Ministry Teams
Pat Sauernheimer
Celebration
Pat has been a member of First Church since 1992. Her son, Ryan, was baptized at First in 1992. She is very active at our church - Altar Guild, Counter, past Cabinet Liaison to Council, current Celebration Co-Chair, Kid's Hope mentor and helps maintain the church gardens. She enjoys retirement, traveling, time with friends, her church family, and lots and lots of gardening. She's looking forward to Ryan and Kate's wedding in 2025 and hopefully grandchildren to spoil in the future!
Open
Celebration
Assists the Congregation Council in seeing that worship services are conducted regularly and in accordance with the practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
monika mueller
Mission/Outreach
Monika and her husband Reiner have been members of First Lutheran since 1993. They have raised their 3 children here in Strongsville. She has helped with Sunday School, VBS, she is a prayer partner for Kids Hope & has helped on various other projects here at First. For 40yrs she has worked as a flight attendant which has given her wonderful opportunities to see many parts of the world & see the beauty of God's creation.
Gayle Kovach
Mission/Outreach
Gayle has been an active member of First Church for over 30 years. She has owned and operated West Park Discovery World Preschool since 1986. Gayle and her husband, Gary, love spending time with their grown children, Alex, Jarred, Amy and grandson, Colin and Wesley!
Maureen Shorts
Nurture & Support
Maureen has been a member of First Church for 20 years and have served on Cabinet for 5 yrs. She was a Pediatric RN at Fairview Hospital until she and her husband welcomed Ryan, Kyle and Meghan into our family. She had a 20 year career at North Royalton Middle School dividing my time between working with children with special needs and office work. These days we enjoy our 12 grandchildren and travelling.
Linda Browning
Nurture & Support
Linda joined First Lutheran in 2009 after Martin Luther/St. Paul Parish closed. She was a member for 56 years and a Sunday School Teacher, pianist, Sunday School assistant and Superintendent for 37 years. Since joining First Lutheran she has been involved in various committees including gardening, Stewardship, Funeral Reception and currently assists with Nurture and Support on the Cabinet. She enjoys spending time with many friends, old and new, and belongs to a senior bowling league and exercises regularly with her “Planet Fitness” buddies.
Carolyn ROman
Adult/Youth Education
Carolyn and her family have been active members of First Lutheran Church since 1992. She has actively been involved with the Youth Group and Education Committee. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Beth Hartman
Adult/Youth Education
This team, in association with the pastor, shall oversee the conduct and promotion of the schools and educational activities and youth ministries of all organizations within the congregation.
Mary Walters
Secretary
Mary and her husband Gary have been members of First Lutheran Church since 2007. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Mary is recently retired and enjoys quilting, baking and gardening. Over the years, Mary has served as an Usher, a Counter and in 2023 started serving as the Cabinet Secretary.
Ellen Kolman
Council Liason
"Ellen is a life-long Lutheran. Ellen, her husband Jeff and son Zach joined First Lutheran in 2005. Zach has since flown the coop and they are now empty nesters.
She is actively involved in Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Altar Guild and other aspects of worship and service. She served as co-chair of the Celebration Team from October 2021 to July 2023. She is currently Cabinet Liaison since July 2023. In her spare time she is an avid crafter and loves to garden."
She is actively involved in Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Altar Guild and other aspects of worship and service. She served as co-chair of the Celebration Team from October 2021 to July 2023. She is currently Cabinet Liaison since July 2023. In her spare time she is an avid crafter and loves to garden."
Ryan hartman
Youth Board
Open
Youth Board VP