Meet the Pastors

Senior Pastor

Beth Ann Stone

Pastor Beth Ann Lechtenberger Stone began her ministry at Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church as Senior Pastor in September 2018.

She had previously served congregations in Pennsylvania and Nebraska, and as an Assistant to the Bishop in the Upper Susquehanna Synod (north-central PA). Pastor Beth Ann is passionate about connecting with new people, helping us ask deeper questions, and being open to the work of God’s Spirit among us.

She graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio (Master of Divinity) and St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN (BA in Literature), and is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Her husband, Karl-John, is also an ELCA pastor. They are the parents of two sons and the humans of two dogs, Hudson and Moxie. She likes to spend time with her family, read, sing, and travel.

pastorbethann@mplc.us

Associate Pastor

Nathan Pratt

Pastor Nathan Pratt began his ministry at Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church as Associate Pastor in January 2025. This is his first call as an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament. He had previously served congregations as a candidate for ordination, spending a year as a vicar (a role similar to that of a student teacher) of eight congregations partnered in ministry as the Tri-County Lutheran Parish of the Upstate New York Synod. He is passionate about nurturing the spiritual formation of God’s children of all ages and helping the church connect with its neighborhood.

He graduated from United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia PA (Master of Divinity) and from Indiana University in Bloomington IN (Bachelor of Music Education), his hometown.

His wife, Sierra, is an accountant specializing in nonprofit auditing and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), one of the full communion partners of the ELCA. Avid lovers of the great outdoors, they have hiked the entire length of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (2200 miles) and have visited nearly 100 official units of the National Park Service. They have an energetic dog named Titus, who hiked with them for about a quarter of the AT but now is mainly interested in peanut butter.

pastornathan@mplc.us

Meet the Staff

Coordinator for Children & Family Ministry & Parish Coordinator

Becky Litwin

Becky wears two hats on our church staff. Hers is the voice you’ll most often hear when you call the church office. She keeps the place running by taking care of dozens of unseen tasks every week.

As Parish Coordinator, Becky stewards the ministries of Volunteer Coordination, Reception, Worship Prep and Hospitality.

As Coordinator for Children & Family Ministry she manages our Sunday School and programs for elementary age students, “littles”, and their parents.

Becky has an associate’s degree in early childhood education, and twenty years of experience working with children. She is married with two young adult children, and has been a member of MPLC since 2008.

becky@mplc.us

Business Manager

Jessica Sexton

Jessica is the Business Manager for MPLC and handles questions regarding one’s own giving, Realm access, MPLC’s building, and other business and staff-related matters. She began her administration and management career in the healthcare field for about 14 years.

After taking a year break from the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom she is now glad to be serving the church’s mission and community.

She grew up in the Racine area and currently lives in Kenosha with her husband, two daughters, and dog Chance. She finds joy in going on adventures with her family, reading, or walking her dog.

jessica@mplc.us

Elaine Bio Photo_edited_edited_edited.jp

Communications Director

Elaine Martin

As MPLC's part-time Communications Director, Elaine shares stories of God's impact through and with our congregation. She coordinates our print, digital, and social media, and promotes MPLC to the larger community.

Elaine has a diverse background and has worked in graphic arts, publishing, human services and healthcare. She holds a BA in Human Services from Upper Iowa University as well as two associate degrees from Milwaukee Area Technical College.

In her free time Elaine loves taking nature walks, reading, and going to see community plays with her sisters. Elaine lives with her cat who is fascinated with moving traffic and

loves to go for car rides.

elaine@mplc.us

Minister of Music

Dr. Dimitri Shapovalov

Dimitri Shapovalov has been active in the Kenosha/Racine as a musicologist, pianist, and choral director shortly after accepting a music professorship at Carthage College in 2005.

As a choir director and clinician, Shapovalov has directed the A. F. Siebert Chapel Choir and the Kenosha Choral Arts Society/Kenosha Chamber Choir, Carthage Treble Choir, and the Carthage Choir. He is a regular clinician at the annual Lakeside Choral Festival at Carthage, which hosts over 1000 aspiring choral singers from many high schools over the period of several days in the fall.

Shapovalov’s other professional interests include historical musicology, pedagogy in music literacy, composition, and computer science. Dimitri picked up the baton as MPLC’s Minister of Music on February 1, 2022.

Organist/Accompanist

Michael Becker

Michael is the musician at the organ console, the piano keyboard, and behind various other instruments for our Sunday services.

Educated at Lawrence University, he has been in music his entire life. Michael is a master at improvisation and also composes/arranges music for worship.

He can do wonders with the John-Paul Buzard’s organ, dedicated in 2006. The organ was specially designed for Mount Pleasant and its warm tone greatly enhances our worship life.

michael@mplc.us

Bell Choir Director

Greg Schroeder

Greg brings our Bell Choir together to offer special music at our 8:30 Sunday service about once a month, rehearsing weekly on Tuesday evenings during the program year. He is a middle school music teacher M-F, and brings his easy-going, highly musical style to his ministry at MPLC. He is also an accomplished trumpet player and shares that gift with the congregation for special services. Greg has been a MPLC member since 2017.

Sexton / Custodial Work

Rick Sill

Rick is the one to go to if you need a "dad joke"! He works hard to get our room set-ups ready to go each week and keeps watch over our building. Rick is a long-time MPLC member.