First United Methodist Church of Brighton
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Transformed by God to Transform the World
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Clergy and Staff Bios Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker
Lead Pastor sherry@brightonfumc.org Pastor Sherry was appointed to serve as First UMC’s lead pastor in July 2008. It is her privilege and call to see lives transformed through the ministry of the church. Sherry has a passion for empowering the faithful to live out the reign of God and to bring hope to a hurting world. Her preaching and teaching, grounded in the Bible, provoke thought and action. She leads the church and its transformative ministries, humbled by the gifted of the men, women, youth and children with whom she serves.
Sherry has been a pastor in the Detroit Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1991. She has served churches in the communities of Gladwin, Howell, Hartland, Ann Arbor, Dundee, and Chesaning. It has been her privilege to be in ministry with faithful disciples intent on living out Christ’s call on their lives.
She earned a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School (1997), was ordained an elder in 1999. She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary (2003). She attended Central Michigan University (BS 1980; MA 1986) and taught history and English at Ogemaw Height High School in West Branch for 14 years.
Sherry enjoys preaching and teaching. She has a passion for encouraging personal and group Bible study for people of all ages. Sherry enjoys a good conversation and finds it a treat to talk with people of all ages and backgrounds. She has had the opportunity to be involved in local and global outreach and celebrates the mission commitment of The United Methodist Church.
In addition to her ministry at Brighton, she chairs the Detroit Annual Conference New Church Development Committee and is a member of the Ann Arbor District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Sherry has been elected as a delegate to the 2012 North Central Jurisdictional Conference and will serve as an alternate delegate to the 2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Sherry leads retreats and workshops and has assisted congregations in conflict resolution. In her role as community leader, she has served on a housing commission and a township board, and she has been active in community service projects.
Sherry was raised in the resort town of Lexington, Michigan where her mother, her two brothers and their families live. She also has a sister, who along with her family, lives in Edmonton, Alberta. It is a blessing for Sherry to visit with her family and brag about her nieces and nephews.
 Rev. John Ball
Associate Pastor
John has been on staff since July, 2009 at Brighton First. He considers himself privileged to have been married to his wife Cyndi for 15 years. John and Cyndi have two boys; 10 and 9. John’s primary responsibilities at Brighton First include: Community outreach, program development, pastoral care and worship leadership. John is co-creator of Sanctus, a missional community which was created to build relationships with people who are not interested in being a part of the conventional church.
John is passionate about speaking words of hope into people’s lives in a way that is relevant and real. Life doesn’t have to be a “death sentence” but rather it can be filled with abundance, happiness and peace. John has served in the United Methodist Church for 12 years and he simply loves what he does.
 Rev. Loretta Job, Deacon
Director of Congregational Care
& Director of Adult Faith Formation
Loretta began her ministry at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Brighton in 2000 as a layperson and was ordained in May 2010 as a Deacon in Full Connection. Her primary responsibilities at FUMC are in the areas of Adult Faith Formation and Congregational Care. Following the direction of Methodist founder John Wesley, in encouraging everyone to grow in their faith, FUMC seeks to offer ways to invite and encourage that growth. Loretta works with a group of wonderful volunteers who encourage, direct and lead adult faith formation experiences, classes and retreats, confident that a closer walk with God is everyone’s call. In addition to her ministry at FUMC of Brighton Loretta serves on the Ann Arbor District Committee (of the United Methodist Church) on Ordained Ministry, on theConference Committee on Native American Ministries (of the United Methodist Church) , as the Liaison for the Order of Deacons for the Ann Arbor District and on the Board of Directors of the VINA Dental Clinic. Loretta has been married to Larry for the past 27 years and they have two grown children. She recently welcomed a new addition to her family; Hannah is a Newfoundland mix who she hopes to get certified as a therapy dog. Hannah would then be able to accompany Loretta on hospital and other visits. When she is not at the church, Loretta enjoys walking around Brighton, visiting family and friends and eating Larry’s wonderful cooking!
 Suzy Hutchison
Director of Christian Education
& Director of Missions and Outreach
Suzy has been on staff as the Christian Education Director since July of 2000. She has a B.A. from Michigan State University and a “passion for learning that is only surpassed by my passion for family and God.”
Suzy’s responsibilities at First Church include: children’s ministry, mission/outreach and Sanctus Community. Suzy says, “I am blessed to be involved with a highly dedicated staff of paid and unpaid servants who lovingly and willingly give of themselves. Their dedication to the people of God make many wonderful ministries possible.”
Suzy is the wife of David Hutchison and the mother of two grown daughters. “It is my hope that every member and visitor to our church find the transforming grace of Jesus Christ and feel empowered to transform the world through this gift of grace. My door is always open, and I am happy to share my time and resources with you. I'd love to hear from you.”
 Anne Walters
Christian Education Assistant
 Lisa Guise
First Steps Preschool Director
Lisa is the director and lead teacher for the T/TH/F a.m. and the T/TH p.m. classes at First Steps Preschool. Lisa graduated from Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania with a B.S. Degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education. She completed her Master’s Degree in Reading from Eastern Michigan University in 1990.
In 1991, Miss Lisa began teaching three-year-old children at First Presbyterian Preschool, and in 1993, she also began serving as the Preschool’s Director. She continued serving in those roles until June 2008, when First Presbyterian Preschool moved and became First Steps Preschool.
Lisa has also worked at a Co-operative Nursery, Montessori Center and two years in public school teaching First and Third Grades.
Lisa and her husband, Greg, live in Brighton. They have two daughters. The older daughter is married and works at an advertising agency in Birmingham and the younger daughter is a college student working toward her degree in Nursing.
 Vicki Cameron
Youth Director vicki@brightonfumc.org Vicki is our youth director and joined the staff at First United Methodist church in January 2012. Vicki worked in youth ministry at Zion Lutheran church in Ann Arbor and is a certified teacher who has many years of experience in both the elementary and middle school levels. She has her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and spends part of her time as a consultant for local childcare programs.
Vicki “plans to be a consistent presence in the life of the church and in the lives of your fantastic kids. I’m hoping that I will have your support and prayers as we continue to build this vital ministry of the church. We are working to build a strong foundation so that students will feel connected and important in the life of this church. I look forward to meeting all of you and growing in my own relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Vicki has three amazing daughters: Her oldest daughter is a junior in college and majoring in Political Science and Religious Studies; her middle daughter is a High School junior; her youngest daughter is completing her 5th grade year doing homeschooling.
 Susan Snow
Director of Music
 Barb Terry
Director of Handbell Choir
Barb was born and raised in Wisconsin; she has had a life-long love of music – singing in school and church choirs, playing in band from elementary through high school and ringing handbells for about 20 years. Her grown children live in Grand Rapids and Spring Lake. As a retired teacher she looks forward to a variety of activities after spending about 30 years in a classroom. Being able to praise God through music makes Barb feel whole.
Chris Attarian
Multimedia Coordinator
 Terry Keefe
Office Manager
Terry loves reading, antiques and visiting with family and friends. She is inspired by the congregation and staff of First United Methodist Church as they have a passion for kindness, caring, and mission and outreach.
Terry has been the office manager at First Church since July of 2006. Terry and Her husband John have two grown and married sons, and have been blessed with four grandchildren.
Terry worked for 5 ½ years as the parish coordinator for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brighton. She decided to return to college and complete her bachelor’s degree. In 2006 she graduated from Cleary College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  Thyra Babcock
Administrative Assistant
thyra@brightonfumc.org
Thyra Babcock and husband, Lowell, have resided in Green Oak Township for 15 years. They have two children. Thyra has a heart for the Lord by serving others. Her present passions are knitting, gardening and antiquing. She has worked in the Brighton First United Methodist office as an administrative assistant since October, 2008.
 Stacy Hnatowich
Housekeeper
Stacy is married to John and they have two children, Brandan and Kali. Stacy has been with First Church since August of 2009. Stacy loves her job, especially the staff and congregation. In her spare time she enjoys being with family, reading, watching movies.
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