About Us | Staff
Office Hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
914 949-3577
The Rev. Eric A. Mathsen, Pastor
Pastor Mathsen was called to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on June 13th, 2004. He began his pastoral duties on August 1st of that year.Before coming to St. Matthew’s he was pastor of St. Thomas Church in the Bronx, New York, from 1986 to 2004. He served as assistant pastor of St. Thomas from 1981 to 1986. During his tenure at St. Thomas he also served as executive director and manager of Jonas Bronck Apartments for Senior Citizens, a 215 unit high-rise residence for retired persons – the chief social ministry of St. Thomas Church.A native of Minnesota, Pr. Mathsen graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1977, with a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano performance. He received his master of Divinity Degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1981, and was ordained on August 27th of that year.Pr. Mathsen’s wife, Rita, is a professional singer, voice teacher and church musician. They have two teenage children and live in White Plains, New York.
Joan Mohr, Director of Christian Education
Joan, a native of White Plains, has taught children of all ages for many years. She began her duties as Director of Christian Education in December 2007. She was ordained a parish deacon on October 26, 2008. She is also a private tutor. Joan has a creative and fun-loving spirit that she likes to share with all people she meets.
Dr. Owen Borda, Director or Music
Owen Borda has served as pastoral musician to communities of faith in the New York Metropolitan area for over 30 years. He holds degress from Long Island University, Kent State University and recently completed his PhD at the Union Institute and University. In addition, he has undertaken a wide range of studies in liturgical practice and music. A person of faith, he finds the deepest expression of God's love through music and shares that experience of wonder and praise with the congregation.
Dr. Christopher Cooley, Organist/Pianist
Christopher Cooley holds degrees in Piano Performance from Florida State University, the University of Texas-Austin, and a doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music. As a soloist, he has played with the University of Texas Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Florida, and the Musica Bella Orchestra of New York. As an accompanist, he has served as a staff pianist at Opera Lirica (Orvieto, Italy), Centro Studi Italiani (Urbania, Italy), Ibla Grand Prize Competition (Sicily) in which he was also a winner, the Austrian-American Mozart Academy (Austria), Opera Ischia (Forio, Italy), and the Piatigorsky Seminar for Cellists (L.A.). He has played with various instrumental and vocal soloists in Italy, Germany, Austria, England, Russia, South Africa, Japan, and Korea, as well as Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall. Since 2006, Mr. Cooley has collaborated regularly with renowned soprano Lauren Flanigan on music written specifically for her by composers from Stephen Schwartz to Thomas Pasatieri. They have performed together at numerous venues, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Café Sabarsky’s Cabaret series at the Neue Gallerie, and the George London Foundation Recital Series at the Morgan Library. In Opera News Joanne Lessner wrote, “Pianist Christopher Cooley did a superb job, playing dependably and colorfully, always keenly aware of Flanigan’s dramatic intentions.”
Teresa Tomas, Administrative Assistant
Teresa has been the administrative assistant since December 2005. She is the mother of three and speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish.
Oh, how very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.
Pslam 133
