Pastor Alex came to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on January 10th. Originally from Wisconsin (huge Packers fan), and never having been to the UP before, Alex feels quite close to his new surroundings, “My grandfather was from Escanaba, so this actually feels like a homecoming.” Living in Marquette, Alex is excited to lean into winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and he’s already excited for summer when he can get back on the tennis and pickleball courts. An avid coffee drinker, you will most likely see Alex at our local coffee shops, writing sermons, reading books, and meeting up with anyone who wants to chat.
   Pastor Alex received his MDiv from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. After serving his first call in Chicago, he took a position in ELCA Global Missions. Serving in Southern Africa, Tanzania, and finally Kenya, he returned home during the pandemic and finished his time virtually as a Pastor in Nairobi. Coming back and working in the states again, Alex is excited to be working at Prince of Peace. Alex loves preaching and is excited to visit members and hear their stories. Alex has a past in youth and camp ministry. He's excited for, “an opportunity to serve youth at a time when they have to find themselves and decide who they are and what they need to go forward in life.“ Alongside serving Prince of Peace, Alex hopes to continue making the church a partner in the community work of Harvey and the surrounding area, connecting with other churches and community groups.

Cathy Moilanen, Music Director

   Cathy Moilanen has a bachelor’s degree in Music Ed with additional classroom endorsements to teach in the regular classroom. She has a total of seven years of college. Cathy taught in Marquette and Negaunee schools for over 30 years. This includes orchestra (all levels), elementary classroom, elementary and middle school general music, and middle school choir. In her spare time she provides private lessons (45 years and counting) in cello, violin, viola, bass, piano, and guitar. She plays the accordion and ukulele for her own entertainment. “I like to play music for my church. God gave me the desire to play, placed me into a family of church musicians and gave me this gift.”
     To unwind and relax, Cathy creates puppets of all sorts, and then she writes plays to bring them to life. The puppets live in her home along with her husband Wayne (who can fix anything and drive anything). They have a dog named Hershey who gives calorie-free kisses. Her daughters live in the U.P., so she does not travel much. Did we mention she also has grand kids? If you beg, she will probably show you pictures.   

Carol Ontto, Church Secretary

 Carol is a native Yooper who grew up in a four-bedroom farmhouse in McFarland, Michigan. Four bedrooms seems like a large house, but she shared it with two older brothers, three cousins, a grandmother, and both parents. All that was missing was John-Boy.
   Her first two years of education were in a one-room schoolhouse in Turin Township before moving on to Rock Public Schools. In 1982, Carol graduated from NMU with an Office Administration degree.
   Carol loves baking and worked as a baker for several years until she was hired by Prince of Peace in 2000. In 2008 she took a job at Grace Lutheran Church in Gwinn to be closer to her parents, but returned to Marquette after six years to work at Third Street Bagel. Did we mention she liked baking? In 2020 her old job at Prince of Peace opened up and she jumped at the chance.

 The love of her life is a ten year old Beagle/Basset hound named Frankie. In the summer they spend their free time at the beach and in the winter they play in the snow. Carol enjoys knitting, crafting, reading, baking, and wandering around Marquette County. She became a rock hound in her youth and never outgrew it. She has found numerous agates and “Yooper lights” and is now in search of those elusive Petoskey stones.