Meet Immanuel's Staff
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I began as the Administrative Assistant to Immanuel in July of 2009. During that time, I also served part time as Associate Pastor in addition to my administrative role from January 2018 to December 2020. I am a Certified Lay Minister in the Methodist Church as well as a Certified Spiritual Director. I serve as a Spiritual Director with the UNYUMC Spiritual Directors and am a staff Spiritual Director at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse. I love interacting with others and sharing our faith journeys in all these roles.
I have many favorite Scripture passages but one of my most favorite is Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” It brings me great comfort to remember that God is with me in all aspects of my life. I appreciate this congregation for so many reasons, but one of my favorite things about them is their generosity. Time and again I have been in awe as they step up to help others, help the church, help the community and most of all support our young people. I enjoy camping, especially at our camp in the foothills of the Adirondacks. I feel especially close to God when I am in nature. My family is very important to me, I love spending time with my husband and 2 adult daughters and their significant others. I also love to read. |
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I began my service as Choir Director at Immanual in June 2023 after serving as accompanist since October 2017. I’ve always lived close to the churches I served and for 22 years, I was a block away from the First United Methodist Church in Vincennes, Indiana where I was Director of Music. There was an Irish Cross on the steeple that I could see from my bedroom window that got me started in a prayerful way every morning. I have a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University and for nearly 40 years, conducted the choirs at Vincennes University. We were a 2-year college, but had one of the few handbell programs in the country for community colleges.
I have so many favorite Scriptural passages and most have presented themselves to me by way of choral music. I learned so many of the great Psalms that way when studying and performing Renaissance and Baroque choral settings of them. And of course, the many choir anthems that we sang in church choir or at my Ecumenical Hymn Sings that involved many of the local churches and schools. That said, a Scriptural passage that has been indelibly written across the tablet of my heart is from Romans 8: 38-39: “Nothing will separate us from the love of God.” A full reading of the verse tells everything: “[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As I have read, “This verse emphasizes the absolute and overwhelming victory that God gives to the believer through Christ. Believers are supremely victorious because of their relationship with Jesus Christ. God allows nothing to separate us from his love.” Besides spending time with my wife, we enjoy visiting our adult children in Indianapolis and Atlanta and of course, the grandbaby!! I love taking my blue heeler mix on walks and now that I’ve had cataract surgery, I can really see God’s work in the meadows and the trees. I love driving to Skaneateles and every time I see the lake, I think surely, God is in this place. |
Colin Keating
Accompanist |
Colin received both a Bachelors and Masters in Music Education at the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. He is the director of Choral Music at C. W. Baker in Baldwinsville where he also serves as the Executive Producer of the district’s theater arts program. In his position he teaches the schools Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, Music Theory, Voice Lessons, Performing Arts and Technical Theater. Colin is the Artistic Director of the Baldwinsville Theatre Guild and has directed and music directed numerous shows with theater organizations throughout the Central New York community including The Redhouse Arts Center in downtown Syracuse where he serves as the Resident Music Director.He has been honored with Syracuse Area Live Theater (SALT) Awards for both directing and music directing.
For 15 summers, Colin was the Music Supervisor and Box Office Manager at The Weathervane Theater, a regional theater in Northern New Hampshire. He is a two-time recipient of the New Hampshire Theater Award for Best Professional Music Director. Colin is also a freelance pianist, vocalist and guest conductor. Favorite scripture: John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." I love this scripture because it clearly states that God asks us to present ourselves truly and authentically as we are to receive God's perfect love! |
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I was born and raised in the Syracuse area. As a youth I was part of an active youth group at my Church that was an important part of my younger years. I am looking forward to helping to provide a similar experience to the youth at Immanuel.
I have a daughter and a son that I like to spend time in the outdoors with, camping and hiking, and I also enjoy kayaking, gardening and reading in my spare time. Scripture: In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:6 This is a wonderful reminder to include God in everything we do and he will guide us in the right direction. |
