Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Susan Junge to talk about why, after 27 years, she’s still going to church.

Her journey began in an interfaith marriage, sitting in a Lutheran church pew mostly so her husband could sing in the choir. But somewhere along the way, the Holy Spirit began tugging at her heart. 

She was baptized as an adult, dove into the church choir, Stephen Ministry, and found a depth of faith she never expected.

Susan opens up about how worshiping together shaped her marriage, how centering prayer transformed her daily awareness of God, and why community, both here and in the Communion of Saints, still holds her steady today.

It’s a conversation about how faith grows quietly over time, why showing up matters, and how God uses community to meet us in joy, grief, and even in the search for a missing cell phone.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode

• How an interfaith marriage became the starting point for a lifelong Lutheran journey. 

• Why showing up in person changes how we experience God and each other. 

• The spiritual depth found in choir, hymns, and weekly communion.

• What centering prayer is and how it can change your daily life. 

• Why church isn’t about what you “get” but also about who you walk alongside. 

• How the Communion of Saints connects us to those we love, even after they’re gone.

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Four. Hundred. Episodes. 

What a journey, what a milestone, what a celebration!

That's a whole lot of conversation, curiosity, and community.

To mark this milestone, Pastor Nate sits down with someone who's been part of this journey from the beginning, Pastor Gary Sandberg, for a deeply personal conversation about what keeps us coming back to church.

Yes, the headlines continue to shout about church decline.

However, this episode serves as a reminder that staying is its own kind of testimony.

They talk candidly about:

• The real reasons people leave church, and the quieter reasons people stay

• Grace, commitment, and why the church doesn't need to be perfect to be powerful

• How worship can ground us even when nothing else makes sense

• The unexpected beauty of liturgy (and chanting in a Snuggie)

• What Pastor Gary still finds at the altar after 30+ years in ministry

What You'll Learn

• Why do people stay in church when the stats say otherwise

• The hidden value of participation over perfection

• How churches can offer peace in an anxious, overstimulated world

• Why liturgy might be weird at first—and why it's worth sticking with

• Pastor Gary's car-shopping analogy for finding the right congregation

This episode isn't just a look back, it's a recommitment to the future. Whether you're a longtime listener or have just discovered us today, we want you to know that you're not just a part of this community, you're an integral part of it. Welcome. 

Learn more at bethany-denver.org

Today on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with longtime Bethany Lutheran member Sylvia Boedeker about her faith journey, from small-town Iowa to churches in Hawaii, Michigan, and beyond. Born to German immigrant parents, Sylvia shares how faith, family, and a deep reverence for nature have shaped her life and kept her rooted in church. 

Sylvia opens up about working as a physical therapist, attending Bible study, and why church is one of the only places where she truly feels like she can breathe. 

Whether you’re someone who finds God on a mountain hike or in the rhythm of Sunday worship, Sylvia’s reflections will help you see how faith weaves through every part of life, and why being part of a church community still matters.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

• How nature and liturgy can be both sacred spaces

• What it’s like growing up as a child of immigrants with a strong sense of identity

• How church provides a unique space for respectful dialogue and spiritual growth

• The power of consistency, community, and connection in sustaining a lifelong faith

• Why Sylvia says church is “one of the few places I can breathe”

🎧 Tune in now to hear Sylvia’s beautiful reflections and honest answers to our favorite question: Why are you still here? 

Scott Zimmerman didn’t join a bowling league when he moved across the country with the Navy—he joined the choir.

Stacie Schubert joined a Bible study group that lasted 5 years and doubled as a Monday night dinner club and spiritual lifeline.

Also, yes—there was liturgical dance. And calling cards. And a naked guy on a hike. (You’ll have to listen for that one.)

This week on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Scott and Stacie—a married couple and longtime Bethany Lutheran members—for a deeply honest and unexpectedly hilarious conversation about what keeps them coming back to church.

From youth camp mountaintop moments to the comfort of choir rehearsal, they talk about the power of spiritual routine, the beauty of multigenerational connection, and why Disciple Bible Study turned out to be the gateway to real belonging.

Pastor Nate hosts the kind of conversation you wish more churches were having: real talk about doubt, community, and why church is still worth showing up for.

And the answers? Let’s just say, they’re everything you hope church could be.

Why Listen:

• You want to believe church can still be fun (spoiler: it can)
  

• You’ve had a complicated relationship with faith and want to hear from people who stuck around anyway
  

• You like pastors who don’t take themselves too seriously but still take faith seriously
  

What You’ll Hear About:

• Camp stories, calling cards, and the kind of friendships that started with letter writing and never really ended.
  

• Why choir is more than music—it’s connection without the uniform
  

• What happens when Bible study turns into found family
  

In this heartfelt episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with long-time Bethany member Stephanie Davy for a warm and honest conversation about the steady presence of faith and community throughout her life.

Stephanie opens up about what it was like growing up at Bethany, surrounded by music, mentorship, and a church family that shaped who she is today. From her earliest days in the choir to raising her own children in the same congregation, Stephanie reflects on the way faith has grounded her in seasons of joy and grief, growth and uncertainty.

Together, they talk about the importance of church as more than just a Sunday thing. For Stephanie, it’s a space for connection, leadership development, spiritual formation, and perhaps most importantly, a constant reminder of God’s peace and presence through every chapter of life.

Whether you’re raising kids in the church or wondering what it looks like to return after stepping away, this episode is a beautiful testament to why community still matters, and how faith passed down can become faith deeply rooted.

What You’ll Learn:

• How early church involvement can shape lifelong faith

• Why community and leadership opportunities matter for youth

• The role of music and service in spiritual growth

• How faith helps us navigate grief and uncertainty

• What it looks like to raise the next generation in church today

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and join the conversation. 🔗 Learn more at bethany-denver.org

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kate and Paige—two thoughtful and refreshingly honest Gen Z summer interns—to talk about what keeps them connected to church, and why so many of their peers are stepping away.

They share personal stories about growing up in faith, the impact of the pandemic on their church habits, and what they’ve had to unlearn along the way. From Kate’s call to become a pastor—which, in true Gen Z fashion, began the moment someone told her she couldn’t—to Paige’s deep connection to God through nature and working with kids, this episode offers a nuanced and hopeful look at the next generation’s relationship with the church.

The conversation also touches on big themes like Christian nationalism, deconstruction, and the disconnect between churches and their communities.

Whether you're a church leader, parent, or someone curious about where the future of faith is headed, this episode is full of insight, laughter, and hope.

What You’ll Learn:

• How the pandemic disrupted Gen Z’s relationship with church

• Why Paige feels most connected to God through nature and children’s ministry

• The surprising story behind Kate’s call to ministry—and the power of being told “no”

• What Gen Z wishes the church would stop doing (and what they hope it starts)

• Why Christian nationalism is a major turn-off for young adults

• How churches can reconnect with younger generations in real, meaningful waysAnd yes... why Pastor Nate absolutely cannot handle ASMR
  

🎧 Listen now for a funny, honest, and conversation about church, doubt, and why showing up still matters.

Welcome to Together 4 Good, a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. This faith-filled podcast explores real-life topics through the lens of love, grace, and community, without judgment or expectations. Whether you’re feeling spiritually disconnected, deconstructing your beliefs, or simply looking for authentic conversations about faith, we’re here to walk alongside you.Each episode is designed to be practical, engaging, and rooted in home, making it easy to explore Christianity, Lutheran theology, and spiritual wellness at your own pace. 🎧 Subscribe now for weekly episodes on:🔹 Everyday spirituality🔹 Building meaningful connections🔹 Navigating doubt and belief🔹 Inclusive Christian perspectivesStay connected with us: https://bethany-denver.orgBethany Lutheran Church ELCA | Cherry Hills Village, CO#ChristianPodcast #ProgressiveChristianity #BethanyDenver #CherryHillsVillage #ELCAChurch #EverydayFaith

This week on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate welcomes a guest who’s not often in the spotlight but whose story is worth hearing. Josh Ehlers – Bethany’s accountant, runner, numbers guy, and quietly faithful presence in the church community, joins the podcast to talk about what keeps him showing up: to church, to community and to a life grounded in faith.

Josh opens up about growing up in a small-town Ohio church, how his grandparent’s faith shaped his own, and how that foundation stayed with him, even when church attendance waned, life shifted, and direction felt unclear.

Their conversation weaves through the college years, a cross-country move to Denver, and the very unexpected path that led Josh to his current role at Bethany. While he didn’t set out to work at a church, what he found was more than just a job, it was a sense of purpose and a space where faith and real life intersected.

This episode is a reflection on why young adults still choose church. It’s more than tradition. It’s about connection, meaning, and showing up even when things are uncertain. Josh’s story is honest, grounded, and filled with the kind of hope that can only come from staying rooted through it all.

Why Listen:

• Hear how a rural Ohio church shaped a lifelong faith journey

• Explore how young adults wrestle with and return to spiritual community

• See how purpose often shows up in unexpected ways

Questioning your faith? This episode explores deconstruction, doubt, and deeper Christian connection. 

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not sure I believe this anymore” or “Does asking questions make me a bad Christian?” — you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for asking. In fact Pastor Nate Preisinger argues that asking hard questions is part of being Christian.

What you’ll learn:

• What faith deconstruction is (and what it’s not)

• Why doubt and curiosity can actually strengthen your faith

• How the church can do better at making space for questions

• The difference between abandoning faith and rebuilding it

• Why Jesus was the OG question-asker

Whether you’re going through a spiritual shift, raising kids who are asking hard questions, or just thinking that church = certainty, this one's for you.

🕊️ Faith and doubt can hold hands. And church can still be home, even when you're rebuilding what that means.

🔔 Subscribe to hear more conversations about faith, life, and the goodness we create together. Connect with us: Bethany-Denver.Org or check out our app Bethany Connect

📱Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/bethany_denver

Why is church work so exhausting? Nate and Kevin get honest about what’s working and what could change.

In this episode, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kevin Dragseth (aka Bethany Lutheran's Program Admin Extraordinaire and Volunteer Coordinator) to talk about what it’s really like working for the church, especially in ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). 

From youth ministry burnout to underfunded programs, duplicated efforts, and too many churches doing the same thing on their own, this convo is real, honest, and even a little funny (because it’s Kevin and Nate). Kevin brings years of experience, sharp insight and a whole lot of heart to the table as they talk about why things feel stuck and what needs to shift if the church is going to move forward. 

They also dig into the emotional weight of closing church buildings, what faithful change could look like, and why collaboration isn’t just a nice idea, it’s necessary.

🔔 Subscribe to hear more conversations about faith, life, and the goodness we create together. Connect with us: Bethany-Denver.Org or check out our app Bethany Connect

📱Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/bethany_denver