Who's Who

The Reverend Stefan M. Gramenz is a native of Southern Illinois, and has been serving Christ the King since his ordination and installation on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 24 June 2018. Prior to arriving in Pawling, he earned a BA in English Literature at Concordia University Wisconsin in 2014, and received his M.Div from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN) in 2018. He has been involved with the Lutheran Missal Project since its inception, serving as an assisting editor since 2019. When not at Christ the King, he can be found out and about in the village, making a valiant effort at gardening, or hiking with his dog, Niles.

Mr. Stephen R. Johnson serves as Kantor at Christ the King. He is also choral director and teaches both music and theology at St. Catharine Academy, a high school for girls, in the Bronx.

Stephen is published with Concordia Publishing House, GIA, and Northwestern Publishing House.  Five of his hymns are published in the Lutheran Service Book (2006), the current hymnal of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Over the years, he has produced choral concerts, conducting works of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Vaughan Williams, Rutter, and many others. His current choir at the high school, ¡Cantad! has sung several times for Masses for high school seniors hosted by Timothy Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 

Stephen has served as music director at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Norwalk, CT and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, CT. He has been Kantor for Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel and for various pastoral conferences in the New England District of the LCMS. He has been asked to present papers for various symposia including the Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN), the Concordia Catechetical Academy Symposium (Sussex, WI), and the Higher Things Regional Youth Conference (Sheboygan, WI).

Stephen holds a graduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music in piano performance. He has studied composition with Alice Parker and is a Melodious Accord Fellow. Previously, as a pianist, he has been a prizewinner in prominent international and national piano competitions and has played recitals throughout the United States and Europe.

He resides in Mahopac, NY with his wife, Mary and his college-aged daughters, Mary Vera and Margaret. The whole family participates in the music of the parish at Christ the King as everyone sings and plays instruments. 

Stephen is available as a presenter or Kantor for conferences and symposia.