Sermons by Pastor Ethan Overcash
There’s Grace for That
I need to be honest with you: this letter is a day late. Yesterday was my first day back in the office after some time away following Christmas, and it was a long day—the kind where you look up and realize hours have passed in what felt like minutes. The kind where the day you actually experienced was nothing like the day you thought you would. As evening approached, I had prepared a quick dinner for my family and was…
When Music Takes the Lead
Yesterday’s Music Sunday was a good reminder of something I sometimes forget in the busyness of leading worship: how grounding it is simply to listen. We heard a wide range of sounds—handbells, organ and piano, a beautiful solo, even a soprano saxophone weaving its way into the service. And then there was the upbeat, jazz-leaning version of “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” It caught me off guard in the best way. Familiar, but not predictable. Joyful without being overdone.…
More Than Candles: An Invitation to Christmas Eve Worship
My earliest memory of Christmas Eve church doesn’t start in a sanctuary. It starts at my MawMaw’s house. Every year, my mom’s family would gather there first—too many people in one room, folding plastic tables filling usually empty spaces, kids weaving between adults, the steady hum of conversation and laughter. We would eat, exchange presents, eat dessert, and fellowship late into the night. And when it was time to leave, the grownups would do something that felt very serious to…
“Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid.” It’s one of the most repeated lines in all of Scripture—and it shows up most powerfully in the Advent and Christmas stories. The angel says it to Zechariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds. And every time, it’s not a dismissal of fear, but an invitation to peace. God is about to do something new. But let’s be honest—this season can be hard. For all the glittering lights, Christmas carols, and joyful gatherings, many…
“Is This for Real?” – Why Hosting Triad Pride Performing Arts Matters
“Is This for Real?” Why Hosting Triad Pride Performing Arts Matters This Sunday, December 7th, Emmanuel will once again welcome the choruses of Triad Pride Performing Arts into our sanctuary for their Winter Concert. These concerts have become a beloved rhythm in our life together—familiar, joyful, and deeply meaningful. And while each performance brings its own beauty, one moment from a past concert continues to shape how I understand what we do and why it matters. As guests were leaving…
An Advent Building Project
In some ways, remembering has never been easier. This week, a Facebook memory brought up something I posted five years ago—back when I was still new to Emmanuel and still pretty new to being a pastor. In the summer of 2020, after we moved into our house and settled in a bit, I started building a dining room table. We had never had a full dining room before, and as an amateur woodworker, I was excited to try my hand…
Living out God’s love…one book at a time.
Picture the school book fair. Students gather outside the library, waiting for the signal to go in. Their eyes widen, their steps pick up speed, and for a moment the world feels impossibly bright. You can almost see their imaginations catch fire as they scan the shelves, already dreaming about the stories waiting for them. But I also know—because teachers have told me, and because I’ve seen it firsthand—that for some children, that excitement is tinged with something quieter and…
The Uniquely Portable Magic of Reading
Something you may not know about me is that I’m a big Stephen King fan. I actually come by it honestly—my dad was a fan before me. Growing up, I mostly remember him reading the newspaper or magazines, maybe a biography about one of his favorite bands or sports teams. But I also remember seeing a few books around the house that definitely weren’t my mom’s—books by a guy named Stephen King. It wasn’t until the summer of 2005, though,…
“Lord, Be with My Mouth.”
On any given Sunday morning, there are parts of our worship that change and parts that don’t. Sometimes it’s the words we say; other times, it’s what we do. Much of that depends on the church season or the events of the day. And of course, what changes most for me is the sermon. But there’s one thing that never changes, and it happens right before I preach. As we sing the Gospel acclamation, I step toward the pulpit and…
Words to Live By: A Reflection by Pastor Ethan
Two weeks ago, I gathered with other Lutheran pastors at Lutheridge, one of our beautiful outdoor ministry sites here in North Carolina. It was time for our annual NC Synod Fall Leaders Convocation — a few days set aside for rest, renewal, learning, and reconnecting. Last year’s event was canceled because of Hurricane Helene’s damage at camp, so being back together this year felt especially meaningful. You could feel the gratitude in the air — for the conversations, the worship,…
Tell Me a Story…
“The most powerful words in English are, ‘Tell me a story.’” – Pat Conroy There’s just something about a story, isn’t there? Stories can make us laugh, move us to tears, teach us something new, or take us to places we’ve never been. They’ve always been how humans make sense of the world and our place in it. And as people of faith, we’re rooted in stories—stories of a God who creates, who sets people free, who loves without limits.…
(Re)Member Together
Starting this October, we’re launching something new and exciting: (Re)Member Together, a shared ministry with our friends at St. Michael Lutheran Church. I can’t wait to tell you why I’m so excited about this: For almost five years as your pastor, I’ve dreamed of partnering more closely with St. Michael. I believe the future of the church is rooted in collaboration—not because we “have to” work together, but because that’s who we are as the church. From the very beginning,…
What IS Reconciling in Christ?
What IS Reconciling in Christ? Six years ago—on September 8th, 2019—our congregation took an important step: we voted to become a Reconciling in Christ partner congregation. That decision came after lots of prayer, conversations, and learning together. We just celebrated our six-year anniversary and held our annual Reconciling in Christ Sunday, but I realized that I’ve never really paused to explain what this whole “Reconciling in Christ” thing means for us. Many of us were here six years ago; many…
Howdy, Partners!
I grew up on Westerns, watching them with my dad and grandpa. From Gunsmoke and Bonanza to nearly every John Wayne film, those tales of good versus evil became part of my childhood backdrop. I spent countless hours in make-believe, a cowboy hat from Tweetsie Railroad on my head, greeting everyone with a slow drawl: “Howdy, partner!” I’ve always wondered about that phrase. Was it really common in the Old West, or just Hollywood magic? A quick search shows “howdy”…
There and Back Again: A Congregation’s Tale
Many of you know that I very much enjoy J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories of Middle-earth. (One of my tattoos can attest to this!) These include The Lord of the Rings and other stories, but they began with the children’s classic The Hobbit, where a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins takes an unexpected journey full of adventure, and his whole life is changed. In the story, Bilbo writes his adventures in his memoirs and titles them, “There and Back Again: A Hobbit’s Tale.”…