Meet the Staff
Rev. Stephanie Jaeger
Pastor
The Rev. Stephanie P. Jaeger, Ph.D, comes to St. Matthew's after serving as senior pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park and Lutheran Campus Ministry in Chicago, Illinois from 2012-2014. From 2007-2012, Pastor Stephanie was pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica. Previously, she was a professor of German literature and cultural history, specializing in Reformation Studies. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA and MA), Washington University in St. Louis (PhD) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (MDiv). A writer, Stephanie recently completed her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University LA.
Pastor Stephanie deeply loves being a pastor, having the privilege to journey alongside Christians as they deepen their faith and live it out in all their relationships and all their actions. Pastor Stephanie especially enjoys preaching, worship leadership, teaching Biblical studies and theology to people of all ages. Her especial calling is helping congregations live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through ministry in their local contexts. Pastor Stephanie’s "faith in action" justice commitments include eliminating homelessness, combating hunger locally and globally, broadening understanding about mental illness, helping persons with disabilities live full and meaningful lives, and building an inclusive church. She currently serves as board chair of the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, and as Faith representative and vice president of the NoHo Neighborhood Council.
Email: stephanie@stmatthewsnoho.org
Catherine Miller Popovic
Organist/Pianist and Choir Director
Organist Catherine Miller Popovic has served at St. Matthew’s since the fall of 2010. She is an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the Music Teacher’s Association of California. A graduate of the USC School of Music and the Juilliard school, she was also a Fulbright Scholar to the Liszt Academy in Budapest Hungary. She also enjoys a career as a piano accompanist for operatic singers, and is the Artistic Consultant for the Pasadena Opera Guild, a vocal coach for the Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California at Los Angeles and a rehearsal pianist for Opera Santa Barbara. She has served as organist at St. Martha’s Episcopal in West Covina, Westminster Presbyterian in Temple City, St. James United Methodist in Pasadena and Faith Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. Email: cathy@stmatthewsnoho.org
Christopher Luna (Chris)
Co-Coordinator, Sharing Hands Deaf Ministry
My name is Christopher Luna. I am working for healthcare insurance company as reports administrator. My hobbies are travel around the world, meet new people, working out, hiking, technical stuff and movies. I love to spend time at the natural space and thinking of God. I have been member of St Matt's for few years. I love to volunteer to water the garden at our church and Feed the Homeless PB&J Sandwiches for NoHo Home Alliance. The reason why I'm co-coordinator of Sharing Hands Deaf Ministry because I love them. It's like one big family and feel close to God. I would love to see Sharing Hands to be stay strong and for many years to come!
Email: chris@stmatthewsnoho.org
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Marsha Vae Goeken (Vae)
Co-Coordinator, Sharing Hands Deaf Ministry
My name is Marsha Vae Goeken, but I go by Vae as my middle name. I was born to my parents Donald and LaVerne Goeken in South Dakota with farm. My baptism was at Kaylor in South Dakota in a small town. And when I was teenage, I had my communion with Eastside Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. During high school at South Dakota School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, I was involved with AWARENESS GROUP with sign song and travel around and performed for any church, school, college, old nursing home in South Dakota . When I moved to CA, I came to St. Matthews Lutheran Church and help with serving homeless neighbors. I enjoy internet games and FB and Instagram. I have been involved with Deaf West Theatre and performed. Recently I was on TV and had a role in 9-1-1 with Fox TV.
Email: vae@stmatthewsnoho.org
