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The Rev. Karen McNeill-Utecht is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Carmel, IL and Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Princeton, IN. She is currently serving as President of the Wabash County Ministerial Alliance. She met and married her husband, Rob Utecht when they were living on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. They were blessed with a son Will before returning to the mainland. Pastor Karen is a graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminiary in Columbia, South Carolina and began her ministry here Christmas Eve 2006. Pastor Karen and her family share their home with her sister Melissa, who moved here from Atlanta and Rob's sister Dorie from Fargo, ND. (along with 5 dogs, 9 cats, a bunny and a turtle.) Pastor Karen's Mission Statement is:
As an ordained pastor, centered in Christ and with his help;
I will Enable
Encourage
Empower and
Equip God's people for mission in the world.
Colleen Litherand, seen here on a mission trip to New Orleans; is Zion's organist, choir director and youth leader. Colleen
is a second grade teacher, wife to Pat, mother of two grown daughters and runs a local horse farm. She grew up here at Zion.
John Aidt serves as sexton and handyman at Zion. He is married to Elisa and father to five children. He is an entrepreneur
and owner of a berry farm. He is currently a member of the Zion council.
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Barbara "Barb" Smith has been the secretary here at Zion for many years. She raised her three children here and now has
grandchildren attending Zion. She has been a valuable asset to the congregation, serving as the first woman representative
on the council and in many other capacities as well.
Sue Hannuksela serves as Treasurer for Zion and is editor of the Zion newsletter, The Zion Zepher. She is married
to Larry and is the mother of four grown children. Her daughter Elisa, her husband John and their two young sons, Peter and
Jacob also attend Zion.
Nancy Johns is a Synodically Authorized (Lay) Minister (SAM). While she is not official staff, she often covers pastor
when she is away and serves in various capacities when needed. She is a retired reading teacher, married mother of two sons
and a life long member of Zion. She leads a service for Alzheimers patients at a local nursing home. Her husband Paul is the
current council president.
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