At WPLC we empower all people to be leaders in the congregation, bringing forth new ministries and ideas to engage the world and help others glimpse the work of God among us. Our paid staff help guide this process, along with the elected congregation council.
The Rev. Jason Glombicki, pastor and congregation president
Pastor Jason (gender pronouns: he/him – what’s this?) grew up in East Dundee, Illinois, with his parents, brother, and countless pet turtles. He majored in religion, biology, and pre-medicine at Augustana College, Rock Island and worked in Chicago as a homeless shelter case manager with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. He continued his education at both the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Yale Divinity School before receiving his Master of Divinity with a concentration in urban/metropolitan ministry. During his studies, he served in pastoral roles at Temple University’s Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministries and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Easton, Pennsylvania. Before coming to WPLC in December 2013, Pastor Jason worked as a hospital chaplain at Yale-New Haven Hospital specializing in pediatrics and palliative care. In the fall of 2019, Pastor Jason obtained a certificate in non-profit management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
His passions for ministry include historical liturgical worship, community engagement, administration, and for expansive ministries with marginalized groups (e.g., LGBTQIA+, women, BIPOC, and immigrants). His favorite Gospel is Luke, especially the story of the Good Samaritan, as it is a continual reminder to love God and to love and show mercy to others and ourselves. Its implications are complex and rich, and it shapes and informs Pastor Jason’s ministry.
In his spare time, Pastor Jason enjoys walking along the lake, hiking, playing with his cats, exploring new restaurants with his partner, the fine arts, and keeping up with current events.
Contact Pastor Jason at pastor@wickerparklutheran.org
Vicar Taylor Walker, pastoral Resident
Vicar Taylor (gender pronouns: she/her – what’s this?) was born in New England and grew up in upstate NY, two places where fall brings apples and winter brings salt. She didn’t know it, but these two things would become her litmus test for a place that feels like home.
Vicar Taylor graduated from Hollins University with a BS in Biology and a focus on ethnobotany, which is the study of how plants and people co-evolve and make communities together. She spent several years researching medicinal plants and small ancient creatures like mosses and liverworts, but there was this little voice that she couldn’t quite ignore calling her to ministry – to be the pastor she’d needed herself, as an anxious, queer, curious kid growing up in a conservative church in a complicated world. In 2018 she was a young adult volunteer with YAGM in Budapest, Hungary, where she fell in love with the God of costly grace and officially became a Lutheran. Vicar Taylor entered seminary the fall of 2019, which was just in time to serve as a chaplain intern at a level-one trauma center during the first summer of the pandemic in 2020.
Vicar Taylor’s guiding force in life – as a scientist, a Godly Play storyteller, and hopefully one day as a children and family pastor – is holy wonder. She feels particularly accountable to children in middle and late childhood, who are experiencing a profound disconnect between the beautiful world they were promised in Sunday school and the unstable, unsafe, scary one they’re living through now. Other ministry priorities include detangling church trauma, exploring sacred reading and theological imagination practices, and accompanying families with neurodiversity and developmental disabilities.
Vicar Taylor loves tomatoes (literally so much), cataloging stuff in excel, watching the T.V. show Psych, playing Settlers of Catan with her partner Paisley, and watching her cats frolic in the grass as if they were small wild panthers.
Contact Vicar Taylor at vicar@wickerparklutheran.org
Dr. Jordan Chua, church musician
Dr. Jordan (gender pronouns: he/him – what’s this?) has been a musician in the Chicago metropolitan area for over 15 years, serving as an ecclesial musician, music educator, and performer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music and philosophy from Loyola University Chicago and studied the sciences in Loyola’s postbaccalaureate program. Dr. Jordan was awarded a master’s in music education from VanderCook College of Music and completed a doctorate in education from Loyola University Chicago.
He enjoys reading literature by George R. R. Martin, Orson Scott Card, Margaret Atwood, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien; recreating by Lake Michigan; and playing with his baby niece. Jordan delights in working with both young and experienced musicians. Through his music ministry at WPLC, Jordan desires, as J. S. Bach affirmed, “. . . to give God the greater glory and refreshment to the soul.”
Contact Dr. Jordan at churchmusician@wickerparklutheran.org
Annette Aragon, Media and Worship Specialist (Sundays Only)
Annette (gender pronouns: she/her – what’s this?) was born and raised in the city of Chicago. She graduated from Hope College with a bachelors in Communications and a minor in Business. During her Sophomore year of college, her brother, Israel, was a victim of Chicago’s gun violence. This lead to her family creating the Israel’s Gifts of Hope Foundation where they work with families and victims throughout the city, advocating for more resources, fostering community between victims and their neighbors, and creating safe spaces for awareness.
In her spare time, Annette enjoys a good binge session with her latest shows. She is most happy when lounging with her pets, hanging out with her family, especially her niece Ariales, and connecting with her friends for their weekly girls nights. She loves hosting themed parties, meditation or painting activities, and jamming out to music from every decade. You can count on her as your karaoke partner any day!
Seminarian Nicholas Breining, Seminary Student
Seminarian Nicholas (gender pronouns: he/him – what’s this?) was born in Madison Wisconsin and grew up in La Crosse with his parents, Bob and Kris, sister, Serena, and black lab dog, Ladie. He acquired his BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Some of his previous work experience includes being a massage therapist, a family coach for youth labeled high risk as part of an intensive in-home treatment team, a manager at a homeless shelter, and the children and youth coordinator at the Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center, a ministry in the South Dakota Synod. Nicholas is currently studying for his M.Div. at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with an emphasis on Interfaith relations.
Among his passions for healing and justice, traveling and being a wanderer has taken Nicholas on adventures to Peru along with living in Portland Oregon, Jamestown Colorado, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. It was in Pine Ridge where he met his wife, Faye, and their cat, Sóta. It was there, among the Oglala Lakota people, where he felt the call to ministry. The Gospel of Matthew 11: 28-30, where Jesus beckons those who are weary and heavy burdened offering rest for our souls, has continuously been a source of comfort and inspiration for Nicholas.
Being in nature, listening to music, praying in a multitude of ways, writing, being around a fire, and engaging in these activities with his loved ones, and sometimes in solitude, are ways he likes to enjoy his days and nights.
Contact Seminarian Nicholas at nicholas.breining@lstc.edu
Evelyn Lopez, Nursery caregiver
Evelyn (gender pronouns: she/her – what’s this?) was born and raised in Chicago. She grew up with her older sister, a younger brother, her mother, and her grandparents. She’s always been really close to her family.
Evelyn graduated in May 2023 with her associates in early childhood education and is planning to continue her education in early childhood education and special education. She has always been interested in becoming a teacher. Ever since Evelyn was little, she asked to volunteer to help the younger children even though she was also learning. She has always had a passion for helping others. When Evelyn’s younger cousin was born, she started to spend her whole summer helping her cousin learn to read and write. After a while, she started to help more kids, and at eighteen, she started to work at a child care center. Evelyn started off as a floater helping the classrooms from infants to 5 years old. After six months, Evelyn was promoted to assistant teacher in the infant room and then, to lead teacher.
She adores all her children and enjoys all her time she spends with her past students and new students. Evelyn hopes to become the best teacher a child could ever ask for. During her free time, she spends time with her family or friends. She loves going to the gym and exploring. Evelyn has traveled to about twenty different places in Mexico! She hopes to keep exploring different parts of the world.
Contact Evelyn at nursery@wickerparklutheran.org