Elana Keppel Levy

Elana Keppel Levy is co-pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Oklahoma. Elana believes in word, work, and worship that speaks to the whole person - mind, body, spirit. In her sillier moments, she writes goofy plays for worship. She also does Hebrew and Greek word studies of the lectionary texts and posts them on her website, SoMuchBible.com.

Justice, peace and memory (October 20, 2024)

Elana Keppel Levy on Isaiah 25.

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Christ’s compassion for the suicidal

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, Elana Keppel Levy pushes against the teaching that those who commit suicide go to hell.

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The cross isn’t just about our guilt and shame

Do you know the cross can be interpreted through multiple lenses? If you find that Jesus’ crucifixion feels unapproachable, you may want to try a new perspective, writes Elana Keppel Levy.

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Identifying and sharing the mental load of pastoral work

In any community, there is likely one person ensuring all the plates keep spinning. How can we acknowledge this and ease the load, asks Elana Keppel Levy? How can we work together?

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Commentaries can be wrong?

"If we aren’t careful to look for what’s true, we might become yet another voice repeating bad information," writes Elana Keppel Levy.

Bete Giyorgis, Church of Saint George with no people, taken during a sunny spring morning in Lalibela, Ethiopia

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The Reformation’s African roots

Martin Luther's encounter with Abba Mika’el greatly influenced how he expressed his ideas, writes Elana Keppel Levy.

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PTSD, mermaids and Saul

Did King Saul have PTSD, Elana Keppel Levy wonders? Perhaps. What she knows from her own life is this: surviving is an act of courage.

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Daring peace

America’s caught in a cycle of fear and violence when it comes to guns, writes Elana Keppel Levy. Christians have an opportunity to pave a new way forward.

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The Bible can cause harm

Elana Keppel Levy argues that Scripture is holy, but it needs to be applied wisely. And the January 2023 ordination exam was not the time, place or method to address the violent themes of Judges 19.

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On forgiveness

As the lectionary moves through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Elana Keppel Levy reflects on forgiveness — and “The Princess Bride.”

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Antisemitism, politics and the church

With violence against Jews on the rise, Christians should untangle the antisemitism that is deeply rooted in the history of the church, writes Elana Keppel Levy.