Meet Our Staff

The Reverend Sarah Lawton, Pastor

The Reverend Sarah Lawton took the pulpit of the merged Grace/Trinity congregation on June 27, 2010. The former pastor at Fosston and Erskine United Methodist Churches--between Grand Forks, N.D., and Bemidji, Minn.--, she's a graduate of Beloit College (Beloit, Wis.) and Claremont School of Theology (California). She studied under Dr. Robert Linthicum in seminary and worked with him at Partners in Urban Transformation (PIUT) in Los Angeles, working on revitalizing urban neighborhoods. She interned with Trinity United Methodist Church in Lakewood, Calif., which merged with a Korean United Methodist Church. Rev. Lawton also worked as a personal care assistant, then an activity director, at a group home for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. She is a native of Crosby, Minn., and is a fifth-generation Methodist pastor. Her sincerity and passion for others are infectious. We are excited to have her with us as we build our new church.

Kirsten Lauver, Choir Director

A graduate of St. Olaf College and Wesley Theological Seminary, Kirsten says her studies have given her a unique perspective on life. At St. Olaf, she majored in the fine arts, concentrating on voice, dance, theater and the visual arts. A soprano, she performs with St. Mark's Choral Society. Her day job is at Highwood Hills Elementary School in St. Paul. Previously, she worked with special education students at Hmong International Academy in Minneapolis. In her free time, she enjoys visiting museums and playing with her cat.

Momoh Freeman, Accompanist

When you hear that low Gospel roll coming out of the keyboard, you know Momoh's at the piano. A native of Monrovia, Liberia, Momoh and his mother and two brothers fled the country during the Second Liberian Civil War and settled in Minnesota. He's played for churches from Liberia to Chaska, Minnesota, and holds an AAS degree in music performance from McNally Smith College of Music. While there, he studied music fundamentals, music theory, jazz improvisation and sightreading. He also has a certificate for church music and choral conducting from the Baptist Seminary School of Church Music. His favorite style of music? The blues.

Kris Gater, Office Assistant

She's the friendly voice on the phone, and often the first person you meet when you walk into Northeast UMC. Kris comes to us with a wealth of church administration experience. A member of Blaine UMC, she has been its Hospitality chair, on the Worship Committee and headed up the annual garage sale. She serves as the Blaine church's webmaster. She is also a member of the Professional Association of UM Church Secretaries (PAUMCS). A 20-year employee at UPS, she served as secretary at Riverview UMC in Brooklyn Park until the church closed in March 2010. A singer, she plays a pretty mean guitar!

John Scholtz, Custodian

John is our senior staff member, serving the church for more than 20 years. Visitors often comment on its spotless condition, and it's all due to John.

Our vision: To be an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just community of faith in the United Methodist tradition in Northeast Minneapolis.