Meet Our Staff
Lutheran Church of Christ the King is excited to welcome Rev. Jessie McKenzie!
I am so delighted to become part of the Lutheran Church of Christ the King ministry team. In that I am joining all of you, we are church and community together. We all contribute, sometimes in big ways and most often in the little ways we move through our days. I am a big believer in the Lutheran idea that we all have a vocation. Even retirees. However we live our daily lives, we are walking wet in the waters of baptism, and God’s grace is present in each of us. That makes a difference in a world that is hurting for love and mercy.
But this note is supposed to be introducing me. What are you getting? I am married to Maitland McKenzie. He is retired army and a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood. We live out in the woods on twenty acres. It is a beautiful and restful place to go home and be surrounded by God’s beautiful creation every day. I have two grown sons. One lives with his fiancée in Marysville, 2 and the other lives in Puyallup. I am bi-vocational. That means I spend part of my time working for an insurance agency in Tacoma where I insure businesses. I work hard at managing my time, but I also consider being bi-vocational to be a blessing, because it keeps me grounded in the daily hopes and challenges in the working world.
I was raised Church of Christ (non-instrumental). I became Lutheran when my first son was born. At that time I had been away from the church a few years, and I wanted to raise my children with faith. Since my husband at the time (who died in 2006 after a long illness) was Lutheran, I found a Lutheran congregation in the phone book and showed up the next Sunday and worshiped with that congregation the next twenty years.
I entered into the process to become a pastor as my sons were getting older and took a long road to ordination. I attended Seattle University’s School of Theology in Ministry and finished up my studies at Luther Seminary. Seattle U trained people for ministry from many different denominations, and there I developed relationships with many people serving in traditions other than my own. That carried over into my own call process where I was ordained by our own Bishop Jaech to serve as a part time pastor for St. Mary’s Episcopal. After that I was an intentional interim for the Methodist congregation in Rochester. Since leaving there I have been doing a lot of pulpit supply for Lutheran congregations. I am flexible in my worship style. I just want to see us offering our best to God.
I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and seeing where the Holy Spirit leads us together. God’s peace and joy bless you always. Pastor Jessie
But this note is supposed to be introducing me. What are you getting? I am married to Maitland McKenzie. He is retired army and a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood. We live out in the woods on twenty acres. It is a beautiful and restful place to go home and be surrounded by God’s beautiful creation every day. I have two grown sons. One lives with his fiancée in Marysville, 2 and the other lives in Puyallup. I am bi-vocational. That means I spend part of my time working for an insurance agency in Tacoma where I insure businesses. I work hard at managing my time, but I also consider being bi-vocational to be a blessing, because it keeps me grounded in the daily hopes and challenges in the working world.
I was raised Church of Christ (non-instrumental). I became Lutheran when my first son was born. At that time I had been away from the church a few years, and I wanted to raise my children with faith. Since my husband at the time (who died in 2006 after a long illness) was Lutheran, I found a Lutheran congregation in the phone book and showed up the next Sunday and worshiped with that congregation the next twenty years.
I entered into the process to become a pastor as my sons were getting older and took a long road to ordination. I attended Seattle University’s School of Theology in Ministry and finished up my studies at Luther Seminary. Seattle U trained people for ministry from many different denominations, and there I developed relationships with many people serving in traditions other than my own. That carried over into my own call process where I was ordained by our own Bishop Jaech to serve as a part time pastor for St. Mary’s Episcopal. After that I was an intentional interim for the Methodist congregation in Rochester. Since leaving there I have been doing a lot of pulpit supply for Lutheran congregations. I am flexible in my worship style. I just want to see us offering our best to God.
I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and seeing where the Holy Spirit leads us together. God’s peace and joy bless you always. Pastor Jessie
Zach Feely, Pianist
Zach joined our team the summer of 2019. Zach is a local music school teacher in the Puyallup school district and we are thrilled to have him on board! He is a master at the keys and his trumpet skills are legendary.
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Laurie Haakons, Music Director
Laurie has been choir director and music minister with youth since the 1980’s. Laurie taught music in the Puyallup school district for many years. Laurie has two sons and is an open-mike poetry-slam master. She can sing just about anything.
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Margaret O'Neal, Office Manager
Margaret has been a member of LCCK for many years and is currently serving as our office manager. We are very grateful for her knowledge and grace.
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