Rev. Dr. Sarah Cordray

From camp counselor to 3^rd grade teacher to youth minister to pastor, Pastor Sarah has served as an associate pastor in Aitkin, MN (2005-2009) and as head of staff for a rural four-point parish in the panhandle of Nebraska (2009-2014), as Senior Pastor at Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse, NE (2014-2026), and now serves at First Lutheran (August 2026-present) as pastor. Pastor Sarah combines her passion and love for God’s church within the framework of God’s mission, vision, and values of First Lutheran. She received her Master of Divinity at Wartburg Seminary (2005) and her Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Leadership and Mission from Luther Seminary (2017). She believes that God is up to a resurrection of new life in and through this beautiful congregation as they listen to God, one another, and the community around them. As First Lutheran enters a season of experimentation, Pastor Sarah is thrilled to serve together with all generations through this authentic community!

Pr. Sarah also loves to spend time with her family of her husband, Nick, who is an inspector and trainer for Experiential Systems Inc., and two children, Nathanial and Samantha, both students at South Dakota State University (Go Jackrabbits!)! For hobbies, she loves to knit, crochet, enjoy her front porch (Check out Front Porch Faith on FB and Instagram), and write. She also loves old houses (Decatur is AMAZING!), Ted Lasso, her puppy Finney, music, and football!