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Church of
the Apostles
1850
Marietta Avenue
Lancaster,
PA 17603 |
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Office: 717-392-5718
Fax: 717-392-6470
Email: webmaster@apostlesucc.org |
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Church Staff
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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. |
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Cindy Kahler,
Director of
Music and Organist
Email Cindy | Phone Cindy at
717-392-5718 ext. 116
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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,
AJ Walker, Amy Williams, 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. She is
currently serving on the board
of the UCC Musicians Association
and the Lancaster City Choir. 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 grandparents
of two granddaughters of Jonathan
and Jessica.
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Diane Rogers
Administrative and Communications Coordinator
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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 3 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! |
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Michelle Strohm,
Finance and Member Services Coordinator
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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. |
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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.
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Debra Lenssen,
Music Associate
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.
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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. |
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AJ Walker,
Music Associate
Email AJ |
Phone AJ at 717-392-5718 ext. 119 |
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Ashley H.
Walker is a Native of Philadelphia, PA. He has studied with many
conductors including Robert Hamilton, Hilary Apfelstadt, Simon Carrington, and
Craig Jessop. AJ was a member of the world-renowned Philadelphia Boys Choir and
Chorale for eight years. He has sung all over the world, including performances
at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the
Johannesburg Concert Hall in South Africa. While attending Millersville
University, he studied voice with Dr. Buddy James and Professor Kristin Sims. AJ
also served as Co-director of the MU Men’s Choir for three years with Joseph
Torres. Since graduating from MU, he has performed with “Sight and Sound”
Theatres in the 2009 Holiday production “Voices of Christmas”, and he teaches voice and piano lessons for the
Music Preparatory Program at El Redentor UMC. AJ currently serves as a Music
Associate for Church of the Apostles and conducts the “Music for Everyone”
community chorus. This fall, AJ will serve as Director of Music at Linden Hall
School for Girls in Lititz, PA. |
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