Meet the Staff

 

 

Rev. Eileen Lindsay
Senior Pastor
925-934-4208 x202
Sermons     Blog

 My faith story: I laughed when my New Testament Professor at Carleton College, Marcus Borg, told me 32 years ago that women could be ordained ministers and that I ought to consider it. I laughed even harder when he told me that he would nominate me for a fellowship that would pay for my seminary education.  I assured him that I was going to law school; and that my parents were ready to re-mortgage their house to pay for it. Yet my wildest dream of going to law school, wasn’t half wild enough. There was that crazy idea of the ordained ministry, something I had never heard or seen any woman do.

I always knew from my youngest years, that I had a calling from God to ministry. I just thought that ministry would be like that of an Old Testament prophet, calling out for justice through the work of a lawyer. I did not think my calling was special, I thought and still think that every Christian has a calling from God to a ministry that uses her or his gifts and graces. Read more about Pastor Eileen's call story here.

What I like most about my ministry here: The chance to interact meaningfully with people at the important intersections of their lives and the chance to make a witness for social justice.

What's in your iPod: KT Tunstall, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Usher, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Pointer Sisters, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Indigo Girls, Talking Heads, Van Morrison, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Jackson Brown,

What do I like most to do on my day off: Jazzercise, coffee with friends, garden, paint with water color and oils, sew, visit art museums in , go to plays, concerts, hike in Briones Regional Park,

Three words I'd use to describe myself: reflective, creative, analytical

Family info: Married to Bill Hughes, parents of four grown children, left with two cats.

  

Carol Morris
Director of Arts & Music Ministry
925-934-4208 x206

What brought me to WCUMC:  What brought me to WCUMC back in 1990?  The allure of exceptionally fine music!   The choir was performing John Rutter’s Requiem and the choir director invited me to sing with them. (That open invitation remains today, come join us!)  About the same time that my husband and I joined the choir, the Children’s Choir needed a director so I was able to put my music education degrees and 25 years experience to good use. 

What I like most about my ministry here:  What is most fascinating and fulfilling about the music ministry here is watching and helping it continually grow into ever changing sounds, groups and experiences that bring a deeper understanding of the participant’s connection to God. I thrive on the challenge to continually spark creativity to keep the music ministry alive for everyone who briefly joins us or makes this community their church home.  One key to that is keeping a wide venue of music styles, as one size definitely does not fit all in this wonderfully diverse congregation.  This diversity is found in our different programs, from our hand bell ringers, to our pre-schoolers discovering their singing voice, to our Adult Choir (which has just earned the honor and invitation to sing at Carnegie Hall, so exciting!)  And all are precious to our church.  There is a broad spectrum of thought and appreciation in our congregation, so all genera of music from classical to contemporary, from Bach to Joplin and from Broadway show tunes to world music are all enjoyed and experienced here.

What do I like most to do on my day off: You’ll find me with my two daughters and their families  My four grandchildren sustain my interests  in play-doh, sand castles and sleep-overs. 

Three words I'd use to describe myself: I asked my grown daughters for their thoughts (risky, I know).  Loving, loyal and insightful got top billing which is pretty wonderful, I think! Personally, I get excited when I see learning happening either in me or in you and I love to live fully in each moment God has given me.  The world, its music and its people are abundantly full of fascination and wonder, and I am truly blessed to be living my passion

Jake Ritter
Joint Youth Director
925-934-4208 x207
 

My faith story: I was raised in the Davis United Methodist Church, and confirmed by Pastor Lindsay.  Later on, I went to UC Davis and double-majored in Economics and Religious Studies. I then travelled throughout Africa and the Middle East, and landed back in Walnut Creek in 2009, when I began working at the Walnut Creek UMC.

What brought me to WCUMC: My mother told me that Pastor Lindsay was assigned to Walnut Creek, so I wanted to reconnect with old friends.

What I like most about my ministry here: I believe Christian faith is something that must be acted on every second of every day in order to be properly understood, so much of my own spiritual development, as well as what the youth group does, is learning by doing. We study the Bible like crazy, but we then apply it to our lives in concrete ways. We learn about hunger, then we participate in the 30 hour famine. We talk about poverty, then we go do something about it through sierra service project. We talk about loving others as we love ourselves, then we go buy loads of laundry for complete strangers. It’s this kind of hands-on, putting your money where your mouth is living that I love about youth ministry.

What's my greatest challenge: My greatest challenge is getting the rest of the world to see how awesome our teenagers are!

What's in your iPod: I love the Violent Femmes, the Vines, the Electric Six, Dead Kennedys, Florence + the Machine, CAKE, Franz Ferdinand, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, the Yoshida Brothers, Godspeed You Black Emperors, Matisyahu, No Doubt, and my favoriteChristian Rock artist of all time: Johnny Cash.

What do I like most to do on my day off: I like to practice bikram yoga and HapKiDo, a Korean martial art. I also spend a lot of time on youtube. It’s an addiction!

Three words I'd use to describe myself: Bringing Sexy Back

Family info: My mother, Chris Ritter, is a member of the Walnut Creek UMC, and my brother, Lucas, is a student at UC Davis. I also have a cat, Kennedy, who is a curmudgeonly old man.

 

Corrie Binker
Director of Children's Ministries  
925-934-4208 x211

What brought me to WCUMC: My family and I found WCUMC when we were living in Truckee, CA, and my parents were living here in Pleasant Hill. When we'd come down for a visit we'd go to the church here. When my older daughter, Hilary, moved down here to go to college, we felt we were leaving her in good hands; and when my younger daughter, Claire, and i moved down here in 2000 we already felt very much at home here.

What I like most about my ministry here: Sharing my faith and God's Love with children ... also, having a lot of cool keys!

What's my greatest challenge: Unfortunately, finding enough people who are willing, able and God-sent to teach Sunday School.

What's in your iPod: From Gregorian Chants to madirgals to "classical", especially Bach, and on to big band, concert choir, cool jazz, folk music and the Beatles!, as well as light rock, contemporary Christian and country, the you throw in a little Taize and that about covers it all.

What do I like most to do on my day off: In a perfect scenario it would be early summer in the Sierra and I'd be sitting on a big rock by a stream, surrounded by trees and wildflowers ... but other than that I like to work in my garden, watch old movies and cook.

Three words I'd use to describe myself: cheerful, optimistic and friendly

Family info: My husband, Monty, and I have 2 daughters, Hilary and Claire. Hilary and her husband Kevin also have two daughters, Kalia-dora and Amariya. At our house we have 3 cats - Pumpkin, Mew, and Mimi; one dog, a golden retriever-cocher mix named Sandy; and a cinnamon cockatiel named Tasmin. We are all fortunate to have each other!

Natsuko Murayama  
Organist & Choir Accompanist    
 

My faith story: I grew up in non Christian and non musical family in Japan. I am not sure why God touched my heart and gave me a faith. My faith is standing here at the church through music. I started a keyboard lesson with a nun at a Catholic Church near my house when I was four, then I started to go to Sunday School there with my friends. Later I changed a piano teacher to study more seriously. When I was in Six Grade, I started to go to a United Church of Christ in Japan with my best friend. When I got in High School, I started to volunteer as a Sunday School teacher and a musician there. I was baptized when I was a junior in a music college. I started to study/play organ and earned a BA in music education from Kunitachi College of Music in Japan and a Master of Music in organ from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Because the sound of organ gave me a enough satisfaction of an instrument worthy to praise God's grace. Playing at the church, it is my devotion. 

What brought me to WCUMC: One of my friends asked me to play here as a substitute,when I was a  grad. student at SF Conservatory in 2005. It was Holy Week and there were tons of music to read. I got a VERY strong shot!!  Later I was hired as an organist in 2007. Maybe God brought me here to learn something more. 

What I like most about my ministry here: People are nice and friendly to show God's love. 

What's my greatest challenge: Every week I am trying to touch the congregations heart through music. I am trying to pick prelude/postlude pieces which might show a point of view of the sermon. Also I would like to support to  "lift up the congregations voice" with my sounds. 

What's in your iPod: Of course tons of organ music. I love Bach's chorals and Fugues!

What do I like most to do on my day off: Walk with my dog in Tilden Park, Golden Gate Park, and Lake Merced, mostly. Reading: I like mysteries. Mostly I read then in Japanese, but English is fine with me. Going to concerts, I am subscribing SF Symphony. 

Three words I'd use to describe myself: Smile, Friendly, Honesty ( I am not telling a lie about this question, I guess...)

Family info: A husband (Physicist @ CAL/ Univ. of Tokyo, play double bass), A son (Princeton Univ., play violin), TWO daughters (Head-Royce Upper School, one plays cello and do ballet, the other sings in SF Girls Chorus), A dog, Momo, Jack Russell Terrier, 3 years old

 

Jane Patty 
Bell Program Director

My faith story:  Having been raised in a New England Congregational parsonage, the church has always been my second home.  Since Sundays were spent at church and my dad's office was there, it was a place where I "belonged." Music soon became primary, beginning as a youngster in children's choirs.  Next came accompanying choirs at the piano, then taking the director's role while still in high school.  Except for my 3 years in Berkeley I have never stopped directing one group or another. So I suppose you could say my "faith story" began with my parents' love, enhanced by the influence of my dad's faith and ministry, my musical training and experience, 2 years at Pacific School of Religion (which brought me from Maine to California) and years of leadership through Christian Education, directing adult choirs, as organist, and finally directing handbell choirs.  Recently, my theology has definitely evolved through WCUMC's Adult Forum series.
 
What brought me to WCUMC:  As pastor at Trinity Methodist Church in Berkeley, CA, Doug Hayward hired me fresh out of PSR (armed with a Master's in Religious Education) to be part-time Church School Director/Youth Leader and part-time on the office staff.  A strange combination of jobs now that I look back at it, but Doug introduced me to an eligible bachelor and we were married 10 months later!  Then began our many moves with Chevron, which led us twice to Walnut Creek and this particular church.  With each move, we seemed to have no choice what church we'd attend.  The ministers had an active referral service!
 
What I like most about my ministry here: Although I served as Director of Christian Education here for several years and seven years as organist, I think my years with the bell choirs have been the most rewarding.  I began that program in 1976 after I completed my BA in Music at Hayward and it has blossomed in the years since.  I enjoy the music, the ringers, and the warmth of church friends who have supported my efforts.
 
What's my greatest challenge:  That's a hard question! Mostly, it's finding the time to do all I want to do!
 
What's in your iPod: Don't have an iPod; but I do have a Kindle and am currently reading "The Warmth of Other Suns", the story of America's Great Migration. Recently Frank and I have been hooked on The Teaching Company Audio CD's on the lives of classical and romantic era composers and their music.  Great listening for long car trips.
 
What do I like most to do on my day off:  Spend time with a cup of coffee, my piano, and/or my laptop!  Then toss in a nice walk through Walnut Creek's Shell Ridge.
 
 
Family info:  Three kids - all adopted from birth, and now all in their 40's.  Seven grandchildren within a two-hour drive.  One great-grandchild (great-grampa's namesake).  And two cats, neither of which is mine, but they think they are!

 

Lalena Shea
Office Manager
925-934-4208 x201

My faith story:  Religion has always been a fascination to me. When I was a child I occasionally went to Catholic services, mega-church services, and other Protestant churchs. But I never seemed to find a religion that would allow me to experience God's grace. Through the twists and turns of life I found myself at a United Methodist Church in Colorado. I knew I found a home when the Senior Pastor said to me that God is bigger than all religion and there are many ways to experience His grace. To this day I'm not a "traditional" Christian but faith in action keeps me close to the church.

 What brought me to WCUMC:  Moving back to California from Colorado I was looking for a new home. My "home" church left some big shoes to fill but I have enjoyed the sense of fellowship, the willingness to embrace new ideas, and a community of people who find faith in action.
 
What I like most about my ministry here: Being a part of the spoke in the middle of the wheel that is the church. I enjoy getting to know people's stories and encouraging people in their faith journey.
 
What's my greatest challenge:  Finding time to make all the ideas reality.
 
What's in your iPod: Now that is hard to narrow down so I'll just mention a few favorites - Simon & Garfunkel, Counting Crows, The Killers, The David Chowder Band, bluegrass, christian rock, classical, and oh the list is long.
 
What do I like most to do on my day off:  Spending time in the park with my son and a camera. A close second is a long nap.
 
Three words I'd use to describe myself:  Reflective, intense, and blunt.
 
Family info:  My young son, who I adopted from India, is the light of my day and my 13-year old cat who has weathered adding a younger sibling to the house.