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Welcome to Atonement! We are a community of believers who gather in the name, wonder, and power of Jesus Christ. Our name, Atonement, speaks to the reconciliation Christ offers to us. We seek to live that reconciliation in our relationships at home, work, school, community, and especially here, as a community of faith, where we practice living in God's amazing grace. We are glad you have chosen to visit us and we encourage you to explore this site to get an idea of who we are and how we live out our faith. There is, however, no better way to get to know us than to worship alongside us or participate in one of our many activities. You are welcome to come join us any time. We are confident that God's Spirit is at work and certain that God's heart is inclined towards you in grace and in love.

Welcome! God's joy, peace and blessings be yours!

Pastor Debra Engquist


 
 

Music Ministries
 
  Senior Pastor:
Pastor Debra Rex Engquist (ext. 1)

Reverend Debra Engquist has served as senior pastor at Atonement since 2001. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in Economics, and received her Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary. She is currently a participant in a three-year pastor/theologian program through the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton.

Pastor Debra lives with her husband, Mike Rex, in Lafayette. Their extended family includes three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, two dearly loved grandchildren, and one greyhound.

 



  Director of Music, Worship, & Outreach:
Timothy Snyder (ext. 4)

Tim Snyder joined the staff of Atonement as Director of Music in 1999 after serving on the faculties of Connecticut College and the Yale School of Music. His interest in sacred music of all types produces exquisite musical offerings to the worship services.

Tim has been the conductor of the Boulder Chorale since 2000. Active as a composer, his choral works are performed and recorded by some of the nation’s leading choirs.

 



  associate Director of music:
Nate Maki (ext. 3)

Nate joined the staff at Atonement as Associate Director of Music in June of 2007. He graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on church music and a minor in theology. He has been leading congregations in worship since he was a freshman in high school.

Nate married his wife Ann on June 16, 2007. In addition to working at Atonement Nate works full time for Great Lakes Airlines as a ramp service agent at Denver International Airport. When he’s not working he enjoys flying, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

 



  organist & carillon choir director:
Gerri Leuthi (ext. 3)

Born in west Texas but becoming a Coloradoan at the age of three, Gerry claims the Denver-Boulder area as home. Her early exposure to music came through her church, and her focus has remained there, where hymnology, choral music, and instrumental performing all fit together.

Handbells became an "addiction" in the early 1990's when Gerry formed the Laudate Ringers of First Baptist Church and learned along with them. Her husband is a ringer, and together they have formed Flagstaff Publishing, dedicated to publishing "not your usual" handbell music.

Gerry has served as pianist/organist at several area chuches, including many years at First Baptist. She joined the staff at Atonement in April 2007.

 



  Director of Children's music:
Kathy Stith (ext. 3)

 

 

 

 



  Church secretary:
Cheryl Webb (ext. 0)

Cheryl Webb is the reason most things get accomplished at Atonement. Her smiling face has greeted people here since 1998. Before joining the staff at Atonement, Cheryl was employed at the library at CU and the offices of a private eye, engineers, and architects - in that order.

Cheryl grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, moving to Colorado in 1972. She and her husband, Mark, live in Louisville. They have two grown children. Cheryl makes a pilgrimage to New Orleans each spring to attend the Jazz & Heritage Festival.

 



  office receptionist (part-time):
Teddy Snyder (ext. 0)

Theodora (Teddy) Snyder initially worked for the Billy Graham Association and also a large inner-city church in Minneapolis. She retired 3 years ago after a 30-year career with the Social Security Administration, having worked her way from entry-level clerk to manager of the Fort Collins office.

Teddy and her husband, Chuck, are from northwestern Kansas. Her hobbies include reading and music; being part of the Boulder Chorale is one of her greatest joys. As a semi-retired couple, they spend lots of time searching for wonderful rare/used books for Chuck's small business in Fort Collins. They have one son, Tim, and a very old hound dog named Benson

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Music Ministries
ADULT EDUCATION CHAIR:   Bob Matheson
CHildhood education chair:  
CHURCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT:   Doug Lenser
CHURCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT-ELECT:  
CHURCH COUNCIL SECRETARY:   Andreas Beuschel
CONGREGATIONAL CARE CHAIR:   Pauline Farrow
EVANGELISM/OUTREACH CHAIR:    
FINANCIAL SECRETARY:   John Erickson
MUSIC CHAIR:   Seth Raymond 
NEWSLETTER EDITOR & WEBMASTER:   Cherie McCandless
PARISH LIFE CHAIR:  
PARISH NURSE:   Pauline Farrow
PROPERTY & GROUNDS CHAIR:   Mary Jenson
SOCIAL MINISTRY CHAIR:  
STEWARDSHIP CHAIR:  Clem Meas
TREASURER:  Dale Roy
WORSHIP CHAIR:   Elizabeth Raymond
WORSHIP COMMUNICATIONS:   Dorothea Steinke
YOUTH CHAIR:  Lynette Schulz

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Music Ministries

In 1960, the Board of American Missions of the newly formed The American Lutheran Church voted to establish a congregation in Boulder. The Boulder church was one of nineteen TALC "Jubilee" congregations established that year, each named "Atonement". In May of 1961, three acres of land at the corner of Baseline Road and Inca Parkway were purchased.

Atonement's first worship service was held in December 1961 at Burke Elementary School with 116 baptized members. Services continued at Burke School until the new church building was dedicated on May 27, 1962.

The building grew with the membership. Pews replaced folding chairs and classrooms were added in 1966. Another expansion occurred in 1968 with the addition of an over-flow space. Groundbreaking for a new sanctuary and additional classrooms took place in 1980; the cornerstone of the sanctuary was laid in January 1981. When The American Lutheran Church merged with two other church bodies to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) in 1988, Atonement became a congregation of the ELCA and the Rocky Mountain Synod.

From its founding, Atonement has been a church of community outreach and service. Its commitment to social action includes much more than money. Atonement members participate in a myriad of community programs throughout the year.

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