The Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Phillips

Denomination: Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA)
Organization: Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, Bloomfield Hills, MI

The Rev. Dr. Nate Phillips serves as the fifth Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at Kirk in the Hills and is the primary preaching pastor and worship leader at the Kirk.

Nate grew up in the hills of central Maine, the son of a logger and wedding dress seamstress. He was shaped by the church through Mission at the Eastward (MATE)—a nine church cooperative parish in rural Maine.

After receiving his B.A. from the University of Maine at Farmington, he received his M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Nate was ordained and called to serve Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in 2006.

Nate received his D. Min. from Columbia Theological Seminary where his focus was Gospel and Culture. He was the recipient of the John Nelson Award for the best Columbia Seminary Doctor of Ministry thesis project.

Nate has published a book called Do Something Else (Wipf and Stock – Cascade Books). It profiles some of the most hopeful innovations in the mainline church.

Nate and his wife, Ari, have four children, Grace, Lily, Max, and Lucy. He enjoys the Boston Red Sox, mountain biking, jogging, volleyball, Wendell Berry, and growing things.

Day1 Weekly Programs by The Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Phillips

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Nate Phillips: To Be with the Baby

Tuesday December 01, 2020
In his Advent sermon, Dr. Nate Phillips says God loves us and wants peace for us, and we can’t get there all by ourselves but we do have a part in it—not in making God love, but in turning around to experience how God loves.

Nate Phillips: A Monster at the End of This Sermon

Tuesday September 20, 2016
In his sermon on the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Dr. Nate Phillips helps us see we have more in common with poor Lazarus than we may have thought. And he encourages the church to fulfill its calling to serve such people in need.

Articles by The Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Phillips

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Nate Phillips: A Lesson from the Church Steeple Bells

Thursday September 08, 2016
A few Sundays ago, I found myself distracted as I stood in the pulpit and read the morning’s scripture. Somehow I had timed up my reading with the ringing of the steeple bells that have not been reprogrammed since our change to summer worship times. The chiming could be heard only faintly from my perch in the sanctuary; but, still, I was annoyed at the interruption and wondered if I would remember to have them reset....

Nate Phillips: Time for the Mainline Church to Do Something Else

Wednesday March 16, 2016
The author of the new book "Do Something Else," Nate Phillips, encourages the mainline church to shift the conversation about the future.