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Pastor Jane Cheek, Licensed Minister
Pastor Jane
has come to First Congregational Church via a twisted and sometimes bumpy
faith-road. She has belonged to and
worshiped in several denominations before discovering the UCC, but now that
she's found it, she's in for life.
Pastor Jane is a Licensed Minister serving FCC as the full-time pastor,
and while she has only been in this position officially for a few weeks, she's
been an active member of the congregation for several years; last year, she
served as Moderator. She hopes to begin
seminary coursework this summer and, with the support of her church family and
loving husband, Don, she intends to follow a more straightforward path toward
ordination in the coming years.
Holly Houston, Office Administrator
Holly Houston
became the office administrator in October 2008. She comes to FCCUCC with 18
years of administrative experience including a strong knowledge of computer
software programs. Much of her experience has been as an executive assistant in
the property management industry and four years as an Arizona licensed real estate
assistant and transaction coordinator for multimillion dollar properties in
Sedona.
Both Holly and
her husband, Bobby, spent most of their childhood in Arizona and currently make
Chino Valley their home. They have three
children; Brian, Lauren and Kelton. She and
Bobby enjoy family get-togethers, camping, and "taking the bike out" (motorcycle) on a sunny day and on
occasion a not-so-sunny day. Holly also
enjoys spending her time doing crafts projects and writing poetry.
Jane Lawler, Director of Music
Jane Lawler
was born in Dayton, OH and raised in Huber Heights, a suburb north of
Dayton. She always loved music,
especially singing, and grew up singing in church choirs from the time she was
a small child. Beginning in middle
school, her first choice of elective courses was always a choral group. She sang in the Varsity Choir each year of
high school and performed in the school's musicals including, "The Sound of
Music" in the role of Mother Abbess.
Jane graduated from Morehead State University in 1982 with a Bachelor of
Music Education, Magna Cum Laude. Not
surprisingly, her major instrument was Voice, although she was certified to
teach both vocal and instrumental music, K-12.
Since
graduating, Jane has taught public school music, privately in her home, served
as music director for several area churches, performed with various groups at
Yavapai College and appeared on stage at Prescott Fine Arts in concerts and
shows. She has been Musical Director for
eight musical productions at Prescott Fine Arts and served from 1995-2002 on
the Scholarship Competition Committee.
Since 1999, Jane has been the concert moderator, vocalist and a
percussionist with the Central Arizona Concert Band.
Jane has been
a Prescott resident since 1987. She has
two sons, David and Daniel Boggs, of whom she is very proud and considers being
her greatest accomplishments. Like all
musicians, Jane has held a "day job" most of her adult life. She spent fourteen years at A.G. Edwards
& Sons, Inc. (now Wachovia Securities), the last seven as their Operations
Supervisor. Following that, she worked
for both Air Grand Canyon, Inc. and SKYschool, Inc., two small aviation
businesses, doing what is best described as "jack of all trades, master of none!" Her brief aviation career led her to serving
on the Board of the Prescott Air Fair Association from 2003-2007. You may remember her as your Office
Administrator for a few short months, until she left for her current employment
as a Patient Services Assistant at the VA Medical Center. Jane is very pleased that FCCUCC has allowed
her the opportunity to be their Music Director.
Carole Sue Linson, M.M. Organist/Pianist of 1st Cong
since Aug. 2003
Carole Sue comes from a musical
family in northern Indiana full of instrument players, barbershop singers and
church choir members. She began playing the piano at the age of five and the
saxophone in 4th grade. While in school and college, Carole Sue spent her
time singing in the choirs, playing in the bands, and participating in
drama productions.
She directed many a pep bands at basketball games in Indiana. She took her
first music/choral job at the age of 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was
there she began her Masters Degree in music at Butler University and directed a
church choir, where she met the Linson family who were singing in choir. Carole Sue married William A. Linson (Bill)
in July 1967 and they moved to Philadelphia, PA where she taught
elementary music near Valley Forge National Park.
Carole Sue and Bill returned to Indiana in 1969 until 1974 when they moved
to the San Francisco Bay area where she began teaching music at Head-Royce
College Prep School. She also became pipe organist/ music director
at Lafayette UMC for over 20 years. During that time, she taught music to many
students after school at the church.
In 2002, the Linson's moved to Prescott to be near family members who were also
originally from Indiana. Carole Sue taught elementary music until May of
2008 and retired from teaching music. She also taught six summers of
Elderhostel groups for Yavapai College.
Now she enjoy playing piano, organ, saxophone, packing meals on wheels, playing pinochle, hiking, AAUW activities, Yavapai College events, and church activities. Life is full of music and that is GOOD.
Bill Linson
Thank you Bill
for all your hard work and dedication.
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