Reverend Erik Niemi
Our beloved minister, the Reverend Erik Niemi, has served our congregation since 2005 which is 21 years as of 2026.
Pastor Erik Niemi was born and raised all around the San Francisco, Bay Area. He went to college at Pacific Lutheran University where he majored in religion with a philosophy minor. In college he enjoyed singing with the Choir of the West and played a lot of Ultimate Frisbee. After college he attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA (part of the Graduate Theological Union) and received his Masters of Divinity. This degree included a cross-cultural experience in Israel, a summer spent as a hospital chaplain, and a year-long internship in Fort Bragg, CA.
Pastor Erik was ordained in 2001 at West Linn Lutheran Church in West Linn, OR where he served for 4 years as an associate pastor. He was called to Highland Lutheran in 2005. Since that time, he has built a house, married (Dolcie Niemi), has 2 sons learned to brew beer, built a sauna, and traveled to Kenya, France, Bermuda, and the Alaskan wilderness. He lives in La Center with his family, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 sheep, a flock of chickens, and his macaw Blue. His favorite hobbies include cooking, brewing, singing, and the occasional woodworking project.
Pastor Erik’s laid-back approach serves to providing a gracious and welcoming atmosphere. We are blessed to have a minister who uses humor, creativity, and patience to create uplifting children’s sermons each Sunday. Adult sermons offer a balance of education (such as translation of key Greek words in the gospel lesson, and historic and culturally background for better outstanding the context of a passage), and inspiration—contemporary real-world relevance of scripture. Pastor Erik has said, “What we do here in church becomes most important after we leave. Services should inform and inspire our activities and interaction throughout the week.”
Visit our video website at HighlandLutheranChurch.com/video/ for the latest service. Share this link with anyone who could use some encouragement through beautiful music and a thoughtfully crafted service.
Ms. Ayako Matsuo
Since 1999, Highland’s worship services have been blessed with the music from an extraordinarily gifted and talented accompanist. In the tradition of many of our historic ministers, Ayako travels all the way from Portland, OR each Sunday to share her talents. Living in Portland, she is the pianist at Oregon Ballet Theatre for the last 23 years.
Ayako grew up in Japan and received awards from many local competitions. She was appointed as a principal accompanist during her conservatory years and traveled with a choir Ayako studied at Osaka Collage of Music, Osaka University of Arts, and Portland state University. She holds a Master’s degree in Music, Piano performance
For 30 years, Ayako has been teaching at a full piano studio in Portland. Many of her students have received scholarships from piano auditions and continue their musical journey in college.
Ayako is a member of OMTA (Oregon Music Teachers Association) and MTNA (Music Teachers National Association). To sample of her incredible talent, visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/ayako.matsuo.560.
When she is not at the piano, she rescues animals and experiments with Vegan baking.
Ms. Dana Maize
The newest member of our working team is office manager and good friend to all, Dana Maize.
Dana has lived in the La Center area for nearly 36 years and only recently became a member of Highland. She is a loving wife, mother and grandmother and brings a degree in organizational psychology to the position.
Before coming to Highland, her ministry mainly focused on junior/earliteens. She was a teacher and youth group leader at her earlier house of worship with a focus on God’s love. She continues her evangelism by writing prayers for the church’s prayer chain.
Dana volunteers as a member of the church council, a board member for Highland Lutheran Church’s Preschool, a volunteer at Lewis River Mobil Food Bank, and quilts with the Sew-n-Sews’ group here at Highland.
“I am so grateful to be a part of this church family.” Dana describes herself as “a people-person who thrives on assisting, sharing, lifting up, and laughing with others,”
She is yet another of God’s blessings to Highland Lutheran Church members.
