MEET OUR STAFF
Find out a little bit more about our staff team below.
NIC LEITHER
Pastor
Pastor Nic is originally from rural Minnesota and moved to Colorado in 2015 to attend Iliff School of Theology. He came to Well of Hope in 2023. He was drawn to Well of Hope for the church’s authenticity, inclusivity for all people, and loving community engagement. He likes fishing, gardening, finding new places to eat, trying new recipes, and coaching wrestling at a local high school. His spouse Tamara is an amazing social worker, and his dog Burley is a precious angel who can do no wrong. His favorite book is Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry, his favorite TV show is Ted Lasso, and he listens to lots of different music but can’t pick just one favorite.
Pastor Nic found Lutheranism in seminary during an Intro to Christian History course after spending time all over different Christian denominations. The Lutheran description of Jesus’ unrestricted and abundant love for all people, and presence in our deepest struggles and hurt brought him to seek ordination in the Lutheran Church. He hopes to be a pastor that continues to question and wonder about our relationship with God and with one another with that same inclusive love and presence of Jesus that he found in that classroom and has continued to find in community with others.
He hopes you feel welcome, included, and celebrated at Well of Hope for who you are and would love to chat sometime over coffee. Just send an email or give him a text.
LEXI JONES
Director of Community Connections and Intergenerational Ministries
Lexi is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She began serving Well of Hope as the Youth Ministry Coordinator in 2019 and is excited that her role has expanded since that time.
Lexi graduated from Wartburg College in Iowa in May 2019 with BA degrees in Music with a concentration in Church Music and Religion with a concentration in Youth and Family Ministry. She moved to Colorado in June 2019 so she could pursue seminary at Iliff School of Theology in Denver and her husband, Patrick, could attend dental school at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Lexi received her Master of Divinity degree from Iliff in June 2022. She is now in the candidacy process in the ELCA, which is the formalized process in the denomination for those who will become ordained. Lexi is pursuing Word and Service ministry, and, once she has completed the candidacy process, she will serve as a Deacon in the ELCA.
Lexi enjoys music, and you will see her occasionally singing and playing her guitar during worship. She loves to play music with Patrick, who plays the viola.
Lexi loves Colorado and the many outdoor activities it offers. Her and Patrick enjoy spending time in the mountains camping, hiking, cycling, and kayaking.
MICHAEL SCHREIER
Music Director
Michael has served as Music Director at Well of Hope since July 2015, where he is delighted to share his extensive musical experience. Michael holds a Bachelor of Music degree with a music education focus from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (the city in which he grew up) and a Master of Music degree with a jazz piano and composition focus from the University of Northern Colorado.
While at UNC and for several years thereafter, Michael had the pleasure of fulfilling many roles with the UNC / Greeley Jazz Festival, the largest educational jazz festival in the United States, featuring students representing many states across the country as well as many student groups from other countries around the world. Among these roles, Michael served as an adjudicator and worked extensively in festival logistics roles, becoming the Chief Operations Manager before his final festival on the job in 2019. Michael’s musical experience also includes many teaching roles - as affiliate faculty at UNC, at an alternative school, and for private lessons - as well as serving as the Artistic Director for Dazzle Jazz, a downtown Denver jazz venue which has consistently been named one of the world’s top 100 jazz venues by Downbeat Magazine. In that role, Michael curated some 600 concerts per year (yes, averaging roughly 2 concerts per day!) and handled financial negotiations and concert logistics for major touring artists, including many Grammy award-winning jazz artists.