Pastors
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Dr. Melanie RosaLead PastorDr. Melanie Rosa was appointed Lead Pastor in 2017. She comes to First Church after serving in a variety of churches large and small, urban and rural. She also worked as a Campus Minister at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Most recently served the Rocky Mountain Conference as a District Superintendent with oversight for 40 churches in Denver and Colorado Springs. She holds a Master of Divinity and Doctorate from the Iliff School of Theology and has a passion for reaching new people with the liberating love and hope of Jesus Christ. Melanie has served in mission in Haiti, Guatemala, Romania, Mexico and the U.S. She is married to Fred and they are the parents of Mark and Katie.
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Rev. Cynthia PaquetteExecutive PastorRev. Cynthia Paquette worked as an Entomologist for 10 years before answering her call to the ordained ministry in 2007. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology and worked in the field until 2015. She originated from Malaysia, came from a Buddhist family and had a conversion experience at the age of 16 while trying to find meaning and direction in life after the passing of her grandmother. She completed a Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2015, was commissioned as a Provisional Elder and was appointed to First Church in June 2016. As Executive Pastor, Rev. Cynthia oversees the cradle to grave faith formation by working with the different programming staff and the pastoral and congregational care ministries by working with her clergy colleagues and the congregational care ministries. Rev. Cynthia’s gifts for ministry are in the areas of administration, healing, and teaching.
Education (Children, Youth, Adults)
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Barb GraubergerDirector of Children and Family MinisriesBarb has been involved with First Church since 1994, first as an active member and currently working children and families at First Church as the Director of Children and Family Ministry as well as the Assistant Director of Parent’s Day Out. Over the years Barb has worked as the Nursery Coordinator, Vacation Bible School Director and Sunday School Teacher. She is passionate about this church and the people in it. She has many years of experience working with children from newborns to teens.
Barb has a degree in Merchandising and Design from Colorado State University. She has been married to her husband Brian for 29 years. Together, Barb & Brian have four children who keep her very busy on her off time.
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Laurie ElliottChildcare CoordinatorLaurie and her family joined FUMC in 2007 and she feels fortunate to have become a part of the many the different children’s programs shortly thereafter. She began as a childcare provider in the church nursery, then joined the Parent’s Day Out Staff and in 2009 began teaching for FUMC Co-Op Preschool. She will start her 11th year with that program this fall.
Laurie has also had the privilege of having an active role in the many different Children’s Ministry programs for the church. She has been a member of Children and Family Counsel, a committee that coordinates all the enjoyable activities and event for the families of FUMC, for several years. She has served in many compacities for Vacation Bible School over the years as well. She also regularly teaches Sunday School, which she enjoys immensely. She considers being a part of helping the young children of FUMC start their faith journey an incredible gift.
In September of last year, Laurie became FUMC’s Childcare Coordinator. While her passion is Early Childhood, it has been a nice change to try something a little different. She was a Business major in college and is happy to be able to put those skills to use.
Laurie’s other interests include playing golf, reading and spending time with her family. She is married and blessed with four children and three grandchildren.
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Kelly BoettgerPreschool DirectorKelly is a new addition to the FUMC staff. She is our new preschool director. She brings with her, many years of experience working in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with all ages of children from infant to 12 years old, but her favorite age group is the preschool age. She has a real passion for working with this age group of children, because they can bring such joy to life and loves to rediscover the world through their eyes. She enjoys that everyday is a new experience and cherish all that laughter.
Little about her, She is a native to Northern CO, living in Loveland most of her life. She is married to her husband Jeremy and has 2 daughters, Sienna and Mollie. In her free time, she enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, yoga, traveling, visiting with friends over coffee and spending time with her family.
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Gail FarnumParent's Day Out DirectorAlthough she hesitates to admit it, Gail Farnum has been working in the child care field for almost 40 years. Gail was born in Fargo, North Dakota and received her degree in Child Development there at North Dakota State University. In 1980, she and her husband Bob moved to CO. Shortly after joining First United Methodist Church, she began working in the church nursery. She later became a teacher for the Parent's Day Out program at First Church, and in 1995 became its director. She was the Vacation Bible School music director, and also director of child care for the annual Methodist conference for many years. Gail and Bob were blessed with 2 daughters, Chelsey and Rachel. Besides young children, Gail’s passions include playing guitar and singing; and she is proud to be caretaker of the wonderful ministry of Parent's Day Out.
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Josh MalaveDirector of Youth and Family MinistriesJosh Malave joins us from Virginia, where he was Youth Director of a larger church in the Richmond area. Previously, he was a military school chaplain and varsity baseball/basketball coach. As a Pastor's kid, he values the vital formation of ones faith and self discovery in the teenage years specifically, and often says they "need someone in their corner."
Josh loves yeast donuts, fantasy football, his 4 guinea pigs (who needs a dog?), rap music, baking, outdoorsy things, woodworking, and singing at the top of his lungs in the car when he's alone, among other things. His wife of two years, Alexis Hughes, is a source of light in any room she walks in. She works at CSU as Coordinator of Conflict Resolution Services.FYI for students... Josh is Puerto Rican, and speaks Spanish fluently. He is willing to help you with your Spanish homework (but won't do it for you). -
David ReidDirector of Adult Faith Formation Director of Northern Colorado Faith LibraryCondemned to a lifetime of Methodism by his middle name, David Wesley Reid joined the staff in 2011. He was founding publisher and editor of Vital Theology newsletter. He has been communications director for Duke University Divinity School, public relations manager for a Fortune 500 company and vice president of a Denver PR firm. Earlier, he was a reporter and editor for newspapers in Denver, Cincinnati and Spokane. David received his B.A. in communications from Linfield College during the last millennium. His wife, Louann Reid, is chair of the English Department at CSU. He is a baseball fan and crazy about jazz. He enjoys a good cigar but can’t afford one very often.
Music department
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David AdkinsDirector of Music Ministries/Print and Digital CommunicationsDavid Adkins holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Arts degree from Samford University with an emphasis in choral conducting, a Master of Science degree from Samford University in secondary education and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Denver with an emphasis in organizational leadership and human resource administration. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, since 1984 David has served as the Director of Music, Arts, and Worship for churches throughout Alabama, Florida and Colorado, serving churches from 300 to 4,000 members.
David currently works full-time as Director of Music & Communications at First Church. His hobbies include home improvement projects, stained glass and studying organ. He and his spouse, Dr. Gregory O'Barr, live in Windsor, CO.
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Karen StoodyAssociate Director of Music Ministries and OrganistKaren Stoody has been the organist at First Church since fall of 2003. She and husband John moved to Fort Collins in June of 2003 because she had been hired as a staff accompanist at Colorado State University.She was rehearsal pianist for Opera Fort Collins for ten years, and after retiring from that and CSU, added the duties of handbell choir director for First Church.Karen studied organ and piano at Colorado Women’s College and Adams State College, and has a BA degree in organ performance. She has been a church organist since the age of 14. She has directed handbells for 15 years, and had a large private piano studio for 35 years.In addition to music, Karen loves outdoor activities like bicycling, hiking, and motorcycling with her husband. Her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter live in Greeley; and her daughter lives in Seattle. -
David McArthurModern Worship Music LeaderDr. McArthur is the Music Director for the CSU Dance program, as well as a collaborative pianist for the CSU Music faculty. He also serves as the Music Director at First Baptist Church of Loveland. He has a Masters of Music from CSU and Doctorate in Musical Arts from CU Boulder. He has experience with Modern Worship and we are delighted to welcome him to the Music Staff at First Church.
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Josh ColonnievesDirector of Children's Choir
FINANCIAL
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Shauna BjorkFinancial Secretary
Administrative Staff (Office, Facilities)
