Our Team

I love helping people wrestle with the meaning and implications of the gospel of God’s reign which calls us to be justice-seeking and mercy-loving people who walk humbly in the world. I love serving at Meetinghouse Church, a community committed to following the way of Jesus and to being and becoming people of compassion and kindness who seek our neighbor’s good.

I received my BA in History and Classical Studies from UNC-Greensboro, my Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and my Master of Philosophy and PhD from Drew University. Prior to coming to Meetinghouse Church, I served as Professor of Historical Theology at Bethel University for 13 years, where I had the privilege to work with numerous excellent students and to produce significant scholarship on a range of topics. 

 Julie and I have been married for 28 years. We are the proud parents of two sons, Jonah and Elijah. Julie is the Director of Teaching and Learning at Minnehaha Academy and is deeply committed to designing educational systems that optimize the teaching and learning experience. 

I enjoy reading a good book, watching movies, listening to good music, and traveling, but my true obsession is basketball. I love to watch and follow collegiate and professional basketball and am a diehard fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the UNC Tarheels.

I support the business operations of the church. I love working at a church because of the genuine care and community that comes with the territory.

I graduated from Waldorf College with a bachelor’s degree in Humanities. 

My husband, Matt, and I were married in 2005 and have three amazing daughters – Lelah, Linden, and Layne. I was born and raised in central Iowa but fell in love with the Twin Cities when we relocated for my husband’s job back in 2010. After 12 years away from the Twin Cities, we decided it was time to return.

I love spending time with my family and our dog, Cali, taking in the arts and culture around the cities, and all the wonderful outdoor scenery and activities the great state of Minnesota has to offer.

I work part time keeping the Berry Patch wing clean and ready for classes.  I really enjoy the kids and teachers because they keep me inspired and mystified all the time.

I graduated from the University of Kansas, after attending Luther College for 3 years where I played football as a wide receiver and baseball as a left fielder.  I have a double B.A. degree in American and Russian History.  While at Kansas, I was trained by the head piano technician for 2 ½ years and made that my permanent career.

I lived in Madison, Wisconsin for 2 years as the in house piano tuner for the Dane County Coliseum  where I tuned for the concerts of the musical acts there.

I have played the drums since 8th grade and played in bands my whole life, and enjoy playing in 2 bands here in the Twin Cities.  In my off time I like to travel and enjoy many trips on my motorcycle.

I have a brother living in Iowa where I grew up, and my last serious relationship was with the singer (Melody) in our band.  She passed away from cancer last year.  I miss her dearly.  She was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame last year.

I have been the Administrative Assistant for Worship, Music and Arts at Meetinghouse Church since 2013.  Besides singing in the Chorale and Giving Voice Crosstown Chorus, I love working with all the other members of the Chorale and Chorus and the congregation in other duties for my job.

 I graduated from South High School in Minneapolis 50 years ago (1974) and started working for the City of Minneapolis in 1976 and retired 33 years later in 2009.  Besides working part-time at Meetinghouse Church, I currently work in Guest Services at Target Field for the Minnesota Twins….Win Twins 

I grew up in South Minneapolis and have 3 sisters and 1 brother.  My husband, Hans, and I have been married since 1980 and we have one son, Kris….and he and our daughter-in-law, Jessica, and 15 month old (adorable) grandson, Aiden, live in Red Wing, MN.  Hans and I live in South Minneapolis with our two cats, Elsie and Elliot. 

I love music and besides singing in choirs, I play clarinet in the Minneapolis Police Band and the Senior Synod Concert Band.  I also love lighthouses and covered bridges.  I love to travel and enjoy getting together with friends for lunch and other fun activities.

I am the manager of the beautiful facility and grounds of Meetinghouse Church. My greatest satisfaction comes from preparing and maintaining this property for all of the amazing things God does here and the people that make it happen.

Both my wife and I grew up in Edina and raised our two sons here. They are both married to Edina grads and live here as well with our 5 awesome grandchildren.

I love to travel, live music, sports and, of course, spending as much time as possible with those awesome grandchildren, their activities and families.

I am the Missions Coordinator and chair of the Missions Team. I work with the Team, other staff members, and our Mission Partners to advance the missional engagement of Meetinghouse. Missional work has been a passion of mine since 9th grade when I planned to be a medical missionary.

 I went to Northwestern College in St. Paul and worked for U.S. Bank for 33 years. I retired in 2018 as VP of Human Resources Risk and Compliance.

My husband Rick and I have two wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws and 5 darling grandchildren. To keep us entertained at home, we have a Goldendoodle named Cooper.

I love spending time with my husband and our family, working in the garden, and sharing a meal or cup of coffee with friends.

As an Audio/Visual Technician and a musician at Meetinghouse, I help enhance the worship experience by ensuring that all audio and visual components are functioning seamlessly. I am passionate about using my technical skills and musical talents to create an atmosphere where people can connect in a meaningful way.

I graduated from Minneapolis College with an Associates in Arts: Music Emphasis. 

I’m blessed to have wonderful parents along with my two younger brothers. We grew up coming to Meetinghouse and it makes me so happy to be back and working with this community. 

When I’m not working, I love to write, play, and listen to music, go on adventures with my friends, hike, cook, go to concerts, travel… pretty much anything fun and adventurous that you can think of.

I am the custodian at Meetinghouse, which entails just about everything from cleaning to repairs to assisting members and volunteers. I enjoy seeing the results of setups for gatherings and meetings.

I am a retired printing pressman and this September 2024, I will have 20 years working in churches full and part time, with 5 years as the building manager at St. Luke Presbyterian.

I recently obtained a special class boiler license from the State of MN to help manage the boilers at Meetinghouse.

My wife Bonnie and I just celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary on August 6, 2024. We have 2 grown daughters with 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. We’ve lived in St. Louis Park for 40 years.

I love to work out in the yard and play with our dog. We also entertain the grandchildren and great grandchildren in our home and when vacationing, which is always enjoyable.

I love church – specifically worship, music and fellowship. Most of my church life has been in the ELCA Lutheran realm singing hymns and learning beautiful theology. It has been fun to experience doing church in a different way at Meetinghouse. The thing I love most about Meetinghouse is the community and how easily we have made deep, meaningful connections with many people with whom we may not otherwise have crossed paths. 

I attend Meetinghouse with my husband, Jerod and daughters Ruthie and Lydia.  Jerod owns Lucius Home Improvements, a home remodeling company, He’s a mystic at heart and I am lucky to have such a wise partner to walk alongside me in this crazy life. Ruthie and Lydia are unique souls that continually bring laughter into our lives, teach us lessons about ourselves, and just generally make our lives better. When we are not at work or at Meetinghouse, we love being outside in nature, especially on The North Shore. We also love redoing our house and incorporating as much Finnish Design as we can!  And if I’m honest, we really love watching TV. There are just so many good shows out there now! 

I have taught elementary music and directed children’s choirs for most of my adult life. I attended St. Olaf College, in Northfield, MN where I sang in The St. Olaf Choir, lived in “Lutheran Hymn Heaven,” and graduated with a BA in Music Education. I also received my Master of Arts in Music Education from The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. In the spring of 2017, we moved to Jyväskyla, Finland, where I studied the Finnish education system on a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant. Our time in Finland, learning about a culture that values each individual person for their unique gifts and talents, changed the trajectory of my life. Upon returning to MN, I went back to school to get my K-12 Principal License from The University of Minnesota. I am now the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at St. Paul School of Northern Lights in St. Paul, MN.

I serve at Meetinghouse Church by providing social media management and photography. I believe the power of social media is an important tool in this day and age to share thoughts and ideas, stay updated, and connect people. 

Most recently, I graduated with a Master of Science degree in project management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Prior to that, I graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. In addition, I have my own photography business in which I mainly photograph dogs, couples/families, and events. 

I live in Golden Valley with my dog Lucy who is a mixed breed. In my free time, I enjoy photography, traveling, hiking with my dog, and hanging out with friends and family!

I am on the Audio/Visual team and primarily run sound on Sunday mornings. I’ve always loved technology and have been serving churches on the tech team since I was in 6th grade. I came to Meetinghouse because I deeply value inclusivity, and love being able to provide high quality services that bring people into a relationship with God and their community. 

My wife Carly and I have been married for 3 years and have a 2 year old pup named Mochi (who’s my best friend) and had our first kid Enoch in January of 2024! In my free time I love hiking, going up to the North Shore, playing video games, and watching the Minnesota Twins lose in the postseason. I also love cooking and will talk to anyone about anything nerd related (Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Marvel/DC, etc).

I’m passionate about creating engaging and immersive experiences where children and families can connect with God, deepen their faith, and build authentic community. My goal is to foster a welcoming environment where every child feels encouraged to be themselves and is supported in their spiritual and personal growth.

I graduated from Bethel University with a degree in K-12 Art Education. The perfect combination of faith, education, and art has inspired me to dedicate over twenty years to children and youth ministry. In addition to teaching art and working in faith formation, I’ve also worked in early childhood education and written curriculum for Sparkhouse.

My spouse, Thom, and I have two wonderful daughters: Charlotte, a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Esme, a busy middle school gymnast. We also share our home with Emmylou, our sweet mini Goldendoodle.

I’m blessed with a close-knit extended family, and we love supporting each other at plays, gymnastics meets, soccer games, orchestra concerts, and whatever passions we pursue!

Rev. T. Michael Rock has been an ordained minister, liberation theologian, and educator in the United Church of Christ and is currently a professor of contextual education and spiritual formation at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. T. Michael also guides the Contextual Education and Spiritual Direction programs for United. He has served as a Spiritual Director and teacher of Spiritual Direction for more than 20 years and has 30 years of congregational leadership serving UCC congregations in Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Throughout his career, T. Michael has volunteered as a trauma-informed chaplain for prisons, police, at George Floyd Square, the World Trade Center, Occupy Wall Street, and other places of tragedy, violence, and transformation. T. Michael is also an activist on the local and national level and an experienced trainer in nonviolence, civil disobedience, and sexuality education.

I manage the day-to-day business functions and operations of Meetinghouse. I am passionate about working in a church because it allows me the opportunity to form relationships with the congregation while performing the detailed work I really enjoy. It’s the best of both worlds!

I love taking long walks while listening to audiobooks, spending time with my nieces and nephews, bingeing true crime shows, traveling to Lake Superior, enjoying a home-cooked meal with my parents, and of course, cheering on my MN Vikings (SKOL!)

I’m your keyboard musician in traditional worship. I love to accompany, encourage and invigorate the congregation’s song. I’m passionate about including you in our worship music. I believe the real growing point of modern church music is the experience of singing together with others in worship.

My hope is you’ll be listening, singing, humming, tapping your toe, clapping, frowning, leaning in, relishing beautiful sounds, wondering how much louder it cold possible get, smiling, shedding a tear, hearing something new, and wrestling with the dissonance of modern French music. My intention is to support the Work and Message in our worship, encourage our song and send us into the work in faith and humming a tune.

I live in south Minneapolis with Marcel, a Standard Poodle, who keeps squirrels, rabbits and me on our toes. He’s extremely intelligent. He loves a DQ pup cup and has hinted he’s willing to drive the car!

I love eating out, live performance, time with friends and making music with you at Meetinghouse!

I direct the Chorale at Meetinghouse, collaborating with our organist and leadership to create a diverse choral experience in worship each Sunday. Through my work with the Chorale, I get to champion one of my favorite things, community-focused music-making in a diverse community! 

I have degrees in voice and choral conducting from Hartt and the University of Oregon, respectively, and I’ve been a professional musician since 22 when I became a member of the vocal ensemble Cantus. 

I have an amazing spouse, Brittany, and we live with our 3 cats–Harley, Momo, and Lynel–in West Saint Paul. 

I like skiing, camping, and the outdoors in general, and I love finding and trying out new and exciting restaurants with my better half.

I enjoy coming alongside people in this chaotic life with a listening ear and a heart of prayer. It is my joy to work on the pastoral care team at Meetinghouse.  I often find myself working behind the scenes to check in on people, schedule visits, plan memorials, encourage prayer and watch for dropped balls. Previously, I was on staff at Upper Room for 10 years in the kid’s ministry and then Prayer and Care.

Teaching young children was my first passion with a goal-of-a-lifetime job at Riley Crossing opening an Early Education Center in a Senior Living Center. Seniors and preschoolers together is magic. I left teaching 2 years ago to join the Meetinghouse staff.

Carl and I have been married since 1982.  His pastoral calls took us to Iowa and South Dakota.  We have 4 children and 2 grandchildren who live in Oregon, Florida and Minnesota. Best part of my life.

 I love walking the lakes, reading actual books, time together in deep conversation with one friend at a time, hanging with my family and the occasional cigar on the deck with twinkle lights.

I am part of the Pastoral Team but I am also a member of the greater Meetinghouse staff.  I am honored to be a part of this group and after 19 years on staff, I still feel fulfilled and blessed. 

In my years on staff I have held many different positions, and am grateful for being able to work with great and committed people.

Jim and I joined Meetinghouse 1982, before we had children. We have 2 sons, Charlie and Andy, and 3 grandchildren.  Charlie and his wife Elizabeth, along with children Tora, Siri and Asher attend Meetinghouse.  What a gift to us!

It’s an honor supporting, praying and serving this congregation.

Nate Youngblood is a dedicated ministry and non-profit leader, passionate about helping others live out their mission and values. Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, he graduated with a B.A. in Bible and Theology from Asbury University. Nate began his career in Africa, where he had the privilege of equipping pastoral students with essential biblical and pastoral skills.

Upon returning to the United States, Nate pursued a pastoral internship that deepened his experience in ministry. He then took on leadership roles at YouthWorks as the Western Regional Director, followed by a significant tenure at World Vision, where he led Service Engagement, Afterschool Programs and Domestic Disaster Response efforts.

Most recently, Nate served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Every Meal (formerly The Sheridan Story), where he led the organization through significant growth and new initiatives. In his role as COO, he created a culture of resilience and drove impactful change.

Nate resides in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his wife, Emily, and their three children, Eli, Mary, and Millie. He is passionate about fostering connections and supporting individuals and communities in pursuit of the Kingdom of God.