Staff

Pastor Nancy came to Michigan City First UMC in July of 2016. Among other congregations, Nancy has served Hamline Chapel in Lawrenceburg, Broadway Christian Parish in South Bend, and St. Paul’s in Muncie.

Pastor Nancy is passionate about getting to know the community where she lives and is often seen walking her puppy Licorice around town  or Friendship Botanic Gardens while getting to know shop keepers, coffee shops, and other hidden gems.

Pastor Nancy has spent her entire ministry by making connections with all sorts of folk and learning about faith from them. She delights in designing worship, connecting with children, and challenging individuals to grow in faith and discipleship.

Education: Valparaiso University, BA in History; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, M. Div.; Ball State University; MA in Adult Education; EDD (ABD) in Adult, Higher, and Community Education.

Family: Nancy is one of 4 sisters and has many folks who call her ‘Aunt Nanny’ – some are relatives by blood and others by choice. She has dear friends all over the state of Indiana who bring joy and delight to her life. Her current house mate is an adorable and delightful bochigle (Boxer, Chihuahua & Beagle mix) named Licorice.

Favorite Things: Nancy has always been a reader of fiction, non-fiction, theology, cereal boxes – if it has print, she will read it. She is also an amateur photographer, sings in the church choir, is a member of Monday Musicale, and has often played her oboe for worship and in community bands across the state. Her favorite place to visit is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, especially in the fall, and any place on water. Nancy writes a morning prayer most days and posts them on the church Facebook Page and her own page.

Beverly Griffith has been part of the Michigan City First United Methodist Church staff since 2007, hired first as an assistant pianist and serving since 2009 as Music Director. She came to the church after answering a small classified ad in the local paper for a musician: “must be able to read music”. (Simply had to call! 🙂

She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance in Piano from Wheaton College and was owner and director of the Wheaton Yamaha Music School in Wheaton, Illinois for 40 years before she and her family moved to the Michigan City area. She was also employed as a teaching consultant for 20 of those years by Yamaha Music Corporation, assisting schools in the United States with teacher training and support.

Since coming to First UMC, Bev has been involved with the Try-It children’s program, the annual Madrigal events, Messy Church, and is an active member of the United Methodist Women.

Bev trusts that she’s in the right place at the right time to make a difference in the life of the church through music. She’s also really glad she answered the ad.

My name is George Jenks. My wife Pam has been a member her whole life and I have been a member of this church since 1982 when I transferred my membership from the Westville United Methodist church. Pam got me to join the bell Choir in 1990. I love playing the bells all these years. In 2005 I became the director of the children’s bell choir. Being in the adult bell choir, there were 5 of us that made up a small group called the Ringers Five where we would go around and play all 4 octaves of bells at special events, schools and retirement homes. Then in 2011, I became the director of the adult Memorial Bell Choir after Lew Timberlake retired after almost 30 years. It has been a joy and pleasure directing these fine and dedicated people.
I am also in charge of our TV Ministry. I started being a part of that in 1988, when they asked me to operate the studio camera for the children’s Sunday School Play in the community room. From that moment on every Sunday I have been video taping our Sunday worship service to broadcast on our local cable channel with a bunch of great people. For the past 18 months we have been live streaming to Facebook and Youtube.