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.

“What can we do?” by Justin March

image

What a week it has
been! As I sit here and try to wrap my mind around what happened at our
nations’ capitol, I am bombarded with feelings that negate everything God wants
me to be. I am disappointed in humanity. I am opinionated. I am struggling to
stay positive. And yes, I am angry. This is not the way I wanted to start the
new year, and these are not the feelings God wants me to embrace. So, as the
negativity boils every time I watch, hear, or read an article about the events
that happened this week, what can I do to keep from erupting?

I can pray! I can pray
for our leadership to make better decisions. I can pray that our protests
remain peaceful. I can pray that we figure out how to get along and love one
another. And I can pray that God will find a way to heal this nation and erase
the divisions that keep us apart.

I can forgive! I can
forgive the actions of others, let go of my personal opinions, and allow God to
do the judging. I can forgive those who hurt and lash out when they feel there
is no other answer. I can forgive those who have made the choice to be violent,
destructive, and evil. And I can forgive those who do not know God and do not
understand there are better ways to deal with disappointment and frustration.

I can have faith! I can
have faith that God will heal our broken humanity. I can have faith that our
leadership will not accept this violent behavior. I can have faith that love
will overcome hate. And I can have faith that God’s messages will reach those
that are hurting, depressed, angry, and confused.

I can be the light! I
can be the light in a world of darkness. I can be the light by staying positive
and delivering messages of hope, forgiveness, love, and acceptance. I can be
the light by doing good deeds without expecting anything in return. And I can
be the light by being present, available, and welcoming in a world where so
many feel hopeless and lost.

I can be a disciple! I
can be a disciple by listening to what God’s plan is for my life. I can be a
disciple by spreading God’s word and uniting the flock. I can be a disciple by
staying true to the path God has laid out before me. And I can be a disciple by
bringing God the lost, standing beside them, and equipping them with the
positive messages they desperately need to hear.

What a week it has
been! It would be easy to wallow in the anger, disappointment, and negativity
of such a horrific event. It would be easy to give up, lose hope, and allow our
faith to be shattered. And it would be easy to turn away from God and forget
about the missions he has for our lives. But we must fight! We must forgive! We
must pray! And we must be beacons so the lost know where to turn when they are
ready to escape the darkness of this world!

These are trying times
my friends, but we cannot allow Satan to drown us in them. We need to take
God’s hand, be led by His messages, and proclaim His victory! We need to be His
hands and feet in this world and let others know there is still hope. And we
need to understand that the events that happened this week will not define us.
And if all else fails, remember you can pray, you can forgive, you can have
faith, you can be the light, and you can be the disciple God wants you to be!

“What can we do?” by Justin March2021-01-11T19:47:46-07:00

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.

2022-02-11T12:48:43-07:00

“Who do You Say that I am?” by Pastor Nate

Today is the day of Epiphany! Happy Epiphany everyone! 

As we make this liturgical shift from Christmas to Epiphany,
the assigned readings that we read on Sunday mornings will also make an appropriate shift from stories about the baby Jesus
to stories of adult Jesus.  

I think it’s helpful, during this season of discovery, to
read hear these stories about adult Jesus by asking ourselves the question that Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”  

It’s a question that we’ve likely been asked before by a
preacher or confirmation teacher, but it is nonetheless a helpful question to
reengage periodically because the answer to this question doesn’t just reveal
something about who Jesus is, but who we are as well.

Father Richard Rohr puts it beautifully: “Your image of God
creates you.”  Such a statement makes one
wonder if the current climate of fear and hatred in our world is a product of Sunday school
classes and Sunday morning sermons about an angry and vengeful god.  

But as we lean into a new year and a new liturgical season,
I wonder if the stories of Jesus the miracle worker, Jesus the teacher, and
Jesus the transfigured might alter our image of Jesus ever so slightly, and in
so doing, change how we understand ourselves and our place in God’s grand
story.  

Who do you say Jesus is?  And how does your answer to this question change the way you live each day?  

“Who do You Say that I am?” by Pastor Nate2021-01-07T00:17:55-07:00

The 2 part shared sermon from Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate delivered on December 27 (The first Sunday of Christmas).  

Part 1 looks at Hebrews 1:1-4

Part 2 is based on John 1:1-15

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:48:44-07:00

“Turn the Page” by Justin March

It is here! A chance
for a fresh start, a chance to set new goals, and a chance to put 2020 in the
rearview mirror. The page has turned, 2021 has arrived, and the hope the new
year brings is both promising and exciting!

So, what have we
learned from 2020, and how are we going to carry those lessons into 2021? Are
we going to allow ourselves to wallow in the negativity last year bestowed, or
will we pick up the torch and follow the light?

If 2020 taught us
anything, it is that we have a lot of work to do. We need to erase the
divisions that have torn us apart. We need to be more tolerant, understanding,
and forgiving. We need to work together, towards common goals, that will repair
our nation and strengthen our faith. And we need to come together, as God’s
people, so that those who are unable to find their way out of the darkness will
see the light that brings them home.

It is a new year, full
of opportunity and hope, and as we begin our journeys into 2021, I pray that
you allow God to take the reigns and make you whole. I pray that you find ways
to be gracious, selfless, and loving. And I pray that God takes your hand, leads
you along the righteous path, and gives you strength.

“Turn the Page” by Justin March2021-01-04T18:43:07-07:00

“Things Can Get Better” by Justin March

“Things can get
better, and if you give them a chance, they usually do.” Stephen King

 After all we have been
through in 2020, I found this statement to be appropriate. We have been
challenged to see things differently, we have been forced to stay close to
home, and we have been tested to see how much we can overcome. And after
surviving a year like 2020, it has become easy to say we cannot wait for it to
be over. But, as Mr. King states above, “things can get better.”

 As we get closer to
the new year, what are we going to do to ensure that things get better? I
believe we can start by looking back on 2020, and instead of focusing on all
the negatives that took place, we could focus on the positives that were hidden
beneath them. We can take some time to reflect, think about the gifts God gave
us, and try to incorporate some of the lessons we learned this year.

 For myself, 2020 was a
year where God taught me to slow down. Without the distractions of a busy
schedule, I was given more time to appreciate the family God has blessed me
with. I was given more time to reach out to friends and have meaningful conversations.
And I was given more time to relish the creation He surrounds me with and take
in the beauty of his scenic landscapes. Slowing down was a lesson I needed to
learn and incorporating this into the new year will be important in ensuring
that “things can get better.”

 2020 also gave me the
opportunity to learn more about people who are different than I. It taught me
to listen, do my research before I speak, and be empathetic to those less
privileged. I learned that my life is not the life that everyone experiences,
and injustices can happen in areas I never knew existed. And as I reflect on a
year where I had more time to delve into the histories, cultures, and
perseverance of others, I learned that understanding and accepting opinions
that differ from mine will be important in ensuring that “things can get
better.”

 Finally, 2020 gave me
the opportunity to become closer to God. It gave me the time to read my Bible,
pray, and experience all the small miracles He put before me. It gave me the
opportunity to share His messages with others, find a positive perspective for
what was happening in their lives, and do my part to give them hope and faith
in the path God has set before them. And if nothing else, God allowed 2020 to
strengthen my mission and ensure my light shined in a year filled with
darkness. I learned that if I let go of the reigns and allow God to use me as a
beacon for others, that “things can get better.”

 2021 is almost here.
It would be easy to throw away 2020 and wish it good riddance, but I pray you
find some time to understand the gifts it bestowed upon your life. Even in the
eye of the strongest storm, God finds ways to bless us and keep us close. And
even if you find it difficult to find the positive attributes to this challenging
year, please remember this. “Things can get better, and if you give them a
chance, they usually do!”

“Things Can Get Better” by Justin March2021-01-04T17:08:18-07:00

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.

2022-02-11T12:48:46-07:00

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.

2022-02-11T12:48:47-07:00

Our final installment of the One Minute of Christmas devotional comes from Kimberly Bergquist and looks at Luke 2:19.

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

Pastor Gary shares thoughts on Luke 2:16-18

2020-12-23T01:20:01-07:00

Bryan Jaster shares thoughts on Luke 2:15

2020-12-21T22:01:04-07:00

“Celebrate Christmas Every Day” by Justin March

Christmas will be a
little different this year. Our church celebrations will be online, our family
gatherings may be smaller, and we will be doing our shopping in masks. And even
though 2020 has forced us to change many of our “normal” activities, somehow
the adjustment to this holiday season is a little more difficult. 

So, what can we do to
bring the cheer back to Christmas? What is God asking of us during this 2020
holiday? And what shall we practice so our spirits are uplifted and our lights
shine bright?

I watched a comedian
last night and he said his family celebrates Christmas every day. He said it is
because they all love God, and the celebration of Jesus’ birth is not something
that should only happen once a year. He said celebrating Christmas every day
brings joy to their life and helps them feel blessed and thankful throughout
the year.

Wow! What a
perspective! If we celebrated Christmas every day, maybe this pandemic would
not be so weary. Maybe we would understand that slowing down is a good thing.
Maybe we would approach the world with open eyes and see God’s beauty. And
maybe we would recognize that we are all affected by these changes in the world
and see each other as equals. Yes, this holiday season may be more difficult to
adapt to, but this perspective may be just what we need to get back on track!

Here in the March
house, we will still embrace Christmas with open arms! We will attend the
Christmas Eve service online, we will take communion as a family, and we will
dim the lights so we can raise our candles while singing “Silent Night.” It
will be different, but joyful. We will need to adapt, but we will be strong in
one another’s love. And we will miss seeing our friends, but we will remain
together in spirit, celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We want to wish you
and your family a Very Merry Christmas! We pray you find the holidays full of
God’s love and take some time to appreciate the gifts he has bestowed upon you.
And we enter 2021 with anticipation that it will be the best year ever, and
that you find ways to celebrate Christmas every day!

“Celebrate Christmas Every Day” by Justin March2020-12-21T16:29:39-07:00

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.

2022-02-11T12:48:50-07:00

Amelia Thomas shares thoughts on Luke 2:13-14

2020-12-19T22:13:35-07:00

Evelyn Preisinger shares some thoughts and wonders about Luke 2:10-12

2020-12-19T21:36:26-07:00

Pastor Nate shares a short reflection on Luke 2:9

2020-12-18T16:32:25-07:00

One Minute of Christmas Day 4

Jeremiah Brayton shares a reflection on Luke 2:8

2020-12-17T15:34:55-07:00
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