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Welcome!
This is the place to find out the most current happenings at First
United Methodist Charlottesville.
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beliefs of our denomination, The United Methodist Church?
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Want
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Virginia Conference of The
United Methodist Church? Click
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Want
to visit the web site of The
Charlottesville District of The United Methodist Church?
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here.
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 The
Reverend Harry G. Kennon is the Senior Pastor.
Harry and his wife Gale were members of First Church before
Harry answered the call to ordained ministry in 1982, and
he served as Associate Pastor from 1985 to 1988. A graduate
of the University of Virginia, Harry went on to earn both
Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Wesley
Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He has served a variety
of congregations and was Campus Minister at VCU for four years.
He currently serves on the Virginia Conference Board of Higher
Education Ministries and chairs a Theology Interview Committee
for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
The
Kennons have two children who were raised in First Church
and three grandchildren. Brian and wife Michelle have two
children, Halle and Woody. Darren and wife Anne have a
son,
Will and a daughter, Scout. |
 The
Reverend Ashley Abarca-Mitchell
Associate/Youth PastorThe Reverend Ashley Abarca-Mitchell was born and raised on a cattle farm in Bedford County, Virginia, graduated from Liberty High School in 1999, and Longwood University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. She then worked as a Foster Care Social Worker for Campbell County Department of Social Services for a little over a year before taking her first appointment on the Winchester District and entering Wesley Theological Seminary in 2004. In 2007 she graduated from Wesley with a Master of Divinity degree and took her third appointment as pastor of the South Fluvanna Charge. Ashley is passionate about youth ministry and feels blessed to be on staff at FUMC!
Ashley and her husband David, who comes from Costa Rica, live in Crozet with their dog Sweet Pea. |
 Patricia
(Tricia) Garnett, a member
of First Church, and life-long Methodist, joined the staff
in 2000 as Church Administrator. and now holds the title of Facility Manager.
Prior to taking this position she was a legal secretary for
eighteen years and then a sales representative for local television.
Tricia
and her husband, E.N., both grew up in this area and now enjoy
living in peaceful southern Albemarle County. She enjoys reading,
gardening, and flower arranging and they both enjoy spending
time with family and friends. |
| Jean
Snyder joined
the staff in February 1994 as Financial/Membership Secretary.
She graduated from Piedmont Virginia Community College
in 1991 with an AA in Accounting. Prior to coming to First
United Methodist Church, Jean had a variety of job experiences
including Escrow Officer for Security Pacific Bank in Pasadena,
California; Administrative Assistant for the MS Society-Blue
Ridge Chapter, Bookkeeper for Ash Lawn-Highland, as well as
being a self-employed day care provider while raising her own
two daughters. A native Virginian, Jean and her husband enjoy
living in peaceful, rural Fluvanna County. She enjoys traveling,
reading, gardening, but especially enjoys spending time with
her granddaughter, family, and friends. |
 The
Reverend Don MacNicoll serves
with his wife Pat MacNicoll as
co-Minister of Spiritual Formation. In
this position Don and Pat shepherd the Christian education
ministries for children and adults of all ages as well
as shaping the small group life of our congregation.
A
1998 graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, Don was previously appointed as the Associate Pastor at
Blacksburg
United
Methodist Church. Prior to his call into ordained
ministry, Don served for 30 years active duty with
the United States Air Force, retiring in 1996. He
holds a Master of Divinity (Wesley Theological Seminary);
Master
of Political Science (Auburn); and a Bachelor of Arts
(History) from Rutgers. Don's interests include sports,
model railroading,
cooking and trying to keep an eye on Pat's 3 cats at
home.
Pat
MacNicoll is a graduate of Douglass College (Rutgers
University) with a degree in home economics/teacher education.
She taught home economics in two junior/senior high schools,
but when the children were born she decided to be a
stay-at-home mom. After the children were older, she returned
to the work force as the assistant director and then director
of two day care/pre-school centers. In 1990 Pat returned
to school and received a Master of Theological Studies degree
from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. (1992)
and a PhD in Biblical Studies from Union-PSCE (Union Theological
Seminary and Presbyterian School of Education) in Richmond
(2002). Since then she has taught courses at The George Washington
University and Wesley Theological Seminary. Don and Pat have
three children and three grandchildren. In her spare time,
Pat enjoys reading, sewing, and playing with the grandkids.
After having moved around as a military wife for 30
years (Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Alabama, Germany, Maryland,
and Virginia) she is glad to be settled here in Charlottesville. |
 Evelyn
Jones
is Director of Urban Ministries. A native
of Charlottesville, Evelyn comes to this position with a varied
background in human service work. She has been very active in
grass roots community organization and leadership. Prior to
coming to First Church, Evelyn was actively involved in leadership
development for rural Baptist churches. Currently the Office
Manager for The Nature Conservancy, Evelyn is able to share
in the care and preservation of all God’s creatures through
her work at The Conservancy and with First United Methodist
Church. When asked what her first love is, her response, Outreach
Ministry. "For as long as I can remember, I have been involved
in helping people grow and develop into becoming all that they
can be. It is my privilege and joy to help people dream and
see possibilities."
A graduate of Virginia State University with a bachelor’s
degree in elementary education, Evelyn enjoys reading, traveling,
and gardening and wants to pursue her interest in culinary arts. |
 Leigh
Ann Kremer
Coordinator of Infant and Toddler Care
Leigh
Ann Kremer grew up in Charlottesville and here in First
Church. She is a graduate of Mary Washington College with
a B.S. in Biology. After working in research for eight years
at the University of Virginia, Leigh Ann decided to become
a stay at home mom. She currently does childcare in
her home in addition to her position at FUMC. Leigh Ann
enjoys spending time with her husband and their three
young children. Her hobbies include
reading, crossword puzzles, the beach and being involved
with the First
United Methodist Preschool.
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 Paige Lindblom
Director, First United Methodist Preschool
Paige Lindblom is a native of Alabama, where she attended Auburn University. She is married to Sam Lindblom and has two sons, Caden and Carter. Paige attended graduate school at James Madison University and has an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education. From 2001-2006, Paige lived in Thomasville, Georgia where she was the preschool director at Thomasville First United Methodist Preschool and taught classes at Florida State University. After moving to Charlottesville in 2007, Paige became the director and two year old teacher at FUMP. Hobbies include hiking, running, reading and yoga. |
 FUMC’s
Diaconal Minister of Music,
C. Ralph Mills, is also an adjunct faculty member
of the Music Department of Piedmont Virginia Community College.
An accomplished organist, Ralph holds Master and Bachelor of
Music degrees from George Peabody College for Teachers and a
Master of Music Education from Fayetteville State University.
He attended summer programs at the Royal School of Church Music
in Croydon, England, and the Internationaal Stitchting Orgelconconcours,
Haalem, the Netherlands. Ralph is a member of the American Guild
of Organists, Chorister’s Guild, Royal School of Church
Music, Hymn Society of America, Presbyterian Association of
Musicians, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Rotary
Club, and the Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians. In 1989
he was named to the International Who’s Who in Music.
Before coming to Charlottesville, Ralph served variously as
minister of music, organist and choir director to a number of
congregations, most recently at Hay Street United Methodist
Church, Fayetteville, North Carolina. In Fayetteville, he was
also a full-time elementary school music resource teacher. Ralph
and his wife Sonia, a soprano soloist, have three daughters,
all of whom are also musicians. |
 As
Creative Director of Contemporary Worship, Carolyn
Polson
helps to design and implement The Incredible Journey and the
8:30 Morning Worship. She comes to this position having served
as Director of Children's Ministry at FUMC for several years.
Currently the Director of the Fine Arts for the Covenant School
in Charlottesville, Carolyn comments that she has the "two
best jobs in the world!" After graduating from East Carolina
University School of Music with a degree in Music Therapy and
a degree in Music Education, Carolyn taught music education
in the public school system and operated a private Suzuki Flute
and Piano studio along with church organist and choir director
positions. Along with directing SPIRIT BOUND, a contemporary
Christian vocal ensemble, she is a professional flutist. Carolyn
has two college-age sons, Cameron and Kyle. |
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