Our Staff
Pastor Dave Schreffler
Senior Pastor
Having received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg (LTSG) in May of 2005, Pastor Dave was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America on June 10, 2005. Originally called to Christ Lutheran Church in Duncannon he served as pastor from June 15, 2005 until August 2011.
On September 1, 2011 Pastor Dave began serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Lemoyne prior to being called to Zion Hummelstown on October 1, 2020. He is married to his wife Fritzi (34 years). They met while singing in the choir at Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill. They have three children: Steven 30, Matthew 26, and Leah 17. He is a soccer coach for his daughter’s soccer team for the last twelve years. He and Fritzi also have a granddaughter Ariah, age 7, and five cats.
Vilma Linde
Parish Administrator
Vilma came to Zion in November 2016 on a temporary basis. She joined the staff in late March 2017 and Zion is truly blessed by her presence and gifts. Some of her favorite things to do are attend the Hershey Bears hockey games, shopping at the outlets and dining at local restaurants. She is extremely proud of her daughter who studied at Penn State College of Nursing and will start a new life in Pittsburg following her passion. She is happy to serve the Zion congregation as our Parish Administrator and looks forward to a long and productive partnership.
Dan Stokes
Organist
Dan recently returned to Hummelstown after 36 years as a full time church musician in Nashville, TN and Louisville, KY. During his years in Louisville, the congregation’s Chancel Choir grew to include 147 members and was featured as part of the Louisville Orchestra Masterworks Series singing works of Beethoven, Verdi, Mahler and Poulenc. The church’s youth choirs toured regularly and were invited to sing for WFPK Live, the Cathedral Concert series and Louisville Orchestra family concerts. Dan has served as guest clinician for numerous choral festivals sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, Chorister’s Guild, Music Educators Association and United Methodist Fellowship of Worship Arts.
Dan’s greatest joy is providing musical leadership for church services. He is especially delighted to be the Organist at Zion Lutheran Church where he was first hired as a teenager in 1974. A member of Zion encouraged him to audition during his days as a stock boy at E.B. Smith Hardware. Dan is grateful to Zion for the encouragement he received during those years and to his home congregation, Trinity UMC for getting him started as an accompanist and substitute organist.
Our Staff
Sally Cummins
Minister of Music Emeritus
Sally retired on June 30, 2017 after 13 years of dedicated service. She has served as interim Minister of Music between calls of permanent musicians. On August 19, 2018, Council President Peggy Wilson formally conferred the title “Emeritus” after approval by the Congregation Council at the August meeting. We are grateful for Sally’s dedication to church music and her inspiration to all ages to sing with their voices and to play their instruments with joyful hearts, to God’s glory and honor at all times.
We are forever appreciative of Sally’s past service and her continued presence among us as a Sunday morning worshipper and a servant willing to offer her musical talents when needed.
Shayne Yonchiuk
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
We are excited and grateful to have Shayne as the new Director of Youth and Family Ministries! With a bachelor’s degree in social work he is employed as a rehabilitation specialist. Regarding his professional church experience, he is currently serving as a director of education for a Sunday school program, and he has served as an advisor for 3 youth groups. To relax, Shayne likes creating art, exercising, walking Ike, watching movies, seeing friends, and through prayer. We are excited for you to meet him and to help be a part of our youth community where he strives hard to remind the youth that we are always loved and God will forever be with us. We are loved and okay as we are now and forever, and nothing can change that in the beauty of God’s boundless love. It is the greatest honor and privilege to serve youth, families, and the congregation as a whole here at Zion!
Hillary Marotta, Director of Hand Bells
We are delighted to introduce Hillary Marotta, our new director of handbells at Zion. Hillary comes to us with tremendous expertise having rung in two Distinctly Bronze auditioned events sponsored by
The Handbell Musicians of America. She studied conducting with Dr. William Payn of Bucknell University. She is a nonprofit specialist with a passion for adult education. Our handbell ringers experienced her leadership as she prepared them to ring beautifully and confidently in worship this past June after only two rehearsals.
She is the author of two books, Playing My Heart Out and
Head and Heart: How to Run a Smart and Successful Nonprofit.
Hillary and her husband live in Hummelstown and are the parents of two daughters. They are active members of Grace United Methodist Church.
Additional Staff
Jim and Deb Friedel
Sextons
Zion is richly blessed with two faithful servants who maintain and clean the church property. Jim and Deb have been with Zion since January 2006. In addition to daily cleaning, they mow the lawn and keep the sidewalks safe in the winter along with attending to unexpected problems that arise from time to time. You will find Jim at the church every Sunday (except an occasional vacation weekend) opening and closing the building for worship services.
Before coming to Zion, Jim worked at Snap On Tools as an Electronic Tech and Deb was self-employed as a provider of cleaning services. Deb recently resigned her desk attendant position at SpringHill Suites in Hershey to dedicate her attention to the church.
During their off-time, Jim enjoys the golf course and Deb likes to shop for antiques. They keep busy with maintaining their house and visiting with family. Jim and Deb are truly gems who give sparkle and shine to the church – all the time!
Julie Joseph
Director, Zion Lutheran Preschool
Julie joined the Zion Lutheran Preschool in the fall of 2017 as lead teacher for the 3 year old classroom. In August 2018, she accepted the invitation to move into the Director position. Julie brings a wealth of educational and practical experience as the new Director of the Preschool. In addition to her director responsibilities, Julie is the lead teacher of the four-year-old children, bringing much energy and enthusiasm to these early learners.
Julie has a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg University. She has two more classes to complete her Masters in Elementary Education.
Just out of college, she worked for Discovery Schools (Chambers Hill, Camp Hill, and Mechanicsburg) as a Kindergarten Teacher, a Three Year Old teacher, Assistant Director and as a Director for 6 years.
She spent two years as a Missionary/ English Teacher in the country of Romania. She has been a Nanny to three young children. She has been a part time Assistant Teacher/College & Career Assistant at Milton Hershey Schools.
She is a mother to five children, ranging in age from 12 to 22. She spent 15 years home educating 4 of them, the most recent just graduated high school. And just before coming to Zion, she was a substitute teacher for the Lower Dauphin and Milton Hershey School Districts for 3 years.
She is beyond excited to be back in the Preschool setting and teaching 4 days a week.
