Welcome!
What is MyPocket Preacher?
This is a digital platform for all. Whether you are an active church member, have no connection to a brick and mortar church, want to be religiously anonymous, or may be home-bound or disabled, this is a digital faith community at your fingertips!
Rev. Dr. Mary Williams Anderson
My Path
Having served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1983, I’ve seen the church do amazing work, screw-up big time, be there for people in intimate and life-changing ways, and drive people away with shaming, judgment and hatred. Yes, the church is very much an imperfect institution struggling to live out its call to follow Jesus.
In my professional career and in my life as a disciple, I’ve witnessed the transformation of the church in its discipleship and its decline as an institution. These are both exciting and unnerving times. To all that, I say, Game On!
I live in Columbia, SC, my ancestral home, with my husband, Frank, who is pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. We have two adult daughters. Colleen is a nurse in Catawba, NC, and Elise is awaiting a first pastoral call in the ELCA.
As a graduate of Newberry College, Newberry, SC, the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (now United Lutheran), and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, I have served in rural and urban congregations in Philadelphia, South Carolina, and metro-Chicago. I have a doctoral degree in preaching and have taught at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. I’m currently serving as the interim pastor of Christ Lutheran, Hilton Head Island, SC.
Super Quick Bible Study
Topical and quick messages of faith and religion that can be read anytime yet you can still engage with others through follow up discussion. An ideal bible study while waiting in carpool lines, at the doctor's office, or on a lunch break.
Walking With...Podcast
Walking With will explore a faith journey or absence from a faith path with individuals from many different backgrounds and experiences. It is intended to be a time when we can delight in each other's insights and be informed by their experiences.
Bread Crumbs
Bread is a symbol for the food we need for life and for the Christian community, it is also sacramental. In this segment, I will sweep up a few crumbs from the table of my work, life and faith journey. Such crumbs might be a meaningful quote from a book of fiction or theology, something from the news, something a kid at church said, you name it! Ill offer the crumb and a comment for you to ponder.
Ponder Anew (Blog)
Ponder Anew is my longtime weekly blog. Each week I try to stimulate the reader's thoughts on a variety of spiritual, religious, and globally relevant subjects. Forming one of the main anchors of MyPocketPreacher, the blog continues to inspire and create thoughtful debate among its loyal readers throughout the world.