Meet our pastors

  • Rev. Jonathan Pryer                                                     pastorjsp@yahoo.com

    Pastor Jonathan Pryer graduated from Sayville High School in 1990. He attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA where he majored in Russian and Spanish Languages. While at Lafayette, Pastor Pryer became involved with a campus Christian Fellowship. From his sophomore year through his senior year, he led a campus Bible study, in addition to organizing daily campus prayer meetings Monday through Saturday. While enjoying his language studies, Pastor began to experience an inward call to ministry and a desire to deepen his theological studies. In 1993, he participated in a missions trip with Youth For Christ to Merida Mexico, building sidewalks and functioning as a Spanish interpreter for the group. Pastor Pryer graduated from Lafayette in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and Spanish. In 1996, he entered Long Island University and graduated in 1997 with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science and joined the staff at Sayville Library as a Reference Librarian in 1996. 


    In 1999, Pastor Pryer enrolled in seminary and while working full time at the library, attended theology classes part-time. While in seminary, he became more involved in the ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sayville, NY. While there, he became the Church’s Deacon and through opportunities provided by Pastor Schenkel, he preached regularly, became the Church’s Cantor and was invited by parishioners to do weddings and funerals. Ten years later Jonathan completed seminary and in 2009, graduated with his Master of Divinity. In 2010, he began transitioning from the LCMS into the ELCA and subsequently joined the ELCA Candidacy Program in 2012. He continued the ELCA Candidacy Process, while assisting St. Paul’s in the Divine Service and teaching the 6th grade confirmation class. On January 17, 2016, Pastor Pryer was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry and installed as the part-time Associate Pastor here at St Paul’s. Pastor Pryer is fluent in Russian and Spanish and has a conversant knowledge of French and Italian. He enjoys singing, finding particular comfort in cantoring the Psalms. He is also a private pilot and enjoys flying throughout the northeast.

  • REV. bob cederstrom                                                       bobcederstrom@aol.COM

    Pastor Bob has been serving as an Associate Pastor at St. Paul's since 2007. He attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and holds a Master of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary in NYC, a bachelor’s of science in kinesiology and adaptive physical education from Brooklyn college. Pastor Bob also serves as Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in New Hyde Park and is the Dean of the MNYS Western Nassau Conference. Before answering God's call to ministry of Word and Sacrament, Pastor Bob taught Middle School in Brooklyn and was an adjunct professor at Kingsborough College in Brooklyn for 25 years. Pastor Bob served in the United States Navy and is a decorated Vietnam Veteran.