<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD><TITLE>Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota - About This Community</TITLE> <META content="text/html; charset=unicode" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18852"><LINK rel="shortcut icon" href="../favicon.ico"><LINK rel=stylesheet href="../style.css" media=screen><LINK rel=stylesheet href="../ddcolortabs.css" media=screen> <STYLE type=text/css media=screen><!-- #dropmenu1_a { background-color: #fff; position: absolute; z-index: 100; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 200px; visibility: hidden; display: block } --></STYLE> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="../dropdowntabs.js"> <!-- PreImage1=About(200,184); PreImage1.src="about_hover.jpg"; PreImage1=Life(206,184); PreImage1.src="lifetogether_hover.jpg"; PreImage1=Celtic(200,236); PreImage1.src="celtic_hover.jpg"; PreImage1=Worship(206,236); PreImage1.src="worship_hover.jpg"; // --> </SCRIPT> </HEAD> <BODY background=../images/purple.gif> <DIV align=center> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=761> <TBODY> <TR> <TD><IMG border=0 alt="" src="../images/header1.jpg" width=406 height=130></TD> <TD vAlign=bottom align=right> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300> <TBODY> <TR> <TD align=middle><A class=header title=Calendar href="../main/calendar.html">Calendar</A></TD> <TD align=middle><A class=header title=Publications href="../main/newsletter.html">Publications</A></TD> <TD align=middle><A class=header title="Reaching Us" href="../main/contact.html">Reaching Us</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=4>&nbsp;<IMG border=0 alt="" src="../images/header2.jpg" width=279 height=92></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR> <TR height=28> <TD height=28 width=406 align=middle> <H3>(651) 699-6886&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A class=subheader href="mailto:pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org">pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org</A></H3></TD> <TD height=28 align=right><A class=subheader title="Find Us" href="../main/map.html">map to Pilgrim Lutheran</A></TD></TR> <TR height=28> <TD height=28 colSpan=2 align=left><IMG border=0 alt="" src="../images/about_link.jpg" width=189 height=28></TD></TR> <TR height=20> <TD height=20 vAlign=top colSpan=2> <DIV id=colortab class=ddcolortabs> <UL> <LI><A class=menu title="Back to Home" href="../index.html"><SPAN>Home</SPAN></A> <LI><A class=menu title=History href="history.html"><SPAN>History</SPAN></A> <LI><A class=menu title=Staff href="staff.html"><SPAN>Staff</SPAN></A> <LI><A class=menu title="Useful Links" href="links.html"><SPAN>Useful Links</SPAN></A> </LI></UL></DIV> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> //SYNTAX: tabdropdown.init("menu_id", [integer OR "auto"]) tabdropdown.init("colortab", 0) </SCRIPT> </TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=white vAlign=top colSpan=2> <H4>Staff</H4> <DIV align=center> <TABLE id=table1 border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=600> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113><IMG border=0 src="../images/carol.jpg" width=100 height=100></TD> <TD> <P><strong>Lead Pastor<BR>Rev. Carol Tomer</strong><BR> <a href="ctomer@pilgrimstpaul.org">ctomer@pilgrimstpaul.org</a></P> <P>Pastor Carol Tomer, Pilgrim's Lead Pastor, has served at Pilgrim since December 28, 1998, following earlier pastoral positions at the International Church of Stockholm (Sweden), Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA), Gethsemane Lutheran Church (Seattle, WA), and Holden Village (Chelan, WA).</P> <P>A native of Park Ridge, Illinois, Pastor Tomer's degrees are from Luther College and Harvard Divinity School (where she was awarded second place in Billings Prize Competition in Preaching), with additional study at Luther Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary.</P> <P>Before ordination, Pastor Tomer taught at Golden Valley Lutheran College, served on the staff of American Lutheran Church Women, was a campus minister at University Lutheran Church at Michigan State University, was special assistant to the Director of Radcliffe College Career Services, and did her seminary internship at St. Olaf College and St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN. She has done research on alternative Christian communities in Scotland and England, has chaired the Synod Worship Committee of the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA, has served on the Board of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, was on the Planning Team for the 2004 ELCA Clergywomen Head of Staff Academy, served as President of the board of Lutheran Campus Ministry of Minnesota, and was on the training team for the new ELCA Worship Book in the Saint Paul Area Synod.</P> <P>She is currently Co-President of the Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision, is dean of the South Central Conference of the Saint Paul Area Synod, serves on the Saint Paul Area Synod Council, is on the St. Olaf College Church Relations Advisory Board and the Luther College Alumni Board.</P> <P>In recent years, she has written "Images for Preaching" in the Augsburg Fortress resource Sundays and Seasons, and a few articles for Lutheran Women Today, most recently a piece titled "Act Boldly in Contemplation" in the March 2006 issue. She is the recipient of a Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lilly Endowment, in support of her sabbatical, as well as the congregation's renewal. She was also the chief "architect" of the two Worship Renewal Grants that Pilgrim received in 2002 and 2003/04 from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. She counts liturgical design among her special interests; most recently, she has continued to develop eucharistic settings for particular festivals, and she is co-creator of the Celtic and Nordic contemplative services offered at Pilgrim. She feels blessed to serve a congregation with the mission of being "a home for hungry minds and souls," for she has a special concern for those who live prophetically, yet with some sense of exile, at the edge of the Christian tradition. Her other joys include flute playing, singing, dancing, hiking, traveling, and always, shared laughter!</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="center" valign="top"><div align="center"><img src="../images/Joel.jpg" alt="" width="96" height="117" border="1" align="top"></div></TD> <TD><P><strong>Interim Associate Minister<BR> Rev. Joel Benbow</strong><BR> <a href="joelbenbow@yahoo.com">joelbenbow@yahoo.com</a></P> <p>Benbow is a British surname made famous by the Admiral Benbow and the inn that bore his name. If you have a copy of <em>Treasure Island</em>, check out the title of the first chapter. Having ancestral roots in Britain may explain Joel&rsquo;s love of two wonderful things that come from there &ndash; golf and single malts.</p> <p>Joel&rsquo;s experience in ministry began in Iowa, moved to Michigan, Southern Illinois, started a congregation in Oklahoma, and another in Arkansas. It culminated at Trinity in Evanston, Illinois &ndash; where Pastor Carol was a member for a couple of years in her childhood.</p> <p>The Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago (LSTC) considers him an alumnus, even though he never attended there. Joel attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and was a pastor in the Missouri Synod for ten years. He left at approximately the same time Pilgrim did &ndash; probably for the same reasons. Though his graduation preceded <em>Seminex</em> (Concordia Seminary in Exile) he identifies with it. <em>Seminex</em> is one of five seminaries that produced LSTC.</p> <p>After leaving the Missouri Synod, Joel served on the national board of the AELC and was organizing chair of the Great Rivers Synod, AELC. He was on the Transition Team of Arkansas-Oklahoma leading to the formation of the ELCA. He has been in the Cursillo movement as a Spiritual Director &ndash; in Arkansas it was <em>Via de Christo</em> (the Lutheran expression), and in Chicago it was the Great Banquet (an ecumenical form).</p> <p>Joel and Patty moved to Edina to be near their son David and his wife Julie who live in St. Louis Park. But grandkids Jacob (9) and Jenna (6) are the real draw. The Benbow&rsquo;s second son, Josh, lives in Oklahoma. Patty and Joel try to visit him a couple of times a year.</p></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top"><img src="../images/Daphne.jpg" alt="" width="91" height="117" border="1" align="top"></TD> <TD> <P><strong>Coordinator of Children's &amp; Youth Ministries<BR> Daphne Hoff</strong><BR> <a href="daphne@pilgrimstpaul.org">daphne@pilgrimstpaul.org</a></P> <P>Daphne Hoff is Pilgrim's Coordinator of Children's and Youth Ministries. Daphne is a St. Paul native who spent much of her growing up years in Texas, which means she can say both "y'all" and "pass the hotdish" with authenticity. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in History and Elementary Education, and then attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she received the Master of Divinity degree.<BR> Following seminary, Daphne was ordained in 2000 and served as Associate Pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora, MN, where her primary responsibilities included ministry with children and youth. She served on the NE MN Synod Youth Planning Team and as a synod representative to the board for Lutheran Campus Ministry of Minnesota.<BR> Daphne is delighted to be serving among Pilgrim's younger members and their families in this lively congregation where tradition and creativity abound. Please feel free to talk to her anytime about opportunities where you might share your gifts with our young people.<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"> <o:p></o:p> </SPAN></P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top borderColor=#0080ff width=113><img src="../images/Meredith.jpg" width="111" height="116" border="1"></TD> <TD><P><strong>Office Administrator<BR> Meredith Olson</strong><BR> <a href="pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org">pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org</a><BR> <BR> <SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Meredith Olson, Office Administrator, joined the Pilgrim staff in November 2009.&nbsp; She grew up on a farm in central <st1:State w:st="on">Illinois</st1:State> and recently moved to <st1:City w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place> </st1:City> .&nbsp; Meredith loves learning and has held such varied positions as coach to nationally-ranked swimmers and mechanic for police vehicles.&nbsp; She earned a bachelor's in sociology and a master's in kinesiology at <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Illinois</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> </st1:place> and continues to be very interested in all aspects of wellness, but now focusing on spirituality.&nbsp; She also enjoys traveling, volunteering as a GED/ESL tutor, dancing (especially salsa, west coast swing, and modern), swimming, and the great outdoors.</SPAN></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113><IMG border=0 src="../images/dan_hanson.jpg" width=100 height=100></TD> <TD> <P><strong>Office Assistant<BR>Dan Hanson</strong><BR> <a href="dan@pilgrimstpaul.org">dan@pilgrimstpaul.org</a></P> <P>Dan joined the Pilgrim staff in June '07. Dan was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre and Religion. He earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Stage Management from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. When Dan is not working at Pilgrim, he is an Equity Stage Manager at local theatres in the Twin Cities. Dan also enjoys spending time with his wife, Sally, and their 18 month-old son, Izak.</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113></TD> <TD> <P><strong>Office Assistant<BR>Serena Asta</strong><BR> <a href="serena@pilgrimstpaul.org">serena@pilgrimstpaul.org</a></P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113>&nbsp;</TD> <TD> <P><strong>Music &amp; Choir Director<BR>Ralph Johnson</strong><BR> <a href="rjohnson@pilgrimstpaul.org">rjohnson@pilgrimstpaul.org</a></P> <P>Ralph is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. In addition to nearly 30 years of experience leading music in Lutheran congregations, he is also an active composer whose compositions and arrangements have been performed in collaboration with such organizations as the St. Olaf Choir, Cantus (with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), Nautilus Music-Theater, the Bemidji Symphony, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and church and community choirs both throughout the country and internationally. </P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113>&nbsp;</TD> <TD> <P><strong>Organist<BR>Larry Wilson</strong><BR> <A href="mailto:lwilson@pilgrimstpaul.org">lwilson@pilgrimstpaul.org</A></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Larry Wilson is a native of <st1:City w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:State>, having a B.A. degree in Music from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Macalester</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, and the M.Mus. and D.Mus. Degrees in piano performance and teaching from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Indiana</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. He has studied piano with Jorge Bolet, Josef Battista, Donald Betts, and Jeanne&nbsp;Reher. He has been on the Executive Board of the Schubert Club of St. Paul and also of the Twin Cities' Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He has been active as organist in several Twin Cities churches and also at the James J. Hill House in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:City>.. Currently he is the organist at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Pilgrim</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lutheran</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in St.Paul. and teaches piano in his home in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:City>.. His two black Pugs, Chaucer (15 years old) and Bucky (5 years old), very social with students and other friends, offer a constant stream of musical criticism. Bucky has a special fondness for the Bavarian wedding music of Leopold Mozart.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"> <o:p></o:p> </SPAN> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p></o:p> </SPAN></P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113><IMG border=0 src="../images/chuck_regal.jpg" width=100 height=100></TD> <TD> <P><strong>Custodian<BR>Chuck Regal</strong><BR><A href="mailto:coregal@comcast.net">coregal@comcast.net</A></P> <P>Chuck works part time as the Pilgrim custodian. He was born, raised and educated in the Twin Cities area. As he grew up, he attended Como Park Grade School, Murray High School, U of M, Northwestern TV &amp; Electronics Inst. and was confirmed at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on Lexington Pkwy, south of Como Park. Started his working career at the old Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. From there, he went to the old Honeywell for nine years, working exclusively on the Apollo Project. His career led him to the 3M Company where he worked for thirty-three years. He worked as a Quality Engineer and the last fifteen years as a Metrologist. He loves the outdoors, especially the summer when he can get his custom-built fishing boat into the water. As this is published, he's been retired nearly three years now and is very much enjoying it. Other hobbies include photography and taking care of my house and yard. He loves cars and drives a hybrid SUV as of late. He volunteers at Pilgrim and SeAM (Southeast Asian Ministry) where his wife Joan was Executive Director.</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top>&nbsp;</TD> <TD><P><strong>Teaching Parish Student<BR> Gregory Ennis</strong></P></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113>&nbsp;</TD> <TD> <P><strong>Composer-in-Residence<BR>Dick Hensold</strong><BR><A href="mailto:hensold@world.oberlin.edu">hensold@world.oberlin.edu</A></P> <P>Dick Hensold plays Northumbrian small-pipes, Swedish pipes (sackpipa), Medieval great-pipes, recorder, seljefloyte, low whistle and string bass. The foremost Northumbrian smallpipes player in North America, he has taught workshops in the United States, Canada, and Northumberland. He keeps busy with weddings and funerals, and he is much in demand as accompanist, studio musician and theater musician. He is Pilgrim's composer-in-residence for Celtic services.</P> <P>Find more of Dick's wonderful music <a href="http://www.dickhensold.com/">here</a>!</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top width=113>&nbsp;</TD> <TD> <P><strong>Nursery Attendants<BR>Kelsang Dolma, Abigail Bollman, Lindy Hintzen</strong></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <P>&nbsp;</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD bgColor=#4c4883 colSpan=2> <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=700 align=center> <TBODY> <TR> <TD> <H5><A class=footer href="http://www.elca.org" target=_blank>A congregation of the ELCA</A>&nbsp;&nbsp; <A class=footer href="http://www.lcna.org/ric.shtm" target=_blank>A Reconciling In Christ Congregation</A>&nbsp;&nbsp; <A class=footer href="http://www.c3mn.net" target=_blank>A member of Congregations Caring for Creation</A></H5></TD> <TD><IMG border=0 alt="" src="../images/handicap.jpg" width=28 height=28></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>