No Sermon Podcast This Week, So...

... instead I'll just share some awesome links I've been hoarding.

Since Sr. Ginny Jones was again this year willing to grace us with her presence for an Earth Day homily, I have no sermon audio this week. (I didn't want to go through the whole mess of teaching her to use my phone to record herself). To get a taste of her message, check out her article on p. 26 of this SSJ publication.

A friend of mine from Yale just won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, so that's awesome. Caroline Shaw is the youngest winner, and apparently the first to win with a piece for unaccompanied voice, and it couldn't have happened to a kinder, sweeter person. See here and here for more. I've been listening to this piece almost daily since I found out about it. In fact, I think I'll turn it on now in my office.

As usual, some great suggestions from Living Lutheran, in this case about celebrating volunteers and an idea for Reconciliation Sunday, a rethinking of our traditional Lutheran Reformation Sunday celebration. Living Lutheran has new content and great links pretty much every day, and is a great way to keep up with the wider church and some of the great work going on across the ELCA and beyond.

Did you hear this little Jonathan Rundman tune about biblical interpretation? It certainly challenges some of the assumptions we make about the Bible, but ultimately does a great job of illustrating how ELCA Lutherans understand the Bible.

Sermon Audio, 4/14/2013

Third Sunday after Easter, Lectionary Year C

John 21:1-19

Easter is real in Jesus' body; how can we make God's promise of new life in Christ real in our bodies, in our lives today?

Sermon Audio, 4/7/2013

Second Sunday of Easter, Lectionary Year 2C

Acts 5:27-32

Peter boldly tells the High Priest to take a hike, and in doing so proclaims the good news to the world. We can learn from him, though probably don't need to be quite so confrontational about it.

Bonus Audio: Wedding Homily 4/5/2013

Chris and Erin got married on the Friday after Easter at Lutheran Church of the Savior.

On the spur of the moment, I decided to record this homily, because why not? It was a pretty great wedding, so recording some bit of it might be a good idea. Posting it here may be a less-great idea, but isn't that what forgiveness is for?

Erin and Chris chose to write their own vows, and they chose two readings: Philippians 4:4-9 and Colossians 3:12-18.

Sermon Audio, 3/31/2013

Easter Sunday

Luke 24:1-14

You may think the resurrection of Jesus is unbelievable. If so, you are in good company. Relatedly, Luna Lovegood is one of the best characters in the Harry Potter series.

Bonus: "The Lovegood Oddity," a random quotation from HP7, may become the name of our family band.

Sermon Audio, 3/30/2013, Vigil of Easter

Vigil of Easter

Luke 24:1-12

The stories of the Vigil tell us that God is always the same, and is always making things new.

In this sermon I also continued my accidental tradition of writing a new hymn text for Holy Week, because why not? And I talked about Doctor Who, as I was at that very moment missing the midseason premiere.

Sermon Audio, 3/28/2013 Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Love one another.

I think these are the most radical words in Scripture, which does not explain why I talked about Facebook so much in this sermon.