(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 10:15 a.m.
(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 10:15 a.m.
Get to know our leaders and staff.
Pastor Tom Adil came to St. John’s after a nearly 30-year career at Reading Hospital, where he served in various roles including Director of Adolescent Services in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Department of Spiritual Care. He’s also served part-time as an Interim Pastor in around 20 local UCC churches. Pastor Tom is a trained Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. As a Christian and as a Pastor, he has learned how increasingly important it has become to be more comfortable with managing the demands of change. He is married to a Spiritual Director/Minister of Christian Spirituality in the UCC, and a proud father of a grown daughter who resides near Pittsburgh.
The Rev. Dr. Hilary J. Barrett is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She served in settled pastorates and interim settings in southeastern Pennsylvania for 33 years before retiring from full-time parish ministry in 2022. She holds degrees from the Graduate Theological Union (DMin), United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (MDiv), and San Francisco State University (BA). In 2022, Hilary began serving as the Director of Worship and Religious Life at the Bay View Association — a summer Chautauqua in Northern Michigan — where her role includes identifying and recruiting gifted preachers to preach and teach during the 13-week summer season. Prior to her retirement from full-time parish ministry, Hilary served as the Senior Pastor of Pleasantville United Church of Christ in Chalfont, Pennsylvania (1998-2022). Hilary and her husband, Rob Scarrow, reside in the borough of Ambler. They have one adult son named Sam (and a black Lab named Sophie).
Andrew Paulson serves the congregation of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Lansdale, Pennsylvania as Minister of Music and as St. John’s Artist Series Artistic Director. He is a pastoral musician, pianist, organist, conductor, and educator, holding degrees from Augustana University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of St. Thomas. Andrew, a passionate leader of congregational song, is also a solo artist, performing in the American Guild of Organists Philadelphia Chapter Tuesday Noon Recital Series, the Kenneth and Evelyn Hales Memorial Organ Recital Series, and the Longwood Gardens Organ Series (upcoming) and a collaborator, working with liturgical composers Michael Burkhardt and Ralph Johnson, Minneapolis/St. Paul based choral ensembles Magnum Chorum and Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, and members of Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra and The Philly Pops.
Abbie Lampe began as our Minister of Music for Children and Youth in January, 2018. Abbie had recently returned to St. John’s and the Lansdale area to be the Director of Nursing at the Kirkbride Center in Philadelphia. Abbie has a degree in Music Education from West Chester University and many years of experience working with church youth and children’s choirs and Sunday School. Abbie’s passion for music education was evident in her interview sessions and this quote from her application “I believe music is an exciting way to engage children in learning, and a fun way to teach them about God. I consider it an honor to assist with this part of the music program at St. John’s.” During the COVID time, Abbie worked with the Children’s Choir to learn and present Zoom virtual choir performances!
Kay joined St. John’s as Church Office Manager in spring of 2024. She is an avid reader, loves science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and aspires to be an author in her own right. Her favorite things to do are watch action and horror movies, play Dead by Daylight, and be a Dungeon Master for her thrice weekly Dungeons & Dragons games! Kay has been a loyal member of the Light Brigade Color Guard from 2016-2023, competing internationally for 8 consecutive years. Before serving St. John’s, Kay volunteered at her previous congregations as a youth group leader for middle and high schoolers, a worship leader for Pre-K to Elementary, sang in choirs and church bands, and happily baptized many of her small group members! She is passionate about the work it takes to bring community together, and showing appreciation for every person who brings what they can to the table. As a member of the LGBT+ community, she strives to make sure all voices are heard, and that all feel welcome at St. John’s.
Grace joined St. John’s as Communications Coordinator in spring 2024. Coming from a family of musicians and artists, she deeply values the role of creative expression in life and work. In her marketing and communications career, she’s found particular joy and fulfillment working with local nonprofits. She looks forward to learning all there is to know about St. John’s and helping to grow its presence in the community. Grace loves nature walks, cooking, yoga, knitting and crochet, and thrift and antique shopping.
The life of St. John’s is guided by democratically elected lay leadership, called Council. The Church Council meets monthly and consists of the chairpersons of the Task forces, committees, and ministry teams along with ex officio members at large. The council is elected each January and installed in early February. See all of our 2024-2025 Council members below.
Mark Bruen
President
Deborah Dayton
Vice President
Matt Carson
Treasurer
Wendy O’Connor
Secretary
Susan Fitzpatrick
Chair
Sally Atkiss
Secretary
Chriss Bodde
Finance
Anne Kinsey
Bill Cagney
Emilie Truscott
Dan Panachyda
Alan Malachowski
Bob Bertolette
Brad Hamlen
Brian Hutchinson
Steve Hendricks
Scott Vanderburg
Chair
Rick Fanciulacci
Finance
Judy Leslie
Communication
Rickie Sands
Sumiko Booraem
Judy Johnston
Mary Billy
Chair
Sarah Hogan
Secretary
Margie Jewell
Finance
Tom Allebach
Communication
Kathy Allebach
Kim Sands
Barbara MacMullen
Grace Bruen
Finance Committee Chair
Marge Jewell
Personnel Committee Chair
Karen Methlie
Stewardship Committee Chair
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