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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
began her duties as our Associate Pastor for Adult Education and
Caregiving on October 1, 2006. Julie and her husband, Terry,
have four grown children and eight grandchildren. Julie received her MDiv degree at Luther Seminary and was ordained in 2003. Prior to
her call to Trinity, Julie served at a five-point parish in
Southwestern Minnesota. Julie’s emphasis at Trinity is in small
group ministry, adult education, prayer ministry and supervision of
the visitation, volunteer and parish nurse ministries. She also
shares in the responsibilities and duties of the pastoral team through
preaching, teaching, official acts and rites.
Intern Pastor Lydia Nelson,
Trinity's newest intern pastor, joined us in August of 2009.
Lydia grew up on a dairy farm in rural east central Wisconsin, where
her parents still farm. She is the oldest of four children – twin
brothers and one sister. She majored in both English and Writing at
Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. It is at Wartburg that Lydia met her
husband, Beau Nelson, who will be serving this year as an intern at
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna. They were married on July 7,
2007. We are excited for a wonderful year getting to know Lydia and
sharing experiences with her.
Education
Department
 Kris
Oppegard began her duties as the Senior
High Youth Director on October 23, 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 northwest Minnesota where his
family still resides. Mike has worked with youth in a variety of ways
from juvenile detention and parole to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Idaho
and
Minnesota. His dream has always been to work in youth ministry,
so prior to TLC he spent almost three years at Maple Grove Lutheran Church in Maple
Grove, MN as their Director of Youth and 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 Trinity's Youth Education Director. She
joined the staff in June of 2006. Sheri grew up in Steele County and
is a graduate of Golden Valley Lutheran College and Concordia College
of Moorhead, with a BA in Family Consumer Science. Prior to working at
Trinity, she taught FACS at New Richland/Hartland public schools,
Albert Lea High School, and at the Albert Lea Area Learning Center.
Sheri was also a stay-at-home mom for several years to her three
children Christian, Jenna, and Leah.
Sheri’s primary areas of responsibility
include Sunday school, religious education, vacation bible school, and
confirmation, and working with children age three through confirmation.
Her goal is to add the personal touch to Trinity's ever-growing
children’s ministry.
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 and Office Staff
 John
Petersburg joined the 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,
Trinity's Financial Secretary, is responsible for keeping track of
all the 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
Judith
became Trinity's 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.
Kristi
joined the staff in September 2008. She produces all weekly service
bulletins and special bulletins, and creates the
monthly newsletter. Her duties also include website updates and
general clerical support.
Custodial Staff
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Roger Schroer -
Maintenance
Supervisor |
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Rick Selbrade
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Custodian |
Emmit Culver
-
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 is our
full-time custodian. His knowledge and experience really shows in
the church’s condition and appearance. Emmit Culver joined
our staff in the summer of 2008. He has shown attention to detail and
we are glad to have him! 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, Rick, and Emmit will oblige with a smile on
their face and pride in their hearts.
Music & Fine Arts Staff
 Sandy
Miller
began her duties as
Music and Fine Arts Coordinator, in September of 2009. Sandy
brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our staff. Besides
serving here on commissions and as our council president, Sandy has
been involved with music groups like Vision, Splash, Jubilee, Rejoice,
God’s Singers, Sunday school, youth ministry, and our contemporary
worship team.
Sandy and her husband,
Steve, raised four children: Kelly, Michelle, Crystal, and Travis.
Her duties include coordinating all of the choirs, music groups,
soloists, instrumentalists, and drama groups that participate in
worship. Sandy also plans the contemporary worship music each week and
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 had a rich history
at Trinity as our long-standing substitute organist. During the
transition period, Fred took 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.
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 and God's
Singers – Jessica Dant; Lifesavers – Valerie Mullenbach, Michael & Tammi
Ferch; Cherub Choir – Michael & 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, Kyle & Jodie DeKam
direct God’s Players and Jim Qualley directs 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,
and Mary Ulman along with aides Mary Borgert, Brenda DeNio, Deena Shroyer, and Adele 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
Kathy
Blomquist is Trinity's Parish Nurse.
She also has a background in Public
Health Nursing, but has most recently worked with end of life patients
and hospice. 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 Volunteer Ministry
Director in May of 2005. Maureen and her husband, David, have two
children: son, Matt and daughter, Katie. Maureen comes to Trinity from Big Brothers
Big Sisters where she was in charge of Marketing/Recruitment for five
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 Trinity's 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 the 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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