St. Paul’s Staff
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The Rev. Johanna Rehbaum, Pastor
Pastor Johanna Rehbaum began serving as the pastor of St. Paul’s in 2019. After growing up as a “PK” (pastor’s kid) in Northern California, she graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where she majored in music (oboe performance) and religion. While spending her first year out of college as a Young Adult in Global Mission in Slovakia, Johanna discerned a call to ministry. Upon her return to the States, she pursued a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School, followed by a Master of Sacred Theology in practical theology at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. During this time she completed a thesis about faith-based hunger advocacy. Johanna’s first call was to a two-point parish in Webster, NY (Bethlehem and St. Martin Lutheran Churches), where she joyfully served for seven years.
She is excited to bring to St. Paul’s her passions for preaching, music, social justice, and helping people of all ages to recognize and articulate God’s love for them. In addition to her vocation in ordained ministry, Johanna is devoted to her calling as a wife and a mother of two dynamic young children, who teach her every day about God’s grace and love in the world. Johanna loves singing alto in Concentus Women’s Chorus, writing, creating things in her sewing room, feeding her family “real,” healthy food, and playing whatever game her kids are currently obsessed with.
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Jon Madden, Minister of Music
Jonathan Thomas Madden is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition. Jon is a former member of the internationally-renowned St. Olaf Choir, serving as principal ensemble pianist, bass section leader, and secretary/treasurer for the ensemble. A four-year member of and pianist for the Gospel Choir of St. Olaf, Jon also served as co-director of this student-led ensemble his senior year. Among other on-campus roles, Jon worked as a piano tutor and a Classroom Assistant for Music Theory/Aural Skills as well as Basic Conducting classes, and was a member of the Music Department Student Committee. From 2018-2020, he served as the Choir Director and Organist at Highview Christiania Lutheran Church in Farmington, MN. Jon studied piano with Christopher Atzinger, organ with James E. Bobb, and composition with Timothy Mahr. He has also studied privately with Jake Runestad.
Jon is an award-winning composer, having his works recognized at both national and state levels. Most notably, he was awarded 2nd place in the 2019 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Brock Student Composition Competition. Other awards and recognitions for his writing have come from the National Association for Music Education, New York State School Music Association, The Choral Project (San Jose, CA), and True Concord’s Stephen Paulus Emerging Composer Competition (Tucson, AZ). His pieces have been performed by seven of the large ensembles at St. Olaf, including choirs, bands, and orchestras, and in the Spring of 2018, his music made its international debut as the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra from Rochester, NY brought one of his works on their tour to Portugal and Spain. Jon is passionate about bringing the voices of living composers into the sacred music canon.
A native of Rochester, NY (and a member of the Fairport High School Class of 2016), Jon remains active in local musical theater as a pit musician and music director. He has served as accompanist for the Fairport High School choirs. Jon enjoys taking long walks around his hometown, is an avid baseball fan, and enjoys baking and cooking. Jon aspires to pursue graduate studies in Choral Conducting in the future.
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Michelle lives in Rochester with her husband and three young children. Her responsibilities at the church include assistance with Sunday service preparation, member interaction, record keeping, bookkeeping, administration and support of the daily activities within the church office.
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This position offers me the opportunity to work at the intersection of St. Paul’s members, leadership, staff and our community to provide support and assistance in the ministries and activities of this church. A special blessing indeed, for which I am very grateful.
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