Church Leadership & Staff
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Rev. Tiffany Newsom, Pastor
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| Rev. Tiffany Newsom |
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As an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, I feel called to a life-long ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service. I feel blessed by the opportunity to serve alongside all of you in your ministry here in Laingsburg. I look forward to the many joys that we will share with one another in the years to come.
It has already been a joy for me to move closer to home. I grew up "just down the road" in Pewamo, MI. After completing high school, I began pursuing my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies at Albion College. Upon completing that degree in 2014, I moved to Washington, DC to pursue my Master of Divinity Degree. Once I had completed that degree, I moved back to Michigan, was Commissioned, and receive my first appointment in 2017. From July 2017 - June 2020, I served as the Pastor of the United Methodist Churches in Constantine and White Pigeon, MI.
As always, in ministry, I look forward to serving and leading alongside you all here in Laingsburg!
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Karolyn Dawley, Administrative Assistant
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| Hello!
My name is Karolyn Dawley. I live north of Morrice, so my drive here is much shorter (and more enjoyable) than my previous commute to Flint. I enjoy my shorter workdays, as now I have more time to spend with my horses or doing chores outside. I have two grown children, who live in the area, and four grandchildren. I wear a number of hats at my church, Owosso First UMC; I am chair of the Missions Team, a Stephen Ministry leader, and a liturgist. I sing in the choir, play handbells and lead a small children's choir.
I have been the Administrative Assistant here since 2014. Working in a church is the retirement job I had hoped for, and I feel very blessed to be here at LUMC. I am sure that God has placed me here for a special purpose. If you are a visitor reading this, please know that the members here are very kind and welcoming, and you will soon feel right at home, just as I do.
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Chong Zheng, Worship Pianist
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I am from Hubei Province, a city in the south of China, which is a lovely place close to the Yangtze River. Now I am pursuing a Doctoral degree in Piano Performance at Michigan State University. I received my Master of Music degree at Jacobs school of music, Indiana University Bloomington in 2013. Before and during my studies, I successfully performed several solo, piano duet recitals and chamber concert in Beijing, Chicago, Bloomington and East Lansing, and was invited to participate in a recording on the WFMT 98.7 radio, Chicago. I won the Virginia Geyser Behrendt Scholarship competition in 2013. I worked as a piano accompanist in the Ballet Department of Indiana University from 2011 to 2013. In 2015, I was hired as church pianist in Laingsburg United Methodist Church.
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John Peck serves as the official Lay Leader for Laingsburg UMC. In this capacity, he oversees a team of lay readers who assist the pastor with parts of the Sunday worship services. He also has a standing position on all committees and work areas of the church. In addition to all of this, John provides leadership to other leadership within the church, many of whom have undergone training for certification in Methodist lay ministry.
John was raised in Upstate New York, where he was baptized in and became a member of the Seneca Castle United Methodist Church. He received a BS in Chemistry from Alma College and later an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University. He met his wife, Joan, while working for the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and has worked in several other departments. They have one son, Joshua. John started attending the Laingsburg United Methodist Church after moving here about twenty years ago. He is currently enjoying retirement.
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"Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 4:11b
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