Church staff

David R. Lyle

I have been serving as the senior pastor at Grace since August, 2015. It is a great joy to partner with the people of Grace in the work of bringing in, building up, and sending out people for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am passionate about proclaiming Christ and his kingdom through Word and sacrament. It is a joy to help people see how the Spirit is moving in their lives. Prior to my arrival at Grace, I served congregations in Pawleys Island, S.C., and Appleton, Wis. I also spent four summers doing outdoor ministry at several Lutheran camps and have extensive experience in youth ministry. I hold degrees from The College of William & Mary, Luther Seminary, and Candler School of Theology. As the recipient of Luther’s Graduate Preaching Fellowship, I spent nine months as a Visiting Scholar with the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. My wife, Erika, and I reside in Oak Park with our three children, Greta, Anders, and Torsten. I am an avid sports fan, cheering on the Kansas City Royals, Green Bay Packers, and Wisconsin Badgers and, in my free time, enjoy reading, running, and playing guitar.

Troy Medlin

Michael D. Costello

As the Cantor at Grace, my primary job is to lead congregational singing. I do this by playing the organ, directing choirs, serving as an educator, coordinating music with other staff members, and working with others to lead the Bach Cantata Vespers ministry. I grew up in a Lutheran church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and received my Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Music from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. I attended seminary at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, where I earned my Master of Divinity degree and served on the adjunct faculty in music and liturgy. I have served congregations in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas as a musician, and also served as a pastor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, South Carolina. I am the proud parent of two children, Andrew and Lydia.

Julie Modrich

I have been blessed to serve as Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Grace since July, 2013. Working closely with Board of Discipleship, I coordinate programs and activities for Sunday School, family devotionals, festivals, Family Night and Vacation Bible School. I'm also the director of Grace School's Extended Day Care. I truly enjoy working with elementary-age children. My husband, Joe, and I came to Grace in the fall of 2000, and our four children, Stefan, Anna, Katarina and Peter, were baptized here in January, 2001. Before joining the Grace staff I was a volunteer teacher in Sunday School and Confirmation classes, and I currently serve on the Altar Guild. I graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in Parks and Recreation Administration. My professional career began at Little City Foundation in Palatine working in aquatics with special populations from children through seniors. I also have served as the Aquatics and Fitness Coordinators for the Niles and Des Plaines park districts. When our oldest son was born, I changed career direction and began teaching preschool and mom and tot classes.

Julie Hinz

Serving as Grace’s Discipleship and Fellowship Coordinator since 2022 has been such a blessing. As a cradle Lutheran, I have always lived surrounded by communities of faith and thrived in those connections. With a degree in Communications and Theatre and a minor in Psychology, I have long been fascinated with people; how they respond to conflict or crises, who they believe themselves to be and how we become who God intended through self-reflection and leaning into our faith and our communities who give us identity. I continue to be fascinated by how the Spirit moves through us, changes us, opens us to God’s Word, and reveals new paths for our own ministries.

With MA in Theatre from the University of Chicago, and significant work in other churches, I am blessed to have a broad range of skills that serve the church. My work here allows me to bring curiosity and creativity to my work in ministry for the people of Grace. I am currently working toward my Deaconess Certification through the Lutheran Diaconal Association out of Valparaiso, IN and serve on the Lutheran Diaconal Conference Board of Directors. In my free time I enjoy reading, writing, puzzles, word games, naps, and spending time with my roommates and friends.

Barb VanHeukelem

I have been a member of the Grace community for over 20 years, as a school parent, church member, and volunteer. Working at the reception desk at Grace, I enjoy the opportunity to assist our staff, committees and many volunteers as they carry out the ministries of Grace Church and School. I serve on Altar Guild and also enjoy cooking for the Cornerstones group. I have a B.A. from Calvin College and was previously employed in mental health and social services. My husband, Bruce and I are the parents of three adult daughters who are graduates of Grace School and grandparents of six.

Eileen Maggio

My husband, Joe, and I have been members of Grace Church since 1990, and both of our sons are Grace alumni.  We have three grandchildren, and our youngest grandson is currently a Grace student. I retired from my position as school administrative assistant after 19 years and am now enjoying my new career working part time at the Grace reception desk.   I am enjoying the opportunity to assist the many Grace volunteers, faculty, and staff as they carry out the ministries of Grace Church and School.

Esther Armstrong

I joined the front desk staff at Grace in August of 2020 and now serve as the Church Administrative Assistant.  It is a real joy to talk regularly with Grace members, prepare weekly worship materials, and work on lots of other projects that support the ministries of Grace Church. My husband, Neal, and I joined Grace in 2008 and our children, Rachel and Peter, attended Grace School from preschool through 8^th grade where we were very involved as school parents.  Since joining Grace I have served the Grace community in many different roles and on various committees including Sunday School teacher, Junior Kindergarten aid, Children’s Religious Ed Committee, Grace Parent Organization, Board of Elementary Education, Council, Handbell Choir and Altar Guild.  I currently serve on the Benevolence Committee and as a Stephen Minister.  I hold bachelor’s degrees in elementary education from Valparaiso University and in nutrition and dietetics from University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to working at Grace, I enjoyed a career as a Clinical Research Coordinator at several area research clinics. In my free time I enjoy reading, doing puzzles and spending time with my family and our two dogs, Bruno and Tobe.

Jim McClanahan

I have been a member of Grace for over 25 years, during which I was active on Stewardship, Trustees, Endowment, and Board of Finance, and on Church Council as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Since 2027, I continue to serve Grace in my role as Director of Administration and Finance. I am a Certified Public Accountant, previously having spent over 35 years in public accounting helping organizations with the accuracy of their financial records and reports, and consulting with them about the quality of their financial processes and their compliance with rules and regulations. I grew up in the Cleveland area and attended Miami University in Ohio. My wife, Beth Smoots, is also an active Grace member. We are the proud parents of two former Grace School students. Pierce works in Chicago and Annie works for WellRight, a Chicago-based employee wellness software organization. I have also served on the Foundation and Charitable Boards of Bethesda Rehab and Senior Care. In my free time, I enjoy golfing, gardening and reading.

José Meza

I recently joined the Grace Lutheran staff as the Technology Manager. I have been in the information technology field for over 30 years. Previously I worked at a major law firm for 20 years and Chicago Board of Trade for 13 years. I am married and have a 22-year-old son who currently attends Northwestern University. In my off time I do enjoy baseball (White Sox), football (Bears), and Formula One (Red Bull). I look forward to working here at Grace.

Amanda Smith

I joined Grace Church in 2024 as the Communications Coordinator. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Writing.  In my free time, I am an adventurer. I love to camp and be outside hiking and enjoying all of God’s creation. I also love traveling and have been blessed to see some of the most incredible places while experiencing the culture and history of those areas. When I'm not exploring, I can be found crafting (diamond art and painting are my favorite), playing video games, reading, and playing Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) with my friends. I am a pet mom too, and I have four rescues.

Peter Modrich