Together 4 Good

Wondering if church still matters in today's world? Pastor Nate Preisinger discusses why faith, community and worship are more important than ever. We get it, church isn't what it used to be for a lot of people. Maybe you've stepped away, felt burned, or just drifted. We're diving into why church still matters, not just as a tradition, but as a life-giving, soul-nourishing practice.You'll hear: Why intergenerational community is so rare and powerful, and how church offers it in a way that few others do.How regular spiritual practice builds emotional and spiritual resilience (and what Allen Iverson has to do with it.)The surprising role communal singing plays in shaping us, yep even if you're off-key.How the church's message of “you are loved” can counter burnout, hustle, and the never ending to-do list.Whether you've been faithfully attending for years or haven't set foot in a sanctuary in a while this conversation is an invitation, not of guilt, but of Grace. Explore what it could mean to belong, to sing together, and to be reminded: you are already enough.Connect with us! Check out Bethany-Denver.org for more information!

Pastor Nate explores a faith-filled morning routine, less about productivity, more about presence with God.So often, we're told that the key to a better life is to optimize everything, including our spiritual practices. But what if faith isn't something to "hack" or master? What if it's about showing up, slowing down, and trusting God more than ourselves?Through Scripture readings, prayer journaling, and honest reflection, this episode encourages listeners to trade performance for presence and start the day with intention and grace.What you'll learn in this episode:How to shape a simple, sustainable morning routine centered on faithWhy Scripture and prayer are powerful ways to start your dayThe danger of turning faith into a self-improvement projectWhy connection with God matters more than spiritual perfectionHow rest, humility, and trust form the foundation of a faithful lifeLinks and Resources: Download the Bethany Connect App to stay inspired and connected! Search “Bethany Connect” in your phone's app store.Learn more or plan a visit: https://www.bethany-denver.orgA Special Invitation: Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and share this episode with someone you care about. Start a healthy, respectful conversation rooted in love and faith.Together 4 Good: Faith, Love, Community and Conversations for Everyday Life is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you.Stay Connected with use: https://www.bethany-denver.org

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast!In this week's episode, Pastor Nate dives into the complicated intersection of religion and politics and why we need to talk about both. While these topics are often labeled “too divisive” for polite conversation, Nate offers a different vision—one grounded in humility, compassion, and the Gospel message.He explores how faith informs our values and civic life, how churches can speak into political issues without endorsing candidates, and what it means to be a people guided first by Christ and not by party lines.What you'll learn in this episode:Why religion and politics feel so personal and polarizingHow Jesus was deeply political without being partisanA faithful way to approach civic life rooted in love and humilityThe role of church in a divided cultureWhy conversations (not silence) are crucial for spiritual growthLinks and Resources:

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kyra Morgan to hear her powerful story of transformation—from atheist and skeptic to active member of a faith community.Kyra shares her experience of religious trauma and alienation, and how shame shaped her perception of faith for years. But it was love—first through her husband and then through unexpected moments of grace—that ultimately cracked her heart open. Kyra's honesty and vulnerability offer a compelling and compassionate look at how faith can be reclaimed in a world filled with hurt and doubt.

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Bethany Young Adult Matt Pane, to explore how personal tragedy, doubt, and loss can shape a more authentic, resilient faith. Matt shares his remarkable story of walking through grief after the loss of a close friend, grappling with the "everything happens for a reason" narrative, and discovering how God uses our most broken moments to bring hope and healing to others.This episode reminds us of the beauty of testimony, the sacredness of community, and the grace that meets us right where we are. Whether you're in a season of questioning, healing, or simply needing encouragement, this one is for you.

In this week's episode, Pastor Nate explores the beautiful, often-overlooked spiritual gift of wonder—those moments where imagination and reality overlap to reveal the presence of God. He shares personal stories, insights into how wonder shapes faith, and how practices like Lectio Divina and programs like Godly Play help reconnect us to this essential part of the human and spiritual experience.Nate reminds us that in a world dominated by logic, order, and technology, we need space for mystery and awe. By reclaiming wonder, we open ourselves to experiencing God more deeply and seeing the sacred in everyday life.What you'll learn in this episode:Why wonder is essential for a life of faithHow children's spirituality teaches us about GodAn introduction to Godly Play and how it encourages sacred imaginationHow to practice Lectio Divina for a more emotional and spiritual reading of ScriptureWays to cultivate moments of awe in your daily lifeLinks and Resources:Visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter for updates and find out more about our faith community:

In this week's episode, Pastor Nate poses a powerful question: Have we been thinking about church all wrong? In a world saturated with entertainment, products, and constant striving, this episode offers a radically honest perspective on what church is truly meant to be.Drawing from a simple yet profound five-star Google review, Pastor Nate unpacks the idea that church shouldn't be marketed as just another product. Instead, it should be a sacred space for honesty, healing, and deep connection. Through stories, personal reflection, and thoughtful commentary, this episode invites listeners to reimagine church as a place where we confront our brokenness and find true community—not flashy programs or perfect performances.What you'll learn in this episode:Why church isn't meant to “entertain” you—and why that's a good thingThe problem with marketing faith communities as productsHow boredom, vulnerability, and routine might actually bring healingThe concept of being “scronely”—and why it mattersA hopeful vision for the future of church in a lonely, fast-paced worldLinks and Resources:Visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter, get connected with our community, and access more resources:

In this honest episode, Pastor Nate explores the hidden costs of pretending everything is fine. We talk about the pressure to appear put together, the fear of being seen as struggling, and how toxic positivity often masks our deeper wounds. This kind of emotional cover-up doesn't just affect our mental health, it also shapes our spirituality.Pastor Nate digs into the way Christianity confronts this head-on. Jesus didn't come for the polished and performative. His harshest words were for those who insisted on religious appearances while ignoring their inner brokenness. The gospel is not about pretending—it's about showing up with our full selves.Pastor Nate also unpacks the concept of alienation—a sense of disconnection from ourselves, from others, and from the world around us. Often rooted in cultural pressures and spiritual confusion, alienation is more than a social issue—it's a theological one too. Sin, in many ways, is a form of alienation.Through the lens of Christ's suffering and abandonment on the cross, we learn that our pain is not something to deny or bury but rather something God enters into. We don't find grace by escaping struggle. We find it by embracing our lack, our need, our real emotions.In this episode, we cover:Why pretending and toxic positivity hurt more than they helpHow alienation is a core human experience—and how faith addresses itThe danger of performative religionThe cross as a place where God meets us in sufferingWhy engaging with our struggles is a path to transformationLinks: heck out the book Pastor Nate mentions: "Embracing Alienation" by Todd McGowan. Call to Action: If you've ever felt pressure to “just stay positive” when everything inside you is unraveling, this episode is for you.Listen now—and be reminded that grace meets us not in our pretending, but in our honest, human reality.A Special Invitation:Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of God's presence in the midst of difficult times. Share this episode with friends and family to help bring hope and peace to them during their struggles or questions. Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, Show Love in everyday life. Stay Connected with us: ⁠https://www.bethany-denver.org/⁠

In this episode of Together for Good, Pastor Nate takes a deep dive into the relentless pressure of hustle culture—the constant need to do more, achieve more, and prove our worth through productivity. As an Enneagram 3, Pastor Nate knows this struggle firsthand, but he also knows that God offers us a different way.The practice of Sabbath was given to the Israelites as a radical redefinition of identity—not as slaves who must produce, but as beloved people who are called to rest. That same gift is still being offered to us today. But are we willing to accept it?In this conversation, Pastor Nate explores:The lies we believe about success and self-worthHow hustle culture makes us feel like everyone else has it figured out—when in reality, we're all strugglingThe Sabbath as an act of resistance against a world that tells us we are only as good as what we producePractical ways to reclaim rest and redefine our identity in light of God's graceIf you've ever felt exhausted by the pressure to constantly prove yourself, this episode is for you. Let's step into the gift of Sabbath and remember: we are already enoughLinks: Check out "Low Anthropology" by David Zahl for a unique look at the ways our assumptions cause us to feel inadequateFor more resources for your faith journey visit www.bethany-denver.org

In this episode of Together for Good, we explore the transformative practice of Centering Prayer with Ron Rinkle, a former academic and marketing executive who has discovered deep spiritual renewal through this contemplative approach.Ron shares how Centering Prayer speaks to the modern challenges of self-identity, time, and love, offering a countercultural rhythm of stillness in a world driven by noise and productivity. With a unique blend of psychological and sociological insights, he unpacks the ways this practice fosters inner peace, strengthens faith, and deepens our awareness of God's presence.If you've ever felt that traditional prayer methods weren't working for you—or if you're curious about how silence can become a powerful tool for spiritual growth—this conversation is for you.In This Episode:

In this deeply personal episode of the Together for Good Podcast, Pastor Nate Preisinger reflects on the healing power of rituals and how they sustain us through life's most difficult moments. Drawing from his own experiences—especially in the weeks leading up to his mother's passing—he shares how spiritual practices, liturgy, and long-held traditions provided him with comfort, connection, and a sense of stability in the midst of grief.

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Colleen Maki sits down with Bryan Jaster to explore One Simple Tool that can transform the way we experience God in our daily lives. This tool isn't about adding more to your to-do list—it's about pausing, noticing, and listening to how God is moving in your story.Bryan walks Colleen through how this practice helps break cycles of anxiety, organize life's chaos, and recognize sacred moments—those Kairos times when God is doing something new. By learning to pause and reflect, we can respond to life in ways that bring more love, justice, and peace.In this episode, you'll discover:✔️ How to notice God's presence in everyday moments✔️ A simple tool that helps break patterns of stress and anxiety✔️ What Kairos time is and why it matters for your faith journey✔️ How listening to your life can lead to more love and justiceWhether you're seeking a way to slow down, gain clarity, or deepen your spiritual practice, this conversation will give you practical steps to recognize the sacred moments already unfolding in your life. Learn more at www.Bethany-denver.org

What if mission trips weren't about “helping” others—but about changing the way we see the world?

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this episode, Pastor Nate sits down with Garth Englund III to explore the beauty and depth of the liturgical seasons. Garth shares how a powerful Holy Week experience in his childhood sparked a lifelong love for the rhythms of the church year. Together, they discuss how these seasons help us align our lives with the life of Jesus, offering opportunities for reflection, anticipation, and spiritual growth. In this episode you'll learn: How the liturgical seasons guide us through different aspects of faith. Why Holy Week worship left a lasting impact on Garth's spiritual journey. Ways to engage intentionally with each season to deepen your faith. Links & Resources: Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast and explore how faith traditions shape our spiritual lives. Share this episode with a friend who wants to bring more meaning into their year! For more information about the liturgy check out this video from Pastor Nate A Special Invitation: Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, Show Love in everyday life. Stay Connected with us: bethany-denver.org

Creativity & the Divine | An Interview with Colleen Maki Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this week's episode, Pastor Nate sits down with Colleen Maki, Coordinator of Media at Bethany Lutheran Church, to explore the deep connection between creativity and faith. They dive into the creation story in Genesis 1, reflecting on God as Creator and how our own creativity can be a spiritual practice. Their conversation touches on overcoming perfectionism, the beauty of fractals, and the ways that creative expression draws us closer to God. In this episode you will learn: How creativity can be a way to connect with God. Why perfectionism can stifle creativity—and how to move past it. The surprising connection between fractals and faith. Links and Resources: Here are links to two books that Colleen mentions in the episode -- The Artist's Way and Praying in Color Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and explore how faith and creativity intersect in daily life. Share this episode with someone who might need encouragement in their creative journey! A Special Invitation: Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, Show Love in everyday life. Stay Connected with us: bethany-denver.org

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this week's episode, Pastor Nate sits down with Peter Hancock to talk about his work as an entrepreneur and the ways that he finds calm in the midst of his active and high-pressure work. The conversation spans stories about vulnerability, the importance of exercise, how a faith community provides connection and support, and much more. In this episode you will learn: how emotions need to be metabolized through physical activity. the ways that being vulnerable creates connection and community the importance of rituals and traditions in life and the workplace. Links and Resources: Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of how to find calm in chaotic times. Share this episode with friends and family who may be struggling with a difficult time.   A Special Invitation: Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, show Love in everyday life.  Stay Connected with us: https://www.bethany-denver.org/

Together 4 Good Podcast Show Notes Episode Title: Finding Calm in the Chaos Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this week's episode, Pastor Nate reflects on the chaos that many are feeling in the world right now and offers some thoughts on how our life of faith can provide calm during uncertain or overwhelming times. Nate discusses the ways that believing in a Higher Power opens us up to greater hope and peace, even during chaotic times. He then looks at scripture and the story of Job and how the ancient wisdom from that book still brings guidance to our life today. What you'll learn in this episode: The first step in Twelve Step groups and why it matters A different way of thinking about the Bible The story of Job and its unsatisfying answers God as Spirit and Breath and how it helps us today Links and Resources: Visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter for updates and find out more about our faith community https://www.bethany-denver.org/ A Special Invitation: Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of God's presence in the midst of difficult times. Share this episode with friends and family to help bring hope and peace to them during their struggles or questions. Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you're feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we're here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, Show Love in everyday life.  Stay Connected with us: https://www.bethany-denver.org/

Pastor Nate, Colleen Maki, Kevin Dragseth, and Bryan Jaster all sit down to talk about the importance of caring for people who are done with church. In this wide-ranging conversation, the four talk about their experiences feeling done with faith, what brought them back, and what the church can be doing to connect with those who are no longer connecting with a faith community.

Colleen Maki interviews Ellie Dieringer from Young Adults in Global Mission. Listen in and learn more about this incredible service year program of the ELCA. To learn more about Young Adults in Global Mission go to: https://www.elca.org/our-work/global-mission/young-adults-in-global-mission

This is a rebroadcast of a special episode from New Year's Day last year. In this episode, Pastor Nate offers a guided meditation that serves as a means of prayerfully examining the past year. Based on the St Ignatius Examen, this guided time of prayer and reflection is the perfect way for you to look back on last year and move into next year with a sense of God's presence in your life. Take a quiet 10 minutes to listen and pray through this New Year's Examen.

During the fourth week of Advent, Pastor Nate offers a Bible study on the theme of hope. During this busy season, you are invited to take time to dive into the themes of Advent through these deep studies of scripture. In this episode, we carefully study 1 Corinthians 13.

During the third week of Advent, Pastor Nate offers a Bible study on the theme of hope. During this busy season, you are invited to take time to dive into the themes of Advent through these deep studies of scripture. In this episode, we carefully study Luke 1:39-55.

During this second week of Advent, Pastor Nate offers a Bible study on the theme of peace. During this busy season, you are invited to take time to dive into the themes of Advent through these deep studies of scripture. In this episode, we carefully study Ezekiel 37:1-14.

During the first week of Advent, Pastor Nate offers a Bible study on the theme of hope. During this busy season, you are invited to take time to dive into the themes of Advent through these deep studies of scripture. In this episode, we carefully study Luke 2:1-20.

On this special episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate offers some reflections on the importance of giving thanks. But as a special treat - Pastor Nate also invites on high schoolers from the high school youth group to hear their thoughts on the holiday.

In this episode, Pastor Nate invites us to reframe the ways that we think about prayer. He dives into why we pray, what it can do for our connection with God as well as some different ways to pray that you might not have considered.

This special Prayer and Study episode is designed to provide a time of calm, peace, and reflection. You will be guided through a time of deep reading of Luke 12:49-56 and invited to wonder, feel, and reflect on what God might be saying to you directly through these words of scripture.

Pastor Nate shares some theological insight into how we as people of faith engage with issues of government and politics. He also shares his reflection from the Night of Unity service.

Sometimes, even deeply religious people go through seasons when their tried-and-true faith practices don't bring the same connection to God as they used to. In this episode, Pastor Nate adapts some spiritual practices so that they can be used to connect with God even if you aren't feeling particularly religious.

Have you ever thought that church was boring? What if that's a good thing? In this episode, Pastor Nate talks about the importance of boredom in our life of faith and how we as a society have become too focused on entertainment and amusement.

Pastor Nate discusses the ways that the church often talks about the message of Jesus and compares this with what Jesus himself actually says about his mission in the scriptures. Listen in as we explore Jesus' words with new eyes.

In this episode, Pastor Nate offers some ideas about how to connect with God during the other days of the week. How can we be people of faith when we aren't in the sanctuary, what's so important about our worship service on Sunday mornings and what is worship really about?

Pastor Nate interviews Bryan Jaster about a difficult experience during his college years when he wanted to give up on the church and the ways that the church pieced him back together afterward.

Pastor Nate discusses the ways that doubt shouldn't be something we are afraid of, rather it can be something that draws us deeper into our relationship with God and the community of faith.

In this episode, Pastor Nate shares a lot of thoughts about paradoxes, the human predicament, Jesus' incarnation, God's grace, and how all these pieces fit together to try and save us from the belief that we are capable of saving ourselves.

Pastor Nate sits down with long-time Bethany member, KB to talk about his work in business development. The two discuss the importance of relationships and how we can share our faith with others in subtle, non-threatening ways.

Pastor Nate interviews David Gies about his career in the non-profit sector and the interesting initiatives and places this work has taken him. Listen in as David and Pastor Nate reflect on the ways that God encourages us to take the next faithful step.

It's the episode you've been waiting for! Listen in as Colleen Maki and Kevin Dragseth interview Pastor Gary about his experiences and learnings on sabbatical.

Bryan Jaster sits down with two young people and their mothers to talk about the important role Identity plays in our lives and world. Listen in to their fascinating reflections and stories of uncovering and discovering what God is doing in their lives.

Pastor Nate gives a detailed analysis of John 15:9-17, a passage of scripture that is part of Jesus' Farewell discourse. Grab your Bible and follow along as we explore some of the words of Jesus' final teaching and consider together it's implications for our life today.

Pastor Nate gives a detailed analysis of Psalm 29 complete with historical and contextual information that makes the words of this Psalm come alive in new ways. Grab your Bible and follow along as we explore the fascinating message of this Psalm - a message that is still very relevant for our world today.

Bryan Jaster hosts this special episode of Together 4 Good, along with the help of 3 Confirmation students: Gioia, Michael, and Aulby. These 3 young people are from Epiphany Lutheran Church and participated in Bethany's confirmation program last year. Listen in as they reflect on the importance of belonging and how that was lived out through this unique partnership.

In this episode, Bryan Jaster interviews the Faith Formation Summer Intern, Kate Souther. The two talk about some of the Faith Formation projects for this summer and especially focus on the key aspects of the Faith Formation vision and mission statements.

Pastor Nate interviews Dave Krell about his work as a Structural Engineer. In the conversation, the two reflect on the ways that faith doesn't always have clear answers and the ways that an engineer's commitment to the common good is its own form of ministry.

Pastor Nate interviews Marie Friedemann about her career in higher education. Marie shares about the importance of caring for the whole person and the ways that we can find God in every place.

Pastor Nate interviews Rob Hanson about his career as a firefighter and the ways that this important role in our community connects with Rob's understanding of the life of faith. In their conversation, they discuss the small, subtle invitations in our life that are often the workings of the Holy Spirit, guiding us to the places we need to be.

In this episode, Pastor Nate interviews Bethany member and Jeweler, Kyra Morgan. The two discuss Kyra's story of coming to faith and the ways that her work as a Jeweler provides her a chance to live out her faith in unique ways. This is part of our ongoing Faith in Daily Life series.

Pastor Nate sits down with the Executive Director of Veteran Servant Corps and Bethany member, Vicky Daub to talk about her important and exciting work with Veterans. The two discuss the upcoming Memorial Day holiday as well as the ways that small steps of faith can make a huge difference.

As we head into the summer months, Pastor Nate shares some reflections on the importance of rest. Listen in and learn about the biblical roots of this instruction and the ways that rest is a part of God's hope for our lives.

In this episode, Pastor Nate shares a conversation with Cam Regennitter, the Director of Onsite Programming at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp. The two talk about the unique philosophy that guides Rainbow Trail programs, the upcoming "Created to Be" theme for the summer, and much more.

Colleen Maki interviews Kevin Dempsey about his work over the years with Habitat for Humanity. Kevin also shares details about the future plans for Bethany's Holy Hammers group and their 25th-anniversary celebration.