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REV. SUSAN SPARKS
Senior Pastor
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As a trial lawyer, turned standup comedian
and Baptist minister, Rev. Susan Sparks is America’s only
female comedian with a pulpit. After ten years as a lawyer
moonlighting as a standup, she left her practice and spent
two years on a solo trip around the world, including working
with Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta, climbing Mt.
Kilimanjaro and driving the Alaska Highway. Upon returning
home, she entered Union Theological Seminary in New
York City where she earned a Master of Divinity and wrote an
honors thesis on humor and religion. Susan’s work with humor
has been featured in the New York Times, on such
networks as ABC and CNN, as a regular guest with country
music star Naomi Judd on “Naomi’s New Morning” on the
Hallmark Channel, and in numerous comedy clubs, including
Caroline’s in New York City. She was honored by
Intersections International for her interfaith work to
promote justice, reconciliation and peace among diverse
communities. Her new book, Laugh Your Way to Grace:
Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor, is due out in
June 2010.
If you are
totally bored and looking to surf
further, check out
www.susansparks.com. |
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PAUL STEPHAN
Minister of Music
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Paul Stephan is a
graduate of Ithaca College, the
University of Utah, and the BMI –
Lehman Engle Musical Theater
Workshop. His one act musical
A
Unicorn in the Garden, based on
the fable by James Thurber, was
performed at the Festival of
Musicals in Miniature at St. Paul’s
Church. He directed productions of
La Cenerentola, La
Clemenza di Tito, and La
Scala di Seta; musical direction
includes Free to Be You and Me,
Godspell, Brigadoon,
Stop the World I Want to Get Off,
and the New York premiere of Heroes. He served as artistic
director for Cooper OperaWorks and
wrote English performing
translations for several
productions, including Le Astuzie
Femminili (The Crafty Women) by
Cimarosa, and Il Mondo della Luna
(The Man in the Moon) by
Haydn. His choral setting of the
23rd Psalm was sung
at the anniversary services
sponsored by the New York Annual
Conference of the UMC remembering
9/11, and he recently received a
Bistro award for his collaboration
on Three Tenors… In Search of an
Act. He works as a freelance
musician and teacher in New York
City and his first CD, Sue &
Edd's Fabulous Christmas, was
released in 2007. For more
info see
http://www.pstephan.com/. |
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Leslie Jackson
Student Minister
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Leslie grew up in Houston,
Texas and has been involved in the “church” practically all
of his life. His church experience includes a wide range of
different denominations and worship settings. He jokingly
calls himself a bapta-pentacosta-palian. Although he has
had an opportunity to worship in a variety of ways, his
family, however, was firmly rooted in the Baptist
tradition. He is passionate about issues of poverty
including homelessness, affordable housing, hunger, and
education. Leslie served in the United States Navy for five
years and is a graduate of the University of Phoenix. He is
currently pursuing a Master of Divinity professional degree
from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. He
plans on declaring a focus in the area of Pastoral Ministry
and Theology.
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PASTORAL
STAFF
- Rev. Susan Sparks, Pastor
- Leslie Jackson, Student Minister
- Paul Stephan, Minister of Music
- Faith Grill, Moderator
- Faith Grill, Chairperson, Trustees
- Melvin Bell, Chairperson, Community Ministries
-
Frieda Lane, Chairperson, Deacons
- Lane & Ana Bivians, Chairpersons,
Christian Education
- Melvin Bell, Coordinator, Shelter for the Homeless
-
Andrea
Bell, Clerk
- Nancy Rivera, Treasurer
- Hazel Cole, Financial Secretary
- Brian Crowson, Administrative Assistant
- Troy Gordon, Sexton
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MUSIC
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