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Church Leadership Committee Chairs Staff Stewardship Council 
GLENN CROWN, Building My name is Glenn Crown and I am a member of the Building Committee. I have been a member of Lyndale UCC since 1987. Being an usher and welcoming people has been a very rewarding experience. Knowing such wonderful people over the years has been a blessing and a joy. Amen. KATHY HAYDEN, Christian Education BRAD McNAUGHT, Congregational Life (Co-Chair) SARAH HANNA, Personnel JANET STARK, Congregational Life (Co-Chair) SCOTT PETERSON, Social Justice (Co-Chair) MARY VANDERFORD, Social Justice (Co-Chair) 
DON PORTWOOD, Pastor I have been Pastor of Lyndale Church since December 1, 1980. That's getting to be a long time. I don't believe there are many churches I could pastor that long, but Lyndale is a wonderful and crazy mix of people whom I've been privileged to serve. And they keep me on my toes. This leads to the other thing that’s helped me serve Lyndale so long. I’m involved with a folk art form called InterPlay (interplay.org for more info), which stimulates my creativity and playfulness through improvisational movement, story telling, singing and rhythm. InterPlay is one of my "spiritual practices," which is another area of interest. Spiritual practices, ancient and new, can ground our faith so we have the spirit and energy to live the call to be a people and community "who embody and extend God’s welcome, healing, justice and love." 
ALLAN HENDEN, Community Minister I have served as Lyndale’s volunteer Community Minister since January 2003. I believe that God calls us to love and welcome our neighbors, whoever they are and wherever they are on life's journey. Lyndale's community ministry is an active presence in our neighborhood, advocating for the needs of children and youth, helping to shelter and feed neighbors in need, reaching out with other people of faith in the community, and sharing common cause and dialogue with our Muslim neighbors and friends. 
NICKIA JENSEN, Child Care Provider I'm a student in the Urban Teacher Program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, studying to teach secondary level mathematics. I've been providing child care here for a year now, and I can really see how the kids grow and change. They are becoming little people, which is amazing. 
VICTORIA MANEEV, Child Care Provider I'm in my third year of studying psychology at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. I love playing with the wonderful kids here at the church. I look forward to being here each week. 
KOREY SOUTHERLAND, Child Care Provider I'm in my second year at Minneapolis Community and Technical College and I'm pursuing a degree in Atmospheric Science. These children at Lyndale are so important to me. I feel like they are part of my family. 
RHIANNON WILLIAMS, Child Care Provider I am entering into my 5th year working at Lyndale, so I have seen the children grow, both spiritually and physically (I now know why people would say to me when I was a child, "oh my have you grown!!" and I would of course think, I am not growing fast enough!). I am a graduate student at the U of M in early childhood education and international development. I am trying fervently to finish up "the big book" (as some of my younger friends refer to it) on early childhood education in the Philippines. The children I work with are my motivation. They are the reason and the strength I draw on. I believe that when we listen to our youngest voices, the possibilities are endless. 
MINDY ESCHEDOR, Music Director I began as Lyndale's Director of Music in August of 2008. I'm so pleased to be a part of the vibrant, active, service-oriented congregation that is Lyndale. Music is a valued component of Lyndale's worship, and I don't think I've ever served a church with so many "music-minded" members! They inspire me to continue seeking engaging, thoughtful music to enhance our regular worship, accentuate special services, and celebrate different cultures. I am the Principal Staff Accompanist at MacPhail Center for Music (since 1999) and freelance with various theatres and other musical organizations in the metro area. I'm a native of Michigan, and live in North Minneapolis with my two adorable cats, Max and Sophie. 
KARN ANDERSON, Office Administrator Greetings Lyndale UCC Congregation and Friends, I am Karn Anderson, the Office Administrator. I am thrilled to be here working with Don and all of you! I have a love for organization, communication and community. I am currently involved in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and I also co-own Good Life Catering. We are deeply committed to local and sustainable food practices, including growing, procuring, preparing and eating. I live in the neighborhood with my two sons, Otis(8) and Andrew(5). We are a family in active pursuit of all things fun, peaceful resolutions and authentic connections. 
MICHAEL VANDERFORD, Moderator My wife, Mary, and I have been part of the Lyndale UCC community for 25 years. We have raised our two sons here, both, now adults, living in a relationship with God through Jesus, but in very different ways. We have found in the Lyndale community an amazing array of people seeking faithfully a spiritual connection to God. We have found in this community a wonderful witness of Jesus' welcome to all seeking a relationship with God. The community lives out my favorite scripture, “God has shown you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8. In my current role as Moderator for the congregation I am trying to guide us through good processes that are witness of Jesus' justice and love. This includes trying to assure that the leadership council carries enough of the administrative load to allow the pastor to focus on our spiritual needs, which are many. As with many at Lyndale, I am not always sure where the Lord is leading us, but we are doing our best to follow faithfully. 
ELLY WAGNER, Secretary My journey from a fundamentalist Presbyterian church in western Pennsylvania to Lyndale UCC has included life experiences as a child of God, audiologist, author, wife, mother, lesbian, longterm partner, and many other adventurous and challenging roles. Through it all I have been aware of an ever-changing sense of my Higher Power, coming to accept that I am "wonderfully and awesomely made" and loved. I am convinced that God is still speaking and appreciate the affirmation of that revelation at Lyndale Church, along with the spiritual nurturance, stimulating worship, and uplifting music. I am continually fed by the friendship, fellowship, support, caring, and joy I experience with everyone at Lyndale, and I enjoy the opportunity to be involved in the governance as part of the Stewardship Council at this exciting time in the life of our congregation. MARY MARTIN, Member at Large I find myself at the end of a long journey away from the theological and spiritual impediments of the Catholicism into which I was born…and in which I have lived a good part of my life. Since I joined Lyndale with my partner Fred Smith, I have found worship that never disappoints, a social justice commitment that is wide and deep and a broad and egalitarian decision making process that still surprises me given the hierarchal tradition that I come from. I am a retired social work educator and researcher who continues to spend a tiny bit of my time teaching and doing research. Most of my energy goes into gardening, reading, playing and working with our 8 grandchildren and relishing the surprises and gifts that come with being a part of the Lyndale community JEANINE DORFMAN, Member at Large MARY LEWIS, Vice Moderator |
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