As Lutherans we know that relationship is at the heart of our understanding of God, and that a community is made whole by the gifts of all the people present. Some of us serve God and her people by building up the homes of others. Some of us fulfill our vocation by being spouses. Some of us make the community whole by being recipients. Some of us serve as leaders or visionaries and others as enthusiasts or questioners. Some of us have acquired training or skills to carry out our vocations and some of us are born into our roles. Our community does not fulfill its mission without all of us.
Council
These people are members of the congregation who are elected to lead CGS for a term of 3 years. They are the visionaries and managers of our community of faith. You can reach them at council@cgslc.org.
President
Theo OlsonTreasurer
Laurie Gaumer
Susan Duran |
Vice President
Michael Flanagin
Bob Charves
Skye Gordineer
Jerry Clark |
Secretary
Jean Herriges
Rebecca Thomas
Joe Shackelford |
Staff
The Staff at CGS are the persons who have contracted with this community to lead a portion of the community's ministries.
Pastor
Manda
Truchinski
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Pastor Manda is called to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA and serves that call here at CGS. After obtaining her undergraduate degree she earned a Masters of Divinity at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She has been involved in faith communities of many kinds in her life, all over the US. Manda has insatiable wanderlust that she satiates by visiting friends and family all over the world and planning for her future home in a bus. She also enjoys visual arts, sustainable living, and the hot mess of communal living. You can reach her at pastormanda@cgslc.org or at the church office.
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Laura Rinde, Office Manager
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Laura is the Office Manager at CGS. This means that she's been called to administrate the ministry that all the people at CGS do - she coordinates our facility use, she keeps our calendar and manages all our communications; she keeps our records, helps us with worship, welcomes our guests; and she assists all the people and groups who operate in our community.
Laura has a fascination with water in all its forms, whether diving in the salty version or playing hockey on the frozen version. You can reach her at laura@cgslc.org or at the church office. |
Daniel Thomas, Church Musician
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Daniel is called to be the church musician which means that his gifts and training in music performance and leadership help our whole community to access the sacred through music at CGS. He leads music in Sunday morning worship and is finding ways to make music a part of our other activities and events.
Daniel came to CGS in 2015, having returned to his native Bay Area after far too long in Southern California. While he was there he served as the tenor section leader/soloist at Westwood Hills Christian Church and then 13 years as the music and choir director at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Long Beach. Daniel has been active as a music director, conductor, pianist, singer, actor, arranger and arts administrator for over twenty years; he is currently the Executive Director of 42nd Street Moon, a musical theatre company in San Francisco, and does freelance musical direction for theatre companies throughout the Bay Area. Daniel is blessed to have the love and support of his wife Rebecca and son Joshua. You can reach Daniel at daniel@cgslc.org. |
Rey Lambatin, Choir Director
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Rey is CGS's choir director. His gifts and experience in leading choirs aids the people at CGS to sing together. He currently leads two choirs at CGS: the CGS Choir, and the Keynote Vocal Group.
Rey’s deep interest for music started at 17, when he started singing in his local church choir in the Philippines. This interest grew into passion, took private piano and music lessons, and got more involved in choral singing and started arranging music. In 1991, he started serving as the music and choir director of Bagong Ilog Unida Evangelical Church in Pasig City, Philippines, and eventually became the president and choir director of Koro ng Unida, the national choir organization of Unida Evangelical Church. Since coming to the US in 1999, Rey has been actively involved in different community choirs, and feels specially blessed to continue to serve and make music in faith and love of God at CGS. It’s his hope and prayer that music will continue to help us through our walk and growth in faith, and bring joy in times of celebration or comfort during challenges. You can reach Rey at choirdirector@cgslc.org. |
Vanetia Johnston, Sunday School teacher
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Vanetia is called to work with the kids at CGS. She is currently teaching the 0-6 year old crowd during Jesus and Me, using the Frolic curriculum.
You can reach Vanetia at vanetiaj@gmail.com |
Comfort Gray |
Comfort Gray, Housekeeper
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Comfort is called to be the Housekeeper of CGS. Hundreds or maybe thousands of people use the facilities on our property and Comfort prepares those spaces and makes them hospitable for many people.
Comfort emigrated from Liberia, and recently became a US citizen. You can reach her through her supervisor (Laura) at the church email address. |
Diana Olivares |
Diana Olivares, Nursery leader
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Diana is a friend of our congregation who is certified in CPR and background checked and lovingly watches all of our younger friends on Sunday mornings. Diana has 2 sons of her own and lives with us in San Jose.
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Doug Peters |
Doug Peters, Sexton
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Doug is the sexton at CGS. He is called to care for the community's building. Doug does weekly maintenance, upkeep, and set up for the many uses of the property at Meridian Ave.
Doug has been attending CGS since he was 12 years old. He likes to be outside and do yardwork. You can reach Doug through his supervisor (Laura) at the church email address. |
Ronny Johnston |
Ronny Johnston, Drummer
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Ronny provides his gifts of music by playing the drums and other percussion instruments in our worship. Elsewhere in the city he teaches his craft to others and performs in his own ventures. We are blessed to have his leadership on Sunday mornings.
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Leaders
Much of the work of our community happens because people volunteer a considerable amount of their time. These people do jobs and fulfill roles as volunteers.
Kevin Visscher, TreasurerKevin Visscher serves as our treasurer and leads our finance team in the stewardship of all the gifts that CGS receives.
Personnel CommitteeMichael Flanagin, Paul Thomas and Jean Herriges use their combined managerial experience to ensure that our paid staff are supported in and held accountable for their work.
Janet Keeley, Reader coordinatorJanet finds people to read the Word of God in our midst every Sunday and during special worship services.
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Janet Keeley, Finance SecretaryJanet is the person who processes our donations, offerings, and incoming gifts. She's the only one who sees these gifts and has managed our income for years.
Paul Thomas, LibrarianAfter receiving a large gift for a library at CGS, Paul offered his gifts and skills in Library science to curate our exceptional library.
Susan Duran, Communion coordinatorJoan finds people to serve Holy Communion to the community on Sunday mornings. It's a surprisingly easy job.
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Jean Jensen, Memorial SecretaryWhen people die, those who love them will often make donations to our community in their honor. Jean manages these donations with care.
Lois Hagebusch, Altar GuildLois Hagebusch organizes our Altar Guild (those who prepare Holy Communion) and cares for all the items that assist our worship and sacred ritual.
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