"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
- 1 Corinthians 12:27
Deacon Amy Schmuck began her journey to ordained diaconal ministry in the ELCA as a second career. She first served for 20 years as a special education teacher in Illinois with her BS in Special Education and Elementary Education and an MS in Education- Curriculum and Instruction from Quincy University in Quincy, IL. Once she and her family relocated to Denver, Colorado in 2015, she began a discernment process, taking a break from teaching to learn what God might be up to in her life with this change. An opportunity to serve part-time as a Director of Youth Ministry at her congregation, Holy Love Lutheran Church in Aurora, Colorado arose, and she continued to grow in her faith and her strength as a partner in ministry. Deacon Amy attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN and earned her MA in Leadership and Innovation for Ministry in 2023. She also served as a Chaplain Resident for a year at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, CO, and completed a part-time Deacon Internship at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lakewood, CO (yes, all of that in 2023). Deacon Amy was ordained for Ministry of Word and Service in the ELCA on February 24, 2024. She was installed in her first call here at Bethlehem to serve as “Deacon for Welcome and Lifelong Learning” on March 23, 2024. Deacon Amy and her spouse of 27 years, Alan, are excited for this new adventure in Los Alamos and have deep gratitude for the way God has been at work throughout this process. Alan and Amy have been blessed to be parents to two “kiddults” Adam and Connor who are both college students, and a cattle dog mix named Virgil.