The Rev. Mark Niethammer wants the people of Salem Lutheran Church to dream big.

That’s why he’s started Desserts and Dreams. Desserts and Dreams is a series of meetings open to those in the congregation to get together, enjoy dessert and talk about the future of the church.

“My goal is to have people dream what Salem Lutheran can be and do in the future,” he said. “How can we be our best to serve God, reach out and envision ourselves in the future?”

It’s just the first of many things Niethammer is hoping to bring the congregation at Salem Lutheran Church.

Niethammer joined the church in mid-November. He served the previous year and a half at two neighboring rural congregations in Minnesota: Houston and Winona.

It’s a long way from home for Niethammer, who grew up in Wyoming. His family was devout Lutheran, and he grew up with a very strong faith.

However, he also loved music. He learned to play saxophone and piano and dabbled in flute, trombone and clarinet.

“I heard that St. Olaf College had a great music program, so I pursued music originally,” he said.

Niethammer was a music major at the college for three years before changing his major to religion.

“I was picking up religion classes and found that I had a passion for the academic side of religion,” he said. “Then it just hit me — I have strong faith and I enjoy people’s stories.”

A summer-long “test ground” at his hometown church was key to Niethammer changing his path to follow the path which he feels God had intended all along.

“I loved leading the public worship and it just all seemed to fit,” he said. “It was something I could do, and do well.”

He was also burned out on studying music, and found after he switched his majors, he became a better musician because he had more time to practice. He found he reclaimed his love for music, as well.

After graduating from St. Olafs, Niethammer studied seminary for four years at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where he earned his master’s degree.

Niethammer prides himself in his traditional style of worship and hopes to bring God’s word to the people of Albert Lea in a sense where they feel they are benefiting every day.

“It’s very much about living out one’s faith,” he said. “I don’t want to see people leave the worship and get home and feel as though they’ve lost time that morning. I want people to take something with them.”

He said that connecting faith and daily life is missing for many people and he wants people to use their Sunday worship to recharge them for the rest of the week.

“The gospel is our story, and I try to show people that the story of Jesus is about you,” he said.

In addition to Desserts and Dreams, Niethammer is also active with the adult and children’s choirs. He heads up a children’s sermon each Sunday, as well.