Church of the Apostles

1850 Marietta Avenue

Lancaster, PA  17603

Office:              717-392-5718

Fax:                 717-392-6470

Email:  webmaster@apostlesucc.org

   
Church Staff
Meet our non-pastoral staff who keep Church of the Apostles vibrant and alive!

Church of the Apostles is blessed with many talented staff members and a multitude of office volunteers and other volunteers who provide a wide variety of programs and services for our congregation.


Cindy Kahler,

Director of Music and Organist

Email Cindy |  Phone Cindy at 717-392-5718 ext. 116

 

Cindy Kahler, native of Lancaster County, has been Director of Music Ministries at Church of the Apostles UCC since 1999, overseeing the music program with colleagues Debra Lenssen, Breanne Zipko, and Ron Bellamy, as well as serving as primary organist and accompanist.  She enjoys working creatively with the music and worship staff and volunteers to bring meaningful worship to the congregation.

 

Cindy received her BA in Psychology from Millersville University and studied organ with Dr. Karl Moyer while at Millersville, and thereafter with Carl E. Schroeder.  She is an active member of the Lancaster Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.  Prior to serving at Church of the Apostles, Cindy served as organist and children’s choir director at Hempfield United Methodist Church and as organist at First United Methodist Church, Millersville.

 

Cindy and husband, Tom are parents of adult children Erin, Jonathan and Colin and new grandparents of Maeve, daughter of Jonathan and Jessica.


 
 
Diane Rogers        
Administrative and Communications Coordinator

Email Diane |  Phone Diane at 717-392-5718 ext.  111

Diane Rogers is originally from Massachusetts and now lives in northern Lancaster County on 5 acres of beautiful farmland. She has lots of hobbies including gardening, sewing, and reading. She also enjoys taking care of her pets – a cat and 5 llamas.

Diane has worked in the high tech field since the early 1980’s.  First as a hardware field service engineer and then developing training courses and providing technical support. She thought she would take a break from the fast-paced world of high tech and signed on with the Church of the Apostles. It turns out that things are always jumping in the church office, too!


 
Michelle Strohm,
Finance and Member Services  Coordinator

Email Michelle |  Phone Michelle at 717-392-5718 ext. 110
 

Michelle Strohm lives in Brownstown with her husband Steven and her son, Anthony. Steven works for Harley Davidson and Anthony is in 10th grade at Conestoga Valley High School.    

Michelle was born and raised in Lancaster County and is a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School and Consolidated School of Business. A member of Zion Lutheran Church in Leola, Michelle serves on church council, teaches adult Sunday school and helps with Downtown Meals for the homeless.  Her new passion is to help feed the homeless at Christ Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran as well as volunteering in the homeless shelter throughout the winter. 

One of her favorite places to visit is New York City.  Michelle and her family go to Radio City Music Hall every year to see the Christmas show.   They also enjoy eating in Little Italy, shopping in Chinatown, visiting the museums and walking through Central Park.


Eric MacLaren,

Property Manager

Email Eric |  Phone Eric at 717-392-5718 ext. 118

 

Hello, my name is Eric MacLaren, son of Ginger and William MacLaren and one of three children: a brother and sister, both younger. Most of my life has been spent here in Lancaster County, however we did get to travel somewhat due to my father being in the Navy.

 

I am now married for just over 6 years. We have 4 beautiful children: Morgan 13, Hayden 11, Cassidi 10, and Mason 5. Besides spending time with my family, I enjoy boating and fishing.

 

I am very thankful for the opportunity to work for the Church of the Apostles and look forward to a long commitment.



Debra Lenssen,
Director of Adult Choirs

Email Debra |  Phone Debra at 717-392-5718 ext. 117

Debra Lenssen, singer, conductor, and violinist, returned to Lancaster, her hometown, in 2003. She now is Director of Adult Choirs at the Church of the Apostles, Voice Instructor at Millersville University, and an active member of OperaLancaster.  Previously, she worked in Ohio at both Bluffton College and Ohio Northern University while remaining constantly active as a church musician.  For three years she conducted the West Ohio Methodist Ministers Choir. She received her DMA in choral conducting from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and has earned a master’s degree in voice from Northwestern University and her bachelor’s degree in music from Wellesley College.    She is delighted that her husband Joel sings in the COA choir, plays in Apostles Bells, and helps out with occasional percussion playing.   In summer they can be found sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, whenever they can manage it.


Ron Bellamy,
Handbell Director

Phone Ron at 717-392-5718 ext. 117

Ron Bellamy began ringing handbells in 1980, and has been specializing in solo/ensemble ringing since 1993, when he auditioned for and was selected by Tintinnabulation, a 5-member professional handbell ensemble that was forming in Lancaster. Ron has been a performer and clinician for Handbell Exploration, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) , and Solo/Ensemble Extravaganza. Joining forces with Bobbi Schmid in Bell a deux, he travels through many states performing duet concerts that include many musical styles. They were featured performers at the AGEHR National Seminar in Milwaukee in 2006. A member of the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, he is also a solo handbell artist, and was a featured soloist at the AGEHR National Seminar in Orlando in August, 2008. Ron is presently directing six handbell choirs at four Lancaster area churches, and will be directing the Bucknell University Rooke Chapel Ringers for the Spring 2011 semester while Dr. William Payn is on sabbatical. A graduate of the University of Scranton and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, his full-time employment is in the field of accounting and finance.