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Email the pastor The Reverend Mark L. Russell Senior Pastor
Email the associate pastor The Reverend Clifton D. Eshbach Associate Pastor
Email the Cantor The Reverend Marilyn Witte Cantor
Email the Parish Secretary Mrs. Kathy Tropp Parish Secretary
Email the pastor Mr. Jay Eckman Youth Coordinator
Email the Administrative Assistant Miss Jane Reinhard Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Nancy Cook Parish Visitor
Email the Day Camp Director Mrs. Brandi Hurst Director, Greenfield Summer Day Camp
Email the Parish Nurse Mrs. Miriam Stover Parish Nurse Team Contact Person
Mr. Jose Rentas Sexton


The Reverend Mark L. Russell, Senior Pastor    ( pastor@elcgs.org )

Senior Pastor
Pastor Russell is responsible for leading staff and other congregational leaders to define and further the mission of God's church in this place. Pastor Russell oversees the committees and task forces that carry out that mission. Our pastors share the ministries of preaching and presiding at worship, hospital visitation, homebound communions, pastoral counseling, and teaching.

Pastor Russell received a M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He began his ministry at Good Shepherd in 1994, being called as Associate Pastor. He became simply "Pastor" in 1997, and Senior Pastor in 1999. He previously served a parish in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA. Having been raised in Lancaster County, coming to Good Shepherd was a bit like coming home. He and his wife, Denise, enjoy time with their three children of high school and college ages. His fishing boat is named, "The Collar's Off."

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The Reverend Clifton D. Eshbach, Associate Pastor    ( asscpastor@elcgs.org )

Associate Pastor
Pastor Eshbach shares in the pastoral ministry of the congregation, along with Pastor Russell. They work in tandem to lead worship and provide support to other leaders. Pastor Eshbach provides specific support to the Christian Education, Youth, and Evangelism Committees.

Pastor Eshbach holds an M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He was called to serve Good Shepherd in 2004, after having served a parish in Adams County. Ministry is a second career; Pastor Eshbach previously worked as a television news anchor and then in fundraising for the United Way of Lebanon County. During his seminary years, Pastor Eshbach served as director of Camp Nawakwa, one of the camps operated by The Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania. He is a native of Berks County. He and his wife, Barb, have four adult sons. Their three dogs still live at home, however. He enjoys grilling out after watching a good baseball game.

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The Reverend Marilyn Witte, Cantor    ( cantor@elcgs.org )

Cantor

As "Cantor," a term that connotes a musician whose skills are offered in service of the Church (J.S. Bach was a Lutheran Cantor), Pastor Witte has the responsibility to "lead the people's song." She does so by playing the organ, directing the choirs and other ensembles, and overseeing the church's music programs, including the long-running Fine Arts Series.

Pastor Witte holds three masters degrees, in piano performance and choral conducting from the Indiana University, in liturgical studies from Notre Dame, and a M.Div. from Luther Northwestern Seminary. She is a native of Iowa, and came to Good Shepherd in 2001 after serving several congregations, in South Bend, Indiana and in the Minneapolis area. She enjoys long walks, flower gardening, and a good book in the company of her cat.

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Mrs. Kathy Tropp, Parish Secretary    ( cos@elcgs.org )

Parish Secretary
The Parish Secretary assists other staff and leaders in their work, through records management, publications, mailings, and daily supervision of the church office. Kathy is the first person you will encounter (either by voice or in person) when you call or stop in at the church office.

Kathy came to us in 2007. She is a welcomed addition to the staff. She lives in Holtwood with her husband, John. Grown children and growing grandchildren bring her joy. She also enjoys gardening, photography, and her Chevy SSR.

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Miss Jane Reinhard, Administrative Assistant    ( coaa@elcgs.org )

Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant oversees the use, maintenance, and appearance of the building, organizing supplies and serving as the liaison to outside groups that use our building and grounds. Each week Jane displays a different piece of art in our narthex niche, with the art corresponding to the biblical readings for that Sunday.

Jane joined our staff in 1991, when she retired from Millersville University, where she had taught in the art department for 33 years. Jane is a native of Allentown, and she and her family were members of Christ Lutheran Church there. Jane enjoys her extensive flower gardens, good books, better food, hats, bridge, and traveling, especially to England.

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Mr. Jay Eckman, Youth Coordinator    ( yud@elcgs.org )

Youth Coordinator
Jay works, on a part-time basis, to coordinate youth activities at Good Shepherd, including the Junior and Senior High Youth Groups. A real hallmark of our ministry with youth is the annual mission trip, which spills over in various serving projects throughout the year.

Jay is a graduate of Lampeter-Strasburg High School, and a student at Millersville University. He is also involved in planning and running youth events for our synod and the ELCA. Jay joined our staff in April of 2008, and has brought a lot of commitment and energy.

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Mrs. Brandi Hurst, Director of the Greenfield Summer Day Camp

Day Camp Director
As director, Brandi plans the themes and activities, and manages the operation of our summer day camp, which consists of 45 campers a week for ten weeks each summer. She supervises a staff of nine, who work to give the kids a positive experience. The church provides the long-running camp as an outreach to the community.

Brandi is a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School. She and her husband Michael live in Lancaster, and are excited about their new family. She previously worked for the camp as a counselor, and is pursuing a degree in elementary education. She is also a cheerleading coach.

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Mr. Jose Rentas, Sexton

Sexton
Jose is responsible for cleaning the building on a regular basis. Come and visit us and you will see the results of his work. In addition to his part-time work at Good Shepherd, Jose works full time at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Lancaster.

A native of Puerto Rico, Jose grew up in New Jersey. He moved to Lancaster to raise his three children in a good environment (and once here, three became four). He enjoys playing football and video games with his boys, watching wrestling with his youngest, and willingly makes the sacrifice of shopping at the mall with his daughter.

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Mrs. Nancy Cook, Parish Visitor

Parish Visitor
At the direction of the pastor, Nan makes several visits a week to members in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, or in their own homes. This has added another layer to our care of people, with Nan, who is seminary trained, able to spend time in supportive conversation.

A native of York, Nan previously worked as a Latin teacher. She is married and has two sons, one of whom is at home. She enjoys animals, traveling, reading, and friends.

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Mrs. Miriam Stover, Parish Nurse Team Contact     ( cmpnt@elcgs.org )

Parish Nurse Team Contact
Mim, as she is called, serves as a liaison between staff and members of the Parish Nurse Team, ensuring that phone calls and other follow-up happens when people are discharged from the hospital or dealing with other health challenges, helping the church care for the whole person.

A Lancaster native, Mim was trained at Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing, and enjoyed a career in nursing. She and her husband, John, have two children, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren. Mim enjoys swimming, reading, cooking, and stitchery.

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