Cooking with Elsa

Elsa Anders Cook

  • Pegged as a Radical Feminist

    I preached a sermon recently in which I was pegged as a radical feminist. Not just a feminist but the radical kind. The kind that no doubt burns bras and hates men. This comment was made to me with grave… Continue reading

  • Help Me Get the Word Out

    There is a saved draft of a new post as part of my series about Doing a New Thing in this military ministry that I’m imagining. There are lots of things that I’m eager to share and new things that… Continue reading

  • An Altar in Prayer

    The Narrative Lectionary leads us to pray over the words of Psalm 27 on June 21, 2015. It happens that it’s Father’s Day but this is not a liturgical holiday. I got a lot of flack for this two months ago when I said… Continue reading

    An Altar in Prayer

  • Our Inner Nature

    As you may already know, I’m filling in as Guest Minister at Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, NJ. I preached this past Sunday on Genesis 3:8-15. You can find the audio of the sermon entitled Our Inner Nature on the church website.… Continue reading

  • Up to Our Necks

    This Sunday seems like a huge departure from last Sunday. We find ourselves in Psalm 69:1-16 as we continue to focus on the Psalms offered by Working Preacher. The Narrative Lectionary offers the the option to pair this reading with Matthew 7:7-11 but I’m skipping it… again.… Continue reading

    Up to Our Necks

  • The Last Retreat

    Two years ago, I began this journey with four other women in a cohort group in College of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Theological Seminary. It all started with a group of women that I met as part of The Young Clergy Women… Continue reading

  • Interviewing Tips for the Pastor Who Has Never Used Skype

    An earlier version of this article appeared on Fidelia’s Sisters under the title Meet the Search Committee. An updated version follows. I admit that I miss the days of the phone interview. When I first began in ministry, I never had… Continue reading

    Interviewing Tips for the Pastor Who Has Never Used Skype

  • Hang on to Each Other

    I can’t quite stop myself from watching this video of the Vice President exposing his grief so tenderly and so honestly. I’ve watched it again and again and again. He’s talking to people who know grief. You can hear it in their… Continue reading

  • Praising God from Sunrise to Sunset

    For June 7, 2015 the Narrative Lectionary leads us to consider the inspiration of Psalm 113. There is the option to pair this reading with Luke 15:8-10 but I’m skipping over that again this week. It’s summer and so I want to use prayer… Continue reading

    Praising God from Sunrise to Sunset

  • The Howling of a Fierce Wind

    This summer, I am honored with the opportunity to fill in as Guest Minister at Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, NJ. Their talented and dynamic Minister is enjoying a four month sabbatical. During that time, I get to fill… Continue reading