Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

Why Does Church Music Still Matter in Worship Today? A Conversation with Rick Seaton

What is worship actually meant to be? In this conversation, Pastor Nate sits down with Bethany’s Director of Music, Rick Seaton, to talk about the role music plays in shaping faith, community, and the experience of worship. Together, they explore the depth of Lutheran musical tradition, the tension between old and new, and why worship is about something far deeper than personal preference. This is a fun conversation with two people who truly appreciate the power music can play in your life.  What You’ll Learn: * Why music has always been central to the life of faith * What makes worship feel grounded, meaningful, and alive * The role of tradition in shaping how we experience God * Why participation matters more than preference * How churches can think differently about worship today Chapters: 00:00 Why this conversation took 6 years to happen 01:00 Rick’s journey into church music 03:00 Why Lutherans have such a strong musical tradition 06:00 Why churches don’t create music like they used to 09:00 Why variety in worship actually matters 11:00 Contemporary vs. traditional worship 13:00 Why people are returning to deeper practices 17:00 Why quality and intention matter in worship 20:00 What churches should focus on moving forward 26:00 What music is really meant to do 27:00 A powerful Good Friday reflection 31:00 Why music has always been part of faith 34:00 The importance of singing together 36:00 Creating new music for the church 38:00 Final thoughts on worship and creativity And if you’re in the Denver area join Rick for the Get Outta Here Postludes Concert at Bethany Lutheran Church, May 1st at 7pm! More info here: https://www.bethany-arts.org/ Connect with Bethany: 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

Sunday School Remix: What If Easter Isn’t as Clear as We Think?

What if the resurrection doesn’t tie everything up neatly, but actually disrupts how we understand God, faith, and even reality itself? In John 20, the story is full of confusion, questions, and unexpected encounters—and maybe that’s exactly the point. What You’ll Learn: * Why belief in John’s Gospel is more about trust than certainty * How the resurrection story invites questions, not just answers * What it means that Mary “sees” Jesus but doesn’t recognize him * How God can be at work even when things feel unclear or unsettling * Why Easter is really about new beginnings, not perfect understanding Chapters:00:00 What if Easter isn’t clear?01:00 Belief as trust, not certainty03:00 The three ways of “seeing” in John05:00 The eighth day and new creation07:30 Different responses to the empty tomb09:00 When we misread what God is doing11:00 God’s presence in unexpected places13:00 Mary is called by name14:30 The garden and new creation15:30 Why the story isn’t over Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

What Do Robert’s Rules Have to Do with Faith in Christ? A Conversation with Parliamentarian, Kirby Glad

You wouldn’t expect a conversation about Robert’s Rules of Order to say something meaningful about faith—but this one does. Pastor Nate sits down with Kirby Glad to explore how structure, fairness, and even the way we run meetings can reflect something deeper about life in Christ. It’s thoughtful, surprisingly engaging, and grounded in a simple truth: when people come together with different perspectives, what holds it all together isn’t perfection—it’s grace. What You’ll Learn: * Why structure can actually create space for belonging * How disagreement can deepen understanding—not divide us * What “life in Christ” looks like in real community * Why grace matters more than getting everything right * How every voice plays a role in the body of Christ Chapters: 00:00 Why this conversation matters more than you think 01:00 What a parliamentarian actually does 03:00 The real purpose behind Robert’s Rules 07:00 Why structure helps people participate 09:00 Life in Christ and unity in disagreement 12:00 Why no one person has all the answers 16:00 When rules fall short (and grace steps in) 20:00 Faith, imperfection, and real life 31:00 Connecting Robert’s Rules to Christian life 34:00 Grace, striving, and what really matters If this conversation resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s navigating faith, community, or even just hard conversations. Connect with Bethany: 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

Sunday School Remix: Is the Crucifixion About Freedom Today?

What if the cross isn’t just about what happens after we die, but about how we live right now? In this episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate reframes the crucifixion—not as a transaction, but as liberation. Instead of asking how we earn God’s favor, we’re invited to see how God meets us in the middle of real life: in struggle, in grief, and in the mess we try to hide. This conversation opens up a deeper, more honest way of understanding faith—one rooted not in fear or performance, but in presence, grace, and freedom. What You’ll Learn: * Why the cross is about freedom, not just forgiveness * How transactional faith can lead to burnout and despair * What it means that God meets us in suffering * How the crucifixion reframes how we live and love * Why you don’t have to “get it all right” to belong Chapters:00:00 What if the cross is about now?01:00 The limits of “Jesus died for your sins”02:00 Why the crucifixion mattered most04:00 Rome tried to end it—why it didn’t work06:00 A Savior who saves by dying08:00 The human experience and “sonder”10:00 God enters the mess of being human12:00 Where is God in suffering?14:00 Betrayal, shame, and the cross15:30 Freedom from performance16:30 Living without spiritual anxiety17:30 What the cross means for your life today If this conversation encouraged you, take a moment to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it. Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

How Does Faith Show Up in Hospital Rooms? A Conversation with Rev. Laurie Jeddeloh

What does it look like to show up for people on the hardest days of their lives? In this episode, Pastor Nate sits down with Pastor Laurie Jeddeloh, a hospital chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care, to talk about faith, grief, and what it really means to care for people in moments of uncertainty. Together, they explore how God meets us not with easy answers, but with presence, compassion, and grace. What You’ll Learn:  * What chaplains actually do in hospitals day-to-day * How to support people without forcing beliefs * Why faith isn’t about having all the answers * What “destructive spirituality” looks like—and how to reframe it * How presence can matter more than words in hard moments Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Pastor Laurie & Chaplaincy 02:00 What Does a Hospital Chaplain Do? 04:00 Faith, Ethics, and Hard Decisions in Healthcare 07:00 Why We Blame Ourselves—and How to Let Go 11:00 Showing Up in Life’s Hardest Moments 15:00 Why Presence Matters More Than Answers 19:00 Sacred Moments at the End of Life 25:00 Following a Call into Chaplaincy 29:00 Leaving Parish Ministry Behind 35:00 Why Church and Community Still Matter If this conversation encouraged you, take a moment to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it. Connect with Bethany: 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]