PASTOR HEATHER McDOUGALL (GarrettGal07@aol.com) : In May 2011, Heather gradauted from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. Prior to being appointed to Keeler/Silver Creek United Methodist churches, she completed a chaplaincy residency at Bronson Methodist Hospital. At Bronson she served as a chaplain on the Mother/Baby, Orthopedic Surgical Unit and Medical Intensive Care unit. During her seminary education, she had the pleasure of serving Kalamazoo First United Methodist Church and Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church. Heather's passions include preaching, teaching, worship, sacraments, small groups, children's ministry and pastoral care. Additionally, she also has a passion for helping all persons full fill their baptismal vows to continually grow in knowledge, grace and faith. Heather also gets tremendous enjoyment out of being a mom to her two daughters, Hannah and Sarah. Sarah is in the 6th grade. Hannah is in the 7th grade. During family time, they enjoy beaches/lakes, swimming, running, volunteering, downhill skiing or relaxing at home catching fireflies.
JANIE HIPSHEAR, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (silvercreekumc@gmail.com):
Janie brings her professional, organized, "can do" skill set to running the office for Silver Creek/Keeler United Methodist Church. It is Janie's cheery, professionalism that awaits your calls and questions. She produces a monthly newsletter. She has mastered the design of new creative, colorful bulletins. She supports not only the leadership at Silver Creek/Keeler, but the membership too! She brings a smile to faces and accomplishes the finer points and details of ministry with excellence. Ministry with the people at Silver Creek/Keeler simply isn't her job it is her calling. This is why Janie often goes above and beyond the call of duty as she lives out her vibrant faith at the Creek.
Janie brings her professional, organized, "can do" skill set to running the office for Silver Creek/Keeler United Methodist Church. It is Janie's cheery, professionalism that awaits your calls and questions. She produces a monthly newsletter. She has mastered the design of new creative, colorful bulletins. She supports not only the leadership at Silver Creek/Keeler, but the membership too! She brings a smile to faces and accomplishes the finer points and details of ministry with excellence. Ministry with the people at Silver Creek/Keeler simply isn't her job it is her calling. This is why Janie often goes above and beyond the call of duty as she lives out her vibrant faith at the Creek.
ROSEMARY SPRAGUE, PIANIST: Rosemary Sprague has been playing at Silver Creek since she was a very little girl. The gifts of ministry she brings is in her wide range of reptoire on both organ and piano. It is music that fills the spirit of Rosemary. She helps us every Sunday to make that spirit contagious through her ministry of music. However, Rosemary's true gift enables her to not only play those familiar hymns for us, but some new pieces and contemporary pieces as well. She easily mastered helping the congregation to learn "All Are Welcome". She has taken an Advent candle lighting piece "We Wait in Hope" and rewritten parts to pick up on an intricate harmony. Her breadth and depth is as wide and deep as her faith. She shares this with Silver Creek United Methodist through the ministry of music. She makes our baby grand piano sing, as well as all our souls. Come to catch her ministry of music at the Creek!
CJ BROOKS, CHOIR DIRECTOR: CJ joins the staff at both Silver Creek (choir director) and Keeler UMC (pianist) bringing a depth of experience, youthful energy and a passion for both traditional music and contemporary providing a blended opportunity in worship. CJ is also the junior high and high school band teacher at Dowagiac Public schools and joins our staff part time July 2012! We look forward to welcoming CJ as he helps our souls to sing and raises the hairs on the back of our necks all for the glory of God! Come let your souls sing with CJ Monday evenings from 6-7 p.m. Let your soul soar through singing! Twenty percent of our congregation sings in the choir and there is always room for more!
