Shepherding Leaders
Monthly meeting to discuss our part in the community.
June 18, 2020 @ 6:30pm
Pastor
Associate Pastor
Pastor Russ Norris has over 20 years of parish ministry experience. He served for four years as Executive Minister of the South Carolina Christian Action Council, coordinating inter-church cooperation for 19 different denominations. For six years he was a professor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, where he was responsible for internship, field education and clinical pastoral education. In 1998 he was called as President & Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, where he directed services for more than 500 children in foster care & group homes. After leaving LSS, he worked for the Salvation Army, directing services for homeless American veterans; and for the Bay Ridge Center in Brooklyn, New York, coordinating Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens. Following retirement in 2006, he has served as interim pastor for congregations in southeast Massachusetts. Russ & his wife, Dixie, live in West Hyannisport. He is an avid model railroader & is active in various community organizations.
Music Director
John M. Jannis holds a Master of Arts Degree in music education from Bridgewater State University & a Bachelor of Arts Degree in music from UMass Dartmouth. He is director of music at St. Patrick’s Church in Wareham, MA & owns his own music teaching business. He has enjoyed both performing & listening to music at a very early age & looks forward to instilling his love of music & the Lord to all he encounters here at First Lutheran Church.
Sexton
As the oldest of 7 children, the focus of my childhood was on Revolutionary War & Civil War Music through participation in a Fife & Drum Corps. As a result of this passion, my 2 brothers & I served in the U.S. Army Presidential Honor Guard in Washington D.C. (the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps, 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry, the oldest active military unit in the country).
After separation from the Army, I went to college on the GI Bill for computer programming, which eventually led to a consulting job in banking. I crisscrossed the country for 25 years as a project manager, handling bank mergers & acquisitions, upgrades & installations of new computer systems, & identifying & implimenting operational improvements & regulatory compliance. I retired in 2016 after suffering a stroke.
Today I have the rewarding job of Sexton of First Lutheran Church, where I get to interact with an amazing congregation that embraces all of God’s people.
Digital Community Manager
To highlight my natural ability in the creative arts, my family is a melting pot of Artists & Performers. I grew up around success in Boise, Idaho. My parents owned their own separate businesses & my mother was Ms. & Mrs. Idaho in 1997-98. As I entered adulthood, I attended The Art Institute for Graphic Design. Nomadically, I traveled all across the country throughout my 20’s, absolutely loving it! Throughout the years I’ve gotten to know & love Cape Cod, which led me to settle here in 2018. I have a passion for baking & designing recipes, as well as, Mind/Body/Spirit Wellness coaching, & teaching handicraft workshops. In my career I have gotten to utilize graphic design as a tool. It is an honor that God has led me to share my gifts with First Lutheran Church. I am so blessed to be a part of this loving congregation.