The Church Council & Staff Members at LOL

Christian Education

Vickie Roberts (Email)
is our Director of Christian Education.

Tande Moreau (Email)
is our Director of Children's Ministry.

Rachel Talan (Email)
is our Nursery Coordinator.

Music Ministry

Director of Worship and the Arts - Randy Partain (Email)
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Randolph Partain - "Randy" - has accepted the full-time position of Director of Worship and The Arts as of May 2007. For the past five years, Randy has brought us inspiration as our pianist and choir accompanist. We now look forward to his assuming this substantial role. Even as Randy maintains the distinctive flavor of each worship service, he will be fostering an atmosphere of communal participatory worship. He desires that the worship experience help us to renew our spirits, seek God's guiding presence, and be equipped as God's ministers. Randy will continue to support multigenerational opportunities for people to be involved in music ministry groups. He also seeks to encourage increased cooperation of these groups (i.e. children's ensembles participating with adult ensembles or handbell ensembles working with vocal choirs) so as embody more clearly the attitude of community.

Youth Ministry

Director of Teen Life Ministry - Jennifer Seaks (Email)
My name is Jennifer but my family and closest friend call me “Jenner.” I served as Youth Minister at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church in Kingwood from 1996-2001 and LOVED it. I was blessed to be involved in the joys and sorrows of the families there – we grew together as we studied, served, and laughed together. There is no better thing to watch than the Holy Spirit blowing at gale force winds through a congregation…and I had a front row seat.

For the last 6 years, I have been a Camp Director at Badlands Ministries (like Lutherhill or Chrysalis) in Medora, North Dakota. I loved my time spent there. I served some of the sweetest, quietest, most generous people I have ever met. And again, I was in awe as I watched God work through my summer staff and our campers.

I knew that God had another new and exciting adventure for me (you!). I moved back to Houston in May without a job or a plan, but with peace and faith that He would again put me in exactly the place I should be. I met with Pastor Beth and we both dreamed of the possibilities of my experience and your readiness for change. We have a worship service that is alive, encouraging, and meaningful – what more could I want or need? I felt that I would have the creative freedom and a chance to really equip adults to be mentors and leaders for the teens of LOL.

So here I am! Ready to jump alongside you on this crazy journey we call “faith.” Ready to create meaningful relationships with your teens, their families, and the rest of the LOL church family. Ready to do the business that God has called me to do professionally for the last 11 years.

Social Ministry

Director of Outreach Ministries - Anne Swetich (Email)
is Director of Social Ministry. She has been active in Social works since college graduation, initially working and living among the poor in Appalachia,(outhouse included!), then working as a counselor at a home for emotionally disturbed teenage girls. She later worked as a medical social worker in various settings including serving as Director of Soc. Services at West Houston Medical Center, to rehab hospitals. She and her husband , Peter, have 2 daughters. With grace and passion, Anne continues in this position, increasing her hours from 15 to 20 hours a
week. Besides her regular responsibilities, she also will be discerning ways to interpret better our
support for the mission of our synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Global Missions also will be a new venture as she takes a trip to Peru, our synod's companion synod.

Daily Life Ministry and Building

Director of Ministry in Daily Life and Event Set-up - Bill Tomarelli (Email)
Bill has been a member of Lord of Life since 1998. You may recognize him as one of the duo that greets us out front on Sundays. Since he started in June of 2005, Bill has brought his gift of hospitality and a “can do” attitude to the Church to share in daily life. His new position enables him to use his gifts and help others explore their own gifts through our “Gifts Galore” program which he coordinates with the Lay ministry of the Church. Bill also keeps an eye on the Building on a daily basis and coordinates or sets up events as needed. His duties are numerous that fit him perfectly. If you have any questions, please email him and he will make it a priority to respond.

Administration

Director of Finance - Lanette Jackson (Email)
She lives near Cleveland, Texas. She has over 30 years experience in church office work serving churches in Houston and Conroe before coming to Lord of Life in November 1993. Lanette oversees the financial, building and property and office administration areas of the church. She will remain connected to the Finance Ministry Team. Lanette is married to Chester Hartt, a high school math teacher.

Director of Support Services - Kathy Greer (email)
We are thrilled that Kathy Greer this new position. She will work 32 hours a week coordinating and developing our communication, managing our membership data base and records, handling technology issues, and discerning ways to support current better. Kathy, her husband, Nolan, and daughter, Ashley, have been members of Lord of Life since 1992.

Julia Wilkerson
is the full-time housekeeper at Lord of Life. She joined our staff in October 1999. She is responsible for the general cleaning of the building. Julia lives in Cleveland and is a single parent with an eleven-year-old son, Josh.

Worship and Music Committee

The Worship and Music Committee is responsible for assisting the Congregational Council in seeing that the services of worship are conducted regularly and in accordance with the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The committee provides for the recruitment, training and scheduling of worship assistants such as ushers, deacons, Altar Guild, communion assistants and acolytes.

Christian Education Committee

The Christian Education Committee oversees the conduct and promotion of all educational. programs of the congregation: Adult and Children's Sunday school, Adult Bible Study, the Confirmation process, Vacation Bible School and Summer Sunday School, the summer camps and mid-week Bible studies. The committee utilizes materials that are in accord with the confession of faith of the congregation and the Lutheran Church.

Witness Committee

The Witness Committee is responsible for providing a program of outreach ministry which calls into active involvement in our mission persons within and outside of our congregation. It also seeks out the "unchurched" persons in our community to offer them the joy -and support of our Christian Fellowship and engages in dialogue with those members who are currently inactive in our church life.

Stewardship Committee (Volunteers)

The Stewardship Committee is responsible for promoting the expression of Christian faith in daily living, especially as that expression involves a person's use of his/her time, talent, and treasure.

Social Ministry Committee

The Social Ministry Committee is responsible for providing a program of service and social ministry which develops ways of involving the Lord of Life members in the ministry of our congregation as it reaches out to serve our local and worldwide community. The committee also sustains current ministries and identifies new opportunities to minister to groups and persons with special needs within the congregation and in the community. The committee also serves as advocate of the concerns of the world community - especially ELCA ministries such as World Hunger Appeal and missionary support. The committee makes Lord of Life known in the community as a congregation that cares and is interested in meeting human needs. The "Care and Share" groups, who assist members in time of need, are also under the umbrella of the Social Ministry Committee.

Fellowship Committee

The Fellowship Committee is responsible for providing programs which enhance the interpersonal relationship of various ages and interests of the congregation. Through The Parish Life Sub-Committee, the members address specific interest adult programs, Women of the ELCA (WELCA), cultural arts, main events activities (Oktoberfest and Progressive Dinners), camping and golf outings, and fellowship events for senior citizens.

Youth Committee

The Youth Committee is responsible for providing programs which enhance the interpersonal relationships among the youth of the church. It provides programs for the pre-confirmed youth of third and fourth grades, the fifth and sixth grades, the seventh and eighth grades, and senior high youth. Director of teen Life Ministry: Jennifer Seaks

Property Committee

The Property Committee is responsible for the proper maintenance and protection of all property of the congregation. It cares for properties of the congregation, maintains buildings and grounds, directs any modifications to the property, furnishings or additions, and oversees the scheduled use of the facilities.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is responsible for administering the financial support of the congregation's ministry. The committee exercises oversight of all the financial affairs of the congregation to make sure they are being conducted efficiently, giving particular attention to the prompt payment of all obligations and to regular forwarding of benevolent monies to the Synodical treasurer.

Mutual Ministry Committee

The Primary purpose of the Mutual Ministry Committee is to affirm and strengthen the mission of the congregation and the ministry of the staff. The duties of the Mutual Ministry Committee include:

• To listen, confer, and maintain dialogue with the pastors, staff, and members of the congregation on a scheduled and "as needed" basis.
• To help resolve situations of conflict by emphasizing the points on which there is agreement.
• To strive to maintain a climate of openness, honesty, trust, and communication and dialogue between parties.
• To keep the channels of communication open and to ensure that the communication is real dialogue.

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee was established by the Church Council to prepare the descriptions for all paid staff positions, including the pastor(s) of the church, to review the performance of the staff at no less than an annual basis, and to consult with staff persons.

Long-Range Planning Committee

This Committee is composed of Church Council members who prepare a long-range plan for the ministry and life of Lord of Life Lutheran Church. The goal is to keep five years "ahead" in terms of direction and goals for our life as the Body of Christ.