The Carry On Cast

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Exodus 1:15-22. Puah and Shiprah, midwives play a significant role. They’re willingness to look at what was going on around them and realizing it was not right, they stand up to authority, and were brave because of their faith. They care what pharaoh says, but realize it was not at all what God would want. God works through them, he blesses them...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Genesis 50: 15-21. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, [and] fell down before him – v17b-18a. Years after Joseph is the recipient of his brother’s jealousy and sold into slavery in Egypt - he comes face to face with them again. They are in need, he is in power. When he could respond with vengeance or anger, he does no...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Genesis 32:24-28. Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. – v24a. Jacob is a trickster and sees all of his tricks coming back to catch him. But God stands in the way with a wrestling match that will leave him wounded and clear of his calling. He’ll come out of the wrestling match with a new name and a new closeness with...

Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Genesis 19:15-17, 24-26. Historically, interpreters haven’t had much grace for Lot’s wife. We’ve made a lot of assumptions about her, without stopping to ask why she may have looked back. And that’s something we can all relate to: a time when we made assumptions about others, without taking the time to dig deeper. But what if we did? We might find we have a lot...

This Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday! Pastor Erik and Pastor Kevin discuss Romans 5:1-8. This liturgical day is one of the few where we get to talk about the doctrine of the Trinity. Help people out! Give them a way to think about such a complex idea. This celebration comes after Pentecost, allowing the church more time to reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit, and has been around for at least a th...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Acts 2:1-8, 22-24, 37-39. At Pentecost, God makes it clear that the church is for everyone. No one is excluded from the good news. We get to make sure there is a place for all! Community isn’t about making everyone “like us”. It’s about meeting people where they are and finding ways to learn from each other. The languages are actual languages spok...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. The statement that Paul makes is a basic, clear expression of faith. He reminds them about what they believe – being there to remind each other is part of what we do in community. Paul counts his greatest failing as persecuting the church. It’s not just about denying Jesus, it’s about hurting the community of believers. How...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Background on 1 Corinthians: Paul writes to a community he loves that faces dissension and infighting. He wants them to find a way through in spite of their differences, because community is worth it. Saying “thank you” matters – it’s easy to take others for granted and not lift up the joy of being together. We recognize those...

Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik are joined by Easter lutheran’s Adult Ministries Director, Jami Day! They discuss Acts 18: 1-10, be careful of (v6) – this passage is used to justify antisemitic sentiment. Does Paul’s words do him any good? Are we really meant to let his frustration dictate how we’ll treat others? Paul finds points in common with Aquila and Priscilla. In fact, they are fellow Jews. He...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Acts 17:1-9. Jason is attacked and jailed because of his relationship with Paul and Silas. When we choose each other, we may have to decide if we’ll stay by each other when it’s risky. People are uncomfortable with how Paul and Silas preaches about “another king” (v7) – they don’t want their safety at risk because of who is in their community. Com...

Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Acts 3:1-10. A story of healing is ultimately about the worth of another person. A stranger who may not “deserve” care still gets it. All people have worth. Healing comes in many forms. A faith community isn’t about perfection. It’s about bringing more and more people into a place of relationship, safety, and care. How will you include others, care for them, se...

Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Acts 1:1-8. Church isn’t just about what you get out of it. It’s what you have to give others and how we’re better together. The disciples stay together (v4) before they’re sent out (v8). This is what we do week after week in worship and learning. We come together to be sent back out into the world. How will we encourage each other as we share the gospel throug...

This week is Easter Sunday! Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Mark 16:1-8. In some of the earliest versions of Mark, the gospel ends here. It ends with running away and fear with no resurrection account. Somehow, the word still got out! The story still got told, in spite of fear and confusion. The risen Lord still made himself known. Are you paying attention? Are you watching and...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Mark 11:1-10 (processional gospel), Mark 14:1-11 (preaching gospel). This day takes a hard pivot. It moves from joy and celebration to fear and sadness. We prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Week. Don’t look away. Jesus is open and honest about his upcoming death. We cannot look away and pretend death isn’t real. It has power. But in Jesus, the...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Kevin and Pastor Erik discuss Mark 13:28-37. Awareness is a gift we don’t always appreciate. We stay busy and distracted, missing what God is up to. We can take time to listen. We are called to be here, now, paying attention to what God is doing here. We invite others into this attentiveness and awareness of God’s work around us. Might be able to reference the Centering Prayer...

Pastor Erik and Pastor Megan discuss Mark 13:1-8. We trust that God will always care for us, even in uncertain times. We therefore can provide and care for others too, without fear. Two thousand years ago, Jesus knew there would be unrest, fear, and conflict. But it doesn’t mean the disciples would stop doing the good work of the gospel. God provides for us. We can trust God, especially when nothi...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 12:28-34. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – v 30-31. We have a unique opportunity to truly glorify God and serve our community with the gifts we share and the facility we build to...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 10:13-16. This is another verse in Mark about welcoming children! We are truly called to invite all people of all ages into a full congregational life. What we want to build together is something that has a place for everyone to learn, to serve, to be cared for, to be empowered. We are all together in the congregational event happening this...

Pastor Megan, and Pastor Kevin welcome us into the season of lent and discuss Mark 9:30-37. What we build together isn’t to make ourselves look like the greatest. It’s to answer Jesus’ call to serve, especially for the sake of welcoming all. Think about how Easter’s ministries have benefited you. Think about the difference it makes in the community. Think about how young people are learning about...

Pastor Megan, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 8:34-9:8. Peter has a clear vision of what needs to happen – he wants to bask in glory and not have to sacrifice (see 8:31-33). Too often, the same is true for us. In the Transfiguration, we see Jesus as part of God’s ongoing work for the good of all people. What we build together is because we are listening to Jesus – it’s so we can have the resources t...

Pastor Erik, Pastor Kevin, and Deacon Hans Vigesaa discuss Mark 6:34-44. This is a story many people feel like they know. Try to bring out just how ridiculously abundant the food is. Jesus shows people that there is way, way more than enough! This is all based in compassion. Jesus teaches and feeds them – as a church, we are meant to both serve and listen. We can do both in our love for Jesus. The...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 4:21-32. Key verse: Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?” Mark 4:21. How are we living in the full abundance of God’s goodness right now? This passage reminds us that we can always be more, to God’s glory. We can always grow in our acts of service, compassion...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 4:2-8, 13-20. This text is about growth, joy, and richness. Lutheran faith claims that the Spirit plants faith in our heart. If that is true (and it is!) then we get to make bold choices that live the faith we know we have. Many times we try to determine whether we’re good soil or not. What if we declared that we were? What if we chose to li...

Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 2:1-12. Jesus has been on tour: healing, casting out demons, and teaching. People want to raise theological questions (v 7) but this is about the life and wellbeing of a person here and now. Jesus is at work - let’s do the same! It’s time: to get up and go! To trust that Jesus heals, forgives, strengthens, and goes with us! What can we do be...

We celebrate baptism today! Pastor Megan, Pastor Erik, and Pastor Kevin discuss Mark 1:9-15. This is where God calls and claims us. It’s good enough for Jesus – it’s good enough for us! The offer to come to the waters never expires. Right after Jesus’ baptism, there is temptation and bad news (John’s arrest). Baptism doesn’t promise a perfect life – it promises that God will be with us in good and...