Our Church thrives because of the energy and style of all of it’s people. Some are part time, some are full time, but they ALL dedicate their time and energy to making this church great! Here are a few of the people that make our church community special:
Hello, I am new here beginning with First Lutheran, Palm Sunday 2024. I am excited to be part of this community of faith and this village in the pines. I have been an ordained pastor since 2014, and truly enjoy this calling to serve. I have previously served as a Pastor in Chokio MN, Svea MN and as a Vicar in Warren IL. In addition to my work as a pastor, I am also a Behavioral Health Practioner, pursuing licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. In presenting the Good News of God’s life-giving world, the sermon and worship service generally blend the practical experiences of the world with the theological and historical realities of our faith through worship, which is truly in service of God and the neighbor. It is also fundamental to this community and me, that worship engages our lives fully, as an approachable and life-giving experience.
Our three children keep my wife and I running, but we go hunting and fishing when we get around to it. We just found out, we are pregnant with our fourth!
I also like to read, garden and cook. I look forward to meeting everyone!
I have been the Youth Director at First Lutheran since 2005. My responsibilities include helping to oversee the education, youth and family programs here at First Lutheran as well as other things as needed. I direct Faith in Action, Vacation Bible School, as well as our Youth Group, held here on Wednesday evenings.
I plan and implement many youth activities, including service projects, youth Bible studies, family fellowship activities and mission trips. I try to stay involved with the youth. I also help support the youth in their school settings.
I keep in touch with quite a few of the youth, when they have graduated and moved on to their “adult lives”. My husband and I have three sons, which are in college and two daughters, one soon to be in the Disney College Program in FL and one a senior in high school. We are so very proud of all of our children and enjoy our family vacations, as well as any time we can share together.
I am the Church Secretary at First Lutheran and I joined the staff in April of 2012. I am responsible, for the day-to-day office routine and maintaining the congregational records for the church. I order supplies needed by our office staff and I try to keep the cost down, with coupons and/or watching sale items.
The newsletters that are sent out monthly, are primarily my responsibility, to put out as necessary. I usually work Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
I am married and we have one daughter, whose male partner has a 14-year-old son, that we have proudly taken on as our Grandson. We also have two “church” granddaughters, that call me and my husband Grandma and Grandpa. One of my favorite things to do, is to go on trips at various places with my husband. I also have a good friend that I go with to MO at least a couple of times each year. We are the proud owners of six cats/kittens that we love to watch as they play.
I am the Financial Secretary at First Lutheran. I joined the staff in April of 2012. My primary function is to keep records of each member of our congregation. This consists of reconciling offerings, to the church financial program. I also keep in close communication with the Church Treasurer.
I prepare individual member contribution statements, with timely information on contributions to the general fund and other special offerings. I work with the Parish Secretary when needed and I fill in for her, when she is absent. I am the also the coordinator, for the church website.
My husband and I have a son and daughter and are the proud grandparents of 3 beautiful granddaughters and 2 precious, identical twin grandsons. We have 120 acres, that we share with our sweet but curious horse, a good-natured miniature donkey, our 2 beautiful Great Danes, a feisty miniature Dachshund and our Granddaughter’s cute little Shih Tzu/Bichon – that are ALL our BIG babies.
As the treasurer, I handle the accounts payable, payroll and associated taxes, and the church financial reporting. I am responsible for paying the church monthly bills. Financial and bank records need to be maintained and stored and this is part of my responsibility. I coordinate with the Financial Secretary, in order to maintain our records. Each month, I reconsile the bank statement and report to the Church Council, as to where the church finances are. I was the treasurer from 2009-2012 and I am delighted to return to this role in April 2024, to support the vibrant and important ministries of First Lutheran Church. My husband Dave and I both graduated from Hinckley HS and currently reside in Danbury WI, with our two rescued cats.