Our Staff

 

senior minister in robe​Rev. Dr. Bob Livingston

Senior Minister

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Bob has a love of preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and church leadership. He received his doctorate from Chicago Theological Seminary, and his Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary. Raised in Grand Rapids, he and his family moved to Ann Arbor in 1997 when he began serving The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor. Bob and his wife, Laura, have three adult children and he enjoys family time, running, fishing, and anything active and outdoors.

 

 

 

Rev. Darcy Crain

 Minister

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I came to FCC in 2008. Ironically I stood on the steps of Hill Auditorium during my high school graduation from Canton High School. From those steps you can see FCC. I never imagined I would end up in a church, but the last time I walked past Hill and looked back to see our beautiful church, I laughed with God at the humor and timing. I’ve been here for 12 years, and I knew it was home because of the warmth of the people. I believe church has the power to be family, community, and transformation. I find these superpowers in the members that make up FCC.

 

Chris Vermeulen

Acting Director of Children’s Ministry

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Chris Vermeulen has been filling in for Director of Children’s Ministry since July of 2021. He grew up in Kalamazoo and went to Michigan State University for his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. After leaving the engineering field he returned to Eastern Michigan University for his teaching certificate in K-8th education. He has worked in the Ann Arbor Public Schools since 2000, and has also been a teacher in the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor’s Church School 1995. Just this year the Church School program has changed to FCC Kidz in order to excite families to come back to the classrooms when families feel safe again to do so. Chris has two grown daughters, Abigail and Madeline. Madeline is currently living in St. Louis, and Abigail lives in Ann Arbor. Abigail is also one of the teachers for FCC Kidz.

Nancy Sauve

Business Manager

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Nancy started working at FCC on January 11, 2000 as bookkeeper.  While being the bookkeeper for 21 years, she has done a variety of jobs around the church as needed.  You can generally find her on Sunday mornings greeting people in the Smith Welcome Center.

Originally from Grand Rapids, graduated from the University of Michigan (1978), living just north of Ann Arbor since 1994, Nancy enjoys working near central campus again. She and her husband Mike have raised three kids, Rebecca (and Lee), Lisa (and Adam) and Dan. Each uniquely interesting and doing well. They have three grandkids, Amy (15), Teagan (7) and Devin (4) who are the joy of their lives. Rounding out the family includes Nugget and Banjo, the Golden Retrievers, who know no prejudice and have been the best teachers in seeing everyone as a friend.

In her spare time, Nancy enjoys reading, needlework, gardening, biking the Lakeland Trail, managing the Artist Hospitality for the Ann Arbor Art Fair, and best of all, folk/roots music festivals and catching concerts at The Ark.

 

 

Crystal Harris

Crystal Harris

Communications Specialist

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Crystal brings with her 17 years of experience in media and marketing. She handles most of the website updates, event promotion, and social media. When she’s not chasing her toddler down or spending quality time with her husband, she likes to pole dance, crochet, write, and dabble with photography.

If you have an event you’d like to share, please fill out the Communication Request form.

 

 

Sheila Wonders

Administrative Assistant

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Sheila comes to FCC with over 20 years of administrative experience.  She has been an Executive Assistant supporting C-level executives in various industries over the years, including financial, legal, educational, automotive, engineering, and hospitality.  She and her husband, David, have four adult children and two grandchildren.  They currently reside in Adrian, Michigan, and enjoy spending time with family, traveling, attending concerts, remodeling their home, and spoiling their two “babies” Missy (dog) and Grayson (kitten).  Sheila also loves event planning, scrapbooking, and making greeting cards from repurposed materials.

 

 

 

Darnell Ishmel

Interim Chancel Choral Director

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During my past eight years as a director of outreach services for more than 150 incarcerated men in Michigan’s prison system, I have become more and more interested in the role of Faith, Worship, and Arts in prison reform. Having shared upwards of 100 hours in 1-on-1 inmate visits and answered more than 650 phone calls in just 2019 alone, I have become well-acquainted with many of the issues surrounding the absence of hope, the irrelevance of religious rhetoric, and the crisis of faith among incarcerated men. In an effort to better understand, serve, and share-out with and for this population, I purpose to study Faith, Worship, and Arts as catalysts for prison reform and as tools of social reclamation, community rehabilitation, and anti-recidivism among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men of color here in America and abroad. 

 

 

Terry Farmer

Music Worship Leader

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Terry provides music leadership for our contemporary worship service and serves as a musician during our traditional worship throughout the year. He earned his bachelor’s of music in classical guitar performance from the University of Denver and runs a Suzuki guitar teaching studio.

 

 

 

Timothy Huth

Organist

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Church Organist, Timothy Huth, grew up in Fostoria Ohio, beginning his musical career early on at St. Wendelin’s Catholic Church and schools. He received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Meinrad College Seminary and holds master’s and doctorate degrees in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan. Timothy maintains an active recital schedule in our surrounding community. For the past four years Tim was Dean of the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He is also a certified massage therapist, specializing in stress reduction, performance enhancement and recovery from injury.

 

 

Betty Jahnke

Wedding Coordinator

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Betty has been the primary wedding coordinator since 2006 and enjoys workings with couples and their families in planning their special day at our church. She is also the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Saline High School. She and her husband are long-time members of FCC.