One of four children and a preacher's kid, John graduated from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY with a B.A. in English. He then attended Christ Seminary-Seminex in St. Louis, MO, graduating with a M. Div. He began parish ministry, serving his first call in Glenmont, NY, just outside of Albany, where he was active from 1980-1990. In the summer of 1990 he received a call to Atonement Lutheran where he has served since. John is married to Linda and with their two children, Zachary, 25, and Barbara, 23, they live in the city of Rochester. John's interest in the larger church is witnessed in his involvement on the synod task force for world hunger and his chairing the annual Lutheran / Episcopal Ministerium Retreat. In his free time he enjoys golf, cooking and spending time with the family, not necessarily in that order.
Youth and Family Minister, Brother Christopher Cleveland
Br. Christopher has
worked with children, youth and families, mostly in a non-profit and faith based
settings, since 1986. His experience includes: teaching pre-school, serving as
an Educational Coordinator, ESL- Instructor, Head Start Lead Teacher, Youth
Services Coordinator for Catholic Charities, Youth Minister, Director of
Christian Education and most recently as a Hospice Chaplain
intern.
Br. Christopher
has a Child Development Associate from Eastfield College, a Certificate in Biblical Studies
from Tyndale Seminary and a Diploma of Theological Studies from The Center for
Biblical Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. As a firm believer in life-long
learning, Br. Christopher is currently studying to become a Certified
Pastoral/Biblical Counselor through the American Association of Christian
Counselors and is pursuing discernment and studies to become a Congregational
Deacon. Eventually he hopes to earn a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Studies
with an emphasis in Youth & Family Ministry from St. Bernard’s
School of Theology and Ministry located here in Rochester, NY.
Br. Christopher is dedicated to
creating unique opportunities for spiritual growth and nurture for children,
youth and families and facilitates many groups and activities for this purpose.
His heart’s desire is to come along side young people to help all ages and
stages become ever more devoted disciples of Christ and deep adorers of God.
Young people are provided opportunities to serve others through acts of mercy
and to discover and begin to move in their own areas of giftedness as they grow
in faith.
Br. Christopher describes himself as a
playful contemplative. He enjoys being in nature, reading, scary movies and snow
cones. He and his partner Kevin share
their home in Scottsville with two cats and find great joy in being Uncles to
several nieces and nephews whom they unashamedly love to
spoil.
Br. Christopher is a consecrated layman
committed to a life of prayer, study and service within the Order of St. Luke.
The
OSL is a dispersed community of women and men, lay and clergy, from many
different denominations, seeking to live the sacramental life. To learn more
about this community please visit: http://www.saint-luke.net/
Director of Music Ministries, Joshua Brown
Joshua, his wife Elizabeth and daughter Greta recently relocated to Rochester for Elizabeth’s new job as Senior Director of Research and Prospect Management at the University of Rochester. Prior to moving to New York, Mr. Brown served as Director of Music and Organist for Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin. There he expanded the church’s active and growing music program leading a multi-generational program of choirs, handbell choirs and instrumentalists. Mr. Brown’s work at Mt. Pleasant included developing and implementing new liturgies, composing instrumental accompaniments and broadening the scope of musical styles used in congregational worship. Additionally, he provided visionary leadership during renovations to the church’s sanctuary and the purchase of a new 3 manual, 40 rank John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ.
Joshua Brown began his music studies in northeastern Vermont and went on to receive performance degrees with highest honors from Susquehanna University and Northwestern University, where his teachers included Susan Hegberg and Douglas Cleveland. He has also studied with faculty from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and with composer and organist Michael Burkhardt. Mr. Brown maintains an active membership in the American Guild of Organists and served on the Executive Board of the Milwaukee Chapter.
Guided by the belief that God gives musical talents as spiritual gifts, Mr. Brown encourages all members of Atonement Lutheran Church to steward their musical talents – no matter how great or how small – through participation in the musical life of this church. Contact Mr. Brown at Jhbrown@atonementrochester.org or 262 994 0470 to offer your ideas or share your talents in the building up of worship and music at Atonement.
Kristin Romell, Administrative Assistant
After careers managing programs in the YMCA and Head Start; Kristin began working at Atonement in the fall of 2004 in addition to also working with youth and families at another Lutheran church.
A life-long Lutheran, a product of Lutheran camps (Camp Ma-He-Tu in Bear Mountain, NY and Pinecrest Lutheran Leadership School) and college (Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA), and a preacher's kid to boot; Kristin lives in Fairport with her husband George, and children Mickey, 14, and Emma, 11. In her free time she enjoys reading, bike riding, boating, all things related to social media and networking, gardening and crafts.
Najati "Jesse" Taha, Cleaning Contractor
Jesse is from the West Bank - Jerusalem and has been in the US for 15 years and keeping Atonement clean for about 5 years. Jesse is married to Elizabeth and has 2 children, John, 20, and Jenny, 11. Jesse is busy with his cleaning contract business and his car dealership.
J
