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.

“Spending Time with the Teacher” by Pastor Nate

“Spending Time with the Teacher” by Pastor Nate

Through my own personal quest to follow Jesus day in and day
out, as well as my quest to lead others into a day by day relationship with
Jesus I find myself constantly coming back to the topic of discipleship.   The calling from Jesus at the end of
Matthew’s Gospel continues to ring in my ears: “Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit.”  (Matthew 28:19)

Clearly, it was part of Jesus’ plan to have us become
disciples and to lead others into this walk.
But then the question becomes how?

I will always remember this one line about discipleship that
I heard at a training conference years back: “Being a disciple means you are
spending time with the teacher.”

I think it’s as simple as that.  Spend time each and every day with The
Teacher.  Time in prayer, time in study,
time in worship and praise.

Walking with Jesus the teacher is not reserved for a few
hours a week but is a journey that we are challenged to bring into every aspect
of our lives.  To me, “spending time with
the teacher” is a personal act of consciousness; being aware of Christ’s
presence in our daily interactions and showing the world through words and
actions that Jesus is our teacher.

“Spending Time with the Teacher” by Pastor Nate2022-02-28T10:35:45-07:00

In deepest night, in darkest days

Hymns and Songs are not just written for praising God.
Some are laments; songs written to express deep anger or pain to
God.  When the Israelites were in Babylon
they wrote songs of lament to express to God their agony and loss.   The song below, is lament from our
hymnal.  Pray through the words, or
listen to the recording, and take time to honestly speak with God about the
pain, frustration, and anger in your life.

In deepest night, in darkest days,
when harps are hung, no songs we raise,
when silence must suffice as praise,
yet sounding in us quietly
there is the song of God.

When friend was lost, when love deceived,
dear Jesus wept, God was bereaved;
so with us in our grief God grieves,
and round about us mournfully
there are the tears of God.

When through the waters winds our path,
around us pain, around us death:
deep calls to deep, a saving breath,
and found beside us faithfully
there is the love of God.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from:
One License with license #A-705765 and CCLI with license #CSPL034240

 

In deepest night, in darkest days2022-03-03T13:27:36-07:00

Healer of our every ill

While in Egypt, the Israelites built bricks day after day after day.  Seven days a
week for 52 weeks a year for over 400 years they made bricks in the hot, hot
Egyptian sun while slave drivers violently kept them on task.  But God saw
their suffering and pain and God sent help.

Through a burning bush in the wilderness, God called Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead
the Israelites from slavery to freedom and eventually to the promised land.
Every year at Passover, Jewish people tell this story of liberation and freedom
and they remember that God still sees our pain and sends healing.

The hymn reflects this very idea.  Take time to use these words as a prayer
and find hope in this promise: that God sees our suffering and can bring peace
beyond our sorrow.

Refrain: Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

1. You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness.
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts (Refrain)

2. In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love (Refrain)

3. Give us strength to love each other,
every sister, every brother.
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide (Refrain)

4. You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing.
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart. (Refrain)

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from:
One License with license #A-705765 and CCLI with license #CSPL034240

 

Healer of our every ill2022-03-03T13:30:55-07:00

“God’s Presence in our Prayers” by Pastor Nate

“God’s Presence in our Prayers” by Pastor Nate

Lately, I’ve been looking into some of the more ancient practices of the Christian Church.  Christianity has been around for about 2000 years, and believe it or not in that time people have come up with all sorts of different ways for connecting with God.

I’ve found it so fascinating and so helpful to my own faith to learn about some of these different practices over the years… examples:  Praying by walking a prayer labyrinth, the process of “holy reading” (called lectio divina), maintaining a daily rhythm of prayer (called the Daily Office). These are just some of the many different practices that I have discovered, practices that were once widely used but have been lost through history.

As I’ve been able to discover and find value in different types of prayer and conversation with God, I’ve also learned something about the broader process of prayer.

God not only hears and responds to our prayers but God also works through the actual process of prayer.  Our questions and prayers can be answered as we pray them, they can be answered simply by taking part in the act of praying.

I think we lose sight of the importance of the process and will simply pray a prayer to get results.

I really enjoy the spin that Celtic Christian writer John Phillip Newell puts on these ideas:

“Prayer is not about beseeching a distant one to alter the mystery of reality, but rather prayer is about coming into tune with the deepest energies within us—the energies that I believe are of the One. The practice of prayer is bringing us back into relationship with that which is already among us and within us.”

We need to remember that we are holy and important in God’s eyes and that God is present with us right now.  This alone can fill us with peace and transform us.  Perhaps, in the process, we’ll even we’ll discover the answer to our prayers.

Take some time this week to really pray, to be intentional about the process and to see how God can work through the act of prayer.  Perhaps you could try a new way of praying, whether that’s by journaling or drawing, sitting in silence, or even going on a walk.  Allow God to enter into the process.

“God’s Presence in our Prayers” by Pastor Nate2022-02-28T10:34:01-07:00

“Do You Have a Moment?” by Justin March

“Do You Have a Moment?” by Justin March

If I had only known
the last time would be the last time
I would have put off all the things I had to do
I would have stayed a little longer, held on a little tighter
Now what I’d give for one more day with you

‘Cause there’s a wound
here in my heart where something’s missing
And they tell me that it’s gonna heal with time
But I know you’re in a place where all your wounds have been erased
And knowing yours are healed is healing minе

The only scars in
Heaven, thеy won’t belong to me and you
There’ll be no such thing as broken and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the Hands that hold you now

“Scars in Heaven” Casting Crowns

Have you ever regretted missing a lunch date, a meet up for coffee, or any
other event where you had the chance to spend time with family or friends? Have
you ever thought you were too busy, let work be your main priority, or made
excuses as to why you could not take a few moments to engage with those God has
surrounded you with?

I had more time than usual this week to think about how I prioritize my life.
My body has not allowed me to do much since the fall, and I have spent many
hours contemplating why I felt this simple chore was more important than
anything else. I was given a long weekend to spend time with this family I
love, but because of the choice I made, I spent the weekend in the hospital and
was bed-ridden once I got home.

How many times have I made the choice to not answer the phone, not accept a
meeting invitation from a friend, or not do something enjoyable because I
thought I was too busy? How many opportunities have I missed because I let
mundane chores or circumstances that do not matter become the priority over
spending precious moments with those I love?

As this song played through my headphones Friday afternoon, I was reminded how
short our lives truly are. I was reminded that spending time with loved ones is
important, and that I need to recognize when God is giving me the opportunity
to have moments I will cherish forever. And I need to understand that the
chores I deem important are just miniscule tasks that can be taken care of when
time allows.

We are only given one life. It is short, it is full of opportunities, and it is
open to having the free will to make decisions. We can either lie on the
pavement as the ladder gives out from under us, or we can spend the time
laughing, loving, and cherishing those around us. I know what choices I will be
making from now on.

Make sure you keep in touch with those dear to you. Make sure you spend time in
the moments that make you happy. And make sure you do God’s work and encompass
His plan for your life in everything you do. Those chores can wait, work will
always be busy, and that “to do” list will never be finished. So, when you have
the opportunity to do something you love, especially with those that have a
special place in your heart, embrace the moment and allow God to bless your
life in ways that no “task” can ever fulfill.

“Do You Have a Moment?” by Justin March2022-02-28T10:37:14-07:00

Vicky Daub Sermon 5/30/2021

On 5/30/21 we welcomed guest preach Vicky Daub.  Vicky is a graduate of Luther Seminary,  and the Executive Director of the Veteran Service Corps.

Her sermon is based on readings from John 3:1-17 and 1 John 3:16-24

Vicky Daub Sermon 5/30/20212022-03-15T15:21:05-06:00

“Bad Decisions/Second Chances” by Justin March

“Bad Decisions/Second Chances” by Justin March

Have you ever made a decision that seemed simple and harmless, but as you began
to carry it out, you understood how horribly bad you had calculated the chance
of failure? One of those decisions that once you had engaged in the act, it was
nearly impossible to reverse? As I began my Memorial Day weekend, I had done
just that.

It was going to be a quiet weekend at the March household, and my wife and I
were looking forward to getting some tasks crossed off our “to do” list. Since
there was a strong chance of rain in the forecast, I told Jessica that I wanted
to get the outdoor chores done first. I was ready to go, but she was not, so I
figured I would get a head start and gather the tools needed to accomplish
these “simple” tasks.

Well, my lack of patience got the best of me and this is where my bad decision
begins. We have a large tree in the backyard, and it seems like every year,
there are always a few branches that die and need to be cut out. This year, the
branch that has not survived is large and much higher than normal, but it still
did not look like it would be that difficult to get to. So, I grabbed the
ladder and began to decide where to set it up. It became obvious, early, that
there was no way I was going to reach that branch by setting up the ladder on
the ground, so I began to look for alternative locations. As I looked at the
best angles and best “decision” to make, I thought I would set up the ladder on
the deck, lean it against the railing, and have a solid chance of cutting
everything out that needed to go.

Okay, not that big of deal right? Well, Jessica and I had decided the night
before that I would not get on the ladder until she was with me and could hold
it to make sure it stayed stable. But my stubbornness, lack of patience, and
arrogance around this “simple” task got the best of me, and I told myself I
could cut a few small branches as I waited for her to get ready. And once she
came outside and could help, we would then tackle the larger ones.

That was 7:00 AM Saturday morning. Now that I look back at the “setup” I had
created, I cannot believe the dangers I had failed to comprehend. I had
basically made a teeter totter with that ladder, and when I climbed up and got
to the top rung, the bottom half swung up, the ladder went over the railing,
and it came crashing down on our pavestone patio with me still on it.

Sometimes a bad decision comes with just a little bit of pain or embarrassment.
And sometimes, you lay on a hospital bed with 3 broken ribs, a separated
shoulder, a punctured lung, and enough bumps and bruises to make you realize
how poor your plan really was. It has been a tough 36 hours, and the pain is
like nothing I have ever experienced before, yet there are some good lessons
that God has taught me through this horrific ordeal.

Now that I am home, I am starting to realize how good God truly was during this
painful event. He never promised that bad things will not happen, especially
when we allow our “free will” to get in the way of ignoring common sense. But
if you let Him, He will show you how to have a good, positive perspective no
matter how bad the situation has become.

First, I
understand how fortunate I was. Yes, I am hurt pretty bad. Actually, I am hurt
really bad, and it will take weeks, maybe months before I am healed and back to
“normal.” But, I could easily be paralyzed or in a coma from taking such a hard
spill. Instead, I am able to write this email, and although it comes with a lot
of pain, I am feeling blessed to be home and in my own bed to start the
recovery.

Second, God surrounded me with a lot of good people. I am fortunate to have a
wife that loves me and children who will support me as I will need help over
the next few weeks. I know they will pick up the slack and take care of the
chores I normally handle. And if that is not enough, God also put it on the
hearts of my friends and extended family to send me well wishes and notes of
encouragement to keep my attitude positive and help keep my mind off the pain I
am enduring.

And third, here is something I only realize now that I am home and able to
think more clearly. The staff that took care of me was amazing and top notch.
They were all working 12-14 hour shifts and were exhausted from the lack of
staff and magnitude of need. Yet, they were pleasant, resourceful, and helpful
in my time of crisis. And as I was discharged this afternoon, my head nurse,
Rachele, said she needed to let me know that I was a pleasure to take care of
and was respectful, pleasant, and upbeat in a situation where she had no idea
how I was enduring the pain. I guess God was using me to witness, even in a
time of discomfort and agony, and I told Rachele I had decided I could either
be angry and in pain or positive and in pain. Either way, I am glad I chose to
be positive. Maybe, just maybe, God allowed me to be that ray of light this
staff needed to see in a place filled with trauma and heartache.

I know this probably sounds like a pity party or a cry for help, but my point
is this. No matter the pain, heartache, trauma, or “bad decision”, God has
given me a second chance. He has allowed me to hurt so I know the detriment of
not following directions. He has allowed me to survive, so I can tell my story
and warn people about the dangers of ladders. And over the years, He has filled
my life with perspectives that can only come from Him and His undying love for
me and my family. He has guided me along a path I never knew existed. And He
has taken my hand, taught me valuable lessons, and used me as a beacon to
spread His messages and shine light unto others. I am blessed to have these
“second chances”, and I will make sure I use them to do His work.

My friends, never ignore the “second chances” God bestows upon you. There will
be times you make a bad decision. There will be times you ignore the signals
that will keep you from harm. And there will be times when your arrogance,
hatred, sadness, stubbornness, or lack of knowledge keep you from making the
best choices. But that does not mean you need to wallow in self-pity, fall into
the pits of sorrow, or fade away into the darkness. You just need to trust in
God, follow His instructions, and have faith that He will take care of you.
There will come a day when our “second chances” will end, so until then, make
the most of every opportunity He bestows upon you, do your best to have a
positive attitude in every situation, and remember you might be the only light
another sees amongst all the darkness in their life. God does, will, and
continues to give us “second chances”. The question is this….what will you do
to make the most of them?

“Bad Decisions/Second Chances” by Justin March2022-02-28T10:38:15-07:00

“Are You Ready to Graduate?” by Justin March

“Are You Ready to Graduate?” by Justin March

It is graduation season, and we have been blessed to take part in many of our
youth’s glorious celebrations. The joy of watching them applauded for their
accomplishments, recognized for their hard work, and congratulated for reaching
their goals is always refreshing and gives me hope for a brighter and better
tomorrow. And as I try to write some thought provoking, love filled words in
their graduation cards, there are always three subjects I feel are important.

Spreading your wings. The further you spread them, the better the
opportunities. Like an eagle flying high above the ground, you are limitless when
you soar with open wings. Unclipped and unbroken, your wings take you places
you never knew existed. They bring you to heights you thought were impossible
to reach. And just as a hen spreads her wings to draw the chicks near, you too
encapsulate others as you come to them with open arms and honest invitations.

Dreaming big. There are two things I feel we should avoid in this life.
Allowing others to crush our dreams and being a dream crusher. We were created
to dream big. We were created to be innovative, thought provoking, and trend
setting. We were created to have goals, work hard, and learn from our mistakes.
And we should never allow anyone to tell us our dreams are unachievable. We
should be supportive of one another’s dreams, and even when we do not think
they are good ideas, we should do whatever it takes to help them come to
fruition.

Having faith. You are going to meet many people in this life who will tell you
they have the answers. There are those who will push their agendas and ask for
your support. There are those who will seem like good people but may take
advantage of your lack of experience. And there are those who will become
mentors, teachers, and life changing partners in your next steps on this
journey. Pay attention to the people that have your best interests in mind and
be wary of those who push their ideals. It will not always be easy to tell the
difference.

I believe these three things build a solid foundation for our lives. They are
teachings we can follow throughout our journeys. And I believe they are lessons
that allow us to do God’s work, strengthen our relationship with Him, and draw
others closer to Him. So, spread your wings, dream big, and have faith. Do not
allow what you love to be hindered by forces that are not of God’s doing. And
support one another, love one another, and lift one another up as each day is a
new adventure full of God’s graces and blessings.

“Are You Ready to Graduate?” by Justin March2022-02-28T10:39:35-07:00

Pastor Nate and Pastor Gary’s shared sermon from May 23, 2021 looks at the story of Pentecost and what it means for us to be people of the Holy Spirit. 

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:44:38-07:00

2022-02-11T12:44:43-07:00

2022-02-11T12:44:45-07:00

2022-02-11T12:44:46-07:00

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 5/16/21 looks at Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and the story of the disciples selecting Matthias to replace Judas as found in Acts 1.  

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:44:47-07:00

“Beneath the Surface” by Justin March

“Beneath the Surface” by Justin March

“I waited way too
long to mow this lawn!”

As I grabbed the mower
and pushed it to the backyard, I quickly understood I had a daunting task ahead
of me.  I knew I was going to have to raise the mower to its’ highest
settings, make one pass through the yard, then lower the settings and go over
it again to get our lawn to the desired length.  I had definitely waited
too long, and now my chore was going to be more difficult than I had
anticipated.

The first pass was not
too bad.  The settings were high enough and the mower enabled me to glide
over the lawn without much effort.  I did have to stop multiple times to
empty the bag, but at least I could push through and get the job done.
But as I looked at the freshly manicured lawn, I knew the first cut was not
going to be enough.

The second pass was
not so easy.  As I lowered the mowers’ settings to the desired length, I
quickly found out the obstacles that awaited me.  The lawn was thick
underneath that top surface.  It had been ignored too long, and the growth
below put up quite a fight as I struggled to cut through it.  It almost
felt like the lawn had become comfortable in its’ heavy laden, rain soaked
haven, and it was going to do its’ best to hinder me from breaking
through.  But even as the mower got bogged down, the blades stopped
churning, and the engine shut off, I never gave up.  I continued to empty
that bag, clean the debris that stopped the momentum, and pull that cord so
that the tool I was using would fire up again and complete the task at hand.

Do you ever feel like
following Christ can be as difficult as mowing a long ignored lawn?  On
the surface, we may look like we have it all together and life is easy.
We may glide through each day, do the basics of what God is asking, and be seen
by others as a mission led disciple.  But what happens when God wants to
cut through to that next layer?  Are we more resistant?  Do our barriers
rise?  Or worse yet, do our comfort levels and sin filled natures stop us
from allowing God to get through all the layers so he can make us healthy,
prosperous, and open to all His gifts?

Like the story of the
lawn above, I often find myself comfortable in my heavy laden, sin soaked
haven.  I am okay with what is on the surface, and when God tries to go
deeper with our relationship together, I can become a hindrance and try to stop
Him from breaking through.  But you know what God does?  God powers
through.  He continues to find ways to empty our bags.  He continues
to clean the debris from our lives.  And He continues to pull that cord so
that we can use the tools He provides to fire us up and complete the tasks he
sets before us.

Our relationship with
Christ is a journey, not a sprint.  There may be times when a quick pass
is enough to get the job done, but there will be also be times when the goals
will seem more daunting and difficult.  We may get bogged down in the
thickness of sin, our blades may slow down as they struggle to churn, and our
engines may shut off as the weight of the world gets heavy.  But just as
the lawn needs to be manicured to a certain level to be healthy, we too need to
be shaped and molded to fulfill God’s needs.  It may take a few passes to
get there, and we may need to allow Him to cut through multiple layers, but if
we are open to God’s messages, if we understand His missions, and we use His
tools to get the job done, we will blossom as the beautiful creations He made
in His image.  And before you know it, you will be healthy, vibrant, and
an amazing wonder as others pass by you and marvel at the magnificence God’s
work has created!

“Beneath the Surface” by Justin March2022-02-28T10:40:41-07:00

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