Pastor Martha Bennett is our interim pastor and will be filling in for us from July 1st to September 30th. Pastor Martha is a retired pastor - an Elder in full connection. She is single and has a dog. She also has three grown children, 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way before Christmas. She lives in Traer, but grew up in Knoxville. Kari lives in Independence with her husband, Brad, and their two children, Claire and Logan. She also has one dog (Belle) and one cat (Squishy). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse. Kari previously worked at the Jesup and Independence libraries. In her spare time, Kari likes to read, go to libraries, knit, and play the clarinet. Kari has worked at FUMC since December 2018. Tim is our sound technician here at church. He is married to Pam and father to Melissa and Tara. Tim is also in charge of our radio program which is aired every Sunday at eleven a.m. on KQMG 953. Mary has served as church organist/pianist at First United Methodist Church since 1999. She earned degrees in music and biology from Wartburg College, and has enjoyed teaching piano for many years. She and her husband Leo reside in Independence, and together claim six adult children and one dog. Her ministry is centered on acclaiming His Saving Love through music. I have been the Director of Music Ministries here at First United since February 1999. I am the director of the Chancel Choir, Good News Singers, Bell Choir, and a member of the Men's Quartet and Blessed Promise Band. I am also the Director of Children's Choirs at East Buchanan Elementary in Winthrop. I currently teach grades PreK-5 grades at East Buchanan and have been the elementary music teacher there since 1996. I received my Associate of Arts Degree in Business management at Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids in 1992, a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1995 and my Masters in Education Degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. in 2007.Pastor Martha Bennett
Pastor
Kari Johnson
Office Manager
Tim Dryml
Sound Technician
Mary Schubich
Organist
Jim Brown
Director of Music Ministries
Angie Slife
Custodian
(319) 334-3689
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