Leadership

Pastor Matt Anderson

Pastor Matt Anderson

Pastor

I am thrilled to be CLC’s fifth senior pastor, having started in January 2023. My wife Becky and I and our two children moved from the High Desert, where I served as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Victorville for the past nearly 10 years. My education includes an M.Div. from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena and additional studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. A passion for scripture is what first drew me into ministry, and I have long been interested in gospel-centered worship for the 21st century (you can find some of my music projects at worshipindepth.com.) I also love to connect with folks for great conversation about what most interests them in their spiritual lives.

To that end, I am continuing my "South OC Tour” to connect in-person with as many folks as I can. I would love to meet at your home, at church, for a walk, at a coffee shop, or at your favorite place for lunch! However you would like to do so, I look forward to connecting with you and getting to know your passions and a bit of your story. Call the office or email me, and we’ll work out a time to meet soon.

If you’re not currently active at CLC, I invite you to join us for worship to experience this great community first-hand! I would also love to get together and chat about whether this might be a good fit to become your church home. Hope to see you soon.

pastormattclcrsm@gmail.com

Josiah Canto

Josiah Canto

Director of Youth & Family Ministry

Josiah was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, and when he turned two moved to China and spent the next five years doing missionary work with his parents. He graduated from California Lutheran University with a degree in Christian Leadership and Theology with an emphasis in Youth and Family Ministry, minoring in English. Josiah has served as Director of Youth and Family Ministry since 2015. In this role he provides vision, leadership and coordination for ministries of faith formation and discipleship for youth and their families within the congregation, and intentional outreach to youth in the community. The core of this ministry is building and strengthening relationships between young people and Jesus, their peers, significant adult mentors and parents. Josiah loves to play the guitar, read, watch movies and play basketball.

Josiahclcrsm@gmail.com

Julie Mortenson

Julie Mortenson

Administrative Assistant

Julie was born on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She has lived in Madison, Atlanta, Georgia, and Ames, Iowa before Julie, her parents and her brother Paul finally settled in Mission Viejo, California to escape Midwestern winters. She attended Capistrano Valley High School. She went on to study at the University of California at Irvine where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History. Julie has a daughter, Elizabeth Conner, who currently resides in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Julie enjoys a good cheeseburger, good food, food culture and history, tourist traps, and other unique travel locations. She enjoys many modes of transportation such as trains, planes, and ships. Julie likes travel shows and her current favorites are those presented by Rick Steves and Huell Houser.

Julieclcrsm@gmail.com

Sara Lehman

Sara Lehman

Director of Music and Worship Arts

Sara was born to choir director parents and attended her first choral rehearsal in their arms when she was just one week old. She sang her heart out and discovered her passion in her first operetta at age six, as well as placing in her first Baroque Festival piano competition. Sara continued competing frequently on the semi-national level throughout her youth and went on to student-direct for the Fountain Valley High School choirs. Sara earned her bachelor’s degree studying vocal and piano performance at Chapman University, then completed a graduate music teaching credential at Concordia University which included a choral directing internship. A highlight of her career was making music with Dr. Marin Jacobson as a professional accompanist at Concordia. Sara is currently completing a second graduate program in Educational Leadership for Faith-Based Organizations at California Baptist University. Her heart comes alive in seeing God’s beauty and sharing it with her four cherished children and her beloved community—making a joyful noise to the Lord, serving with gladness, and coming into God’s presence with singing!

Saraclcrsm@gmail.com

Randy Kniffin

Randy Kniffin

Treasurer

Randy has been a member at CLC since 2016. He is father to Garret, Jack, and Reagan, and has been married to Mandy since 2007. He is currently Managing Director of Program Trading at Dash Financial in Chicago, waking up early each day to work remotely from Southern California. He has been an equities/options trader since 2007, and has worked in the financial markets since 1996. Randy attended the College of DuPage and DePaul University in Illinois, studying Journalism and Finance. We are thrilled to have Randy’s financial expertise and servant
heart in this position!

randy.clcrsm@gmail.com

2023 Church Council

Patricia Mulhaupt,
President

Elke Hirschman,
Vice President
Youth & Family

Christy Riley,
Secretary
Stewardship

Cindy Hilburn
Parish Life

Steve Kos
Parish Education

Kathie Pfeiffer
Outreach

Wendy Pospichal
Forward Planning

Deborah Sundberg
Worship & Music

Randy Thompson
Property