Title: Admin Assistant for Music & Fine Arts

Ext: 12

Boards, Committees, groups: Board of Music & Fine Arts, Gallery Committee, sometimes Chancel Arts, Children’s Choir Guild, Chancel Choir Council, to name a few…

Pronouns: She/Her

When did you start at Plymouth: November 2013

What do you do at Plymouth? All clerical support for Pre-K – age 101 Music & Fine Arts.  Help fill in the weekly bulletins.  Whatever is needed. Music library, instrument organization & storage, ensemble attendance,  Gallery signage, Still learning new things!  Currently also supporting Child & Family Ministries, Flowers, etc.

Birthplace? Ames, Iowa

Family? Retired hubby, 6 adult kids (his, mine, & ours) 3 of which are married. 5 grandkids, 3 granddogs, & a grandcat.

Pets? None, but the neighbor’s chickens sometimes come sit on our porch swing!

Education? Urbandale High School, BMus Simpson College, MMus Northwestern University

Hobbies? Knitting, sewing, bread baking

Bucket List Item? Visiting the UK and Germany again

Why Plymouth? Because my job and I are a good fit, I like my boss, and I really enjoy all the people I work with.

Anything else? Sunday mornings find me at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, where I’m in the choir, and am a member of the Chapter (think “Episcopal version of Church Council”).

Title: Associate Pastor

Ext: 27

Pronouns: He/Him

When did you start at Plymouth: October 2021

What do you do at Plymouth? Youth Ministry, Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Stephen Ministries

Birthplace? Granby, CT

Education? Undergrad at Franklin & Marshall, Graduate at Yale Divinty School

Hobbies? Painting, Drawing, Reading, Athletic Training, Cooking, Hiking

Bucket List Item? Go to Antarctica

Why Plymouth? Being at Plymouth allows me the opportunity to walk with God in a new place and with a new congregation.

Anything else? I am a Chaplain Candidate in the United States Navy

Title: Executive Assistant

Ext: 14

Pronouns: He/His

Started at Plymouth: June 2021

What do you do at Plymouth? Provide administrative support to the Senior Minister, pastoral staff, and Director of Operations and Finance.

Birthplace? Fort Dodge, Iowa

Pets? Francis, English Springer Spaniel

Education? BBA – University of Iowa, MTS – St. Paul School of Theology

Hobbies? Watercolor, Cooking, Books

Carl is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in organ performance.

Carl began playing the organ at the age of 10. He held his first permanent church position at 14. A church organist for more than 35 years, Carl joined Plymouth in 1992, after service as an organist at a church in Clearwater, FL for more than a decade

Carl has won prizes in many competitions and have preformed extensively in retail on both the organ and the carillon. As an accompanist, Carl is a perennial favorite of Plymouth kids who travel on the annual Matins tour.

Title: Accountant

Ext: 18

Boards, Committees, groups: Finance Committee

Pronouns: She/her

Start: November 2010

What do you do at Plymouth? Accounting

Birthplace? Des Moines, Iowa

Family? All grown children

Pets? One dog, Stanley

Education? University of Iowa; CPA

Title: Communications Assistant

Ext: 15

Pronouns: She/her

Start: September 2019

What do you do at Plymouth? I organize Plymouth’s regular email offerings and the monthly Contact Magazine. I also help maintain the Plymouth website.

Birthplace? Marshalltown, Iowa

Family? Husband, Aaron. I’m the oldest of 3 and he is the youngest of 5. Also an auntie to 5 wonderful kids.

Pets? Orange tabby, Latte

Education? AAS in design from DMACC, BA in Graphic Design and Photography from Grand View University

Hobbies? Video games, painting, and listening to audiobooks.

Bucket List Item? Take a trip to Europe

Why Plymouth? I’m a life-long church-goer and it was my goal to work for a church in my career. I also love the progressive theology here at Plymouth.

Title: Director of Operations & Finance

Ext: 19

Boards, Committees, groups: Trustees, Council, Stewardship, Foundation

Pronouns: She/Her

Start: November 2019

What do you do at Plymouth? budget, stewardship campaign, building maintenance

Birthplace? Des Moines, Iowa

Family? 1 son birth year 2012

Pets? 2 cats

Education? Bachelors of Business Administration from University of Iowa; Masters of Accountancy from the University of Iowa.

Hobbies? Knitting

Anything else? I love to attend the opera

Title: Interim Senior Pastor

Ext: 17

Boards, Committees, groups: Membership; Stewardship; Deacons; Trustees

Pronouns: She/Her

Start: October 2020

What do you do at Plymouth? As an interim pastor, I preach, teach, manage the staff, and work with church leaders to explore the congregation’s future.

Birthplace? Lancaster, WI

Family? Two sons, Christjahn and Daniel

Pets? Two cats, Addie and Bader

Education? BA in Political Science from Truman University; MDiv from Yale Divinity School

Hobbies? Reading, embroidery

Bucket List Item? Live at the beach

Title: Pastor of Care and Welcome

Ext: 13

Pronouns: she/her

Birthplace? Glendale, California

Family? Married to Tracy. Two wonderful step-sons. Parents in Pheonix. Only sibling and his family live in Holland, MI.

Pets? Home is currently shared with Grizly, a mini golden doodle and Mellie, a mini Bernie doodle.

Education? B.A in Art Education (K-12) from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. M. Div. from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA

Hobbies? Being in nature, cooking from scratch, reading cookbooks

Title: Pastor of Vitality & Outreach

Ext: 46

Boards, Committees, Groups: Board of Benevolences, Board of Christian Social Action (and all committees that fall under them), Confirmation.

Pronouns: she/her

Start: September 2016

What do you do at Plymouth? I oversee all things related to our UCC relationship, community partners, and things that grow justice & kindness in the world. Also things that contribute to a vital (living & growing) faith: like leading our confirmation program and encouraging people to see their own stories as part of God’s story and to share them!

Birthplace? Le Sueur, Minnesota

Family? Lucas (husband)

Pets? Chet Barker (supermutt)

Education? MDiv from University of Chicago Divinity School; BA from St. Olaf College in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts (storytelling!)

Hobbies? Swimming, reading (in the hammock is best!), stress baking, gardening, walking with Chet!

Bucket List Item? Cappadocia!

Why Plymouth? The Spirit called and I answered! Team ministry is a gift. The witness of progressive Christian faith is a gift. The people of Plymouth are a gift!

Title: Associate Pastor

Ext: 49

Boards, Committees, Groups: Board of Christian Stewardship, Board of Trustees, Board of Christian Social Action, Board of Benevolences.

Pronouns: he/him

Start: June 2020

Birthplace? Orlando, FL

Education? Master of Divinity from Emory University / BA International Studies from the University of North Florida.

Hobbies? I like to go hiking, camping, rafting, and go on walks around Des Moines. I also like to experience a new city through food.

Bucket List Item? I want to visit all 50 states and 5 territories.

Why Plymouth? Plymouth is an open and affirming congregation and committed to social justice.

Title: Director of Music & Fine Arts

Ext: 24

Boards, Committees, Groups: Board of Music and Fine Arts, Chancel Choir Council, Children’s Choir Guild, Board of Deacons, all arts committees and musical ensembles

Pronouns: he/him

Start: September 2017

What do you do at Plymouth? I administrate the Music & Fine Arts programs at Plymouth Church, including directing the Chancel Choir, Chancel Chorale, Instrumental Ensemble, and assisting with the Matins Choir. I work with 30+ gifted professional musicians and directors on staff at Plymouth and over 300 volunteers in our Music and Fine Arts programs.

Birthplace? Knoxville, TN

Family? I’m an only child. My extended family live in East Tennessee.

Pets? Three cats: Louis, Sam, and Miss Kitty.

Education? Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Wind Percussion Emphasis (cum laude) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Doctoral Candidate in the Doctor of Worship Studies program at the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Jacksonville, Florida.

Hobbies? I play clarinet in the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble and the Thornwood Clarinet Quartet. I also enjoy playing tennis recreationally, cooking/baking, walks/hiking, travel, men’s style, and personal finance.

Bucket List Item? I hope to travel more in the next five years.

Why Plymouth? I was attracted to the Music and Fine Arts program at Plymouth and willing to move from coastal Georgia to be in ministry here. I find Plymouth people to be thoughtful, conscientious, curious, open to new experiences, and appreciative of music and the arts.

Title: Director of Transition into Ministry Programs

Ext: 48

Boards, Committees, Groups: Transition into Ministry

Pronouns: She/her

Start: April 2017

What do you do at Plymouth? I help equip pastoral residents and members of the congregation to effectively use their gifts, time, interests, and talents to grow and serve in meaningful ways at Plymouth Church and beyond. In other words, I help members and our TiM Residents explore and fulfill their unique calls to ministry.

Birthplace? Ames, Iowa

Family? Married to Doug. Auntie to eight nieces and nephews.

Pets? Wellington, our beloved West Highland White Terrier

Education? B.S from Iowa State in Distributed Studies, Masters in Urban Planning, Ph.D. in Sociology

Hobbies? Reading, Writing, and Learning the Piano (Former Hobby: Cooking)

Bucket List Item? Parasailing, Writing a Novel, Seeing the Northern Lights

Why Plymouth? I’ve been a member since 1998, Plymouth is my community and has helped me grow in love of God and neighbor in the most surprising ways. More than anything, I desire helping others to do the same.

Title: Director of Communications

Ext: 22

Pronouns: she/her

Start: March 2010

What do you do at Plymouth? I oversee all internal and external communications at Plymouth so we present a consistent voice and brand.

Birthplace? Southeast Kansas

Pets? Two toy poodles and two border collies

Education? BA in English and Psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Hobbies? Painting, showing and training dogs

Title: Interim Child and Family Ministries

Boards, Committees, Groups: Board of Christian Education

Pronouns: She/her

Start: April 2020

What do you do at Plymouth? Some activities I oversee are favorites: Church School, Vacation Bible School and the Kid’s Cart that has started showing up at worship services.  An added bonus to my work at Plymouth has been getting to know children, their families, Church School teachers,  Board of Christian Education members and so many Plymouth members who have offered to help with child and family programming!

Birthplace? Biloxi, Mississippi

Family? My husband, Rick, and I live in Urbandale. Our daughter and her wife live in La Crosse, Wisconsin, our daughter-in-law lives nearby and we have extended family across the U.S.

Education? My degrees from Radford University (VA), Western Illinois University, and Indiana University- Bloomington have focused on early childhood, special education and speech pathology.

Hobbies? Cooking, gardening, travel, and recently, downsizing!!

Why Plymouth? Plymouth has provided a church home that has challenged us to think about our faith and our faith-in-action for over 20 years. Our church family including ministers, staff and members has celebrated our joys and has been a source of strength and support during difficult times. We are blessed to have Plymouth church in our lives.

Anything else? My dad was in the Air Force and we moved A LOT! I attended five different schools in 1st grade!