Jeff Kidder has led Messiah’s Music Ministry since 1991. He is grateful for his family heritage of music and Christian worship, which provided roots for his own ministry and faith renewal, rekindled when he began attending Messiah in 1989. Jeff's main work is to plan and lead music for Sunday worship and other services, working closely with Paul Johnson (Music Minister, organ/keyboard). Jeff directs the Festival Choir, serves on the Worship Arts Committee and coordinates music and worship for the community, offering resources and supporting activities in a variety of contexts (adults, youth and children, small groups, etc.). 

Jeff also offers music ministry in other contexts in ECMN and in his neighborhood, including Shobi's Table food truck and Recovery Cafe Frogtown.

Jeff is married to Kristen (who first brought him to Messiah), teaches private guitar students, enjoys performing for special events, spending time with his grown sons and grandchildren, bicycling and other outdoor recreation.

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Paul has been a music minister at Messiah since 2004 and Youth Director since 2018.  Paul's happy place is driving a 15 passenger van full of teenagers on an adventure (really!) and is passionate about seeing youth become lifelong disciples of Jesus. He plays keyboard instruments, leads vocals, and partners with Jeff Kidder in the leadership of Messiah's Music Ministry.  His wife Libby grew up attending Messiah. They have three boys, Gibbie, Ezra, and William. He is also an award-winning fine art photographer and a coffee enthusiast. Paul is a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church and a seminarian at Nashotah House Theological Seminary.

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Jen is new to Messiah and so grateful to be here. Jen is an enthusiastic learner and enjoyer of Scripture, people, and ministry work. She has a master’s degree in education specializing in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and spent about a decade teaching ESL in Lima, Peru; Boston, MA; Reston, VA; and St. Paul, MN as well as writing local and national curricula. She earned a master’s degree in 2022 in Biblical and Theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary and is currently finishing her Master of Divinity degree from the same seminary. She and her husband, David, have two children: Caroline and Joshua plus a crazy puppy named Bob Weir. Jen delights in the creativity and rhythms of children’s ministry and is excited to participate in the discipleship of children at Messiah.

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Kristen has been a member at Messiah for almost 40 years.  She's recently retired, but is happy to take on this interim position to support Messiah during this time of staff transition.  She is gifted with being able to see the big picture while also understanding the details of what it takes to accomplish intended outcomes.  Her faith is fueled by regular times in prayer and scripture, small group participation, and listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance.  

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The connections coordinator responds to callers, congregation, and clergy, compiles reports, assists in financial record keeping, and provides support for ministries. Karen and her family came to Messiah in 1999 and she started in her current position at the beginning of 2018. Karen worked in the Registration Office of the Extension School at the University of Minnesota for a number of years before being an assistant to Edith Schaeffer and later homeschooling her children. Karen lives in Saint Paul and loves spending time on the North Shore. She is an avid reader of literature and participates in two book groups.

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