by Mona Marquardt | Jul 9, 2021 | Christian Education, Hey Pastor?
Our readings of scripture each week come from the Revised Common Lectionary. Today, most Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations read the same Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings. They occur on a three year cycle, each focusing on...
by Mona Marquardt | Jul 2, 2021 | Christian Education, Hey Pastor?
Singing or chanting, which is usually acapella tonal singing, in church began as a functional need. In the centuries before microphones and sound systems, worship leaders needed ways to be heard. If you’ve ever heard someone trying to yell over a crowd, you know that...
by Mona Marquardt | Jun 25, 2021 | Hey Pastor?
I recently had a conversation about the Paschal candle and when we light it. The name refers to the Easter and Passover season and connects us to Jesus’ visible presence on earth after the resurrection. We light it as a visible reminder of our connection to...
by Mona Marquardt | Jun 18, 2021 | Hey Pastor?
Several years ago I had a conversation with a pastor friend who has been deaf since childhood. They recalled the story of using hearing aids for the first time and how it radically changed their experience of the world. They also recalled their continued experience of...
by Mona Marquardt | Jun 10, 2021 | Hey Pastor?
The words we usually think of for communion come from 1st Corinthians 11:23-26. Since we really only have one source, most communion liturgies use the same words. You may have noticed I switched our usual “on the night he was betrayed” to “handed over”. 1 Corinthians...
by Mona Marquardt | Jun 4, 2021 | Hey Pastor?
In the very early church, people would be baptized naked and then wrapped in a white robe to symbolize their new identity in Christ Jesus. Over time, these white robes became the “clothing” of all baptized Christians and wearing them in worship was common. Today...
