Vicar Matt

What a joy it is to have the opportunity to serve at St. Andrew this year!  After growing up outside Milwaukee, WI, I moved out west to attend California Lutheran University.  In my first year at CLU I met Becky, and five years later we got married!  After graduating from Cal Lutheran I studied at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA, where I received my Masters of Divinity.  It was toward the end of my time at Fuller that I began the candidacy process in the ELCA.  Prior to that I had been looking toward teaching in academia in the area of theology or biblical studies.  The candidacy process took us to Chicago for a year at the Lutheran School of Theology there.  I have greatly valued all of my time spent in my studies, but after over four years of graduate school I am definitely ready to serve full-time in a church! 

You’ll find that my interests are many and varied.  Prior to coming to Chicago I worked as Coordinator of Contemporary Worship at a large Lutheran congregation in Southern California, and spent significant time writing music, playing guitar, and singing with a rock band.  Working at Starbucks for the past four years has also helped pay the bills as I’ve finished school.  I’m looking forward to living in the Pacific Northwest, as two of my favorite types of beverages seem to be a passion of many here! I'm already having a great time exploring the many breweries in this area.  I also enjoy snowboarding and playing team sports, as well as following all my favorite Chicago sports teams.  Most importantly, I enjoy spending time with Becky, my wife of nearly six years, and our two adorable cats, Melody and Sylvester.

A main passion of ministry for me is helping the Bible to come alive for people in their daily lives.  I look forward to opportunities to lead Bible studies and preach at St. Andrew.  I also love to meet with people over coffee and hear about their lives, concerns, and joys.  Hopefully sometime I can do so with you!