The Carry On Cast

Pastors Megan, Erik and Kevin discuss Acts 2:43-47. At Easter, connection is part of everything we do: worship, serving, learning, caring, growing, giving. It’s all done in community. They talk about generosity and what giving means. Whatever you do here at Easter, how can you add connection? Who can you welcome, talk with, invite, share, encourage? How can you do that every week?

Pastors Megan, Kevin and Erik dive into our new sermon series for the month of July called “Stories of Faith.” The series focuses on Biblical characters who exemplify the Easter values we discussed during Lent: worship, care, learn, give, connect. These stories encourage us to share our own stories of faith at Easter. They discuss the book of Acts and what connecting is all about. What can we lear...

It is installation weekend! It’s a chance to talk about Easter as a community, especially with two new pastors and a big future ahead of us. In worship, we come together from a variety of backgrounds to be one, in Christ’s name. Pastors Megan, Kevin and Erik discuss Colossians 3:12-17. We practice the work of community, forgiving each other and being patient with one another but we will never be p...

Pastors Megan, Kevin and Erik continue their discussion about why we worship. There are many places we may hear God’s word in our life, but we are promised that in worship for all of our best intentions, we don’t always hear from scripture throughout the week. In worship, we receive it in numerous ways so we don’t forget. How do you hear (or experience) God’s Word in worship?

Pastor Erik and Pastor Kevin discuss Hebrews 10:19-25. The message talks about encouraging others. We may experience God in many places – relationship, creation, daily work – but God promises to be present with us in worship. Entering worship can feel intimidating, overwhelming, or not worth it. This passage reminds us that God invites us and has shown us that God will always be with us in worship...

This is Holy Trinity Sunday, when the church remembers the triune nature of our God. The Pastors talk about why worship is important. They introduce our new sermon series “Why We Worship” and read Psalm 8. The act of praise reminds us that God is other than us, something this psalm recognizes. It helps us live out the truth that God is God and we are not. As the psalm says, God has shown us love a...

Pastors Megan, Kevin and Erik discuss Romans 8:14-28 and the meaning of Pentecost! It’s where we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to Gods people. They discuss the importance of Baptisms, how we can actually see the Spirit at work as the Spirit is present because of Gods promises to us. How do we understand the work of the Spirit in our lives? Everyone is going to suffer at some point in their...

Pastor Kevin, Pastor Erik and Hans Vigesaa talk about what Baptism is. They discuss the letters to Paul, where he reminds us that in our baptism we have died to sin and death, and because of that we bring faith to our neighbors. We don’t find life in Law, the life is found in the way we love and take the teachings of Jesus into our own lives and live that out with the care we have for others. How...

Pastors Megan, Kevin and Erik talk about revival, renewal and the presence of the spirit. Everyone experiences suffering differently and you may have trouble seeing God in the mist of the suffering. It is okay if it doesn’t feel real to you, the promise is still real and it will still be there for you, there is still peace with God through Jesus Christ even if it doesn’t feel real right now. What...

Pastor Megan and Pastor Erik read Romans Chapter 4: 13-16 20-25. Paul was very educated on scripture and tried to find common points to bring young believers together as one community. They discuss the difference between the law and the gospel. Sometimes we get it mixed around, it’s not that you need to do good things to receive Gods love but instead, because you have received Gods love, you can g...

Pastors Megan, Erik and Kevin dive into Romans 3: 21-28 this week. Paul moves us away from good people and bad people and said we all fall short, it’s the human condition. We are sinners as christ died for us, we don’t need to reach riotousness to receive riotousness. What does it mean for us that all have sinned and fall short but that all are saved by faith?

Pastor Megan and Pastor Erik welcome Pastor Kevin to his first Podcast! They discuss Romans 1:1-17, Romans talks so much about grace and faith. Some of this sermon will be setting up the rest of the series: who is Paul, what is this letter, and what impact Romans has had on Lutheran theology. Paul ends this section with saying why he wants to get to Rome: to proclaim the gospel so others can hear...

Pastor Megan and Pastor Eric discuss Matthew 28:16-20.We are told to go out into the world and teach others to follow Jesus. We also remember that “some doubted” but the power of the Holy Spirit overcomes, and we have victory even when we do doubt. You can still do what Jesus calls you to do if you don’t have all the answers.

Pastor Eric, Pastor Jen and Deacon Hans Vigesaa read Matthew 28:1-10 and talk about Easter. They discuss the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, how the Son of God has risen! We are called not only to come and see, but to go and tell. We leave this place so that we can share the good news with others.

Pastor Erik, Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen discuss the lengths God will go to to redeem us, and to be with us, don’t miss this story! When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ This is a huge reversal – it starts with crowds praising Jesus, but turns to Jesus being controversial and even hostile. Eventually, the crowd turns against him, too. It forces us to t...

Pastor Erik and Pastor Jen are joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa to discuss Mathew 25:31-46. "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the angles with him, then he will sit on the thrown of his glory, all the nations will be gathered before him" Mathew 25:31. One of the big questions in this text is what are those nations, who are we talking about, are we talking about just his followers or the...

Pastor Megan and Pastor Erik discuss Mathew 23:1-12. We often feel shame around learning, as if we’re not good enough because we don’t know enough. But the invitation to learn about faith is for all people. What is the purpose of learning about our faith? Superiority, prestige, and privilege? Or to learn how better to serve God and our neighbor on a daily basis?

Pastor Megan welcomes Pastor Erik Sevig to the podcast, his first ever podcast. Get to know Pastor Erik! The two discuss Matthew 22:1-10. They talk about power, and how people hold power over one another. The story points out how people make a lot of excuses without even realizing it. How do we truly offer welcome and care to all people, regardless of their perceived worthiness?

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen are joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa, they discuss Matthew 20:1-16. This parable challenges us to see all as worthy of God’s love, our support, and a place in the community. This lesson can seem unfair. We are used to people getting what we think they deserve or are worth. This does not come into play for God. Easter has demonstrated incredible generosity of time, money, g...

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen chat about humility, obedience, and caution. Reflection on Lenten theme: in this time of humility, austerity, and sacrifice, we are freed up to think about who we really are and who Jesus calls us to be. How will you approach this season with the spirit of a child? Remembering the low status of children at the time, what does it mean to not think too highly of yourself?

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen are joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa to discuss what Transfiguration Sunday is all about. Transfiguration prepares us for Lent. We are reminded that Jesus is our Teacher, but is also God’s Son, and his teaching leads us to salvation. In his teaching and in his miracles, how does Jesus reveal God to us?

Pastor Jen Hackbarth is joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa to discuss Jesus’ use of parables. We continue in Matthew 13:24-35. How do Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of heaven encourage us to seek out God’s action in the world?

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen continue to discuss Mathew as we reach the end, closing out with the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus urges us to not just listen to his teaching, but to act on it. If we have Jesus as our solid foundation, we have to stay connected to it. How do you remain engaged with his teaching, in prayer, and in developing your faith lives?

This is Jays last podcast with Easter lutheran as he will be starting his call at Holy Cross Church soon. Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen, continue talking about Mathew(Mathew 6:7-15) which is all about love, service, and prayer. We don’t only pray words from the Bible because Jesus taught them, although that would be enough. We pray them to be reminded of how we live and trust in God’s action.

The pastors announce a very special Congregational Meeting for Easter Lutheran Church this Sunday, January 22nd. You'll get to meet the two candidates, and hear them talk about who they are and why they're excited about Easter. They discuss Matthew 5:1-12, how Jesus teaches a new way of being in the world, one based not in power and wealth but on God’s message of lifting up the lowly and truly lov...