Our Staff
Pastor Jeremy Ullrich
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Rev. Jeremy Ullrich was installed as new pastor at St. John Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 14, 2021. Rev. Heath Abel of Temple presided. Pastor Ullrich grew up in Brenham, Texas, and attended Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas, where he met his future wife Amanda Schnelle Ullrich. After graduating from TLU, the Ullrichs both attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Ullrichs come to Bartlett from Lubbock, where he served as Pastor of Shepherd King Lutheran Church in Lubbock and she served as Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Levelland and St. Martin Lutheran Church in Littlefield. The Ullrichs have three children, Joel, age 4, Lydia, age 2 and Susanna, who was born the day after Christmas.
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Church Secretary Retha Shepherd
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Retha Shepherd is Church Secretary at St. John. As such she is the initial point of contact between the church and the rest of the world. She handles church correspondence, maintains files and records, prepares the worship bulletins and the monthly newsletter, and handles a multitude of other duties to keep St. John's ministry running smoothly.
She took over this position in February of this year, after a long and successful career as a Medical Administrative Assistant at Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Temple. She holds an Associates Degree in Business from Temple College and was a member of the National Honor Society and Who's Who in America's High School students in high school. Retha and her husband are long-time members of St. John, where Retha has served as Sunday School Superintendent. Retha says she has a wonderful daughter, Melanie, who is married to awesome son-in-law Larry Newbrough. In her spare time, she loves to scrapbook and do crafts, and is a member of a monthly scrapbook club. And she loves to go Glamping. |
Organist Debra Janke Caldwell
Born and raised in rural Bartlett, Debra began her music career in 1962 when she was in the second grade. Miss Eileen Sides was her piano teacher for three years. After Miss Sides married and moved to Ohio, Mrs. Bracher, the wife of the current pastor in 1965, offered to give Debra organ lessons. Debra studied the technique of pedals and pipes and began performing solos during the offertories and communion services at St. John, Bartlett. She continued her studies after graduating from high school and college. Debra returned to Bartlett in 1983 and became the supply organist at St. John Lutheran Church. Later, Prince of Peace Lutheran in Thrall, Texas, needed a full-time organist so Debra filled the position as their choir director and organist from 1998-2001.
Her love for playing the pipe organ at her home church was given new expression when she interviewed for the position of organist at St. John in 2016 and was selected to serve as full-time organist for the 137-year-old congregation. Debra currently teaches English at Bartlett High School where she graduated in 1971. She attended Temple College 1971-1973 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1975. She obtained her Masters Degree in Education from UMHB in 1989.
Psalm 100 (KJV)
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.
Her love for playing the pipe organ at her home church was given new expression when she interviewed for the position of organist at St. John in 2016 and was selected to serve as full-time organist for the 137-year-old congregation. Debra currently teaches English at Bartlett High School where she graduated in 1971. She attended Temple College 1971-1973 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1975. She obtained her Masters Degree in Education from UMHB in 1989.
Psalm 100 (KJV)
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.