Pastor Mary Anne “Psomi” Psomas-Jackloski

The Rev. Mary Anne “Psomi” Psomas Jackloski, preferably called “Psomi”, originally joined us as a seminarian in her final year of internship before ordination. On April 15, 2023 Psomi was Ordained and Installed as Pastor of St. Andrew (above photo, ELCA NJ Synod Bishop Tracie Barthomew joins Pastor Psomi on her Ordination and Installation Service).

Originally of Catholic upbringing, Psomi felt called to ministry from a very young age. She spent almost 40 years working with youth ministry and college campus ministry in the Catholic Church. But she longed for more, to be ordained as a pastor and lead worship. She found, in the Lutheran Church, a welcome and a calling. She began seminary at Drew Theological School and transferred to United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia to complete her seminary coursework. We rejoice with her in her Ordination, celebrate her Installation, feel blessed to call her Pastor of St. Andrew, and look forward to a new adventure as we help each other to grow into the future.

Don Ehrmann, Minister of Music

Don Ehrmann is an incredibly talented musician and St. Andrew’s Minister of Music. He has served God and St. Andrew for over 20 years and over 50 years as a church musician. While he can record and lay down a variety of tracks on our keyboard and make a piece of music sound absolutely orchestral, he also can rock the organ, direct the choir, sing tenor, and play and direct the handbell choir, sometimes in multiple roles at once. Don can sit down at the keyboard and pull a song from thin air from just about any period of his devoted career as a church musician. The catalog of music is his head, ready at his fingertips, is incredible. Full of interesting trivia, Don is a fan of historical fiction and non-fiction, and enjoys a good Dark & Stormy.

Kurt Gahan, Deacon

Kurt Gahan was installed as St. Andrew’s Deacon in Jan. 2011. In January 2022, Kurt was called to serve as St. Andrew’s Coordinator of Church Faith & Life. In this position, he will serve as a part-time administrative, programming and spiritual staff member, helping us to bring consistency to our worship and faith life.

Kurt, a 28-year member of St. Andrew, completed a 2-year Diakonia course in 2010 which included 12 individual courses taught by Lutheran clergy, a number of projects, and practical exercises and activities for developing his Biblical and scholarly knowledge of faith practices. Learn more about Diakonia at diakoniausa.org/diakonia-curriculum . He has served as a Christian Education Team Leader, Sunday School teacher, member of the Church Council, and currently also leads our Contemplative Prayer program. Wildly creative, Kurt frequently dreams up fun and unique projects to engage members of the congregation in a fun activity to learn about our Lutheran faith. He has spearheaded congregational service projects involving quilt and mask making for disaster relief projects for Lutheran World Relief and ELCA Disaster Relief. He enjoys studying Martin Luther and reading the many discussions on Luther’s teachings, the Church, faith, and spirituality in today’s world. He also enjoys the art of flag dancing and is a fire department Chaplain. He has hand-crafted multiple sets of paraments for the altar, stoles or albs for pastors, and banners for the sanctuary.

Ashley Santino, Director, Children’s Circle

Ashley Santino is the Director of Children’s Circle Day Care Center at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church. She has been a member of the staff and providing service to the children in our program since 2012.