Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

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:

🔹 What is Centering Prayer, and how does it differ from other prayer practices?

🔹 The role of silence and stillness in deepening faith

🔹 How Centering Prayer reshapes our understanding of self and identity

🔹 The tension between hustle culture and contemplative spirituality

🔹 How this practice helps us experience God’s love in a new way

Resources & Links:

📖 Recommended Reading: "Open Mind, Open Heart" by Thomas Keating, "Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton, "The Cloud of Unknowing"

🧘‍♂️ Learn more about Centering Prayer: Contemplative Outreach

🔔 Subscribe & share this episode with a friend who needs a moment of stillness today!

#CenteringPrayer #ContemplativePrayer #ChristianSpirituality #FaithJourney #Stillness #PrayerLife

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, we explore:
✔️ How rituals create rhythms of comfort and stability in life
✔️ The role of liturgical traditions in shaping our faith and identity
✔️ Why rituals matter most in times of loss, uncertainty, and transition
✔️ Personal stories of how simple traditions—from prayer to seasonal celebrations—carry us through hardship
✔️ How faith and communal worship connect us to God’s promises and the great communion of saints

Pastor Nate also reflects on how rituals, even seemingly small ones, connect us across generations, shaping our faith stories and strengthening us in ways we may not fully realize until we need them most.

If you’ve ever found comfort in tradition, or are looking for ways to navigate grief and uncertainty with faith, this episode will speak to your heart.

#FaithAndHealing #PowerOfRituals #ChristianTradition #GriefSupport #LiturgyMatters #TogetherForGood #LutheranFaith #SpiritualPractices

This episode was originally posted in 2021, but we are reposting it this week because our Gospel reading on Sunday was from Luke 13:18-21, a reading that includes Jesus' parable of the Mustard Seed.  This episode is a poem that Pastor Nate wrote based on this parable.  We hope you enjoy this unique reflection on scripture and that it gives you a new way of thinking about the words of Jesus.  

This is an old podcast episode that Pastor Nate released way back in September of 2020! Listen in to this short Bible Study all about the importance of water in our world, the scriptures, and our life of faith. Grab your Bible, a glass of H20, and listen along!⁠

As we begin the season of Lent Pastor Nate shares a poem he wrote several years ago (and shared on this podcast feed several years ago) that reflects on many of the themes of Ash Wednesday, Lent and Genesis chapter 3.

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 justice

Whether 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

🎧 Listen now and learn how to tune into God’s presence!

#SpiritualGrowth #FaithInPractice #NoticingGod #KairosMoments #ChristianPodcast #MindfulFaith #Together4Good

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

In this episode ofTogether 4 Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Deacon Debra, Kevin Dragseth, and Bryan Jaster to talk about their upcoming trip to Ecuador. But this isn’t your typical mission trip conversation. Instead of focusing on what they plan to "do," they wrestle with deeper questions:

🔹Do mission trips really make a difference?
🔹How does stepping into discomfort change our perspective?
🔹What can we learn about God by traveling and serving abroad?
🔹Why does faith feel more real when we take action?

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:What does it mean to serve others with humility? Whether you’ve been on a mission trip before, have doubts about them, or just love stories about faith and transformation, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

Links & Resources:

To learn more about the Ecuador Mission Tripclick here.

Subscribe to theTogether 4 Good podcast today and explore how faith and daily life intersect. 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 toKnow Love, Show Love in everyday life.

Stay Connected with us:bethany-denver.org

#MissionTrips #FaithInAction #GlobalService #elca #RethinkingMissions #TravelWithPurpose #SpiritualGrowth #KnowLoveShowLove #ChurchBeyondSunday

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:

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:

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:

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/