The Good Word Podcast

This episode is for the Third Sunday After Pentecost, which was June 29th, 2025. The Good Word comes from Galations 5:1, 13-25.

Thanks for joining us again after a break in posting sermon podcast episodes! It's good to be back! This podcast is for Trinity Sunday 2025, which was June 15th, 2025. The Good Word comes from John 16:12-15.

This episode is for the Second Sunday of Easter, which is April 27th, 2025 and the Good Word comes from John 20:19-31. This text is often called the story of Doubting Thomas, but perhaps there is much more wisdom here than just a story of making an example out of Thomas. Listen to All Belong Here by The Many: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJBEwqBfw3I

This podcast is for the Third Sunday in Lent, which is March 23rd, 2025 and the Good Word comes from Luke 13:1-9. This reading has two parts both of which sound full of condemnation. But words of grace and life show up beyond what appears to be only death and destruction.

This podcast is for the First Sunday in Lent, which is March 9th, 2025 and the Good Word comes from Luke 4:1-13. Today marks the first Sunday in the liturgical season of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. Every year we begin with the same story, the story of Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit and encountering the Devil.

This podcast is for Transfiguration Sunday, which is March 2, 2025. We were blessed to have Elizabeth Faircloth, the Associate Program Director at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp with us to share the Good Word of the Transfiguration of Jesus and stories of the transformative power of camp in the lives of young people, people working on staff, and adults! We give thanks for the ministry of FLBC! Check...

This podcast is for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, which is February 23rd, 2025 and the Good Word comes from Genesis 45: 3-11, 15 and Luke 6: 27-36.  Both of these readings are challenging, inviting us to forgive and love beyond what often feels reasonable or possible.

This podcast is for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, which was February 16th, 2025. Immanuel also celebrated Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday, which is a day to remember and rejoice in our identity as a RIC congregation that has love and welcome big enough for ALL people, but especially LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks. The Good Word for this week comes from our Old Testament and Psalm readings: Jeremiah...

This podcast is for the 5th Sunday after Epiphany and the Good Word comes from Luke 5:1-11. In this story we witness Jesus calling the first disciples who were ordinary people, exhausted and burnt out from a hard job. Jesus offers them a glimpse of life abundant and invited them to join him on the journey.

This podcast is for the Presentation of our Lord Sunday, which was February 2, 2025. The Good Word comes from Luke 2: 22-40. In this story Jesus is presented in the temple in Jerusalem by his parents, a ritual that would have occurred for every first-born male in Jewish families. We also encounter Simeon and Anna, prophets who witness to the new thing God is doing through Jesus.

This podcast is for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, which is January 19th, 2025 and the Good Word comes from John 2: 1-11. This is the story of the first act of Jesus' public ministry, turning water to wine at the Wedding at Cana.

This episode is for the Festival of the Baptism of our Lord, which is January 12, 2024. The Good Word comes from Luke 3: 15-17; 21-22.

This episode is for Epiphany Sunday, which is January 5th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from Matthew 2:1-12, and we chose to go beyond the lectionary and include verses 13-23.  This is a story of mystery and wonder, being guided by stars and dreams.  And it is also a story of heartbreak and violence and the kind of world that Jesus was born into.  As we hear this story today, we are invited to won...

For the season of Advent, Immanuel is departing from the Revised Common Lectionary and following a theme called Words for the Beginning, which is a series of blessings for this season of new beginnings, especially in uncertain and anxious times.  This podcast is for the Fourth Sunday of advent, which is December 22, 2024.  The theme for this week is “Hope is Worth the Risk” and the Good Word comes...

For the season of Advent, Immanuel is departing from the Revised Common Lectionary and following a theme called Words for the Beginning, which is a series of blessings for this season of new beginnings, especially in uncertain and anxious times.  We also began Advent a week early this year to accommodate some events in our congregational life. So, this podcast is for the Third Sunday in Advent, wh...

For the season of Advent, Immanuel is departing from the Revised Common Lectionary and following a theme called Words for the Beginning, which is a series of blessings for this season of new beginnings, especially in uncertain and anxious times.  We also began Advent a week early this year to accomodate some events in our congregational life. So, this podcast is for the second Sunday in advent, wh...

For the season of advent Immanuel is departing from the Revised common lectionary and following a theme called Words for the Beginning, which is a series of blessings for this season of new beginnings, especially in uncertain and anxious times.  We also began Advent a week early this year to accomodate some events in our congregational life. So, this podcast is for the First Sunday in Advent, whic...

In order to accommodate some events in our congregational life, Immanuel has chosen to move Christ the King Sunday up one week and begin Advent a week early. So, This podcast is for Christ the King Sunday which was, for us, November 17th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from John 18:33-37.  Here we enter a scene we usually encounter during the season of Lent - Jesus being tried before Pilate.  Jesus...

This is the 25th Sunday After Pentecost, which is November 10th, 2024 and the Good Word comes from Mark 12:38-44.

This episode is for All Saints Sunday, which was November 3rd, 2024 and the Good Word comes from Matthew 22: 15-22.

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 This project is a collaboration of Pastor Halcyon Bjornstad (Lord of Life Lutheran - Renton, WA), Pastor Rebekah Cochrane (Immanuel Lutheran and Confluence - Missoula, MT), Pas...

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 Belo...

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 fai...