Elsa Anders Cook

  • Fear, Love and Another Supreme Court Decision

    Yesterday, the Supreme Court decided by a 5-4 vote to uphold the ban on transgender service members fulfilling their call to service in the United States military. It was said by one woman just four years short of retirement in… Continue reading

    Fear, Love and Another Supreme Court Decision
  • Prayers for Baptism of Christ Sunday and Epiphany 2C

    I attend a church with a super talented and dynamic staff, but as it happens when a lead pastor leaves for a new call, they’re carrying more than they usually do. There’s more work for each and every one of… Continue reading

    Prayers for Baptism of Christ Sunday and Epiphany 2C
  • New Traditions for Our Family

    My husband is an atheist. That’s right. I am an ordained minister in the Christian Church and I married a man who could care less about anything remotely related to God. He will be quick to amend that. He will… Continue reading

    New Traditions for Our Family
  • News From My Kitchen

    Most people see Cooking with Elsa and assume it’s a cooking blog. I love to cook but on this blog you’ll find Ingredients for Worship and Recipes for Ministry and not so many actual recipes that you could cook up in your kitchen. It is, after… Continue reading

    News From My Kitchen
  • Denial Is My Spiritual Practice

    It’s around this time of year that Christmas carols start playing in my house. It may be too early for some, but bah humbug to them. There is enough crap to bemoan in the world right now. There is more… Continue reading

    Denial Is My Spiritual Practice
  • Twinkly Lights in Blue Days

    Jan Richardson lost her beloved husband Gary during Advent. It was more sudden than the wars and rumors of war that the gospel Mark hints it could be. Nobody saw it coming and the grief lingered for many more seasons.… Continue reading

    Twinkly Lights in Blue Days
  • Tell the Children

    I sat there with my daughter in my lap turning the pages. Matt de la Pena’s book Love was sent to me by my cousin. She said it reminded her of me. So my heart was already in my throat… Continue reading

    Tell the Children
  • A Simple Graveside Ritual

    Graveside services are often very, very short. Some simple prayers are repeated by the presiding minister. Tears are shed, but there isn’t much else for the grieving family to do. There is nothing asked of them. There’s no action for… Continue reading

    A Simple Graveside Ritual
  • Transforming Outside the Lines

    It is more than ten years ago now. It doesn’t seem like it could be that long ago but it was over ten years ago that I found myself searching for my first call. Fresh out of seminary, I was… Continue reading

    Transforming Outside the Lines
  • Raising White Kids With Curious Questions and GIVEAWAY!!

    It was only a few months ago that I found myself returning again and again to sort through the children’s books at Half Price Books. (Don’t get me started on the lack of independent booksellers in Texas. It’s beyond upsetting… Continue reading

    Raising White Kids With Curious Questions and GIVEAWAY!!