Staff

Pastor Jeff Lehn
Senior Pastor/Head of Staff
jlehn@fpcw.org
847-256-3010 ext. 12

Jeff is grateful and excited to be serving First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette, where he was called as Pastor/Head of Staff in February 2017. Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he learned to cheer for the Twins and Vikings and ate way too many casseroles. Growing up, he attended a Baptist church with his family, but had a theological metamorphosis of sorts after college, eventually finding his way to the Presbyterian fold, where he felt he could love God with all his heart and all his mind. A few years later, he sensed God’s call to pursue pastoral ministry. He ended up at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he studied with a diverse and gifted group of students. After graduating, he served Highland Park Presbyterian Church (in Illinois) and then was called to First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Both Jeff and Arianne, his spouse and a fellow Presbyterian minister, had the opportunity to serve that congregation together. They have a daughter, Eden, and two sons, Simon and Noah. Jeff’s greatest joy in ministry is helping people be “fully alive” to the God who loves them and longs to see them flourish. He strives to “equip the saints” as together we bless our neighbors and share the light and life and love of God with them. In his free time, he enjoys reading, exercising, writing and the gratification of yard-work. For him, an evening of food and drinks and good conversation is a little slice of heaven.

Pastor Kara Smith-Laubenstein
Associate Pastor
ksmithlaubenstein@fpcw.org
847-256-3010

Reverend Kara Smith-Laubenstein graduated from Indiana University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts double major in Philosophy and Religious Studies and then obtained a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2008. She received the Jagow Award for Excellence in Preaching in 2006 and she is a Certified Stephen Minister. Prior to her ordination, Kara taught elementary school in Baltimore for two years, while working toward a master’s in teaching and early childhood education at Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, she has three years of experience as a Sunday School curriculum writer and editor.

Kara began working as an associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Wisconsin in 2014, and she was ordained in April of 2015. For the past seven years she has been Associate Pastor for Youth Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville. During that time, Kara has served as an executive member of the Chicago Presbytery’s Youth Ministries team and has served as a Group Leader for Montreat Conference Center’s summer youth retreats. She is married to Rev. Matthew Smith-Laubenstein, Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Libertyville and they have two daughters, Amelia and Charlotte.

Kara’s primary responsibilities center around children and youth ministries and congregational care/engagement. Kara feels called to “ministries of care, presence, and peace,” and she has gifts for pastoral care for individuals across the lifespan. She is an educator, and says “I love teaching, especially finding new ways to explain and explore familiar themes and concepts of the Christian faith.”

Rev. Dr. Lolly Dominiski
Parish Associate, Congregational Care
ldominski@fpcw.org

Lolly is delighted to return to fpcw in the role of Parish Associate.  In addition to being Interim Associate Pastor at fpcw from 2001-2002, Lolly has served in a variety of pastoral roles in the Chicago area, including at Morton Grove Community Church, Southminster Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Community Presbyterian Church of Lombard, and the mission agency Good News Partners.  Currently Lolly volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center in Blackhawk Presbytery.  She has been surprised to find that all of these jobs in the church have utilized her earlier background in marketing and business management!  Having earned an M.Div. at McCormick Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Lolly has a love for scripture and worship.  Her greatest joy in ministry is building relationships with parishioners and sharing in the ups and downs of life, both big and small.  Lolly and her husband Matt live in Winnetka with their dog Enzo.  They are blessed to have four children, and four grandchildren.

Peggy Massello
Director of Music Ministries
pmassello@fpcw.org
847-256-3010 ext. 16

Peggy Massello has had the honor of serving as director of Music Ministries and organist at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette for more than 12 years. With over 25 years of experience serving churches, Peggy loves involving many people of all ages and talents in the rich worship life at our church. She also holds a Masters of Sacred Music from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from DePauw University. Peggy lives in Deerfield and has two sons, Matthew and Adam.

Scott McElhenie
Director of Youth Ministries
youth@fpcw.org
847-256-3010 ext. 23

Scott became the Director of Youth Ministries in 2019.  He grew up at First Pres, sang with Singers and Ringers, attended Confirmation and participated in many Work Trips as a youth and then several years as a chaperone.  Scott has the heart for ministry and connects well to youth and their parents.  He’s excited to grow into this new role at First Pres!

Lindley Traynor
Director of Children’s Ministries
ltraynor@fpcw.org
847-256-3010 ext. 20

Lindley brings a unique set of skills and experiences and is passionate about teaching children about God’s love for them in creative, relevant and relational ways. Lindley is honored and excited to be stepping into the role of Director of Children and Family Ministry at First Pres, and thrilled to serve in this way, sharing faith and fellowship with the children of this church, and partnering with their parents as they raise their children in this faith community. Lindley’s teaching style is to engage with children, to question and to wonder with them, to explore who they are, who Jesus is, and who we are called to be in Christ. Lindley’s prayer is that each child in this church will grow up with a faith that flourishes and that they would know themselves to be beloved children of God

Jane Currie
Office and Communications 
office@fpcw.org
847-256-3010 ext. 106
Jane Currie joined the First Pres Wilmette staff in March 2023. She seeks to serve the church as a facilitator, information provider, and communicator. Jane lives in Evanston and enjoys books, needlework, and organizing anything.

Marvin Behm
Finance Manager
finmanager@fpcw.org
773-715-5649