5600 Old Washington Road * Sykesville, MD 21784 410-795-9174
Our Staff
Our Pastor: REV. VICKI L. HAMEL
I am a life-long Lutheran who grew up in the Midwest, specifically in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. After I received my B.S. and M.A. degrees from Georgetown University, I settled in the greater Baltimore/Washington area, and have now lived out here for a total of 32 years, except for two years in Spain and one in Massachusetts.
I completed my M.Div. at the Lutheran Theological School at Philadelphia in the summer of 2003. After a two-year internship at Second English Lutheran Church in Baltimore, I began working there full-time in June 2003, until I received my first call in January 2004 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran, both in Baltimore.
Prior to entering seminary, I worked for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD, as Director of Ministry to Persons with Special Needs, focusing particularly on lay caring ministry, senior citizen fellowship, and social ministry initiatives. At the same time, I was the Youth Director at my home church in Columbia—New Hope.
Previously, I had been employed in several fields, namely teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), immigration and refugee concerns, and as a consultant in the prevention of substance abuse among high-risk youth, and violence against women. Though now a bit rusty, at one time I was fluent in Spanish, and my daughter and I visited the Lutheran churches in Nicaragua in the summer of 2002. Additionally, last year I spent three weeks in Mexico in a Pastoral Spanish program.
I enjoy ordained ministry tremendously. It is a privilege to walk beside people through difficult times, to lift up and affirm others’ strengths and gifts, to listen with empathy, to interact with folks of all ages and backgrounds, and to teach, preach, and administer the sacraments. It is my intent to help people recognize God’s grace in their lives, as well as God’s presence and work in the world.
I am thrilled to be called as pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church. The active Sunday school, children’s and youth ministry excite me. Furthermore, I am impressed with the devoted lay leadership, diversity of ages in the congregation, and various ministries Messiah sponsors. Clearly, this is a community growing in faith, and dedicated to service on behalf of our Lord.