About Us
Mission Statement
Passionate in Community – Growing in Faith – Serving in Christ's Name
Worship Rev. Larry Van Slambrook
“Draw near to God and God will draw near to you”…Worship is an act that we engage in to draw near to God and to declare that the living Triune God — Father, Son, and Spirit — is worthy of praise, adoration and gratitude. We enter the worship service with reverence and joy.
Worship is central in our life at St. Andrew’s. Our approach to worship is traditional, but with an openness to the Spirit’s leading in different forms. Music is generally lead by the organ, but other kinds of instrumentation like flute, saxophone and dulcimer are incorporated as well. The Chancel Choir offers a Ministry of Music during worship from September to June. The goal is to be faithful, not fanciful or faddish in our approach to God.
Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month and is open to all who wish to know the presence of Christ and share in the community of God’s people.
Elders
Bob Anderson
Marie Proulx
Andy Koran
Ray Lowery
Carol Jones
Church Leadership
Deacons
Thelma Bertonaschi
Judie Dioszegi
Bill Sumner
Karen McIlroy
Elaine Milbocker
Meet Our Staff
Re. Larry Van Slambrook
Pastor Larry was called into ministry in the midst of a teaching career at Eastern Michigan University. In answer to God’s call he left teaching and attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree.
Since then he has served as the lead pastor of churches in Michigan and Ohio. He has also been involved in mission outreaches to the island of
Dominica, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. He is an ordained member of the
Missionary Church.
Pastor Larry sees himself as a servant of the Lord, empowered by the
Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth of God’s Word. He seeks to be God’s
instrument in bringing others into a relationship with Jesus and helping
them grow in that relationship as His followers!
He and his wife, Cora, are greatly blessed to serve the Lord here at
St. Andrew’s!
Paula Allison-England
Paula Allison-England is the Music Director and Organist for St. Andrews United Church of Christ. She prepares our choir’s sacred music for Sunday services, seasonal music during the liturgical calendar, special music for the handbell choir, and special numbers for instrumental and vocal soloists. Music is a valued gift for each of us by sharing the beauty and joy of this form of worship.
Paula received her BS in Music Education (organ) at DePauw University, living in Oxford, England for over two years. She has served as Organist and Handbell Choir Director at Saline United Methodist Church while teaching piano students.
Before taking the position of Organist at St. Andrews, she earned a BS in Nursing and worked as a Staff Nurse at Mott Children’s Hospital and the Unit for Clinical Research at the University of Michigan. During her tenure as organist, she continued to work in the medical field until retiring.
Vocal and instrumental music are a constant in her life. Currently, and for many years, she has sung with the University Choral Union which is an auditioned choir which performs large works from diverse repertoires and performs with excellent orchestras at Hill Auditorium, Michigan Theater, Orchestra Hall, Peristyle Auditorium and Carnegie Hall.
Heida Meister
Heida Meister manages the day-to-day business of the church -- everything from accounting and scheduling to preparing bulletins and circulating news to the congregation. She is always ready to answer a question or lend a hand.