Meet our staff

The Rev. Rachel Ziese Hacker, Pastor

Rachel Ziese Hacker (“Pastor Rachel”) is a graduate of Texas Lutheran University and Yale Divinity School and has served in professional ministry for 15 years. Her most recent calls were to a historic church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin (metro Green Bay area) and to campus ministry in Nebraska. She and her family moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2022. Pastor Rachel and her spouse Pastor Matthew were both raised in South Texas and married while they were in seminary.

Pastor Rachel brings particular training in music, liturgy and worship, preaching, ministry in death and bereavement, and ministry with youth and young adults. She is a life-long Lutheran, and her “favorites” music playlist on her phone includes everything from Handel and Gregorian chants to Dakota Road and Taylor Swift. (“Baby Shark” also makes the cut, but that’s because she is a mom in addition to being a pastor… though she does also have an arrangement of Baby Shark for pipe organ that she finds particularly amusing.)

When asked, Pastor Rachel said she is drawn to Emmanuel’s deep regard and respect for a variety of worship styles; commitment to music and inclusive practices; and the congregation’s reputation for innovation while honoring its deeply-rooted history.

The best way to get her attention is to say, “Hey Pastor, I just made a fresh pot of coffee.” When it’s been a tough day, you’ll see her go for a run or head out to box in virtual reality. If it’s been a really tough day, you’ll see her noshing on chips and queso. The craziest job Pastor Rachel has ever had was being a magician’s assistant. The hardest job she’s ever done is working as a server at an Italian restaurant. Her spouse Matthew is the Senior Pastor at Nativity Lutheran Church on Tilghman Street. Their daughters (ages 2 and 5) are currently passionate about leaf piles, anything unicorn-related, and making pancakes with Dad on Saturday morning.

Janelle Borger (Secretary)

Janelle is a lifelong member of Emmanuel’s and is excited to embark on her new role as secretary.  After graduating from Northampton HS, she went on to enlist in the Air Force, where she served for four years. After many years of travel, her and her husband Anwar relocated back home to the Valley and are raising their two children, Layla and Eli.

Bobby Siegfried (Director of Music)

A life-long resident of the Lehigh Valley, Bobby grew up in the church and became a member of Emmanuel’s with his family in 1995. Thanks to his parents and first church organist starting him with voice and piano lessons when he was barely 3 years old, he considers himself blessed beyond measure to not remember a day where music wasn’t an integral part of his life and identity. Bobby joined the contemporary worship team at Emmanuel’s in its early days, and grew to become a leader, serving in various capacities in and around the region, college worship teams, touring worship bands, and as a contemporary worship leader at other churches, the synod and national levels in both guest and official capacities. He has consulted with other Lutheran churches looking to start/grow contemporary worship ministry. He is very active in the larger church, in ecumenical ministries, and is a professional performing singer/songwriter/musician. He currently resides in Bath, with his cat, Cricket.

Nancy Karc (Sexton)

Our Contemporary Worship Team

For our Contemporary Worship, we rely on a great number of people to enhance our worship experience.  These include musicians and singers in addition our Pastors.