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SENIOR PASTOR: Dr.Aaron Kerr
ASSOCIATE PASTOR: Rev. J. Howard Wright
 Howard is a retired pastor, serving First Church part-time as Associate in Visitation. He is a native of Pittsburgh and has served churches in the Pittsburgh and Johnstown area, Howard served as District Superintendent of the Erie-Meadville District from 1985-1991. After retiring in 1999, Howard and his wife Carol made Erie their home. They have four grown children and five grandchildren. In addition to his duties at First Church, Howard conducts worship services and Bible Studies at the Regency, St. Joseph Apartments, and the Liberty House for Veterans. He is also on the Board of Directors of Wesley Woods, enjoys volunteering at the Erie Maritime Museum and is an avid model railroad enthusiast!
MINISTER OF WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRIES/ORGANIST: Bruce R. Gingrich
Bruce R. Gingrich is currently the full-time Minister of Worship and Music Ministries/Organist at First Church, where he directs all adult and children vocal, Handbell and Choirchime choirs, brass and instrumental ensembles. He holds degrees in organ performance/sacred church music and business administration. Bruce served the Lakewood United Methodist Church in Erie as Minister of Music/Organist from 1986 to 2001. He also serves as organist for Friday night services and the High Holy Days at Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie.
 Bruce is a well-known organ recitalist in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, having dedicated numerous new organs since 1990. He produces a monthly organ concert entitled “TNT” Thursday Noon Together at First Church on the first Thursday of every month from September to May on the church’s 59 rank Phelps Mechanical Action Pipe Organ. This noontime program,started in 2001,is followed by a lunch,and has attracted an average of 130 people per concert. A private instructor of voice and organ, Bruce has served as the president of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. In June 2003 he served this conference as the organ clinician and lecturer on the new hymnal supplement entitled “The Faith We Sing.” In 2002, Bruce was the Youth/Children Choir clinician for this event. Bruce traveled to Brazil in 2004 and presented a workshop to over 100 people at the Central UMC on “Ministering to Children Through Music”and an organ recital at the Patio de Collegio,downtown Sao Paulo,the oldest church in South America for the Brazilian Guild of Organists.
On March 24th & 25th, 2006, Bruce was the guest soloist with the Erie Chamber Orchestra in two performances of “Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Tympani, and Strings” by Francis Poulenc.
Bruce was received as a member of the downtown Erie Rotary Club in August, 2006, and is the Official Club Pianist.
Bruce currently serves as the Conference Choir Director and Organist for the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church held each June at Grove City College. Mr. Gingrich is a member and past dean of the Erie Chapter American Guild of Organists. Bruce is married to Cecily Cottrill Gingrich.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR BRUCE AND THE PHELPS ORGAN
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES: Aileen S. Baxter
CHURCH SECRETARY: Shirley Yeaney
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Melodye McFadden
COLLEGE COORDINATOR: John White
JANITOR: Jack Tabb
VAN DRIVER/EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT: Carrie Roudybush
METHODIST TOWERS ADMINISTRATOR: Darlene Winicki
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First United Methodist Church
707 Sassafras Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16501
Church Office: (814) 452-3300
© 2007 First United Methodist Church Erie, PA. All Rights Reserved.
For questions regarding this web site: Webservant
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