Meet Our Dedicated Team
At Holy Emmanuel Lutheran Church, we are blessed with a vibrant and dedicated team leading our congregation and community activities. Their passion and commitment reflect in the warm, welcoming environment of our church. Let's meet the individuals who devote their time, energy, and faith to guide our spiritual journey and community outreach.
Pastor Paul Krentz
Pastor Paul Krentz received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan in the field of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 1981. He was employed for four years by the Burger Boat company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin where he was a project manager in the design and building of custom-built luxury aluminum yachts, 75 feet and up.
During his time in Wisconsin, Pastor Krentz attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Two Rivers, WI, where he grew in his own faith, served as an Elder of the congregation, and eventually met his wife Chris. Pastor Krentz was encouraged by many to become a pastor, and left Wisconsin to enter the seminary. In 1989 Pastor Krentz was awarded the Master of Divinity Degree by Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
Prior to accepting the call to Holy Emmanuel, Pastor Krentz served as the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beemer, NE for 10 years, and then at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, MN, for 20 years.
Pastor Krentz enjoys fishing, hunting, playing chess on the internet, and has competed in several marathons, qualifying for the Boston marathon twice. After several years of running Pastor Krentz traded his running shoes in for Inline speed skates, and now competes in inline marathons. Pastor Krentz also enjoys model railroading, and has an HO railroad that he enjoys sharing with anyone who is interested.
Pastor Krentz’ favorite Bible verse is Philippians 2:5-11: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
Pastor Krentz and his wife Chris have been married for almost 40 years and have been blessed with 3 grown children; Jonathan, Jordan, and Jennifer.
Steve Sedio
Steve Church Secretary
Church Secretary and life long-member of Holy Emmanuel. Steve spent 23 years in the graphic arts field, first as a pressman and working his way into graphic design. Wanting a change, he was hired as Holy Emmanuel's secretary in 2010. He brings a creativeness to our office and his talents are not only in design, and administration but also in Music. Steve now updates our website.
When not at church you can find Steve cooking new things, spending time with his wife Amy or going on walks with the family dog Emily.
Anna VanVleet
Pianist/Organist
Anna is our church pianist and organist. She grew up the daughter of a pastor and missionaries, so church work has been part of her life since she was born. Anna has been playing piano since the age of 5, and started accompanying during worship as an 8th grader in Taiwan. Since then, she has played for numerous churches, weddings, funerals, college services, and school choir events.
Anna earned her degree in Elementary Education with a Middle School Math emphasis and Urban Education minor at Concordia University, St. Paul. While not at Holy Emmanuel, Anna works part-time at Trinity First Lutheran School in inner city Minneapolis and full-time as a stay-at-home-mom with her young boys. She enjoys reading, bargain shopping, hanging out with friends, traveling, and playing board games. Anna married Zach in 2015 and they have two boys and a girl: Ronen, Mateo, and Kaisa.
One of Anna's favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
Christina Krentz
Volunteer Youth Group Coordinator
Christina Krentz is our volunteer Youth Group Director for grades 6th - 12th. Chris works full-time at our LCMS district office.
At her previous congregation she volunteered as the youth group director for over 12 years. During this time, every year she organized a week-long mission trip somewhere in the United States, and every 3 or 4 years a mission trip to Jamaica. She also organized fun activities a couple times a year, servant events and fundraising - to help pay for our mission trips. All events are for our youth going into 6th - 12th grade (except the Jamaica mission trip and National Youth Gathering Event that happens every 3 years - this is for our High Schoolers only). She is excited to join our sister congregation just down the road, Redemption Lutheran Church, for many of our planned events.
When Christina is not working she enjoys taking care of her flower garden, reading, and outdoor activities.
Ms. Dawn
Open Arms ECC Center Director
Dawn has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development from Crown College, a NAEYC Director’s Credential, and over 20 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education as both a teacher and director.