I never did a proper #introduction post.

I'm Ollie, a pastor in the #ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the dad to a lovely 2 year old. My interests have shifted over the years: I was a theatre major and have experience conducting wind ensembles, but these days I listen to a lot of law podcasts even though I'm not a lawyer?? I think it's because lawyers shitpost in ways I vibe with.

Been in Alaska for four years, married a woman born in Alaska. Love it here!

"Why I wrote EcoActivist Testament," a >2 minute video. In this video you will see this octogenarian (me) worshiping with nature at our old farmhouse in the western mountains of Maine.

If you are a faith-driven #ecoactivist, I wrote this for you. If you are sometimes on the verge of despair, wondering "why bother!?" I wrote this for you.

https://youtu.be/VSeK0XqdtGc

#ecoactivism #ecojustice #spirituality #rest #theology #LutheransRestoringCreation #lutheran #elca #PaulSantmire #HPaulSantmire

Originally I wrote this as a Lenten reflection, and then I found myself sick with COVID before I could post it. I am well recovered and have posted on my Walking Thoughts blog about my experience with the Trinity Prayer: https://hpaulsantmire.net/praying-all-the-time/
#prayer #Trinity #TrinityPrayer #Lutheran #ELCA #LutheransRestoringCreation #JesusPrayer

Former Bishop Megan Rohrer, forced to resign over Latino pastor's removal, sues #ELCA

https://flip.it/-X5mCQ

The Reverend Dr. Megan Rohrer (he/they pronouns), the #SanFrancisco based pastor who served as the first openly #transgender bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has now sued the #ELCA for defamation and harassment.

https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=News&sc=Latest%20News&id=323350

After a pancake supper tonight, we had a #stardust service of #ashes. Ashes mixed with glitter. I played unaccompanied #flute for the prelude, and a few #hymns on #piano during the service.

"Remember you are stardust, and to stardust you shall return." 🌌

#ShroveTuesday #AshWednesday #ChurchMusic #MusicianLife #Flutist #Pianist #ELCA #Lutheran

Looking for a devotional for #Lent? Check out the free daily emails and video reflections from Outreach for Hope, a ministry of the #ELCA’s Greater Milwaukee Synod. #Lutheran

https://outreachforhope.org/lenten-devotions/

My daughter told me she is listening to the audiobook version of my EcoActivist Testament. We are preparing to upload it to bookshop.org and audible with the help of our publisher (Cascade/Wipf&Stock).

We hope this format will make my latest -- and last -- book accessible to more people.

Here is some info about the book: https://hpaulsantmire.net/books/ecoactivist-testament/

#EcoActivism #Ecotheology #ClimateCrisis #Rest #ELCA

Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the #EvangelicalLutheranChurchInAmerica (#ELCA). Some of you might be interested in these lectionary commentaries using the #RevisedCommonLectionary that "explore ways an eco-theological interpretation may be an integral part of a theologically sound, exegetically based, understanding of scripture and well-known Bible verses."

https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/worship/lectionary-commentaries/

#CreationCare #ClimateCrisis #LutheransRestoringCreation

Dec 27: Thank you Trillium families for joining me through the season of Advent! I hope you enjoy your #Christmas season. See you at #Epiphany!
#Trillium #Lutheran #ELCIC #ELCA

Dec 26: Who brought gifts to baby Jesus? Do you like giving and receiving gifts? We tell the story of the #magi on #Epiphany which comes at the end of the season of #Christmas.
#ELCIC #ELCA #Trillium #Lutheran

Dec 25: Merry #Christmas! Don't wake the baby. 👶 😉
#Trillium #ELCIC #ELCA

Dec 24: Hot cocoa anyone?
Merry #Christmas! #Trillium #ELCIC #ELCA

As a refugee from evangelicalism, I’m new to liturgical churches. We joined an #ELCA congregation in June 2019. We were starting to get acclimated when COVID shut everything down.

This year was our first year traveling since COVID and since making the switch. For a Christmas Eve service, we visited New Life in Christ Lutheran, in Duncanville, TX.

I mean I’d be all for “Just preach the Gospel” if we specifically defined the Gospel as “Preach good news to the poor and liberty to the oppressed”. Which we will not do because it would alienate the older white financial base. #ELCA

#elca I get that there is an “ew” factor to saying out loud “We want a younger and more diverse membership”. But the “just preach the Gospel” effectively means keep doing what we are doing

Despite its “goal” to attract younger and more diverse members the #Elca will fail because it will always sacrifice them to appease older white members who are the financial base.

Dec 23: Holy #snow! Are you stressed out with travel plans? We are expecting heavy snowfall coming with this #ONstorm. If you can stay home with a warm drink!
#Trillium #Lutheran #ELCIC #ELCA #Advent

Dec 23: Holy #snow! Are you stressed out with travel plans? We are expecting heavy snowfall coming with this #ONstorm. If you can stay home with a warm drink!
#Trillium #Lutheran #ELCIC #ELCA #Advent

Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Gov. Bill Lee all claim to be Christian while bearing false witness against asylum seekers. Shameful.

I am proud that my #ELCA congregation is one of the one's doing Christ's work to welcome asylum seekers.

#Tennessee #asylum #LyingGOP anti #Christian

https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/state-republicans-attack-nashville-aid-efforts-for-immigrants-seeking-asylum/article_e0b2820a-815b-11ed-b24e-9f4fd97a4f43.html