The following members of Park Street Church were candidates for election at the Annual Meeting, Feb 11.
{ Harry Howell } officer: Moderator
Carolee and I moved to Cambridge ten years ago and immediately started attending PSC; since then have both been active in the church. We have five grown children. I’ve served on various church committees: Christian Formation, Small Groups, Finance & Administration, Missions, CityWorks, Facilities, and Elders.
I love my day job of working with Christian inner-city ministries in Boston and other cities around the country aimed at helping poor kids graduate from high school, then go to and graduate from college. My real passion, though, is talking with people, wherever I meet them, about Jesus Christ.
The Moderator (three-year term) is the head of the elder board
{ MIKE AHEARN } officer: Treasurer
I came to Christ at the age of 30, more than 20 years ago. Since that time, our Lord has changed my life, and—more important—he has changed me. As the apostle Paul said, nothing compares to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.
I came to Boston and Park Street Church in 1989 and met my wife, Joy, in a “Young Adult” small group. We live in Arlington with our son, Joshua. It has been my privilege to serve our Lord, and you, in a variety of ways since 1989. I have taught Christian Formation classes for children, led in the Young Adults Ministry, served as a Deacon and Elder and been on the Nominating Committee. I look forward to continuing to serve our Lord and you as Treasurer.
The Treasurer (one-year term) is the chief financial officer of the church.
{ ANDY WILLIAMS} officer: Missions Treasurer
Since childhood, Jesus has been the foundation of my life. I hope to grow to be more like Him and to make His good-news known.
I came to Boston and Park Street Church in 1999 and met my wife, Marie (Director of Graduate Student Ministry at PSC), while studying at Gordon-Conwell. We live in Melrose with our daughter, Hannah. While at PSC I have taught Christian Formation classes, led small groups, taken part in short-term missions, and served on the Missions Committee. I work for a Christian microfinance organization named PEER Servants. It is a privilege to be involved with PSC and I strive to serve the church well as Missions Treasurer.
The Treasurer of Missions (one-year term) is the Vice Treasurer of the church and as such serves as the first backup when the Treasurer is absent or incapacitated.
{ TRACY NOGA } officer: Assistant Treasurer
I grew up in a Congregational church in a Christian home in Connecticut. I have been attending PSC since I moved to the Boston area in 2001. I am an Assistant Professor of Accountancy at Bentley University and currently reside in Somerville.
Since becoming a member of PSC in 2003, I have been involved in various small groups, a Barnabas group, serve on the Finance and Administration Committee and am the chairperson of the Bicentennial Celebration. I am looking forward to continuing to serve the Body of Christ in the role of assistant treasurer.
The Assistant Treasurer (one-year term) serves as a second backup to the Treasurer and assists both Treasurers with their responsibilities.
{ EARLE NICHOLAS} officer: Clerk
Susan and I met while living in Vermont. We married in 1968 and remained in Vermont for 28 years. When our two sons were in college, we moved to Chatham. While living in Chatham, we joined the First Congregational Church and became truly committed to following Christ.
About ten years ago we moved to Boston and joined Park Street Church. While serving on the Membership Committee, we developed wonderful friendships with others who became members of PSC. Last year I was elected to be Church Clerk for a one year term. If re-elected, I will continue to work hard to fulfill the duties of this position.
Susan and I pray that all members of the congregation experience the same joy that Susan and I have found in this church family. We thank God for this church and for its Ministers and congregation. We thank God for His past blessings and pray that God will continue to lead and bless us all in the future years.
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22)
The Clerk (one-year term) gives notice of and provides written record of the church’s Annual and special meetings. He/she also processes any membership-related correspondence.
{ Ron Barndt } Elder
Ron has been attending Park Street Church, where he met my wife Lois, for many years now. He is a founding trustee of Boston Trinity Academy, where he currently teaches mathematics. He has served as church moderator and in a number of other roles at the church. He is currently seeking to serve an second-three year term on the elder board.
{ NICK DEDEKE } Elder
I made a commitment to follow Christ while I was in high school. I moved to Boston for work in 2001. After visiting several services in 2001, I prayerfully decided that Park Street was the church for me. I met my wife, Sarah, at a Cross Walk event. We got married in 2008.
I have served as a facilitator, as an instructor, and as a member of the board for the Christian Education ministry. I am currently a deacon in the church. I have also served as a member and as Chair of the Deacon’s Committee. Moreover, I was a small group leader in the Cross Walk ministry. During evening services, I have sung for the offertory, read scriptures, and served communion. I am looking forward to serve in every way, knowing that His grace is sufficient for me.
{ SIMON FOWLER} Elder
I love Park St Church; meaning I care deeply for our welfare and our growth in faith and love and witness. Especially I pray and long for healthy and deep relationships in the church, with our neighbors and in our work/study places. As a church we are blessed with an incredibly gifted, diverse, yet geographically dispersed and transient population. The opportunity and challenge we have is to foster the gifts and spiritual growth of each individual in the service of Christ, his church and the poor while they are in Boston, and also encourage trusting relationships and a sense of belonging and rootedness.
Serving on the board of elders gives me a great opportunity to understand the church better and to pray for and encourage the ministers and congregation to take advantage of the opportunities and rise to the challenge.
I came to faith in Christ when I was 23, having grown up with a tradition of faith but having no actual faith myself. An American exchange student at my volleyball club and C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity (on the fourth reading - I didn't get it the first three times) were God’s double-whammy to bring me to himself. The story of her relationship with God, her ability to say ‘I don’t really know’, and her ‘normalness’ were utterly compelling. Through her witness the Holy Spirit – I now realize - exposed my poverty without God. At the time I was at the peak of what I took to be ‘happiness’ with family, health, money, girlfriends, travel and sport to enjoy. But the Lord showed what shallowness lay beneath and what depth of joy (and pain) in truth lay at the heart of reality.
God showed me some of that pain in a year-long trip around the world soon after I came to faith. By witnessing the civil war in El Salvador and the suffering of students and others in Burma God showed me how the death and resurrection of Christ transforms, redeems and gives hope even in the midst of suffering.
Having in the past worked in student ministry and in telecoms training I now work in leadership development. I read in every possible moment, about almost anything. My particular passion right now is about the dynamics of relationships. “relational proximity” that provide the prerequisite to “love your neighbor as yourself”, between friends, neighborhoods, the workplace and between institutions
I met Manuela in Bangkok, Thailand in that trip around the world. By God’s grace and to my never-ending joy he brought us together 10 years later. Manuela and I and our two girls, Celeste (5) and Madeleine (2), live in Somerville.
{ GERALD GABRIELSE} Elder
I am a lifelong Christian who was an elder in my previous church. I believe God is delighted that, as a physics professor at Harvard, I spend much of my time probing his intricate creation.
My service opportunities are mostly away from PSC, on the boards of Calvin College and Trinity Christian College, as the Veritas Lecturer at MIT this spring, as a public lecturer in Beijing this summer—on how a physicist can be a Christian, and active supporter of the Christian academic community in New England. I live in Lexington with my wife Ellen, and am father to three adult believers: Abigail, Joshua and Deborah.
{ ALEXANDER SAUER-BUDGE} Elder
Park Street Church has been my church family since I moved to Boston from California in 1996. I met my wife, Alexis, at Café soon after arriving. My wife and I lead a small group, work in the evening nursery, and help serve communion on Sunday nights.
We live in Lincoln with our two-year-old daughter, Eliana, and our dog, Phoenix. I’m excited for what God wants to do in our lives and through his church. It is an amazing joy to be set free by the Creator and invited to join him in his work to redeem all of creation.
{ KYLE VOGAN} Elder
I came to faith at a young age and continue to marvel at God’s grace. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
My wife Jennifer and I moved to Boston and began attending Park Street Church in 1998. As part of this community of faith, we have served on the Small Group ministry team, facilitated classes for engaged couples and co-led several small groups. We live in Melrose with our sons, Evan and Jayden. I am humbled to stand as a candidate for Elder and trust God for strength to serve His people faithfully.
{ KELLY BECK } Nominating Committee
I grew up going to church, but didn’t truly begin a relationship with Christ until college. Since that time the Lord has helped me to grow in faith and rely on Him in so many different ways.
I am originally from Ohio and moved to Boston 5 ½ years ago to attend graduate school, ended up loving Boston, and decided to stay. I’ve been involved in a Café small group since 2004 and have served in various roles within the Café ministry including serving on the events team and the prayer team. I am looking forward to serving in this new capacity.
{ LORI BEVERAGE } Nominating Committee
Lori Beverage is a native of Massachusetts. She attended the University of Maine at Farmington, graduating with a degree in Education, and then Emerson College (in the building where Park Street School now resides), graduating with a degree in Theater.
Lori worked in Lawrence for 10 years, teaching children with special needs as well as directing Community Theater for kids. She has always been an educator, first in the public schools and then home-schooling her children. During the past four years, she has worked in Online Community Development for a curriculum company based in Virginia.
Lori and Lyford have been married for nearly 20 years, and members of Park Street Church for nearly 18. Her involvement at Park Street includes several years in the sanctuary choir, nearly 15 as a nursery coordinator and she started and has assisted in the moderation of the Park Street Church Homeschool Fellowship since its inception several years ago. She and Lyford live in Lawrence with their four children, Lyford (17), Elisabeth (15), Samuel (13) and Benjamin (11).
{ CAROLYN CAIN } Nominating Committee
Carolyn has been a member of PSC since 2003 and has been active in family ministry and small groups. Her son attends Park Street School.
She came to Park Street Church because of its belief that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and stays here because it is a place where her family is nurtured in so many ways.
{ RAYMOND YIM} Nominating Committee
I met Jesus in Canada after my family moved there from Hong Kong about 14 years ago. I came to Boston in 2002, and have served as the coordinator at the campus fellowship with Intervarsity during my grad school years.
I began worshiping at PSC in 2006, and have been involved with the international ministry. I am a member of the Van Baay House family, have served as the coordinator for Park Street International Fellowship, and most recently as a deacon for the FOCUS ministry.
We thank God
for raising up
the following
individuals to
lead our church in 2009.
OFFICERS:
{Treasurer} Michael Ahearn class of 2010 (one-year term)
{Missions Treasurer} Andy Williams class of 2010 (one-year term)
{Assistant Treasurer} Laura King class of 2010 (one-year term)
{Clerk} Earle Nicholas class of 2010 (one-year term)
{Moderator Elect} Harry Howell class of 2010 (one-year term)
