Leadership

Pastor Danielle McCleary 

St. Matthew is happy to welcome Pastor Danielle McCleary to our congregation. Pastor Danielle began her call on September 1, 2021. 
​
​Pastor Danielle can be reached at stmattsecpastor@gmail.com

About Pastor Danielle  

Pastor Danielle McCleary is a Virginia native who has had a passion for history from a young age. Growing up Lutheran, it did not take her long to get involved with Virginia synod youth events. Through attendance at these events, she began to hear her call to ministry. She graduated from Roanoke College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Christian Studies. Following undergrad studies, she attended United Lutheran Seminary, formerly known as Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where she received her Masters of Divinity. During her time in Pennsylvania, she served a year-long vicarship in Easton, Pennsylvania at St. John's Lutheran Church. She also served at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, as well as a hospital chaplain for a summer at St. Lukes's University Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Pastor Danielle and her wife Kimberly were married in 2020 and they have a lovable cat named Lito. In her free time, you can find Pastor Danielle listening to music at live events, going into NYC to explore, and enjoying nature.

Karyn Lusskin, Music Director 

Karyn’s parents encouraged a love of music from the time she was born. Her love blossomed as the years went by and she began piano lessons at age nine. At 14 Karyn started playing the organ at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in North Bergen and remained in that position until she graduated high school. After earning her degree in English at the University of Chicago, she moved back to Secaucus to attend law school and became the assistant organist at St. Matthews. Karyn took a short hiatus from the organ to raise her two daughters, but became St. Matthew’s full- time organist and director of music in 2011.
 
Karyn’s goals when selecting music for weekly services is to find music that enhance that week’s sermon and lessons to help the Congregation feel closer to Jesus. She focuses on inclusion and chooses the music that emphasizes the love and acceptance of people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures in the hope that these ideas continue as people leave the Sanctuary.
 
Karyn is also an attorney with her own practice in Secaucus. Some of her hobbies include travelling, reading, theatre and learning about Tudor England. She loves being with her family and spending time with her cats Titus and Luna.
​ 
Please contact Karyn if you have any questions regarding music at St. Matthews or have a request!
Mrs. Karyn can be reached at klusskin@yahoo.com
​