urbandale
united church of christ
3530 70th
Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322 | phone 515.276.0625
fax 515.276.2451 | e-mail: staff@urbucc.org
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urbandale
united church of christ |
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Rev. Dr. Shannon Michael Pater, Senior Pastor The Rev. Dr. Shannon Michael Pater joined the staff of UUCC on July 1, 2004, after serving as Associate Minister of First Congregational Church in Houston, Texas. A native of Kansas, Michael has lived, studied, or ministered in Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Texas. Outside of local parish ministry, he has also served as chaplain to a day school and a major hospital. Michael's educational credentials include the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Graduate Theological Foundation and degrees from John Brown University, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Houston Graduate School of Theology, and a residency in clinical chaplaincy. He is currently serving a two-year term as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Michael's professional interests include pastoral counseling, preaching
and creative liturgy, evangelism and church growth, the intersection of
faith and social justice, interfaith dialogue, and "the ministry
of administration." His personal interests include foreign and domestic
travel, continuing education, meditation, black-and-white photography,
and culinary adventures. He also aspires to be a tea connoisseur. Michael can be reached at: michael.pater@urbucc.org
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Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries, Associate Pastor Emily Goldthwaite Fries joined us as Associate Pastor in December 2005. Born and raised in Oregon, Emily has been active in the United Church of Christ since birth. Emily graduated from the University of Oregon Honors College before moving to Berkeley, California, to attend Pacific School of Religion. Before coming to Urbandale, Emily served as chaplain in a Roman Catholic elementary school, worked with a number of other ministries to children and youth, and completed an internship with churches in the South Dakota Conference. Emily's professional interests include worship design with kids, multi-cultural ministries, sexuality and faith, outdoor camping ministries, and theology in popular culture. Just for fun and relaxation, Emily likes to knit, practice yoga, travel, read, hear live music of almost any variety, and go to the movies with her husband Tim. |
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Bobby Stinnett, Organist, and Director of SOS Choir and Youth and Adult Handbells Bobby Stinnett joined the staff in September 1997. He received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas. He earned his masters’s degree in Organ Performance with a Church Music Certificate from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Bobby has been playing the piano and organ for various denominations for over 25 years. As a public school music specialist, he brings many teaching skills to the graded choir program here at Urbandale UCC. He directs the Children and Youth choirs which he began. The choirs have grown immensely from the original nine members. Besides his church involvement, Bobby is the choral director for the Mid Meredith Zuendel Boys and Girls Club Choir of Central Iowa, is the music specialist at George Washington Carver Community School in Des Moines, and serves as organist at Temple B’Nai Jeshurun in Des Moines. |
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Elsie Naylor, Music Program Director Elsie Naylor received a bachelor's degree in church music and a master's degree in organ performance from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. She served as Director of Music/Organist at a large United Methodist church in southern Minnesota for 28 years, where she developed a choral and handbell program and an extensive fine arts series. Elsie returned to Des Moines in 1995, when she joined the Urbandale UCC staff. She coordinates the church's music program, directs the adult choir, and works with the pastor in designing liturgy each week. She also directs the Des Moines Diversity Chorus, and is active in the ecumenical community, including the Administrative Cabinet of the Des Moines Area Religious Council. |
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Amy Murray, Christian Education Assistant Amy Murray is a Kentucky native but calls the midwest her home. She was born and raised in the UCC and has been active in various levels of church leadership. Amy graduated from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin where she majored in Spanish and Sociology. She went on to Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where she recieved her Masters of Divinity in 2006. Amy is also about to complete her chaplain residency program at Methodist, Lutheran and Blank hospitals. Before coming to Iowa, Amy served as a youth director, student pastor, chaplain and church relations coordinator for a faith-based organization. She enjoys working with children and youth and the energy they bring to ministry. Amy also enjoys traveling to Latin America where she has spent Amy enjoys spending time with her partner Katie and their three dogs Emily, Bentley and Twix. They volunteer and serve as foster parents for various animal rescue organizations. Amy and Katie had their Covenant Ceremony October 2006. They enjoy traveling to see family in the Quad Cities and |
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Tara Aukes, Office Coordinator Tara Aukes joined the UUCC staff in June of 2005. Most recently, she
has worked as the administrative assistant in a family business. Tara
is a long-time resident of Des Moines, the mother of two grown children,
and she has an interest in art and oil painting. |
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Sadmir came to the United States from Bosnia back in 1997. He is married to Umihana Omerhodzic, and they have two boys, Dino and Damir. He likes to play sports with his kids, soccer especially, basketball, and fishing. His favorite food is everything; He likes enjoying all kinds of foods from different countries. He likes music and enjoys watching family movies. |
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Rev. Gayle Strickler, Sr., Pastor Emeritus Gayle Sr. was pastor of Urbandale UCC from 1951 to 1961. After serving other churches, he later returned to central Iowa, and was named Pastor Emeritus in 1992. Our sympathies to the family of Gayle Sr., who passed away on March 6, 2008. His memorial service will be held at Urbandale UCC on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at 4 p.m. |
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Gayle Strickler, Jr., Adjunct Minister for Community Concerns Gayle obtained his bachelor's degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, a M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and a MSW degree from the University of Nebraska. Currently he serves as the Disaster Response Coordinator of the Iowa Conference UCC and represents the Conference on the Iowa Disaster Human Resources Council (IDHRC), the group the coordinates disaster response work within the State of Iowa. |
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