Meet our Staff
-
zachary hopple, senior pastor
A native to the region, Pastor Zach began his journey with Christ UMC on July 1, 2020. Prior to coming to Christ Church, Zach served in the Shamokin area for 10 years. He received his B.S from Keystone College where he minored in Psychology, and his MDiv from Evangelical Theological Seminary. Zach and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Samuel and Gabriel. Zach enjoys taking photographs of nature, woodworking, creating scherenschnitte, and collecting bobble heads and comic book/superhero memorabilia. If Zach had to distill his faith into one idea, it would be “Love God. Love others.”
Contact Pastor Hopple at zach.hopple@cumclansdale.org
-
Tawny Bernhardt, Pastor of Children's Ministries
Since July of 2013, Pastor Bernhardt has been serving at Christ UMC. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Messiah College with a major in Human Development and Family Science. She received her MDIV from Duke Divinity School. She is married to Paul Bernhardt and together they have a daughter, Naomi. She enjoys spending time with family, taking walks, and drinking coffee. Pastor Bernhardt says, "I love serving our Lord and the families in our community! My hope is that our children grow up with a love for God and know how much God truly loves them."
Contact Pastor Bernhardt at tawny.bernhardt@cumclansdale.org -
Marge Kramer, Director of COngregational Care
Marge Kramer is a long time member at Christ UMC who joined the staff in July of 2017. She is an appointed and trained Christ Servant Minister, as well as a Certified Lay Minister. Marge is happily retired from a career in sales. She and her husband Bruce live in Montgomery Township. She leads our Care Ministry team. Marge loves to read, travel and entertain family and friends! Her favorite thing about Christ UMC is, "the caring and sharing that happen here. One needs to look no further than Christ UMC to understand what it means to be a part of a church family!"
Contact Marge Kramer at marge.kramer@cumclansdale.org
-
Dayjoh King, Director of Youth Ministries
Dayjoh’s day job is working in administration at a charter school in the Philadelphia School District. Dayjoh and his wife, Kayla, have been attending worship services and Pastor Zach’s adult Sunday school class for a few weeks already, and their 2 sons, Kevai and Amon, have made themselves at home with Miss Gina in the Nursery. Because our youth members wisely insisted on being part of the selection process, some of them already have begun to get to know Dayjoh during his visits to CUMC. We all have learned that Dayjoh is full of energy and a great love of Christ that he wants to share with all of us.
Contact Dayjoh King at dayjoh.king@cumclansdale.org
-
Miki Chelton, director of music, chancel choir & gloria dei ringers
Miki Chelton has been the Music Director at Christ Church since 2007 and began here as a handbell choir director in 2006. Miki has a Bachelor in Music in Music Education from Mansfield University and a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Immaculata University. She directs our Chancel (adult) choir and Gloria Dei Ringers. Miki is married to Eric and is mom to Belle and Luci. Miki serves as an assistant girl scout leader and is a crazy cookie mom. Miki can peel a banana with her toes while playing a recorder and has won a contest doing so! Miki is also a full time elementary general music teacher. Miki says, "Play/sing with confidence. I'd rather hear a confident wrong note than a timid right one."
Contact Miki Chelton at miki.chelton@cumclansdale.org
-
Jennifer Hopple, DIRECTOR OF VIDEO MINISTRIES, Fish Food (Adult Praise Band), and YOUTH CHOIR
Jen is excited to join the CUMC music staff as the worship leader and youth choir director. Jen holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College where she studied instrumental and vocal music majoring in woodwinds and voice. Jen also plays piano and has been leading the music at our outdoor Sunday evening service. Prior to coming to Lansdale, Jen taught music in the Danville School District for 15 years. She and husband Pastor Zach have two children, Sam and Gabe. In addition to her love for music, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and drinking coffee! As she begins her service in these positions, she hopes that everyone comes to know and experience the "overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God."
Contact Jennifer Hopple at jen.hopple@cumclansdale.org
-
Darlene Adams, Preschool Director
Darlene is excited to join CUMC Preschool and is committed to providing your family a loving and developmentally sound foundation of early childhood education. Together with the team of amazing, creative teachers, CUMC Preschool will be a place for your child to embrace early experiences of learning, friendship, and development. Darlene brings a long career as an educator, teacher and school administrator of over 30 years, and finds working with families and young children to be her passion and joy. Darlene holds a B.S. Degree, Early Childhood Education, Towson, MD and a M.Ed, School Management and Administration, Loyola University, MD. She enjoys spending time with her family, grandchildren, decorating, walking in the outdoors, and life at the beach. Thank you for sharing your children with us at CUMC, and please feel free to contact me.
Contact Darlene Adams at darlene.adams@cumclansdale.org -
Donna Stewart, Office Manager
Donna and her husband, Jeff, will celebrate 40 years of marriage next May. Together they enjoy traveling (although they haven't done any since COVID), bowling, and spending time with their 9 year old cat, Ashley. Donna also enjoys reading, cross stitching, and crochet. That sounds like good news for our 2 women’s book groups and Stitching Sisters!
In addition to her valuable work experience, Donna brings great enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn new things. She says, “I look forward to meeting many of you as I learn the best ways to support current ministries, and, maybe, suggest a new one or two.”
Contact Donna Stewart at donna.stewart@cumclansdale.org
-
Nicholas Hill, Administrative Assistant
Nick is excited to join CUMC as part of the staff after being a member since moving to the Philly area. A Johnstown, PA native, Nick moved to this side of the state after graduating from Messiah College in 2016 with a B.S. in Music Education. Before coming here, Nick taught elementary music and is excited to bring his tech skills (and elementary-friendly enthusiasm!) to the church office. In his free time, Nick enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, and playing video games, and is also excited to once again pursue music as a hobby rather than a career. He is excited to help extend to others the welcome and the mission he has always found at this church!
Contact Nicholas Hill at secretary@cumclansdale.org
-
Katie Campbell, ORganist
Katie Campbell became the Christ UMC Organist in 2008. She has a Bachelors of Music in Music Education with organ as the primary instrument from Syracuse University and a Masters of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College. Katie is also the Choral Director and Musical Director at Pennbrook Middle School since 2006. Katie is married to husband Iain and they have three children, Malcolm, Evangeline, and Cecilia. Katie has played organ for district ordination twice and has studied organ at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg, France. Katie started playing the organ in high school, "I had been playing piano since 1990 and started organ lessons my junior year of high school after being offered a once-a-month organist job at an Anglican church and then fell in love with the organ!"
Contact Katie Campbell at katie.campbell@cumclansdale.org
-
Elysa Dalbow, Agape ringers director
Elysa has been worshipping at Christ UMC since her childhood and has been a member of our staff for over 10 years. She directs the Agape Ringers (Youth bell choir). Elysa graduated from West Chester University in 2003 with a Bachelors' Degree in Liberal Studies and a minor in music. "I love being a part of the music ministry at Christ UMC. I am inspired and blessed on a regular basis by the members of my groups. I am thankful for the challenges of leading worship, as those challenges help me find solutions that lead to new ways to praise God." Elysa is a project manager at Bracket in Langhorne, PA and lives in North Wales with her husband Brian and their cats Ninja and Chub Chub.
Contact Elysa Dalbow at elysa.dalbow@cumclansdale.org
-
Sherry Harris, Carol Choir and Precious angels Director
Sherry Harris directs our upper elementary Carol Choir, where she has served as director for 15 years, our youngest choir, Precious Angels, and the Laudate Ringers. She teaches Sunday School, directs our annual Sunday School pageant, and rings in the Gloria Dei bell choir. Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Cytotechnology from Upstate Medical Center. "One of the most important aspects of my role as Children's Choir Director is to help the children learn about God and His amazing love for them. Through scripture-based music, I am able to teach our children about our Lord and help them as they begin their Christian walk. My hope for all of the children is that they know they are cared for and are encouraged in their faith journey." Sherry is married to Bruce and the mother to daughters Kim, Christina and Carrie.
Contact Sherry Harris at sherry.harris@cumclansdale.org
-
nanci landes, director of the jesus jammerz
Nanci Landes has been a member of CUMC since 2013. She volunteers in children’s ministry as a Confirmation Class teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and is now part of the staff as the director of the Jesus Jammerz. She enjoys trying new and creative ways to teach children about God and worship through the movement to Christian songs. Songs are chosen with lyrics that include the foundations of our Christian faith. “I love that Jesus Jammerz is the perfect combination of music, movement, and creativity which young children enjoy!” Nanci is married to Neil and they have four adult children, Scott, Steven, Julie, Brian and a dog, Izzy. Nanci works at Merck in MMD Quality, has a BS in Chemistry, and a Masters in Business Administration. In addition, she loves gardening, puzzles, reading, and running.
To Contact Nanci Landis, email the Church office at secretary@cumclansdale.org
-
Bill Schaefer, Youth Praise band director
Bill and his wife, Diane, are long-time, active CUMC members. A retired scientist and a man of many talents, Bill has been playing musical instruments for most of his life. He is on the board of directors of Astral Artists, a Philadelphia organization that helps develop
careers for high-performing local music students. He has been part of the CUMC Praise Band for about 10 years, played with the Wise Guys, and led the Jazz Group. He wants to give our young musicians an opportunity to share the joy of playing music and growing in faith as members of the Youth Praise Band.
To Contact Bill Schaefer, email the Church office at secretary@cumclansdale.org
-
Kim henning, Nursery Caregiver
Bio coming soon!
Contact Tawny Bernhardt with any questions at tawny.bernhardt@cumclansdale.org
-
Diane Bresser, backup Nursery caregiver
Diane Bresser has been a member of CUMC since 2016. She volunteers at Vacation Bible School and the Easter Eggstavganza. She has been a nursery volunteer for many years now and love being with the children on Sunday mornings. Diane lives in Hatfield with her husband Robin we have two sons Nicholas and Jeremy. She works at First Student as a school bus driver. She also am a state certified trainer and CDL examiner. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and camping with their dog Mackenzie.
Contact Tawny Bernhardt with any questions at tawny.bernhardt@cumclansdale.org