Cooking with Elsa

Elsa Anders Cook

  • Pandemic Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent

    It was just yesterday that I was in a Zoom meeting daydreaming about what Advent might look like in 2022 with my collaborators at Seasons of the Spirit FUSION. It was such a fun conversation with so many ideas on… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent

  • Pandemic Prayers for Reign of Christ

    Time still eludes me. I had forgotten that I had managed to work a week ahead in what I offer here in these pandemic prayers. It hasn’t always been that way and I’m sure I’ll fall behind again but I… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for Reign of Christ

  • Pandemic Prayer Stations for Proper 28

    A few weeks ago, in Zoom worship, someone popped on the screen while on a walk. She had been walking the whole service around her neighborhood while still being present for worship. It made me giggle but it also reminded… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayer Stations for Proper 28

  • Pandemic Fireside Prayers for Christmas

    There are other things that might be done on Christmas Eve. I have a few options in my kitchen for your pandemic planning. This might not be that. It could be. You know your people best and what might work… Continue reading

    Pandemic Fireside Prayers for Christmas

  • Pandemic Prayers for Proper 27

    This wonderful gospel story always hits right after stewardship season has ended. Or so it always seemed to me so that it became something important but not quite at the heart of this good news. Pledges still needed to come… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for Proper 27

  • Pandemic Praying Our Goodbyes

    This is one of my very favorite celebrations of the church. I have long lamented that there are not enough spaces in the church calendar to share our grief. This is one of the few. Continue reading

    Pandemic Praying Our Goodbyes

  • Pandemic Lighting of the Advent Wreath

    There are some readings that can be handed out to the families of your church without explanation. They know to read the script and light the candles. This is not that. This Advent is not that. We have learned to… Continue reading

    Pandemic Lighting of the Advent Wreath

  • Pandemic Prayers for Proper 25

    A blind beggar started to shout and they silenced him. They ordered him to be quiet. I don’t know why that is jumping out at me right now. Is it that I have been silenced so many times as a… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for Proper 25

  • Pandemic Prayers for Proper 24

    I remember the last time this passage from Job popped up in the Revised Common Lectionary. I remember thinking that the whirlwind was how I felt then. I wish I didn’t still feel that now. Still, I went looking for… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for Proper 24

  • Pandemic Prayers for Proper 23

    For only the second time in this pandemic, I recorded a sermon to be shared in worship. I wrote a sermon and preached it sitting at my dining room table. I sent the children away so that they wouldn’t distract… Continue reading

    Pandemic Prayers for Proper 23