Pastor Chris Thomas

Pastor Chris Thomas

​Pastor Chris Thomas is a northern Illinois native who was called to serve Grace in 2023. He and his wife Katie, along with their mini-menagerie of 2 cats (Viola and Willow) and 1 dog (Mario) are excited to join the Grafton community and to be a part of this next chapter in Grace’s story.
In his 15 years of serving churches around the country, he’s served congregations of all different shapes and sizes. Beginning with his time as a youth director on a large church staff, to his studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and onto serving congregations in southern Illinois and south central Pennsylvania. He has a heart for walking with congregations and striving to be authentic communities that strive to love and serve our neighbors. Youth ministry is one of his great passions and he firmly believes it is an essential part of the life of the church, especially in how we welcome and guide the next generation of disciples. Pastor Chris feels most spiritually charged when he can connect to God in the beauty of creation. He loves to hike and wander taking in all of this beautiful world we live in. His other hobbies include games (no matter if it’s on a tabletop, a field, or on a console), drinking a great cup of coffee, and his continued joy since childhood, LEGO. 

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Jean Fugate
​Director of Ministries

Jean Fugate

Hi!  I’m Jean Fugate.  My husband Tom is a “charter member” here at Grace (I think he was 2 years old when he joined).  I’ve been a member since 1991.  Tom and I live in Grafton with our 3-year-old dog Sergeant Murphy (named after a favorite character in the Richard Scarry books).  Our oldest son Rob lives in Chicago, working remotely in the software industry.  Our younger son, Joe, lives in Madison.  He works remotely for an online apartment rental company.
Tom and I love visiting both Rob and Joe, spending time with Murphy, good food and time with one another.  We are happy our extended family lives close to us.  I enjoy cooking, arts and crafts, antiques and a good binge on Netflix or Prime.

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Brittany Lobner
​Youth Ministries Coordinator

Brittany Lobner

Hi! My name is Brittany Lobner, and I am excited to be the new Youth Ministries Coordinator here at Grace. I live with my family in Port Washington. My husband Dustin is a Senior Staff Materials Engineer with Kohler. My teenage daughter Ella attends the Grafton School District and is involved with several activities. My toddler Everett attends Nature School and loves anything related to the outdoors, music, or Mario Brothers. We also have a Siberian cat named Sundae (who is really Ella's cat and she just tolerates the rest of us). In our spare time we love camping, being outdoors, live music, and reading. 

Come see me for all youth related things:
    - Information on HYPE (High School age youth group)
    - Information on JYG (6th-8th grade youth group)
    - Information on KFC (3rd-5th grade youth group)
    - Confirmation questions and suggestions
    - Youth group volunteer opportunities
    - Youth group Mission trip questions
    - Social Media information or requests

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Cali Schwalbach
Children and Family Ministry Coordinator

Cali Schwalbach

My name is Cali Schwalbach, I grew up in the Appleton area but now live in Greenfield. I just finished my Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy this past Spring! I have worked full time for a specialty pharmacy for a little over two years fixing all the problems with insurances, billing, doctors' offices, etc. Although I work full time elsewhere, I am very happy to be working here at Grace as the Children and Family Ministry Coordinator. I always volunteered at my church back home with my four younger siblings so I’m excited to help Grace youth grow in their faith as well.

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Maria Haischer
Administrative Office Assistant

Maria Haischer

I recently moved back to my hometown of Port Washington with my husband and our son.  Though we live in Port Washington, Grafton has always had a special place in my heart as it is where my husband grew up.  People are my passion. Previously I worked for a hospice company where I was able to assist the staff and hospice families as an Office Manager and Executive Assistant.  I also hold a license in Cosmetology.  When I am not working you can find me with my family enjoying an outing at Wisconsin sporting events or enjoying the slopes in the winter! Family is everything to me and I am so excited to be joining the Grace family as the Administrative Office Assistant at this point in my life!

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Eryn Durlam
​Director of Music

Eryn Durlam

Eryn Durlam is the Director of Music at Grace. In this role, she oversees music planning and participation in worship. She is also the 8:00 service musician and co-directs and accompanies the Jubilation Choir. Eryn has been teaching music at Jackson Elementary since 2016, where she teaches Kindergarten through fourth grade general music and the fourth-grade choir.  Prior to returning to her home state of Wisconsin, Eryn taught K-8 elementary music and choir in Fresno, California, and several districts in Iowa.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Luther College and has done additional course work through Iowa State University and VanderCook College of Music.  Mrs. Durlam is also an accomplished collaborative pianist, having recently played for the NC/C-ACDA TTBB Choir and the Psalm Festivals at Mt. Carmel Church in Wauwatosa, and will be the pianist for the Wisconsin Junior Festivals of Music tour to Hawaii in 2024. ​

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Sharon Hatch
Music and Worship Team Leader

Sharon Hatch

I am Sharon Hatch, the leader of the worship band.  We play at the 10:30 service every Sunday.  Our team is made up of a few veteran musicians, like myself, and a few young people that are already very good at playing and/or singing.  Our worship style at the 10:30 service is contemporary Christian music. It is fun, upbeat and uplifting. It is important for the church to have a variety of worship styles so hopefully everyone can enter into worship in a way that suits them. I have been playing the piano in church since age 13 and have had the privilege of playing in numerous Christian denominations. For me, music is the best way to worship God, because music can have the power to move our soul closer to God. It allows us to experience moments of truly connecting our hearts and minds to Jesus.  That is where we can find perfect peace in a not-so-peaceful world.  
I have a bachelor's degree in music from the California Institute of the Arts and have devoted my musical career to serving in a worship capacity. I am grateful to serve at Grace Lutheran.  It is a happy and thriving body of believers.  

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Deb Donovan
Handbell Choir Director

Deb Donovan

​Deb Donovan is Grace's Handbell/Handchime Choir Director and has been directing our 3-4 octave handbell choir(s) since 2004.  Deb is also a registered nurse who has been providing sexual assault nursing care for over 30 years and currently is the Supervisor of the Forensic Nursing Program at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.

An Ozaukee county resident since 1992, Deb and husband Scott relocated to Cedarburg/Grafton in 2018.   As parents to 5 adult children and Grandparents to 8 grandchildren, spending time with family is a great love of ours.

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Arcelia Magana
Financial Administrator

Arcelia Magana

Arcelia is Grace’s Financial Administrator. 

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