Our Team

Rev. Philip Trzynka, Pastor

Like so many other Lutherans, Pastor Phil hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana. His father was a Lutheran Pastor and parochial school teacher in Lanesville, Indiana, Sherwood, Ohio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Winthrop, Minnesota.

Pastor Trzynka attended St. Francis University, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1982 he entered Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and upon graduating, accepted a call to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Otto, MO. He also served at Immanuel, Olivette, MO, and Prince of Peace Lutheran, Farmington Hills, MI before he transferred to the ELCA and accepted a position as interim pastor at Mission Lutheran Church, Laguna Niguel, CA.

Pastor Phil's last call was to Trinity Lower East Side in December of 1999. He and his husband, Brett Henry, were married in October of 2006. They adopted a son, Joseph, in 2009. They live in Geneva, IL.

Pastor Phil accepted his call at Christ the Lord Lutheran, Elgin beginning November 6, 2017.

Jennifer Stoner - Activities Director

Jennifer Stoner, Activities Director, has been a member of CTL since 2004. The former elementary school teacher wears many hats as a Social Media Manager,Prop Designer for the theater program at Crystal Lake South High School, and Kane County Certified Naturalist. The best job, she’s ever held, however, is MOM to two amazing girls.

She and her wonderful husband, Ben, met while singing in Show Choir at Elgin Community College. He didn’t mention Star Wars at the time.

Carla Vanatta & Ron Vanatta-Music Directors

Your gift of music will be an added blessing at CTL! We have active handbell and vocal choirs Sept - May as well as Youth Song leaders. Instrumentalists of all kinds are welcomed to enhance hymns and liturgy and share solos or ensembles; likewise solos and small vocal groups, both for summer and year-round. Just let us know of your interest. If you can only participate occasionally, for a couple months or a season, we’d appreciate that too.

Part of music ministry is learning as we share life and faith together. Those who currently do not read music can still learn to participate in bells or vocal choir. Pianists who may be interested in learning organ are encouraged to contact Ron for an introduction. CTL is blessed with fine instruments for leading worship and many dedicated musicians who help one another along. Teamwork is part of the fun!

For our own training, Ron began playing piano about age 5 at the encouragement of his mother and by his teens was the organist for his Methodist church in Kaneville, Il. He accompanied many musical groups and individuals in high school and college and received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from No. Il. University in DeKalb, Il. In 1975 as an Organ Major. After graduation Ron taught General Music in the Warren, IL school district for a year before assuming the Organist position at Salem Lutheran Church in Sycamore. At Salem he also led the High School Youth and Bell Choirs, the Adult Bell Choir, and accompanied others. Attending to a long-held interest, Ron later studied with David Graham at NIU and became a registered Tuner-Technician with the Piano Tuner’s Guild and has had his own business tuning and repairing pianos since 1984. Ron and Carla’s tenure at Salem lasted 44 years to retirement, 1976-2020. Both have been active in the DeKalb County area as musicians for weddings or funerals.

Carla also pursued piano and organ as a youth but found her joy and best abilities in voice. She graduated from NIU in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Vocal Music. Carla led Choir at Bethany Baptist Church of Sycamore during college then joined Ron on staff at Salem Lutheran leading Children’s, Youth, and Adult Choirs , Musicals, and building an active Puppet Ministry from 2000 - 2020. Carla worked in seminary classes and became the first commissioned Associate in Ministry of the No. Il. Synod in 1995, the roster now known as Deacon. Besides music Carla had an active role in Pastoral Care and programming at Salem.

In semi-retirement, Ron and Carla began leading CTL music April 2026 and are appreciative of the congregation’s support and participation. Currently Bell Choir rehearses Fridays at Noon and Vocal Choir Sunday mornings at 8:15 a.m. Youth Songleaders rehearse Sunday before the service.