Full-time Pastor | jleininger@fspauls.org

Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Pastor Leininger attended Lutheran schools through university. He graduated magna cum laude from Concordia University, St. Paul (1990), majoring in Theatre while completing Pre-Seminary requirements. In addition to his studies, he was very involved in the arts and received the university’s Pro Artibus award for excellence in music and drama. Upon graduating he spent a year and a half working in theatre, including The Refreshment Committee, a Christian theatre company based in St. Paul.

Pastor Leininger graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1995, and after a year interim, spent six years at the University of Cambridge where he received an MPhil and PhD in Ecclesiastical History. His thesis concerned the use of Protestant plays in the English Reformation. Academic journals have published a number of his articles on the topic. Other areas of academic interest include St. Augustine, the Crusades, Martin Luther, the English Reformers, Henry VIII and the English Reformation, the 19th Century Papacy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Religious Drama throughout the ages. His recent book, Callings for Life: God’s Plan, Your Purpose, applies Luther’s theology of vocation to the every-day life of the Christian. He has presented across the country on this topic.

Pastor Leininger has served parishes in San Diego, Houston, Chicago, and Cambridge, England. He comes to First St. Paul’s after twenty-one years of campus ministry at Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, IL). At Concordia, he conducted daily worship, led all the Spiritual Life activities, directed the Pre-Seminary program, and supported the university’s church relations and development offices. His greatest joy at Concordia was in serving young people, helping to shape them for ministry and service.

Pastor Leininger married the love of his life, Rachel (née Haber), a 1993 Lutheran Teacher Education graduate of Concordia Chicago. Rachel loves all things Chicago, history, gardening, travelling, and using her musical gifts to the glory of God. They lived the first six years of their married life in the U.K., enjoying many European adventures. Rachel currently works as the tour manager for the music ensembles at Concordia Chicago. Their daughter, Gracie, studies theatre and music at Concordia University Irvine, and one day plans to teach in Lutheran schools. She’s excited about studying abroad next year at Westfield House in Cambridge, England. Their son, Andy, will be starting eighth grade at Grace Lutheran, River Forest. He loves singing, reading, tumbling, hanging out with friends, and, of course, video games. In his spare time, Pastor Leininger loves spending time outdoors and cheering hopelessly for his Minnesota sports teams.

The Leiningers are thrilled to be a part of First St. Paul’s, a historic congregation which looks for new ways to serve the community in the love of Christ. By the Holy Spirit, our prayer is that the Lord would continue to bless this place and that many more would feel welcomed to be at home among us.

Cantor | stevenwente@gmail.com

Steven Wente has served as cantor (music director) at First Saint Paul’s since September 2010. He follows a long line of outstanding church musicians serving First Saint Paul’s, including Albert Beck, Charles W. Ore, Patricia Legge, James Rogner, Paul Nicholson, and Maurice Boyer.

Steven is distinguished professor of music emeritus at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois, where he continues to teach applied organ and serves as the organist to the chapel. He is an active member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and the American Guild of Organists. He is a frequent presenter of organ recitals, and has composed a number of hymn arrangements for organ.

Associate Cantor | mdanilovich@fspauls.org

Margaret Danilovich has played organ at First Saint Paul's since the fall of 2009. Margaret attended Concordia University, River Forest where her piano teachers included Craig Sale, Daniela Mineva, and Kuang-Hao Huang. She studied organ with Steven Wente.

During college, she was an active recitalist, accompanist, and sang with the Kapelle choir. Margaret earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Northwestern University in 2007 and a PhD in public health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to her work at First Saint Paul's, Margaret is the senior director of the Leonard Schanfield Research Institute at CJE SeniorLife in Chicago.

Office Administrator | office@fspauls.org

Lydia Stucki started as office administrator in August 2022. She is a graduate of Wheaton College, where she studied English, with a concentration in Creative Writing. While at Wheaton, Lydia worked in the archives at the Marion E. Wade Center, a special research collection of seven authors including C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and G.K. Chesterton. She was also editor and business manager of the student literary journal, Kodon.

As well as her position at First Saint Paul's, Lydia works as an ACT/SAT Tutor. She spends her free time embroidering, reading, and working on her novel.