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Senior Pastor Dana Runestad |
Senior Pastor - Rev. Dana RunestadPastor Runestad earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with majors in vocal music and elementary education. She received a Master's Degree in Music Theater from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She earned the Master of Divinity Degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois. Pastor Runestad was ordained in September 1986 in the Lutheran Church in America, a predecessor body to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She was installed as our lead Pastor at Holy Cross in November of 2004. Pastor Dana (Dana rhymes with banana), as she prefers to be called, has previously served at various ELCA churches and one Episcopal Church, from Ida to Detroit to Ann Arbor and in between as Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Interim Pastor. She interned in Washington DC in a congregation north of the White House, at an inner city hospital, and at a social service agency blocks from the capitol. Pastor Dana, a resident of Plymouth, Michigan, is married to Barry Rabe, Professor of Environmental Policy in the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. They have two sons, Andy and Matt. Our pastor enjoys music and singing, traveling with her family, hiking, and reading. Pastor Dana welcomes all visitors to join in Sunday worship services at 8 and 10 a.m. Pastor is leading us into the next chapter of our congregation's life with her knowledge, kindness, compassion, sense of humor, and trust in God's presence and guidance. She has a passion for leading others into a life of faith that integrates doubts and questions and builds on them, and a passion for unleashing the untapped energy in the spiritual gifts of others so that service becomes fulfillment. Email Pastor Dana Runestad |
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Michelle Long |
Sexton & Office Assistant - Michelle LongMichelle is responsible for maintaining the building, the church and the Sunday school rooms in tip top condition. Our Church is her pride and joy! She sets up the hall for events and has even been known to create beautiful chalk drawings for Vacation Bible School sets! Michelle goes the extra mile to assist the property committee with special things, like taking on "extra projects" like painting the walls, just to make things look better at church. She assists in the office on a daily basis, makes signs, records attendance into our church database, oversees mailings and is very helpful with designing and making posters. Michelle assists Pastor Dana and also prepares the weekly bulletins and announcements and handles hall rentals. If you have something that you would like in the announcement pages, or is of interest to Holy Cross, please email her. She is very artistic and precise in her work. Michelle lives in Livonia, MI and her spare time is devoted to her beloved bull terriers and is very active the local Bull Terrier Club of Metro Detroit. What a blessing it is to have Michelle on staff. Email Michelle |
Michael Burkhardt |
Director of Worship and Fine Arts - Michael BurkhardtMichael Burkhardt joined the staff of Holy Cross Lutheran Church as Director of Worship and Fine Arts. His primary responsibilities include mentoring the choir and musicians of the parish as well as the student music interns, working with the Sunday School children, and developed a Children’s Choral and Fine Arts Program for Holy Cross and the surrounding community, known as hearts, hands and voices. Monday Night "hearts, hands and voices" has been established for school children in the community at Holy Cross, under the leadership of MIchael Burkhardt. It is a weekly program for children (grades 2-7) . It begins with a light supper followed by singing and related instrumental experiences, and runs during the school year. In addition to his work at Holy Cross Dr. Burkhardt is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, organ recitalist, and hymn festival leader throughout the United States and abroad. Locally, he is also the Director of the Detroit Handbell Ensemble. Michael is a graduate of Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. He earned his M.M. degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, and his D.M.A. degree from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Dr. Burkhardt is author of Part-Singing Global Style, a resource focusing on sequential part-singing techniques in treble arrangements of global pieces, and author of Singing with Understanding, a curriculum utilizing the great hymns, folksongs and spirituals of the Church to share faith stories and to teach the elements of music and worship. He is composer of two settings of the Eucharistic liturgy, A New Song and Missa St. Andrew, as well as numerous organ improvisations, choral octavos and handbell compositions, available through MorningStar Music Publishers of St. Louis, MO. Email Michael |
Barbara Myers |
Organist and Choir Director - Barbara MyersBarbara Myers has been the full time organist and choir director since 1971, after assisting part time for several years. Originally from Morral, Ohio, Barb and has been a member of Holy Cross along with her family since 1967. Barb has a Bachelor of Music Education from Capital University in Columbus, OH with a major in instrumental music and minor in voice and piano. Barb recently retired from her full time job as a paralegal. Barb works part time at Holy Cross. Music is her love! Having taught private piano and clarinet lessons, Barb has also accompanied the Livonia Youth Choir and other high school solo and ensemble participants. Through the years at Holy Cross, she has played at many weddings, and also led high school, youth and cherub choirs at Holy Cross. Barb started the handbell program at Holy Cross and arranges for other special instrumental music though out the church year. Barbara is also blessed with a beautiful solo soprano voice, and we get to hear her sing at various times of the year. She serves a very important role on our Worship and Music committee and is very enthusiastic about the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) Hymnal. Email Barb |
In Loving Memory of Debbie Frank “Rest eternal– grant her, O Lord, and let "We miss you. You are at home and in peace |
a tribute to our Handbell Choir Director - Debbie FrankDebbie has been our handbell choir director since 1993. Deb took over the handbell program at Holy Cross and arranged for the handbell music and led practices though out the church year. She worked for Holy Cross part time. Debbie was very enthusiastic and serious about handbells and music. Deb was also an accomplished solo handbell ringer and also rang with the Detroit Handbell Ensemble. The five octaves of English Handbells and the hand chimes were purchased with Memorial Funds for the enjoyment of all church members and ringers. Under Deb's direction, some of our ringers have performed in quartets, duets and even solos, ringing at several weddings and private performances. Some have attended the handbell conferences of AGEHR, The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, where they attended workshops, learned more techniques and participated in mass ringing with hundreds of other ringers. Deb has been a member of Holy Cross since 1989. She had a Master's in Social Work from Wayne State University in MI with studies in vocal music. Through the years at Holy Cross, she has also led youth bell and chime choirs. She resided in Livonia, MI. Deb was a licensed social worker. She retired from state employment in 2002 and later retired from Courtyard Manor in Wixom where she worked as a consulting psychiatric social worker. Since her recent retirement, she has been enjoying directing the bell choir and assisting with the "Hearts, Hands and Voices" program at Holy Cross. In her spare time, Debbie enjoyed her house full of pets, boating, fishing and gardening. |
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