Church Committees
First United has many different committees to deal with the administration of church activities. These committees and their chair person are as follows:
| Committee | Chair |
|---|---|
| Adult Education | Chris Damon |
| Building and Grounds | Russell Brown |
| Children’s Ministry | Barbara Metric |
| Communications | Bonnie Beck and Ted Despotes |
| Deacons | Megan Lewis |
| Faith in Action | Jackie Kareb and Mark Loafman |
| Finance | Al Parchem |
| FFUN | Georgia Parchem |
| Library | Sharon Pearce |
| New Members | Melinda Haag |
| Nominating | Laurie Jolicoeur |
| Personnel | Elan Long |
| Stewardship and Giving | Joanne Despotes |
| Women’s Retreat | Jackie Eckholm and Gerri Mead |
| Worship, Music and Art | David Wilson |
| Youth Board | Ilse Miller and Rob McMahon-Lovell |
| Youth Committee | Steve Mrkvicka |
Function of the Committees
Adult Education
Christian faith is a journey, not a destination; it doesn’t stop growing and changing at confirmation. Our faith is richer, and our congregation is stronger, when we continue Christian education as adults.
The Adult Education program at First United offers a wide variety of opportunities for education, growth, and fellowship, ranging from lectures by leading scholars to intimate discussions of life and faith. Whatever the setting, you can bring your whole self, including your questions, your doubts, and your humor.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pauline Coffman | Deb Villa | Chris Damon | Sara Stevenson |
| Robert Worley | Susan Swords-Steffen | Michele Wolford | Leah Fowler, Staff |
Building and Grounds
The Building and Grounds Committee works closely with the church’s Operations Manager to maintain, repair and improve the space in which we work, play, meet and worship.
Prior to our major new construction project which was completed in 2006, the Building and Grounds Committee was also responsible for relocating and consolidating various church meeting spaces. We refurbished a new space for the Youth Group, relocated the Choir to a new rehearsal space, consolidated the Nursery School classrooms all on the second floor and added a washroom for their use, expanded and remodeled the Food Pantry area add provided new space for the Walk-In Ministry.
As the construction project neared completion, this committee took up many of the tasks necessary to move into our space. This included forming separate, temporary committee to select and order furniture and bulletin boards for the new space, a Library Committee to furnish and organize the new library, and an Archive Committee, to organize and preserve and display our church history.
We are fortunate to have very capable “hands on” people on this committee who personally tackle many of the repair and remodeling projects that need to be done.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Brown, Co-Chair | John Zaruba | Grant Jones | |
| Fred Henders, Operations Manager | Jeff Ciontea | Sam Dammers | |
| Carol Gronwold | Paul Aeschleman |
Children’s Ministry
The Children’s Ministry Committee supports the church school and the leaders and provides quality nursery facilities. The members of Children’s Ministry serve as “room parents” for the different Sunday school classes. This could mean calling parents to have their children dress a certain way for a specific activity, bring food for PADS, or ask for additional hands for a specific craft. Children’s Ministry also plans three appreciation events throughout the year for our church school leaders.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Barb Metric, Co-Chair | Andrea Alter | Julia Huff | Steve Poe |
| Katharine Thurman | Kim Kemper | Teri Omert | Tom Swader |
| Christine Keyes | Yasmina Duwe | Laura Yockey | Jenny Ruland |
| Marylen Marty-Gentile, Staff | |||
Communications
The Communications Committee oversees First United communications with the community at large. This includes the development and maintenance of the website, which includes a “Members Only” link for those members who are requesting prayer from other members. The committee also issues press releases about First United’s Christian adult education classes and inspirational music programs. The committee promotes guest speakers, who are nationally known, and specific art pieces, such as “Stations of the Cross” which were created by local artists. In addition, it is responsible for the placement of local newspaper advertisements and yellow page listings. Lastly, the committee oversees the development and production of banners which hang on either side of the main entrance to the church sanctuary.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Despotes, Co-Chair | Bonnie Beck, Co-Chair | Emory Mead | Don Minas |
| Vicky Lekovish | Mark Hodges | Jane Barker | |
| Julie R. Harley, Staff |
Deacons
The Deacons at First United Church help to nurture a culture of caring within our church community. They oversee specific ministries, such as flower delivery, transportation for members and visitation. Deacons also hold each member of our congregation in prayer, lifting up specific joys and concerns when they are known.
Just as we are called to reach out into the world to serve other, we must also knit the body of Christ together in our own congregation. You can help care for others in our church in a variety of ways.
The different ministries that the Deacons are involved in include delivering flowers, being a “Greeter” on Sunday mornings, providing hospitality for memorial and funeral services, providing meal delivery, writing notes to others in the church who have had something significant happen in their lives both joys and concerns, being involved in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, providing transportation to those who need it, serving as an usher, and being part of a visitation team to visit members who are unable to participate in church services and activities.
| Deacons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Lewis, Chair | Leah Beckwith | Bob Berry | Ruth Ashman |
| Peggi Mizen | Pauline Geary | Natalie Nemeth | Rich Wheelock |
| Fabiana Cardozo | Gary Cerniglia | Sarah Shkutov | |
| Terry McIntyre | Karla Hayter |
Endowment Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Armstrong, Chair | John Hubbuch | George Shkutov | Barbara Ballinger |
| Brian Shamhart | Julie O’Shea, Staff |
Faith in Action
Visit the Mission page.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Loafman, Co-Chair | Jackie Kareb, Co-Chair | Ed Scheck | John Mazzola |
| Nicole Lombardi-Reyes | Ruth McBeth | Mary Anne Loafman | |
| Bobby Everson | Robert Giles | Nancy Fox | Ruth Babcock |
Finance
Finance The committee works with each committee to create the budget (and recommend revisions based on trends in expenses and pledges), create the stewardship program and monitor endowment investments/draws. In addition, they appoint a treasurer, provide oversight of the Financial Administrator, review financial reports and provide updates to Council and the congregation.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Judy Bradeen | Lisa Capozzi | Jim Wisuri | Joanne Despotes |
| Susan Buchanan | Dick Krissinger | Gene Armstrong | Rick Ashton |
| David Strom | Al Parchem | Julie O’Shea, Staff |
FFUN Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Parchem, Chair | |||
| Hilda Fischer | Marilyn Giles | Georga Parchem | |
| Karin Pietrini | Vickie Engelhardt | Mary Sue Voth |
Library
The mission and our hope for the library at First United is that it will:
Inspire us to deepen our faith,
Encourage us to grow in our spiritual knowledge,
Comfort us with beauty and wisdom,
Connect our children to a loving Universe,
And be a catalyst that stimulates heart to heart conversations.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| , Chair | Rob Coffman | Maria Cardozo | David Wilson |
| Sharon Pearce | Mary Sue Voth | Marilyn Giles | |
| Leah Fowler, Staff |
New Members
First United members have come from a variety of church backgrounds. Many of our members formerly worshiped in Roman Catholic or other Protestant churches. Some had no church background at all. We encourage anyone who is interested in joining our congregation to attend our New Member Classes, which are held three times a year. These classes are held on four consecutive Sundays during the church school hour in October and February and just following church in June.
In our New Member Classes, people will learn about our church and our two denominations: United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church (USA) and how we united to form First United Church of Oak Park. New members will also learn more about our congregation, our mission projects and partners as well as programs we offer for adults and children, and how one’s gifts and talents intersect with the needs of the church and community.
To find out more information about the next class or to learn more about what it means to be a member, please contact Rev. Rob Leveridge at rleveridge@firstunitedoakpark.com or by calling the church office 708-386-5215, ext 25.
The goals of the New Members Committee are to help orient folks to the church, to help us learn more about these potential new members and their passions and to begin to create a small community within the larger church body from which people can branch out and make this place their own. The New Members Committee offers a four-part class which covers information about church history, our denominations, information about First United and opportunities for getting involved.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| , Chair | Melinda Haag | Janet Haisman | |
| Brenda Potts | Rosemary Irmis | Clara Kearley | |
| Joe Powers |
Nominating Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| , Chair | Carl Nauert | Laurie Jolicoeur | |
| Karen Christopher | Karin Pietrini | Priscilla Sibley |
Nursery School Oversight Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie Beck, Chair | Justin Lewis | Megan Lewis | Chris Damon |
| Sherlynn Reid | Dan Pietrini | Joan White | Leslie Watts |
| Marylen Marty-Gentile, Staff |
Personnel
The Personnel Committee has the responsibility of coordinating the covenant relationship between the congregation and the staff. They function much like a personnel office in a business and also act as a sounding board for the staff in communicating their goals and needs. The Personnel Committee has written a Personnel Policy Guidebook for the staff, regularly update position descriptions, assess salary levels and recommend raises, and write up contracts and terms of call for new staff. The Personnel Committee also meets with each staff member individually twice a year, and assist with the annual performance review process.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Elan Long, Chair | Len Palombi | Hank Bode | Bob Downs |
| Melinda Peterson | Susan Zaruba | Linda Sandman | Don Drews |
| John Lurain | Marilyn Kauffmann | Janet Leong | Dan Pietrini |
| Tom Wohlford |
Planned Giving Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Armstrong, Coordinator | Ann Armstrong, Coordinator | Marcia Ashton | Stan Davis |
| Kris Ronnow | Rich Wheelock | Georga Parchem | Claudette Zobel |
Stewardship and Giving
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joanne Despotes, Chair | Rich Wheelock | Stan Davis | Ben Wilcox |
| Connie Henderson-Damon | Matt Westfallen | Ken Honderich | Sylvia Menninga |
Women’s Retreat Group
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Eckholm, Co-Chair | Gerri Mead, Co-Chair | Leah Fowler. Pastoral Advisor | |
| Connie Henderson-Damon | Cindy Palombi | Jackie Kareb | |
| Jeanne Hale | Gale Morgan-Williams | Gail Russell |
Worship, Music and Arts Committee
The Faith-in-Worship Committee serves at the intersection of the congregation and the staff in relation to the on-going effort to promote and sustain vital worship at First United. Whether discussing the highlights or missteps in the services of the past month, considering the history and theology of the sacraments, or simply making sure there is someone to prepare the bread and juice for next month’s communion service, the members of Faith-in-Worship help to ensure that our worship has integrity, coherence and spiritual depth. Guided by the vision of the larger church, we ask whether each service provides the congregation with both a sense of comfort and a challenge to courageous discipleship, while expressing hospitality to visitors; we welcome the responses of all members and friends towards this end.
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| David Wilson, Chair | Jim Bailey, Vice Chair | Janet Guevara | Cindy Palombi |
| Glenyss Gilliam, Clerk | Lou Valsoano | Dan Petrini | Rebecca Robinson |
| Phil Gehring | Carole Bergstraesser | Beth Mrkvicka | Robin Rada |
| Julie R. Harley, Staff | Bill Chin, Staff |
Youth Board
Youth Board is a group of senior high kids that meet monthly to plan, organize and implement the senior high youth group. This includes our weekly meetings, 2 retreats, our annual workcamp and various fundraisers. Youth Board works with the Associate Pastor for Youth and Adult Education.
Youth Committee
| Committee Members | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| , Chair | Rebecca Robinson | Jackie Zdziarski-West | |
| Tiffany Hilliard | Steve Mrkvicka | Anna Miller | Chase Gentile |