ELCA Subreddit.The main topic is Membership. Why? Why not? What's in it for members and the congregations.And we end with our Catechism questions. Links ELCA Subreddit on Reddit Model Congregation Constitution as well as those of the ELCA and Synods www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads …

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss New Year Resolutions and Lenten Disciplines. Ben's failed at his first Resolution. Let's wee how we do with Lent. Links Hour Detroit article on Muskrat dinners. ELCA World Hunger Lenten Study Guide A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent Barn Geese Worship www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Musi…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss the Sacraments, starting with Communion. Links Use of the Means of Grace (pdf) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main Street Lutherans by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss why they became and remained Lutherans in the ELCA. Also a bit about Rosalynn Carter's memorial service and a new Catechism question. Links www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main St…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss what the podcast is and why they teamed up to do it. Links www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main Street Lutherans by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/ma…

Surprised By Joy

We've Reached the End! (Of the Church Year)

Raise Your Heads: Redemption is Drawing Near

Being Thankful (The Ten Lepers; Ruth and Naomi)

St. Michael and all Angels

Sign Me Up!

Thrive

What's It To You?

Pastor Smith's Goodbye Sermon

The Fifth Petition: Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

Father's Day 2019

A Simple Way to Pray

Another Fish Story

Mark 6:45-56 -- Why did Jesus walk on water?

Mark 6:30-44 -- What are the crowds in search of? What are they trying to find? Have you found it?

Mark 6:1-13; Ezekiel 2:1-5 -- Why Does God send prophets even into situations where failure is inevitable? Old Testament prophets and God's own Son, Jesus were both sent directly into failure. Maybe our definition of success is different from God's.

Mark 5:21-43

Mark 4:35-41 -- People wonder if Jesus will calm the storms of their life. Perhaps a different question from this story is more important: Who then is this?

Mark 4:26-34 -- What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

Genesis 3:8-15 -- Adam and Eve's first instinct was to hide from God after they sinned. We are much the same, and yet God still seeks us out.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -- The importance of rest in Scripture and in our lives.

John 3:1-17 -- On this Trinity Sunday we examine miracles and their true purpose.

Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost Sunday

John 15:9-17 -- What is love? It might not be what you think.

John 15:1-8 -- We would all like to have more fruit in our Christian walk, Pastor Chuck pulls three or for practical points from John 15 to help make that happen.

Luke 24:36-49 -- Some things are just hard to understand, in this sermon Pastor Chuck explores some of the Scriptures the Risen Lord may have used to open the minds of his disciples.

John 20:19-31 - "Peace be with you," said the Risen Lord to his disciples. What does this mean for us today?

Mark 16:1-8 - Pastor Chuck meanders through his Easters past and how he came to understand it's true meaning.

John 19:17-30 - Sometimes we act as though life is a stage play and we are just audience members. The scene at the cross is one where we must place ourselves not in the audience but on the stage.

Mark 14:12-26 - Jesus gathered with his disciples after dark to eat the Passover. Now the church of Christ gathers and is invited to this same table.

Mark 15:1-47 - This message delivered on Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion) explores the profound silence exhibited by Jesus in his last hours before the cross.