The Rev. D. Lowell Chilton

Part-Time Interim Pastor

Welcome to Pastor Lowell Chilton as our Part-Time Interim Pastor at First Lutheran Church.

The Rev. D. Lowell Chilton comes to Albany from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, where he served as Pastor of Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church. Prior to New Berlin, Lowell was the Interim Synodically Authorized Minister at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska and the Intern Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Concrete, Washington.

Lowell studied for ministry at the Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry and at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University. Lowell has a prior career as a software engineer at Microsoft and enjoys cooking, playing games (video and board), and watching TV with his partner, Pastor Kate Drefke, and their three cats.

Julie Lind

Parish Administrator

For more than twenty years, Julie has been serving as Parish Administrator here at First Lutheran Church. Born and raised Lutheran, she became a member of First Lutheran in 1999. She also sings in the Chancel Choir. “I feel like this is what I am meant to do,” she says when asked why she liked her job so much. “There is rarely a slow time at FLC. There is always something going on that keeps me busy.”

Susan B. Hale

Director of Music & Organist

In high school, after seeing a picture of Notre Dame in her French class, Susan dreamed of playing in the great cathedrals of the world and she’s had the opportunity to play at a few. She has given recitals at several churches in NYC, Columbia University, the Chester Cathedral in England, The American Cathedral in Paris, and La Compania de Jesus Cathedral in Quito, Ecuador.

Susan received her bachelor of music degree from Wheaton College, Illinois and went on to pursue graduate studies in organ performance at The Juilliard School, where she studied with Jon Gillock. She also studied oil painting at the Art Students League of New York and enjoys presenting concerts and art shows together. A native of Scotia, NY Susan says, “There’s no place like home!” and she loves being the music director and playing at First Lutheran Church of Albany.