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Pastor

Pastor Ken Ruppar and his wife Norma came to LCOS In October 1998 from San Antonio, Texas.  They are parents of three adult children.

Pastor Ruppar came with a varied ministry background.  He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO is 1972.  He later completed a Master of Sacred Theology degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree.  He is a Board Certified Chaplain of the Association of Professional Chaplains, the primary certification agency for health care chaplains. 

After working for five years as a seminary financial aid director and business manager he entered full time ministry as chaplain in the US Army.  In 1998 he retired from the Army and came to Virginia. He has over 29 years of commissioned service in the Army Reserves and Active Duty.    While on active duty he served assignments in Colorado, New Jersey, Alabama, and three times in Texas.  He served in Germany twice. 

One highlight of his career was developing training resources for chaplains as a way to cope with the varied traumatic events of ministry facing chaplains and soldiers.  As part of this work he became affiliated with the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).  He has served on NOVA response teams to Littleton, CO and  New York City. 

Since coming to Virginia, Pastor Ruppar has been active in the local Chesterfield community as a volunteer chaplain with the Chesterfield County Police Department. In 2001 he was elected to a six-year term on the ELCA Church Council, the board of directors of the ELCA. He is chairperson of the Council’s Legal and Constitutional Review Committee. In 2007 he was elected to a six-year term on the ELCA Committee on Discipline.

Pastor Ruppar is skilled in crisis counseling and leading various training events such as Bible studies and classes at LCOS.  His leisure time activities includes home repair, reading and traveling.  He currently is learning to play golf.

You may reach him by e-mail at Pastor Ruppar

Administrative Assistant

Linda brings many years of experience in churches large and small to LCOS . 

Please address any questions by e-mail to Linda

Music Director

Jennifer Ripley has been a part of the LCOS staff since November of 1996. Jennifer directs the Adult Choir, Hallelujah Bells, and Bells in Motion. She also serves as the cantor for all worship services and coordinates other special music programs throughout the year. In addition to her duties as Director of Music, Jennifer also provides music classes for the Giving Tree Preschool and teaches private voices lessons. If you have any questions about the music at LCOS or would like to join one of the choirs, please contact Jennifer Ripley at musicdirector@lcosva.org.

Pianist/Accompanist

David Fielding joined the LCOS staff in August of 2011. He serves as the accompanist for all worship services and the Adult Choir. He is classically trained, but he has also played the piano in jazz band. David has continually accompanied various choruses since he was 13 as well as many theatrical productions and All-City Chorus. David graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education. He is a member of VMEA, CMENC, and the OHS and has been teaching private piano lessons since 2005.

Preschool Director

Mary leads the Giving Tree Preschool.  We offer a Christian learning environment for preschoolers age 2 through 4.

Nursery Attendant

Each week our children are greeted by smiles and hugs.  We know that sitting in church is difficult for some youngsters.  Sometimes, walking in the narthex helps.  At other times, our nursery may be your best option.  Our nursery attendant, Dalal, is professionally trained and certified as a childcare worker.  She is in our nursery every Sunday morning.