About Nate Preisinger

Rev. Nathaniel Preisinger (he/him/his) earned his Bachelor’s Degree at St. Olaf College and received his Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Theological Education for Emerging Ministries at Wartburg Seminary. Pastor Nate previously served as a Mission Developer for Organic Faith, worked at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia as Director of Admissions, and as the pastor at Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo, NY and Reformation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA. Nate is married to Amanda and they have three children, Evelyn (12), Solomon (10), and Miriam (6). Together they have fun creating and playing board games, watching movies, hiking around Colorado and doing science experiments. Additionally, Nate enjoys listening to music, running on the High Line Canal, going to the library, reading multiple books at the same time, yoga, and basketball.

“Jesus’ Radical Love” by Pastor Nate

“Jesus’ Radical Love” by Pastor Nate

I was talking with some friends the other day about this
passage:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3:28

It’s a great passage, and through that conversation with friends, I’ve had some new insights about what it is saying to us.

You see, in the first century, when Paul was writing this, the debate about
Jew vs Greek was HUGE.  Let me repeat that, the debate about Jew vs Greek
was HUGE.  Following everything that Christ had done people were wondering
what it meant to be Jewish, they were questioning where the lines had to be
drawn.  Did people have to be Jewish to be Christian?  Did people
still
have to follow the customs of the Jewish culture to be a follower of
Christ?

That is what Paul is trying to approach with this question.  He’s writing
to his friends in Galatia
and he’s telling them that this fight needs to be
ended—all are welcome.  The world doesn’t have to be like this anymore.  God has leveled the playing field. Paul is
telling these people just how revolutionary the love of Jesus really is.

Jesus through not only his words, but by his actions also
sought to turn the entire system around.   Jesus lived
in a world that segregated based on religion and sex and country of origin.

By befriending tax collectors and fisherman, and by loving
the poor and the untouchables Jesus turned the entire culture upside-down.
His radical love opened the eyes of many.  It is that love, that
Paul had heard about and then experienced himself.  That is why he wrote those words to the
Galatians… “Don’t you get it? Don’t you see that all this fighting is silly in
light of what Jesus did?  It’s not about
being a Jew or a Greek, it’s about being a child of God; a beautiful,
wonderful, perfect child of God.” (my version of Galatians 3:28)

The revolutionary love of Christ lives on.   Even today it is still truly present.  And so, Paul’s words are still relevant.

There is so much today that has not yet been touched by
Christ’s love.  It is our call to respond to the revolutionary love that
Christ has shown us and to pass that love onto the world.  It is our task to carry on the words of Paul
and to show people that because of Christ, our arguments can cease.   The world doesn’t have to be like this
anymore.

I pray that the radical love of Christ can work within us
and can foster change in this world.

“Jesus’ Radical Love” by Pastor Nate2022-02-28T10:59:14-07:00

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 2/7/21.  It’s the second sermon in our series on Stewardship and is based on readings from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and Luke 13:18-19.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:47:49-07:00

Sometimes, You Need to Correct Course

Sometimes, You Need to Correct Course
By Justin March

“A sextant is a nautical instrument that measures the heavens and the horizons to help
establish a course. Looking to the heavens provides the guidance. Looking to
the horizon ahead provides the direction. The sextant provides a beautiful
image for our daily life as a disciple and follower of Jesus. Each day we ought
to press the pause button and look to the One who fashioned the heavens in
order to get our bearings. Each day, we look to the leading of the Lord in
order to set our course. Discipleship isn’t a one-time action. It is an
intentional, hourly, and daily return to examine our course, our progress, and
our errors. Being a disciple is about making course corrections daily.”
An excerpt from “Following the Master” – Dr. Scott Ness

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. It is a day where preparation, hard work, perseverance, and adaptation
have rewarded two teams to play for the game’s ultimate prize. Owners, general
managers, coaches, trainers, and players have come together, and in a season where
losses were overcome, game plans abandoned, and strategies changed, it is today
where we will see which team comes out on top.

Each team has been preparing for this moment. Each team has studied the other to expose their
weaknesses and recognize their strengths. Each team believes they know what it
takes to defeat the other. But when that whistle blows, the team that is
victorious, will be the team that can adapt to sudden changes. It will be the
team that can re-examine the game when the plan goes awry, the team that can
hit the pause button when the strategy fails, and the team that can overcome
their errors and correct the course.

Being a disciple can be a lot like Super Bowl Sunday. God has equipped us with a plan to succeed, He
has empowered us to execute that plan, and he has given us the tools we need to
claim that precious prize. But there are other forces that do not agree with
this plan, and they will do everything in their power to knock us off course.
No matter how much we prepare or try to stay on track, there will be obstacles
that get in our way. And if we are not ready to hit the pause button, look for
guidance, and make corrections, we may find ourselves unable to overcome those
opposing forces.

God has a plan for us, but he never promised it would be easy. He knows there will be adversity, He
knows there will be hurdles, and He knows there will be consequences. He
understands there will be times we fail. He understands there will be times we
suffer pain and loss. And He understands there will be times when the course we
set is no longer correct and we need to adapt and adjust. But just like the
sextant helps those mariners navigate the sea, we too can look to the heavens
for guidance and to the horizon ahead to navigate our adventures in life.

If your course in life seems difficult and you are struggling to overcome the obstacles being thrown
your way, maybe it is time to hit the pause button and make some corrections.
Maybe it is time to sit back and understand where you have made progress and
where you have made errors. Maybe it is time to look to the heavens and ask God
for guidance. And maybe it is time to adapt, adjust, and keep your eyes open to
the changes God needs you to make in your life. God is our sextant, and God is
our Super Bowl victory. And if we are intentional, not afraid to fail, and open
to making corrections, we will be on a course that leads us to that ultimate
prize!

Sometimes, You Need to Correct Course2022-02-28T11:05:47-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:47:51-07:00

Pastor Nate’s children sermon for this week looks at the Passover story and the powerful truth of our faith: that God comes down to save us.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:47:52-07:00

“A Heart for God” by Pastor Nate

I recently had a conversation with some friends about the
idea of what God
wants for our lives and what is it that God requires of me?  Had you asked
me this questions a few weeks ago I would have told you that I need to
listen to God, and to follow God’s path for my life.  I’ve always felt
that
my duty is to willingly follow God, to never question, but simply allow God
to lead me wherever he has planned.  I thought God would want me to
sacrifice any and everything for His plan for my life.

You might be thinking that there is nothing wrong with what I’m describing
above, and certainly a life lived in service and devotion to God is not a
bad way to live your life.  But that’s not God’s longing for our life:

“I don’t want your sacrifices–I
want your love! I don’t want your
offerings–I want you to know Me!” Hosea 6:6

Above all, God wants our heart, God wants to be in relationship with us.
God is not a puppeteer pulling the strings of our life–God loves us so much
more than that.   We were created to have freedom, to have wants and
desires
and hopes and dreams.  And all God wants is a relationship with us; a
relationship where we share all of this with God, where we share our heart
with God.

Over the years, we’ve complicated prayer so much.  People are left with the idea that they must
say big extravagant prayers filled with words that are at least four syllables
long, prayer has turned into a performance and what’s worst—this has caused
people to be afraid to pray, afraid that they won’t “perform” adequately.  

But God doesn’t want a performance, God doesn’t want to see
how impressive your vocabulary is, God wants to know your heart.  All our prayers need to be is open honest
talking with God.  Let God know what you
want, what you need, and what you’re thankful for.  God wants to craft your future together not just drag you along.  

I pray that we can all learn how to embrace our relationship with God.
 That
we can all share our hearts with God, and that we can rejoice– because
there is a God that wants nothing more than to know your deepest desires, to
know us, and to craft a future with us, based on what’s in our hearts.


Lord, help us to lift your hearts to you.  Amen.

“A Heart for God” by Pastor Nate2021-02-03T12:00:46-07:00

Pastor Nate’s full sermon from 1/31.  This sermon was the first in a two-part Stewardship series and was also a special sermon for Confirmation Sunday.  

The readings used are 1 Peter 2:4-10 and Matthew 25:14-30.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:47:52-07:00

“Can you be the whisk?” by Justin March

“If you could turn
your arm into a kitchen utensil what would it become?”

This was a question I
was asked to kick off a book study at Bethany. The group was challenged to
think about what kitchen utensil they would turn their arm into, and that we
would discuss our answers when we met on Thursday. I found the subject to be a
little silly, and I did not expect to find any real significance in the answer.
So, I thought about the question for a mere second and decided to go with the
first utensil that popped into my mind. It was a whisk.

That was Monday. By
the time our class met on Thursday, this question came back to me at least a
dozen times. I could not let it go. Why was a whisk such a quick answer, and
why is that utensil invading my every thought this week? Surely this trivial
question does not have much meaning, and how important could a whisk really be
in my life?

As I continued to
think about my answer, I understood God was using this question to help me
convey a perspective about a subject I care deeply about. I am struggling with
this broken world, and the divisions and hatred I encounter every day, have
been taking a toll. I believe this is where the whisk comes in.

When we are preparing
a meal, there are many ingredients we can choose to put together. On their own,
some ingredients can be bitter, and some ingredients can be sweet. There are
some that may be bland, while others may be intense. But no matter how each
ingredient stands up on its’ own, when you take that whisk and mix them
together, they create something wonderful. Sometimes a few gentle turns of the
wrist is all it takes, but there are other times we must vigorously blend them
together to get that perfect balance.

It became a lesson
about unity, and God was using this question to help me in my struggles this
week. What if I could turn my arm into that whisk, throw all our differences
into a bowl, and mix them together to make something wonderful? What if I could
take those individual personalities and unlock the perfect amount of blending
needed to unite them, as one, under God?

We will encounter all
types of people in our short time here on Earth. Our journey will allow us to
meet some who are bitter and some who are sweet. We will find some to be bland
and others to be intense. But no matter the color, texture, belief, or
upbringing of those we encounter, we always have the chance to blend with them
and create something beautiful.

It is up to us to
unite. We can either allow those ingredients to stand alone, or we can pick up
that whisk and throw them together. And if you are unable to find a recipe that
blends that perfect creation, pick up your Bible and follow God’s messages. You
will find that forgiveness, acceptance, love, grace, thankfulness, and doing
the right thing are all the ingredients you need to create a dish of unity for
this world. All you need to do is pick up that whisk!

“Can you be the whisk?” by Justin March2021-02-01T16:48:59-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:47:54-07:00

“Jesus Saves” by Pastor Nate

God, come back!

Smile your blessing smile

That will be our salvation

-Pslam 80 (the message)

Salvation is something that we are taught growing up,
something that tells us that when we die God will save us from eternal
damnation and we will live in heaven for ever eating candy and smelling
flowers.   

I have no idea if that’s true or not, nor will I ever have
an idea—at least not until I die and I actually partake in a candy feast with
roses by my side.  

But instead of putting salvation off and to the side for the
next 60 years (God-willing) we all need to look and see where salvation exists
today, how the message of Jesus is affecting us today.  

It’s not just about reading the Gospel, or even believing
the Gospel, it’s about living the
Gospel.   With his life Jesus showed what
perfect human existence looks like, submitting to God’s will, seeking out the
lost and lonely, preaching kindness not hate, humbly following what God has
planned for him.  

This is God’s hope for our lives.  That we might humbly follow him, serve the
oppressed and be kind to all, to summarize: “What does the Lord require of you
but to do Justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”- Micah 6:8.  

Just living like this, truly bringing our lives into God’s
presence will allow for salvation here and now.
We will be saved from ourselves.  Everyday
we try to serve some earthly God, whether it be popularity, TV, our job, a
spouse or significant other, or even our own natural urges to care only for
ourselves, these are the moments of are stumbling.  

The message of the Gospel, when we believe it, own it, and
live it, when we truly seek to dwell in God’s presence, that message can be our
salvation.  

The words and life that a man from Nazareth led 2000 years ago can today affect
change in our lives.  His life can be our
salvation today.  He can take us away
from all those habits that self destruct us and ruin friendships.  He can save us from the behaviors that hurt
us. He can save us from all the terrors and troubles in this world today.  

The life and example of Jesus can save us, when we die, but also
today.

Lord, help us to live in your presence so that you can save
us from those behaviors that destroy us. AMEN

“Jesus Saves” by Pastor Nate2021-01-27T12:01:06-07:00

Pastor Nate’s children sermon for this week looks at the story of Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane and the God’s Plan.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:48:33-07:00

Pastor Nate’s sermon from 1/24/21.  This was part of our sermon series on “Epiphanies”.  In this sermon, that took place at 4 different moments during worship, Pastor Nate talks about the Holy Trinity and the 3 different persons in the Trinity and many epiphanies that he has had over the years about this theological concept.  

The readings mentioned in the sermon are John 17:20-26 and Genesis 18:1-8.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:48:34-07:00

“Manage your day or the day will manage you” by Justin March

In my line of work
things can get hectic. Prices go up and down, sometimes within a matter of
minutes, and my team and I constantly need to be on our toes to make sure we
adapt to the ever-changing markets. Weather, housing reports, global news,
transportation issues, and even woodland creatures can drastically interrupt
our missions, and if we are not careful, our days get away from us and we miss
what we set out to accomplish.

When the phones were
ringing off the hook and the stress was impossible to hide, I had a manager who
would step out on the sales floor and state this simple message. He would tell
us that we could either manage our day or the day would manage us. In the heat
of the moment, this statement usually ruffled my feathers, but when I had the
time to step back and think about these simple words, the message it portrayed
made a lot of sense.

What if we
incorporated this statement into our daily lives with God? What if we were
cognizant of the mission he has for us, instead of letting the distractions of
the world dictate what we do or do not accomplish? Would we feel more
connected, would we take more time to help one another, and would our days be
more fulfilling?

The evils of this
world will do anything they can to manage our days. They will use social media,
reality television, long work hours, and violence to keep us separated and
disjointed. They will use fear, solidarity, hatred, and depression to wear us
down. And they will do anything they can to make sure the interruptions keep us
from spending time with our families and God. Before we know it, the day ends,
just like every day ends, with a feeling of weariness and fatigue caused by
allowing the day to manage us.

So, how can we make
sure we manage our days instead of allowing them to manage us? First, we can
start our day with a prayer. We can ask God to help us stay on the path he has
laid out before us, and to keep our eyes open and our hearts soft so that we
recognize those daily miracles he bestows upon us. When the day gets hectic, we
can take a deep breath, slow down, and remember that our mission is much
greater than whatever the day is bogging us down with. And we can set aside
time, each day, to help those in need and spread God’s messages of love and
unity. It may be a few hours, or only a few minutes, but each moment we spend
managing our day is an opportunity to be closer to God.

Each day is precious,
and our time on Earth is limited. We can either allow the days to manage us or
we can ask God to help us manage them. We can allow our time to be swallowed up
by all the distractions this world has to offer, or we can follow Jesus and
live out the mission he has for our lives. It truly is up to us! And don’t you
feel better when you know you have helped someone who is hurting, when you have
extended forgiveness, and when you have brought someone closer to God? When we
manage our days, the opportunities arise to do good, and we unite in a mission
to make this world a better place. And when the day ends, the weariness and
fatigue that drained us from allowing the day to manage us, is replaced with
the feeling of fulfillment from a day that we managed while walking with Jesus!

“Manage your day or
the day will manage you.”

“Manage your day or the day will manage you” by Justin March2021-01-25T19:37:39-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:48:36-07:00

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from Sunday 1/17/21.  This sermon is a part of a 2-week sermon series called “Epiphanies for Epiphany”.  This week, Pastor Gary discusses his relationship with Scripture throughout  his life and the many different “epiphanies” he has had while learning about how to read and interpret scripture.  

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:48:38-07:00

“What will you do to pass the peace?” by Justin March

“We must learn to live
together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Martin Luther King Jr

One of the things I
truly miss about going to church is the passing of the peace. Although each
interaction is short, the impact of shaking a hand, sharing a hug, and wishing
each other peace is huge for me. It makes me feel connected to my brothers and
sisters, it makes me feel united in my mission, and it makes me want to spread
this peace with everyone I encounter. It is always a humbling experience and something
that is missing as I endure this long-lasting pandemic.

In ancient days, the
passing of the peace had deep meaning, and the ritual was used to reconcile
with your neighbors. It was a time for forgiveness, and even Jesus told his
people they needed to let their grievances against one another go before
leaving their offering at the altar. It became a time to pray for those they
had hurt, to pray for those that had hurt them, and to confess their sins and
receive God’s forgiveness. It was only then, that the people of God were ready
for Communion, and could be reconciled with one another as a symbol of their
new life in Christ.

 At the Last Supper,
Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27), and
later in the text he said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved
you.” (John 15:12). There are many examples in the Bible where Jesus extends
his “peace” and even when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection,
he greeted them by saying, “peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36; John 20:19.26). It
is in these messages that we find a deeper meaning when we pass the peace with
one another. Just as Jesus shared his peace with us, we too should share peace
with one another.

As we head into the
new week, we may face many challenges. We may feel angry as protests occur in
our cities. We may experience fear in the unrest of our world. We may endure
racism and hatred as people divide and take sides. And we may feel alone as the
pandemic and violence keep us apart. It may become a difficult week to find
peace, but God will be calling us to do our part.

Send a text to someone
and wish them peace. Forgive someone who has wronged you. Apologize to someone
you have hurt. Let go of the grudges that weigh you down. And evangelize when
the opportunities arise. When we do these things, reconcile with one another,
and extend God’s peace, we come to the altar with clean hands and an open
heart. And when we have come together, united in God’s love, there is nothing
in this world we cannot overcome.

What will you do to “pass the peace” this week?  

“What will you do to pass the peace?” by Justin March2021-01-18T19:30:31-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:48:39-07:00

Pastor Nate’s children sermon for this week looks at the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den and the ways that God can help us change our perspective.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:48:40-07:00
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