MEET OUR CHURCH STAFF
Pastor Kurt Luebkeman
Pastor Kurt Luebkeman was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area community of Castro CA along with his four siblings. God blessed them with Christian parents who made sure they not only thrived mentally but also spiritually through nightly home devotions, regular Sunday worship, Sunday school, and catechism classes.
Kurt graduated from Canyon High School in Castro Valley, then from California State University, East Bay with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications. He attended two different seminaries for pastoral training, Immanuel Lutheran Seminary, Eau Claire, WI and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Tacoma, WA (now Faith International University and Seminary).
He has served congregations in Spokane, WA where he was ordained; Tacoma, WA, Canal Winchester, OH, Portland, OR, Clyde, OH, and now in Marysville, OH at First English Lutheran Church.
Pastor Kurt and his wife Krystal enjoy being out in God’s spectacular creation hiking, bicycling, camping, (and he has been running on the trail system behind their house lately). They also enjoy the challenges and enlightening learning experiences that come through international travel. They love the Marysville area and the honor of serving their Lord alongside the members of this congregation.
Administrative Assistant Emily Mathys
Emily is First English Lutheran Church’s Administrative Assistant. A former teacher in the Lutheran schools, she uses her organizational skills to help facilitate the church’s functions smoothly, while
effectively communicating with staff, members, visitors and volunteers. Emily enjoys serving in this role, as it allows her to use her gifts to help others.
A graduate of Concordia University in River Forest, IL, she was a former early childhood teacher in various Lutheran schools for 11 years. With her music degree, she opened a music education studio in Marysville, where she taught piano and flute lessons for 9 years, before serving at FELC. Emily loves worship music and plays organ/piano at a local church every other Sunday. She is a member of the Union County Singsations and volunteers at the Avalon Theater. She and her teenage daughter, Kylie live in Marysville. They love to thrift shop, grab a Boba Tea and the season of Fall.
Her favorite Bible verse is: Isaiah 40:31 –“But those who trust in the Lord will fins new strength. They will
soar high on wings like eagles.”
Parish Nurse Judy Pressler
Judy Pressler has been a parish nurse for 24 years and a nurse for many more. Her earlier career was in oncology, first as a staff nurse, then with the Columbus Clinical Oncology Program, registering and managing patients on clinical trials. She felt called to minister to her patients. When she became ill and had to retire from nursing, she was overwhelmingly discouraged and wondered what God had planned for her.
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Her church at the time had a Parish Health Ministry managed by a nurse coordinator from the local hospital. The coordinator encouraged her to become certified as a Faith Community Nurse (FCN). She learned about the facets of Parish or Faith Community Nursing. Parish nurses care for all races, demographics, creeds, and sexual orientations. Today, Judy is grateful to share her spiritual gifts: her faith in God and her skills as a nurse with the members of First English Lutheran Church Marysville.
Choir Director
Audrey Ervin
Audrey Ervin grew up in a musical family, playing piano since she was 8, singing in church choirs most her life, and playing trumpet as well as French horn in various bands. While a student at Capital University, she played in the French horn choir and sang in the well-known Chapel Choir.
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After teaching full-time for nine years, Ervin stayed home to raise her four children. She recently returned to the work force and serves as the music and performing arts teacher at St. John's Lutheran School. At First English, she directs the Kids' and Family choirs as well as serves on the Christian Education and worship and music committees.
A "Jill of all trades," Audrey has an eclectic mix of hobbies, which she enjoys sharing with family and friends. When not teaching, you can find her on a trail enjoying the outdoors or supporting one of her four children
Organist
Andrea Sumner
Andrea is a native of Galion, OH where she grew up in a very musical family. She learned piano and organ at a young age from her mother who has taught lessons and served their home church as organist/choir director for more than 40 years.
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In 2003 she received a bachelor degree in Biology from Wittenberg University, and while attending she also studied church music and organ with Dr. Donald Busarow. She then receieved her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009.
Currently she is employed as a relief veterinarian for a central Ohio company that supplies veterinarians to clinics whose doctors need time off. She has played full time as organist for various churches since college, and began playing at FELC in 2019/2020 after she and her husband joined the congregation in 2019.
Andrea lives in Dublin with her husband Michael, their 2 lab mixes, and 3 cats. In her spare time she enjoys all things music, as well as gardening, cross stitch/needlepoint, reading and spoiling their 2 nieces and 2 nephews!