Deaconess Deborah Matern Graf has served with the people of Trinity since June, 1999.  Called to the ministry areas of faith formation, worship leadership, outreach and service, and ‘other duties as assigned,’ Deborah truly finds deep joy in the day-to-day life of congregational ministry.  She grew up playing in the city streets of Queens Village, New York, and continues to love living and working in the city of Reading. 

After earning her B.A in Theology from Valparaiso University, she was consecrated as deaconess in 1990 by the Lutheran Diaconal Association and rostered as an ELCA deacon in 1994. In 2013 she concluded her studies at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania earning a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree with a Certification in Formative Spirituality.  (Try saying that 10x fast!) Deborah has been trained as a spiritual director through Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development and uses her skills for every day ministry.   

Deaconess Deborah has served in congregations in Gotha, Germany and Sheboygan, Wisconsin and is fluent in German, Midwestern English, and New York City dialects.  From 2009-2011, she concurrently served as a part-time Associate of the Bishop in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod.  She currently serves as the co-convenor of the NEPA Synod Racial Justice Team and is active with the Saxony Companion Synod Committee.  Since February 2023, she has been working as the coordinator for the West Berks Mission District balancing out her ¾ time call at Trinity.

Deborah enjoys spending time with her family and fun friends, playing recorder with her husband, Peter, singing with the Vox Philia chamber choir, video chatting with her young adult children, traveling to new places, watching and frequently quoting movies, and shamelessly dancing to alternative ’80’s music when no one is watching.