Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

This is a recording of Pastor Nate's sermon from 12/19/21 at the 10am service.  The sermon is based on Luke 1:39-55 and is based on the theme “Open Your Heart”.

In this episode, Pastor Nate's sister Elisabeth once again joins the podcast to share her wisdom and insight as a person of faith and a social worker.  Nate and Elisabeth spend time talking about the value of traditions and rituals both psychologically and as people of faith.  Listen in as they discuss some of their favorite traditions currently and some favorites from when they were growing up.  

In this episode, we continue with our Advent series of scripture meditations.  This meditation, for the fourth week of Advent, is based on the words of the prophet Isaiah as found in Isaiah 25:6-9.  As Christmas draws near we open this meditation can help you "open your heart" to the promises of God. Relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into...

Pastoral Intern Rita’s full sermon from the 8:30 service on 12/12/21 is based on readings from Luke 3:7-18.

Once again, Pastor Nate brings on a favorite guest from the past year for a new conversation.  In this episode, Bryan Jaster once again joins the podcast to talk about finding hope during times of despair.   Bryan shares some thoughts about how he has seen hope here at Bethany in the past 2 years and about the ways that the Christmas story declares to us this message of hope despite...

In this episode, we continue with our Advent series of scripture meditations.  As you listen to this podcast, we invite you to reflect on the theme of "Share Your Heart" by engaging with this unique meditation based on James 5:13-20.  Relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season.

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 12/5/21 is based on readings from Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 3:1-6.  This sermon was for the first Sunday of Advent and is based on the theme “Lift Up Your Heart”

Pastor Nate brings his dad, Rev David Preisinger, back onto the podcast to talk about the ways that the church approaches the seasons of the year in a slightly different way.  Listen as they discuss the liturgical calendar and how it invites us to pay attention to different aspects of our life of faith each and every year. 

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 11/28/21 is based on a reading from Luke 21:25-36.  This sermon was for the first Sunday of Advent and is based on the theme “Prepare Your Heart”

Each week of the Advent season we will release a different scripture meditation that aims to highlight the weekly Advent theme. This week, our scripture meditation is based on Jeremiah 31:7-9.  As you listen to this podcast, relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season and our weekly Advent them...

In this episode, Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate sit down to discuss the season of Advent.  Their discussion touches on the themes, symbols, and rituals of the season as well as the characters from scripture that we often read about during this four-week lead up to Christmas.  They also take time to unveil the ways that Advent will be observed at Bethany Lutheran Church this year.  

Each week of the Advent season we will release a different scripture meditation that aims to highlight the weekly Advent theme.  As you listen to this podcast, relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season.  This scripture meditation is based on John 21 and is centered around the theme "Prep...

In this episode, a recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from the 8:30am service for Christ the King Sunday.  This sermon is based on readings from Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18:33-37.

Happy Thanksgiving!  In celebration of this day, Pastor Nate shares some thoughts on gratitude as a spiritual practice as well as some scripture passages related to our call to thankfulness. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for some thankful reflections from the Bethany staff!

We are happy to unveil the next installment in our Faith in Daily Life Series!  This week, Jeff Liljegren joins the podcast to share his story of a recent career change.  During this conversation with Pastor Nate, Jeff shares some great insights about how God has led him throughout his life and most recently through this latest shift.  

In this episode, Pastor Nate's another poetic reflection that he has written based on Matthew 4:12-23.  This scripture passage and poem look at Jesus calling his first disciples and the ways that God's call works in our life.  Following the poem, Pastor Nate gets on to explain some further theological details of call and vocation. 

This sermon was preached on 11/14 at the 8:30 Traditional Service.  The sermon is based on the reading from Mark 13:1-8.

This sermon was preached on 11/14 at our 10am Creative Service.  The sermon includes verses of the song "Beautiful Things" sung by the Sounds of Praise Choir.  The sermon is based on Mark 13:1-8. 

Pastor Nate’s sermon from 10/17 at the 8:30 am service is based on a reading from Mark 10:35-45.  

In the year ahead, the majority of our Sunday morning readings will come from the Gospel of Luke. This podcast episode is an introduction to Luke's Gospel and a close study of Luke 18:9-14, a passage only found in Luke's Gospel.

Bethany’s Council Treasurer Steve Heuer and Pastor Gary record a conversation about charitable giving, not only why it is theologically important but they also include a lot of information about how to give in ways you might not know about.

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 10/3/21 is based on readings from Genesis 2:18-24 and Mark 10:2-16

In this episode Pastor Nate shares an in depth examination of Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine.

Listen to Intern Rita's sermon from 9/26/21 based on the Gospel reading from Mark 9:38-50.

This episode is the next installment in our Faith in Daily Life Series!  This week, Pastor Nate invites Paul Eppard onto the podcast to talk about his career as a School Counselor.  It is evident through their conversation that Paul loves his job and that he has a special knack for connecting with young people and creating space for them to learn and grow.  Listen in to this fascina...