What brought you to Community?

In 2000, I was living in Valley Center, and I was having some problems in my personal life. I kept passing the church as I was going to work, and I kept thinking that I needed some peace. I took one Sunday when Hannah was 3 years old and Wesley was in a car seat and I walked in by myself.

I sat down in the old sanctuary, and you could see the mountain behind the old stain glass windows, and I just remember staring through that all the time. I remember Pastor Voglesang caught up to me in the back before I left and asked me sign the [guest] book. I didn’t know what to expect because I am very shy, and I just wanted to slip in the side and sneak out after the service. Three days later, I went to my mailbox and there was a plate of chocolate chip cookies from Community Lutheran Church, and I thought that was really cool. I went back the next Sunday and everyone was just really nice and very mellow.

When did you start attending church at the San Marcos campus?

When the church was planning the new campus, Joel called my on the phone and asked if we’d be interested in participating. I thought it would be really good for our family to dive in. It ended up being really great, and (living in San Marcos) the campus is really close to us.

I remember Paul and I going to the meetings for the San Marcos launch. Paul and Pastor Joel (who was Vicar Joel at the time) started talking about craft beer, and Paul thought that was really cool. I think that is a big misconception about church. It’s like, “Oh my gosh, if these people knew what goes on in my life. They are not at all like me.” You think everyone else is perfect. But, we can have a glass of wine, or a beer, or even brew a beer. Everyone is normal people here. We are just like you. We are all in the same boat.

I see that you bring donuts to church each week. How did that start?

The week before we opened the doors at San Marcos, we were having a meeting and discussed having coffee there, and as we were walking out the door I yelled up at Joel, “Hey, should I bring donuts or something?” He said sure, and so we tried a few different types of snacks, and the donut holes won, so I’ve been bringing them ever since. And now I think people notice when we are on vacation and not at Church because the donut holes are missing.

Tell me about your job as a mom.

I quit my accounting job three years ago to be a stay at home mom. We are always really busy during the week with all the sports activities and cub scouts, but as family what is most important to us is always sitting down at the table, saying a prayer, and having dinner together. Always. That is something that I think every family should do.

Now that Gabriel is in first grade, I finally have some time during the day that I’ve never had before. There are so many things to get done around the house (fix drywall, retile the floor, repaint, build shelves, etc). With Paul gone (working out of state) I just need to make sure I put the tools back in the same place when I’m done.

How did you end up with four dogs?

The kids wanted a dog, and I would only go through a rescue. Our first dog took a while to warm up to us, but she is the best dog we have. After that, we kind of fell into rescuing 3 more dogs. I’ve helped rescue other dogs as well, but I had to stop doing that because we cannot have another dog in this house. I embrace the chaos here. Four kids. Four dogs. I’m just trying to keep the house standing.

WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY TREE PROJECT? 

Community Lutheran Church is a growing congregation worshiping 550 people between two campuses each week. As we continue grow, it is important that our relationships with one another continue to grow as well.  Over the coming months, our church website and Facebook page will be introducing you to a member of Community that you may or may not know yet. You’ll have the opportunity to learn a little about each member and delight in the different personalities and lifestyles that come together each week to worship our Savior.

When you join us for worship on Sunday mornings or events throughout the week, we encourage you to reach out and connect with someone you don’t normally talk to. As Pastor Vogelsang so eloquently reminds us, we are all “dear Christian friends.” We just don’t know each other yet! I’d like to change that one photo at a time.

"So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:25-27