Our Pastor
Pastor Paul Jaster has been preaching Jesus, and loving it, at Emmanuel since March 15, 1987. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he has been immersed in the lively, evangelical, fun-loving wing of the Lutheran church all of his life.
He is a 1977 graduate of Christ Seminary-Seminex, which later merged into the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and was ordained into the Holy Ministry on September 25, 1977 at his home congregation of Mount Olive in Minneapolis.
Prior to Emmanuel, he was part of a team of pastors at Faith Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan from 1977 to 1986.
He came to Ohio due to his marriage to Laurie Miller, who is herself a Lutheran pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Lorain, OH and an assistant to Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). They have one daughter who is currently attending college at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Together they like to cook, travel, spend time with family, and preach and teach of the one who is our Savior, Emmanuel, God with us.
Our Church Secretary
Evelyn Purdey became our church secretary on October 20, 2008. She has over seven years experience at another congregation before coming to Emmanuel and also worked as a Directress Assistant at Today’s Montessori School in North Olmstead. She finds great joy in being part of a Christian community and always has a kind voice and welcoming smile. Evelyn enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She is a member of First United Methodist Church in Elyria.
Our Parish Musicians
Jennifer Koba was born into a musical family. She began on the piano at age five and polished her skills on piano at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her skills at voice at Baldwin Wallace. She has been at Emmanuel since 1960. She plays the piano and organ for Emmanuel over the winter and directs both the adult and youth choirs numerous times since then. She teaches piano to children and adults and co-founded and continues to direct the Kelley's Island Singers. She is well-known throughout the community for her exceptional energy, vibrancy and musical offerings.
Chris Trunk is our summer musician. He is a social worker who has help various jobs throughout the greater Cleveland area. On weekends he likes to serve as interim organist at a number of congregations, although his home base is always Washington Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He plays organ, piano and folk harp. He is also an avid gardener and maintains one of the most lavish private gardens in Lorain County.