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Welcome into our Trinity
Family!
We would like to introduce the people
that are key to making Trinity your
Church.
Our
Pastors
 Pastor John Lestock
is our Lead Pastor. His key responsibilities are
providing the spiritual and organizational leadership
of the congregation, while developing a
team spirit among the pastoral and
support staff. He also shares with the
pastoral team the customary duties of
preaching, teaching, caregiving,
official acts and rites. Pastor
Lestock's family includes his wife,
Janet and their two sons, Marty and
Jake. Pastor Lestock has been part of
the pastoral team since August of 1990.
He came to us from Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, where he was involved with their
youth program. Here at Trinity, he has
been instrumental in the activity and
life of our youth program. He became our lead pastor in 1997. After taking
over his new duties, Pastor Lestock shifted his focus from
the specific needs of the youth to the overall needs and concerns of
all members of Trinity. He is involved with many commissions and
the Church Council in keeping our church healthy and alive.
 Pastor
Dean Smith
began his duties as our
Associate Pastor for Youth and Families on November 1, 2002.
Dean and his wife Bridget have a rabbit and a dog, and were
blessed with their first child, Cheryl Katherine in February, 2003.
Their second blessing, David
Joseph, arrived in September of 2004.
And their newest addition, Tanner, arrived in May 2007. Prior to Pastor Smith's ordination in 2001, he attended Luther
Seminary. While going to the seminary, he served for three years
as Youth Director at Bethel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. His
emphasis is youth and family activities, while also being involved
with the shared responsibilities and duties of the pastoral team
through preaching, teaching, caregiving, official acts and
rites.
Pastor Julie Malone became our newest Associate Pastor
as she begun her
duties in October, 2006. Julie and her husband Terry
have four grown children and several grandchildren. Julie graduated
from Luther Seminary and was ordained in the spring of 2003. Prior to
coming to Trinity, Julie was one of three pastors working with 5
different congregations. Julie’s emphasis at Trinity is in small
group ministry, adult education and prayer ministry, while also being
involved with the shared responsibilities and duties of the pastoral
team through preaching, teaching, caregiving, official acts and rites
Pastor
Elmer Odland is Trinity's Visitation
Pastor, on a part-time basis.
Pastor Odland provides Trinity's
shut-ins, members in Nursing Homes, the
homebound and others with outreach and
communion in a ministry that is vital to
our members who are unable to attend
church services. Pastor Odland lives in Rochester, MN and joined the Trinity family in 2004.
Elizabeth Hoium is the
intern pastor this year at Trinity. Elizabeth grew up in Brookings,
SD and went
to college at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. While there, she
majored in religion and music, focusing on piano and organ. Elizabeth
spent 2 years of seminary in Denver, CO, after which she transferred
to Luther to be in the M. Div. program with an emphasis in Children's,
Youth, and Family ministry. While in college and seminary, Elizabeth
worked in a couple different churches, directing bell choirs, acting
as children's education director, directing children's choirs, and
playing piano and organ. Elizabeth is excited to do her internship
here at
Trinity and to be a part of teaching all ages, preaching, caring
for the congregation, and so much more that Trinity has to offer
Education
Department
The Christian Education Director position is currently vacant.
 Kris
Oppegard began her duties as the Senior
High Youth Director on October 23rd, 2000. Kris and her
husband, Eric, have two children: daughter, Elise and son, Isaac.
Kris comes from First English Lutheran Church in Faribault, where she
served as the Director of Youth Ministry. Kris was born and raised in
Menomonie, WI. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a
psychology degree in 1993. Upon graduation, she began full-time youth
ministry. Some of her responsibilities will be to work with Senior
High youth in and outside Trinity Lutheran Church; offer relational
and activity-based opportunities; and encourage youth to be life-long
members of the church as “Disciples of Christ.”
Mike Odegaard
began his duties as the Junior High Youth Director
in June 2006. Mike and his wife, Jaynette were married in 1998 and
have two sons, David and T.J. Mike grew up in NW Minn where his
family still resides. Mike has worked with youth in a variety of ways
from juvenile detention & parole to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Idaho &
Minn. His dream has always been to work in youth ministry, so prior
to TLC he spent almost 3 yrs at Maple Grove Lutheran Church in Maple
Grove, MN as their Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries. Mike
looks forward to building relationships with youth and their families
as well as to encourage and walk alongside the youth in their faith
journey.
Sheri Edwardson Berg
is our Youth Education Director. She began her duties at
Trinity in June 2006. Sheri is called to provide vision,
organization, and direction to the youth education ministries of
children between age 3 and confirmation. Her primary areas of
responsibility include Sunday School, Religious Education, Vacation
Bible School and Confirmation.
If you like being around
energetic and dynamic people, these
staff members are some of the very best.
If you are interested in youth and would
like to be involved, let any one of the
three know. You won’t be sorry.
Administration & Office Staff
 John
Petersburg joined our staff as the Church Administrator in June 1997. He is
responsible for the management of the
church's business and operational
affairs, the properties and buildings
belonging to the church, and the
supervision of the support staff. He
assists the pastoral staff in
organizational, scheduling, budget, and
financial matters. He is responsible
for all accounting functions,
administration of payroll, and all staff
benefits. This position has freed the
pastoral staff to be able to devote more
time to their duties and less on the
day-to-day management of the church.
John is a lifelong member of Trinity and
graduated from Mankato State University
with a degree in Public Administration.
Jane Kittleson,
our Financial Secretary, is responsible for keeping track of
all our money
coming into Trinity, including
offerings, fees, memorials, and
bequests. She is responsible for
recording deposits and entering the
amounts in the appropriate accounts.
Jane and her husband, Howard are
very active here at Trinity. If you
should have questions about your offering,
memorials, or your statement, Jane
can answer them.
Clerical Staff
Julie
stays on top of the church membership & changes, coordination,
clerical support for the council and general clerical support. Julie
joined our staff in October 2006. Emily began with us in
January 2008 as our secretary, with primary responsibility over member
communications. She is responsible for producing our bulletins, our Trinity Messenger,
weddings and maintaining the website.
Judith became our receptionist in February of 2008, she is the
first contact most people will have with the church. When people
call Trinity they can hear the smile in her voice.
Custodial Staff
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Roger Schroer -
Maintenance
Supervisor |
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Rick Selbrade
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Custodian |
David Larson -
Custodian |
Roger Schroer
became our Maintenance Supervisor in
November 2000. He has worked for
Trinity for many years as a part-time
custodian and was promoted to full-time
in May of 2000. Roger has good
people working with him, Rick Selbrade & David Larson are both
full-time custodians. Their
knowledge and experience really shows in
the church’s condition and appearance.
This hard-working and dedicated staff
keeps Trinity's building and grounds in
spectacular, tip-top shape. If it
needs to be fixed, cleaned, emptied,
opened, moved, set-up or replaced, Roger
and his crew will oblige with a smile on
their lips and pride in their hearts.
Music & Fine Arts Staff
Jessica Dant began her duties as
Music and Fine Arts Coordinator, in October of 2002. Jessica and
her husband, Dan, have two daughters: Mariah and Elena. Jessica was
raised in Milford, IA and is a graduate of
Waldorf College and Mankato State University. Her duties include
coordinating all of the choirs, music groups, soloists,
instrumentalists, and drama groups that participate in worship.
Jessica also plans the contemporary worship music each week and
directs the Senior Adult choir and God's Singers. She also works
weekly with the Trinity Nursery School teaching and leading Praise
and Worship.
 Fred
Voth became Trinity's full-time organist in October 2002. He has a rich history
at Trinity as our long standing substitute organist. During the
transition period, Fred had taken on the organist duties and filled
the vacancy with experience and great talent. You will enjoy his mastery of our pipe organ
and his talented interpretation of music. He is also a wonderful
pianist and accompanist to our many soloists and small groups and
senior choir.
Trinity is also blessed with many
organists and pianists who fill in when
needed. Sandy Brooks, Sandy Miller, and Kristen Andrix are just a few who make up the talented ensemble of
musicians who accompany our congregation's songs of praise. Trinity's
four services per week and all the choir rehearsals and special events
keep these folks very busy and greatly appreciated.
Along with our instrumentalists, we are
blessed with an abundance of singing talent. To offer guidance and
support, Trinity has a number of gifted choir directors. They
include: Sr. Adult Choir – Jessica Dant; SHINE,
Senior High Choir – Tammi & Michael Ferch; SPLASH,
Junior High Choir – Valerie Brooks; God's Singers –
Jessica Dant, and Cherub Choir – Tammi Ferch.
Trinity also has an Adult and a Youth Hand Bell Choir,
whose director is Genelle Hinchley. If drama or puppetry is of
interest to your children, Dave & Maureen Schlobohm direct the
God’s Players and Jim & Karla Qualley direct the God’s Puppets. These directors are
patient, conscientious, and looking for more bell ringers and voices.
Come join the fun.
Trinity Nursery School
 Brenda
Jensen
is the Director of our Nursery School,
which provides up to 120 students, ages
three, four, and five, the opportunity
to enjoy Trinity’s atmosphere of
Christian faith and a safe environment
for socializing. As these children
grow and develop toward elementary
school, our teachers help them mature in
their motor and thinking skills through
fun exercises and outings.
This year’s
teachers
include: Stephanie Kingland, Lori Schiltz, Deena Shroyer, Lynn Smith,
and Mary Ulman along with aides Mary Bogert, Deena Shroyer, and Adel
Stelter.
These staff members hold themselves to a high standard and enjoy the
time spent with their students. If you have a need for a nursery
school to bridge the gap to kindergarten, please contact Brenda;
she will be happy to help you.
Other Programs
 Diane Jungbluth
is our Parish Nurse, she comes to us with a background in
Public Health Nursing. She heads up the Parish Nurse Ministry
program with help from other volunteer nurses. The Parish Nurse
Ministry provides leadership in identifying and meeting the spiritual,
physical and emotional health Trinity's members by personal contact by
telephone or home visits, teaching and coordinating courses/seminars
on health maintenance, disease prevention, and early detection, as
well as issues of grief. If there is a health question, the Parish
Nurse can be involved and can clarify the relationship between faith
and health.
 Maureen
Schlobohm began her duties as our Volunteer Ministry Director
in May of 2005. Maureen and her husband, David, have two children:
son, Matt and daughter, Katie. Maureen comes to us from Big Brothers
Big Sisters where she was in charge of Marketing/Recruitment for 5
years. Volunteer Ministry Director is a new position here at Trinity
designed to help members identify and develop their spiritual gifts
and match their abilities with the needs of the church and its
people. If you have questions about the many different ministry
opportunities at Trinity, Maureen is the person to see.
Karen Oeltjenbruns
is our Kitchen Coordinator.
If you haven’t been here for one of her
Wednesday night suppers, you’ve missed
out on a great culinary event. She
is a wonderful chef. She also has
the task of supervising volunteers and
maintaining the church kitchen relating
to activities that use our fellowship
area. She recruits service groups
and provides them with support and
guidance. Karen keeps the kitchen
supplied with staple items, linens, and
equipment.
The Rest of the Gang
The above staff is only a
small portion of the people who make
Trinity what it is. There are
countless numbers of volunteers and
friends who help out in every aspect of
Trinity's ministry and faith.
Although they are too many to name,
they do deserve the recognition and
thanks of all who call Trinity their
church. Welcome and feel free to
share with us the joy of serving.
Experience the Joy!
Contact any of the staff
for help in getting connected to the
group that interests you!
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