Podcasts about elca

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Jason S. Glombicki September 27, 2026 In today's gospel, Jesus told a story about two children. A parent asked the first to go work, and the child said no. But later, that child reconsidered and went. The second child said, “I'll go work,” and then did nothing. Jesus asked which one did what the father wanted, and it was the one who acted as the father asked. What strikes me, though, is that the child […] The post Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, Sept. 27, 2026 • Genesis 39:1-23 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Year A – Pentecost 18; Lectionary 26 – September 27, 2026 Pastor Megan Floyd Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32   Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, from the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer, and from Jesus Christ, who has everything to say about the possibility of turning back toward God. Amen. *** Jesus is in the temple, and he has already turned the place upside down. Let me position us within the timeline. Jesus rode into Jerusalem the day before on a donkey, crowds shouting Hosanna, the whole city in an uproar. Then he walked straight into the temple and drove out the money changers. He healed the people who came looking for him there. He let little children shout that he was the Son of David, out loud, right in front of everyone. So now the chief priests and elders have come to confront him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" They're not asking because they're curious. …They are trying to trap him into a blasphemy charge. But Jesus doesn't take the bait. He answers their trap with a question of his own, about John's baptism, and it pins them so cleanly that they refuse to answer at all. "We do not know," they say… which everyone in the crowd knows is a lie. And then, still looking right at them, Jesus tells a story. *** A man has two sons. He tells the first, "Go work in the vineyard today." The son says nope. …But later, he changes his mind, and he goes to work in the vineyard. The man tells the second son the same thing. This one says, "Yes, sir, I will go." But he doesn't go. Jesus asks the authorities the obvious question: which one did what the father wanted? They answer correctly, because the answer is obvious: the first one. The one who said no, and then went anyway. And Jesus says to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you." That is not a gentle sentence. Jesus is telling the most religiously credentialed people in the room that the people they look down on... the people whose lives they consider disqualifying... are ahead of them in line. Not because the tax collectors and prostitutes were righteous. But because they were capable of turning. …they were capable of hearing something true and letting it change them. *** So I want to sit with that word "turning" for a moment, because I think it's the whole sermon, if we let it be. But before we get there, I want to be honest about something. When I read this text, what I can't help thinking about is not the first son, or even the second son. It's the people standing in the temple that day who are so sure of their own righteousness that they couldn't hear an invitation to turn… even when it was standing right in front of them, teaching in their temple. And I think about how much harm gets done by people who say yes, Lord, yes, …but they never go to the vineyard. I think about the harm caused by those who wear the language of faith like armor… instead of letting it change anything about how they treat people. We've all seen it. Some of us have lived it. Whole movements have built themselves on saying yes loudly. Purity culture promised protection and instead left a generation of young people, mostly young women, carrying shame about their own bodies that had nothing to do with the God who made those bodies and called them good. Prosperity gospel promised blessings of wealth and power… and instead told people in real poverty that their suffering was their fault… from a lack of faith. Real people have been hurt... turned away from church, turned away from God... by religion that said yes, Lord… but never went to the vineyard. Most of our ELCA churches have a sign out front somewhere that says, All Are Welcome. We have one… and I believe we mean it. But this text asks something harder than believing it. It asks: does our life, together, actually match what we say at the door? *** Here's the thing, though. I don't want to leave us standing in that indictment, because I don't think that's where Jesus leaves the authorities either… The door doesn't close on them… It stays open. That's the whole point of the parable... it's not who's disqualified, but who's still capable of turning. And that includes every one of us who has ever said yes… ever sang it in a hymn, or written it on a pledge card, or promised it at a baptismal font… it includes every one of us who has ever said yes, but then not gone to the vineyard that week. This is where Ezekiel is saying something beautiful, in a text I don't want us to rush past. The people of Israel had a proverb: "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." In other words: we're stuck with the sins that came before us. Nothing to be done. And God, through Ezekiel, rejects that proverb completely. Everyone belongs to me, God says. The soul that sins is the one who dies... not the child for the parent… and not the parent for the child. And then God says something that sounds less like judgment and more like pleading: "I have no pleasure in the death of anyone... Turn, then, and live." That is not the voice of a God building a case against us. That is the voice of a God who wants, more than anything, for us to turn around. *** So what does turning actually look like? Paul gives us a picture of it in Philippians, and it's worth noticing what he doesn't say. He doesn't say: turn around by feeling sufficiently guilty. …He says… "let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus," who emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself. Turning, in Paul's picture, isn't mainly about correcting your theology. Turning… is about where your life points. Whether it bends inward toward yourself… or outward, toward others. That's not an abstract concept either. I think of Colby Martin, a pastor who spent his first decade in evangelical ministry fully within a tradition that excluded LGBTQ+ people… the same tradition he'd been raised in. He said yes to that tradition for years. But… then he changed his mind... and it cost him his job at the church he'd been serving. He wrote about this turn in his book called UnClobber, which I've had on display at the prayer table. He intentionally worked back through the very passages that had been used to justify exclusion, and came out the other side convinced that Scripture, read honestly, calls the church toward a wider table, not a narrower one. I think, too, of Monte Mader, an online writer and social media person that, I think, Angie introduced me to. She's very open about growing up steeped in a very different kind of Christianity than the one we practice here... one tangled up with nationalism and control. She shares her journey about the slow, costly work of unlearning it… and leaning instead into what she understands as Jesus' actual invitation, which is love… not fear or control. It's always love. Neither of those turns were easy. They both came with incredible loss. But that's what it looks like to be the first son... to say no, or to have lived a kind of no for years… and then to go to the vineyard anyway. *** Here's the good news underneath all of this, though… the very same good news Ezekiel is practically begging us to hear… the door back to the vineyard has never closed. Not for the authorities in the temple. Not for the people harmed by religion that said yes and never showed up. Not for the ones who did the harming. And not for us… not for any among us who said yes years ago and hasn't gone yet to the vineyard. God has no pleasure in the death of anyone. Only in the turning. Only in the going. So may we be a people willing to turn... a people who are honest about where we've said yes, but then stayed home. May we be open to the same mind that was in Christ… a servant-shaped mind that is pointed outward. And may we trust that whenever we finally head for the vineyard… however late it may be, or however long we said no first, that God, who loves us, is not counting the hours. They're just glad we're going. Amen.

Categories. Boxes. Labels. We like to assign names to people. We too often assume people will fit neatly into the box we have sorted them into. The labels we hand out and the labels we wear never tell the whole story. In our Focus Text this week a woman comes to see Jesus, her neighbors have labeled her a sinner. According to the Pharisee hosting Jesus, a Teacher & Prophet like Jesus shouldn't be around folks carrying that label. Jesus however points out that her actions show a greater faith than the Pharisee. Jesus sees beyond the label of Sinner and recognizes there is more to her story. That is good news for us too, Jesus sees beyond our failures, beyond our success, beyond our labels and offers us forgiveness and belonging.

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Wed, Sept 23, 2026 • Matthew 20:1-16 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Peter Vethanayagamony September 20, 2026 Listen to Rev. Peter’s sermon here! The post Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, Sept 20, 2026 • Genesis 12:1-9 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Pastor Stephanie continues our introduction to our theme for this year: Belonging. It's hard to find belonging when we fee lost or when others are telling us we are lost. In our Focus Text this week, Jesus uses Parables to reassure us that we always have a place in God's love even when we feel lost and with that reassurance we find belonging that was there for us all along.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Wed, Sept. 16, 2026 • Romans 14:1-12 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Pastor Chad kicks off the new theme for this School Year: Belonging! We have lots of places we belong: gym memberships, fan clubs, rewards programs, online communities, professional groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, and more. But do any of those places offer a true sense of belonging? You may have gained access to an exclusive curated event for coffee lovers in exchange for your email address and weekly purchases but does the coffee chain know more than your name and spending habits? We create and find belonging when we take the time to listen, share, serve, wonder, laugh, learn, and make room for one another's lives in our circle. You'll need this link for this week's challenge to Choose ONE Circle of Belonging: https://www.bethlehemlutheran.org/Circles-of-Belonging

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Tom Gehring September 6, 2026 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of all our hearts be acceptable to you O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. Whenever any of reads and interprets a passage of the bible, we inevitably read our own knowledge, lives, and experiences into the story. See, we all have our own proverbial “backpack” of life experience, and it's normal that when we read scripture, we are predisposed […] The post Fifthteenth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

As we wrap up our “AGAPe: When Love is Greater” we have a Focus Text which ties this greater love into our theme that begins next week: Belonging. Jesus is praying for his disciples shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. Pastor Chad invites us to pay attention to the ‘last things' people do & say because the often reveal their ‘first things' the things that are at the top of the list of importance. One of Jesus' last things is this prayer what does it reveal as important: love and unity. He is praying that the disciples and those that follow (that's us!) might come together under the unifying power of God's love to find belonging!

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, August 30 2026• Romans 12:9-21 (Marks of the True Christian)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Jason S. Glombicki August 30, 2026 In last week’s gospel, Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” In response, Jesus praised him saying: “on this rock I will build my church.” And in today’s reading, only about five verses later, Peter heard Jesus say, “get behind me, Satan.” That was one whiplash of an afternoon for Peter. But really, who […] The post Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, Aug. 30, 2026 • Romans 12:9-21, Marks of the True Christian • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

For many amateur gardeners and arborists pruning can be stressful. What if I cut off the wrong branch or cut off too many flowers? We can encounter the same stress when we look to ‘prune' our lives back. What if cut off the wrong person or stop doing the wrong thing? In our Focus Text Jesus reminds us that God is the one responsible for pruning. As long as we remain connected to Jesus we will bear fruit like AGAPe Love.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, August 21 2026• Romans 12:1-8 (The New Life in Christ)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Today, on the heals of Matthew's attempt to walk on water Jesus asks his disciples who he is. Peter answers correctly and gets a new name, connected both to his correct answer for today and his past misadventures. Let's see what this scene has to say for our lives today.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, Aug. 23, 2026 • Romans 12:1-8 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

We sometimes find it difficult to sit in silence. We are so conditioned to the busyness and noise of modern life that when we encounter silence we assume something is wrong. In our Focus Text the Psalm writer shares a command from God to: “Be Still and Know that I am God.” If we can learn to appreciate the silence, we will find God is there even when the world around us is in chaos.

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, August 16 2026• Matthew 15:10-28 (Things that Defile)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Vicar Sarah Freyermuth August 16, 2026 It's so good to be back with all of you today as we celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of Our Lord. And we all know that feast days are fun, right? Because they give Pastor Jason an excuse to break out the incense! But I think that sometimes the Gospel stories we hear for feast days can feel a little out of step with the rest of what we've […] The post The Feast of Mary, Mother of Our Lord appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

Are you absolutely certain? Sometimes we get an idea or a memory so stuck in our minds we convince ourselves that it is undeniably true. In our Focus Text this week Jesus challenges the understanding of both the Pharisees and the Disciples. The Pharisees were looking for a sign from Heaven, even though Jesus had performed many miracles including feeding multitudes of people. The problem is they were too certain of what a sign from Heaven would look like they missed what was right in front of them. The Disciples were certain the one loaf of bread they brought wasn't enough even though Jesus had just fed thousands with 7 loaves. When we are too certain we understand we can't ascertain that with God there are possibilities that cannot yet see.

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Jason S. Glombicki August 9, 2026 Today feels a little bit like Lent. Of course, it is not the Lenten season. After all, Charlotte was baptized, we sang the Alleluia, and we’re decked out in green. And yet, today's gospel feels like Lent because it reveals something about living in-between—about leaving one place without yet arriving at another, and about moving through uncertainty without rushing toward resolution. And maybe that “in between” is fitting during […] The post Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, August 2 2026• Matthew 14:13-21 (Feeding the Five Thousand)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Tom Gehring August 2, 2026 Listen to Pastor Tom’s sermon here! The post Tenth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, Aug. 2, 2026 • Matthew 14:13-21 (Feeding the Five Thousand) • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, July 26 2026• Romans 8:26-39 (God's Everlasting Love)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

• Pastor Karyn message for: Sun, July 26, 2026 • Romans 8:26-39 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Jason S. Glombicki July 19, 2026 Each summer, we celebrate two special feast days that help us recognize the power of feminine leaders within the church. In a few weeks, we'll honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today, we honor Mary Magdalene. Now, Mary Magdalene has been misunderstood in all sorts of ways. Scripture tells us that Jesus healed her, but it does not tell us she was a prostitute. Scripture tells us she was […] The post The Feast of Mary Magdalene appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Vicar Sarah Freyermuth July 12, 2026 Have you ever read one of Jesus' parables and thought, “ugh, why can't he just tell us what this is supposed to mean?” Well today might seem to be our lucky day, because in the second half of our Gospel, Jesus goes on to do just that. He turns the parable of the sower into a neat allegory, explaining exactly how each different type of soil describes a different type […] The post Seventh Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

Rev. John Koopman, Associate Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Mankato, MN, joins the show to walk through C.F.W. Walther's essay "The Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod," delivered at the first Iowa District convention. The essay was written against the backdrop of the split between Missouri and Iowa Synod Lutheranism — Iowa Synod pastors trained under Wilhelm Löhe who held that the confessions should be read "historically" rather than confessed without reservation, a trajectory that ended in the ELCA. Walther, by contrast, insisted that confessional subscription must be unconditional and total, since every part of Scripture — not just the articles touching salvation — serves the salvation of souls. Koopman and Paul Schultz work through Walther's six theses on what a synod is for: Faithfulness to the confessions in word and deed — testing pastors thoroughly, holding congregations accountable, and refusing fellowship with the unfaithful. Supporting pastors and teachers — counseling them, defending them against unjust treatment, and never abandoning a pastor for faithfully preaching hard truths, regardless of tact or rhetorical polish. Material on synod property and finances — Walther's warning against synods being distracted by money and institutional self-preservation. Promoting growth in the knowledge of truth — doctrine, not politics or mutual back-patting, must dominate synodical conventions. Striving for peace and unity in the truth — mutual submission and charity among brothers, without nitpicking over peripheral matters. Seeking God's glory, not the synod's own — Walther's striking line that the synod should prefer to go out of business rather than let the church suffer harm through its continued existence. Throughout, Koopman and Schultz draw direct lines to present controversies in the LCMS: pastoral formation and seminary training, the role of circuit visitors, tone policing of faithful but blunt preaching, and the Synod's entanglement with money and institutional concerns. Topics covered: Historical background: Löhe, the Iowa Synod, and the ELCA's descent from it Confessional subscription — quia vs. quatenus Walther's six theses on synodical duty The synod's obligation to defend faithful pastors under pressure Pastoral formation and testing candidates for the ministry Synod finances and institutional self-glorification Mutual submission and charity among brother pastors ----more---- Host: Fr. Paul Schulz Guest: Fr. John Koopman ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Julie Boleyn July 5, 2026 Listen to Rev. Julie Boleyn’s sermon here! The post Sixth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, June 28 2026• Matthew 10:40-42 (Rewards)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Jason S. Glombicki June 28, 2026 Whenever Romans comes up on Pride weekend, I cringe. Not because Romans is bad — it's quite the opposite. I cringe because to many LGBTQIA+ people, Romans, especially because of the first chapter, doesn't sound like grace. It sounds like condemnation. It sounds like, “Christianity hates me.” Or maybe even more painfully, “Christianity hates someone I love.” And I grieve that understanding, because Romans wasn’t written to close the […] The post Fifth Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, June 28, 2026 • Matthew 10:40-42, Rewards • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

What does faith have to say when life feels stressful, uncertain, or too much to carry alone? In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate talks with Deacon Debra about Bethany Day Camp, the Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp curriculum, and how Philippians 4:6–7 helps kids and adults bring their anxiety, questions, and gratitude to God.What You'll Learn:How Bethany's Day Camp connects with Rainbow Trail Lutheran CampWhy Philippians 4 speaks honestly about anxiety and peaceHow kids can learn to bring every feeling to GodWhy gratitude does not erase hard things, but helps us see God in the momentHow service and generosity help children put faith into actionChapters:00:00 Coming up on Together4Good00:34 Welcome to the Bethany Art Room01:00 How Deacon Debra joined the Rainbow Trail curriculum team03:35 Turning big theology into kid-friendly lessons05:12 Why Rainbow Trail creates its own ELCA curriculum07:00 The work behind writing Day Camp lessons09:16 Philippians 4:6–7 and the theme for the week10:27 Talking with kids about anxiety and faith11:27 God can handle every feeling12:17 Deacon Debra's personal connection to Philippians 413:24 Prayer, community, and letting go of control14:12 Gratitude when life does not go as planned16:00 Open hands, parenting, and living in the moment17:35 Crafts, snacks, and hands-on learning19:00 Day Camp outreach and collecting mac and cheese for IFCS20:12 How Bethany's gifts bless the wider church21:10 Day Camp registration is still openIf this conversation encouraged you, like this video, subscribe to Bethany's YouTube channel, and share it with someone who could use a reminder that God is big enough to hold what we carry.Connect with Bethany:

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, June 21 2026• Romans 6:1b-11 (Dying and Rising with Christ)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, June 21, 2026 • Romans 6:1b-11 • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, June 14 2026• Romans 5:1-8 (Faith, Peace, and Grace)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, June 14, 2026 • Romans 5:1-8 (Faith, Peace, and Grace) • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Vicar Sarah Freyermuth June 7, 2026 Have you ever had one of those days where it feels like no one will leave you alone? You know the days I'm talking about, where you're running from meeting to meeting and it feels like everyone needs something from you, and needs it right now! You're getting bombarded with texts and calls and advertisements or people popping into your office asking for updates or maybe you're a parent and […] The post Second Sunday after Pentecost appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, May 31 2026• Matthew 28:16-20 (The Promise of His Presence)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Tom Gehring May 31, 2026 Listen to Rev. Tom’s sermon here! The post Holy Trinity Sunday appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, May 31 2026 • Matthew 28:16-20 (The Promise of His Presence) • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A • From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI • Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give • Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, May 24 2026• Acts 2:1-21 & Philippians 4:4-7 (The Holy Spirit)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

Pentecost did not arrive quietly. It crashed onto the scene. We heard of wind, noise, fire, and voices everywhere. And before anyone understood what is happening, people were bewildered. Because the Spirit arrived first. And the people asked, “What does this mean?” And, I love that question because it feels so honest. After all, nobody in Acts said, “Ah yes, this is all unfolding exactly as expected.” No. They were overwhelmed, confused, amazed. Some were curious. Some were skeptical. Some began mocking what they did not understand, saying: “They are filled with new wine... The post Sermon on John 20:19-23 appeared first on Wicker Park Lutheran Church.

• Pastor Stanton's message for: Sun, May 24 2026 • Acts 2:1-21 & Philippians 4:4-7 (The Holy Spirit) • Revised Common Lectionary: Year A • From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI • Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give • Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

• Pastor Karyn's message for Wed., May 13 2026• John 14:15-21 (The Promise of the Holy Spirit)• Revised Common Lectionary: Year A• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us for worship! 1stlu.org/worship