Ministry Team
Posted on December 18, 2009 - Filed Under |
Matthew Laney
In February, 2007, Rev. Laney accepted the call to serve as the pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Kalamazoo. Since his arrival, worship attendance has doubled and the church has welcomed a host of new members, ministries and members of our Ministry Team while receiving increased recognition in the community. Rev. Laney has not only led and served the congregation; he has also emerged as a respected leader in the wider faith community. His columns on faith and life are regular features in the city’s paper, The Kalamazoo Gazette. [Click here for sample articles: News]
Rev. Laney is known for his inspiring preaching, presenting scripture from memory in worship, excellence in teaching and small group facilitation, creativity, ability to connect with young people, vision, compassionate pastoral skills and humor. Rev. Laney has been married to Ann Colloton since 1996 and they have two children: Halladay, age 9 and Camden, age 7.
Rev. Laney is a 1993 graduate of Kenyon College (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, B.A. in religion) and a 2004 graduate of Andover Newton Theological School (M. Div.) where he graduated at the top of his class as a member of the Jonathan Edwards Society for Academic Excellence. He was chosen by the faculty to be the Commencement Student Speaker and received faculty awards in New Testament Studies and The Proclamation of Scripture. Upon graduation, he served as the Associate Pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Manchester, Vermont.
In addition to his work in the church Rev. Laney has a professional background in non-profit administration and client care within organizations serving the homeless and emotionally disturbed adolescents. He is a lifelong member of the church who has deepened his faith by living in an intentional faith community and by many stays in monasteries.
Rev. Laney has many and varied interests. First he enjoys spending time with his family. Contemplative prayer, biblical studies, reading, writing, theater, film, watercolor and young people all interest him. He is also a fitness instructor and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is active in UCC activities, interfaith dialogue and justice issues related to poverty, hunger, homelessness and LGBT equality. He serves on the boards of the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, the Gay Lesbian Resource Center and is a member of the 25th class of Leadership Kalamazoo.
Ann earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan where she was also a Big Ten and NCAA Champion swimmer. After graduation, she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corp and worked with the homeless in Atlanta, where she met Matt. Her other jobs have included work on immigration issues, an investigator into prison conditions and abuses/guard brutality, a community organizer and lobbyist for criminal justice reform and as an admissions officer for a graduate school.
Howard Tejchma
2011 Moderator
Howard has been around FCC as tenor section leader in the choir for over 14 years. He finally joined as a member 7 years ago and has served on the Board of Music and the Arts and the Stewardship Committee before becoming Moderator. He loves the music program and is looking forward to continuing our efforts in renewing our congregation for the next 175 years. Howard has just finished his first year of sub-teaching in area schools.
Becky Ramsey
Office Manager/Bookkeeper
Becky has been a member of the Ministry Team since 1993 and a member of the church since 1984. She has been married to Rick since 1981 and they have three adult sons: Chase, Kellen and Tucker. She loves First Congregational Church and feels honored to be a part of the Ministry Team and congregation of this wonderful community of faith.
Shawntelle Bevins
Secretary
Shawntelle joined the church Ministry Team on April 28, 2011. She and her husband, Eric, have two children, Esthela and Wyatt. Esthela is five and Wyatt is a year old. We are very happy to welcome her as a part of First Congregational Church. Please send your information for church publications (Spire, eSpire and Sunday Bulletins) to Shawntelle.
Graeme Cowen
Director of Music and the Arts
Dr. Graeme Cowen has been a conductor, teacher and music coach all his career while enjoying a little composition on the side. He has been Director of Choral Activities at DePauw University and the University of Northern Iowa. In 1987, he left his tenured position at UNI to go into the world of nonprofit focusing on musical excellence and community service. His ensembles in this community role have sung with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in Russia. He spent his last academic year teaching at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India where he and his students participated in International Music Festivals in India, Nepal and Oman. His Masters and Doctorate degrees are from Indiana University. Since graduating, his dissertation on the late works of Igor Stravinsky won the first Julius Herford Dissertation Award granted by the American Choral Director’s Association. In 1991, he was invited to make his conducting debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He came to Kalamazoo to be Choral Director of First Congregational Church UCC in 2004.
Connie Utrecht
Interim Organist
Please welcome Connie Utrecht! Connie is our interim organist and will be with us for the next several months while our search committee, led by Sara Rivara, identifies the right candidate for our church. Although Connie is a talented and very competent musician, she is not interested in a long-term position.
Connie has been a church musician most of her life, playing her first worship service at the age of 14 in New Albany, IN. She studied organ at Ball State University and served churches in Ohio before moving to Michigan over 30 years ago. For 23 years she was Director of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Three Rivers, where she directed three vocal choirs, three hand bell choirs, and played the organ. Following “retirement” in 2006, Connie served as Interim Director of Music for 17 months at First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek and for 17 months at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Battle Creek, finishing there in February of this year. On her experience with us Connie says, “I am greatly enjoying my time at First Congregational, the organ is wonderful to play, and everyone has been welcoming and friendly.”
In addition to being a church musician, Connie is accompanist for the Kalamazoo Male Chorus, member of the American Guild of Organists, member of the Ladies Library Assoc. and Petal Pushers Garden Club. She loves to read and travel. She is currently learning Spanish hoping to get back to Costa Rica! Connie has three grown children who all live in the area, and three granddaughters (17, 18 and 20) as well as 2 dogs, including a three month old puppy.
Jill Busby
Director of Youth Ministries
Jill Busby, a happy and out-going person who enjoys life to the fullest, is the Director of Youth Ministries at FCC. She moved from Indiana to Michigan 16 years ago. She loves Michigan and is happy to call it home!
Jill loves being the mother of three boys, Nathan, Nicholas, and Adam. Most of her free time is spent watching them play sports, but when she has the chance she also likes to read and scrapbook.
Jill received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She always thought she would use her degree to teach in a classroom setting, but has found that God has led her in a different direction. Jill feels very blessed to work with young people. She encourages youth to dig into the Word and get to know what it has to say about God and life. “I am very passionate about youth and enjoy guiding, teaching, counseling, and challenging them on their spiritual journeys.”
Sonja Elsholz
Director of Children’s Ministry
Sonja Elsholz, a Michigan native, is mom to four boys and wife of Roy Elsholz. She attended Saginaw Valley State University and holds a degree in Secondary Education in English and a minor in Communication and Theater.
In her spare time — alone time — Sonja likes to read, scrapbook and watch movies of her choice (in a house full of men she is usually outvoted!).
As the Director of Children’s Ministry, for the ages of birth to 11 year olds, she and others have created a program that will help grow and teach our kids about the amazing gifts and lessons God has for each of them.
Dianne Roberts
Hospitality Coordinator
Hospitality for Dianne is not just a “job”, but it is a way of life. She believes offering welcome is basic to Christian identity and practice. Knowing that in welcoming visitors and strangers we may be entertaining angels or even the Christ, is an awesome thought. The Bible is rich with accounts of hospitality and with encouragement toward its practice. Whether we open to the story of Abraham, Sarah and the angels or to the account of the widow of Zarephath and Elijah, we cannot miss the blessing and mystery that accompany the practice of hospitality. A quick review of Jesus’ life and ministry finds hospitality at the center. Jesus is both the guest and host, dependent on others for welcome and startlingly gracious in His welcome to outsiders, seekers, and sinners.
“I am grateful for the confidence the Personnel Committee and the Deacons have placed in me and I humbly ask your assistance and cooperation as we minister together to extend FCC’s extravagant welcome with grateful hearts in response to the love and gratitude for God’s love and welcome to us.”
Dianne is here to make visitors and members feel welcome. She is available for any questions you might have about First Congregational Church UCC. Feel free to contact her
Deborah Zandt
Housekeeper
Deb has worked as our Housekeeper since 2008 and is a valuable member of our Ministry Team. She is here on Sunday mornings to assist you. Please let her know if you need anything related to the building.
Rebecca Stuurwold
Wedding Hostess
Rebecca is a graduate of WMU and works as an office manager at a local small business. In her free time she enjoys singing, walking, horseback riding, reading, cooking, and of course spending time with friends and family.
Rebecca is here to assist brides and grooms with weddings at First Congregational.