Green Mountain
United Methodist Church
Our Awesome Team!
Get to know our GMUMC staff
Upon graduation from the Perkins School of Theology with a Master of Divinity, followed by ordination in the United Methodist Church in 1989, I served in the North Texas Conference before transferring in 2006 to the Yellowstone Conference (eventually merging with Rocky Mountain to become the Mountain Sky Conference).
My wife, Judy, is a Classical Chinese Medicine Qigong Practitioner, and a Licensed & Certified Sound Therapy Practitioner. We have two grown children, Madison and Joshua, as well as two small, spoiled dogs, Marbles and Boo.
I was a teenager when my family moved from Houston, Texas to Aspen, Colorado, where I graduated high school. During this time, I developed a love for the outdoor activities associated with the Rocky Mountains. I have also been a professional musician for most of my life- vocals, with accompanying piano and guitar. I enjoy virtually everything from Beethoven to the Beatles to Black Flag. And, I practice Sahaja Yoga meditation twice daily.
I continue to ponder a wood carving a member of a past congregation made for me which reads, “Faith (trust) believes the incredible, sees the invisible, and receives the impossible.” And, one of my scriptural favorites is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter four: “Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Debra graduated from Iliff School of Theology in 1999 and was ordained a Deacon in the United Methoddist Church in 2002. She served churches in the Denver Metro area as a youth minister for almost 20 years before moving to Laramie, Wyoming where she served as the Campus Minstry Director for the Wesley Foundation at the University of Wyoming for seven years.
Her childhood was in Houston, Texas, moving to the Denver area when she was a teenager. She is back in Colorado now and happy to be part of Green Mountain UMC.
She has two adult children, Drew and Margaret, who also live in the area and two stepdaughters, Rachel and Alicia, who live on the north side of the Denver Area.
Reading, hiking and walking her dog, Wally, keeps her busy and happy. Yellowstone National Park is her "holy place" and she visits there as often as possible. For her, the presence of God is all aroung me in the mountains, geysers, canyons and waterfalls of the park.
She looks forward to many book and Bible studies with the people of Green Mountain!
Meg has been Office Manager at GMUMC since 2006. Prior to that she has worn many other hats, church secretary at Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church for 3 years, Tupperware VIP Manager for 40 years, and teaching in several different districts in the metro area. Meg received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education with a major in French and a minor in English from Adams State College (now University) in 1970 and a second minor in Remedial Reading from Metro State College (now University) in 1972.
Meg has been married for 50 years and they have two children and five marvelous, exceptional grandchildren. She is currently a Stephen Ministries Leader and helps run the program both at GMUMC and her home church of Applewood Valley UMC. She is also very involved with her granddaughters with Job’s Daughters International and serves in an adult leadership capacity in that organization. In her spare time (what’s that?) she enjoys scrapbooking, camping, reading, spending time with her grandchildren and going to her brother’s cabin in the mountains.
Kim and her family joined the church in 1981 when she was 12 years old. She got her teaching degree in 1992 from Metropolitan State University in Denver. She has taught preschool through high school. She was senior and junior high youth leader and has been a Sunday School teacher as well. She has served on the Outreach Committee and Staff Parish Committee. When she is not working, she enjoys raising chickens, playing with her dogs and other pets, gardening and spending time with her mom, Anna and her son, Josiah.
Alex Neve has been the GMUMC Youth Director for over 3 years. Alex earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Mind, Brain, and Behavior and a minor in Women’s Studies. She has worked with at risk youth in a multitude of settings and she has been a member of GMUMC for the last 30 years. Alex loves being outdoors, playing new games, and spending time with her two sugar gliders.
Melissa has been the Music Coordinator, Organist and Pianist for Green Mountain choir for close to 20 years. Melissa has enjoyed coordinating music programs ranging from weekly services to large holiday events and weddings since her training began in Louisiana. Her passion and devotional mission is to provide an uplifting, spiritual music environment for the church community as a way to draw closer to God.
Janet is the director of our two adult bell choirs, as well as the youth bell choir. She received her Music Education degree from West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She enjoys both ringing bells and directing choirs immensely, and cannot imagine a life without music, and in particular, handbells.
Bill Loper is grateful for the opportunity to work with GMUMC Chancel Choir. He holds a BME from the University of Kentucky and a MM from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Most of career was spent teaching in Jefferson County Schools. Everyone is welcome to join the Chancel Choir, whether to sing ongoing or just for special occasions.
Cherie has been the Nursery Director since 2013 and a Second Generation GMUMC member who has been involved with youth and children for many years. She has a Bachelors Degree in Healthcare Administration and is the Office Manager for a very active healthcare practice in the Denver area. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, swimming, spending time outdoors and playing with kids.
James O'Toole
Custodian
James has been custodian, groundskeeper and all-around handyman at GMUMC for 10 years. In his spare time, he enjoys working on cars, remote control drones and electronics.
Our Volunteer Leadership Team
Lay Leader: MaryJane Eddy-Scott
Church Council Chairperson: Alyssa Olson
Outreach/Missions: Mary Bloomstran
Worship:
Finance: Jane Bernard
Trustees: Ron Bernard
Stewardship: Rich Arnold
Staff Parish Relations: Andy Thomas
Ministers: Everyone