In 2011, Joshua started working at Embrace United Methodist Church as an urban missionary under senior pastor Rosario Picardo. While at Embrace, he worked with homeless and marginalized folks at a Monday night service called The Gathering.

Under Joshua’s leadership, The Gathering service grew from fifteen people to over 100. Through the ministry at Embrace UMC, Joshua felt a calling to pursue ordination through the United Methodist Church. In 2014, he became a supply pastor in Dayton, Ohio, and is now a full Elder in the United Methodist Church. He has been serving the West Ohio Conference since.

During high school, she sang with the Chapel Choir at Monroe Street UMC under the direction of Mary Anderson. She graduated in1980 from The University of Toledo, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree, with a major in voice and a minor in piano. While at UT, she studied voice with Barbara Rondelli, piano with Frances Renzi, and harpsichord with Susan Kinkaid. Concurrently, she studied the organ with Richard Palmquist at Monroe Street Church. While studying organ, Kris became the Assistant in Music at MSUMC, where she served in various roles until 2006. She has directed vocal and handbell choirs of all ages, taught private piano and voice students, and has been a substitute pianist for area churches.

In 1996, she began a vocal and handbell music program that included global music when she became Director of Music for Toledo Campus Ministry, continuing through 2012 when she cut back on her musical responsibilities to care for family needs. Kris continues to sing with and direct For Unity, a five-voice treble ensemble born out of TCM.

Kris returned to Monroe Street Church in 2018 as a substitute accompanist. In 2019, she became the Interim organist/accompanist, then the Organist/accompanist, and in the fall of 2020, she became Director of Music. Kris says that though it was unexpected and not part of her plan, she is delighted to have returned to MSC. She thanks you all for the warm reception. It feels as though the Spirit has brought her home.

Patricia subsequently graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Toledo in Educational Technology. She still enjoys singing and always looks forward to her next “gig.”

Pat is honored to serve as Director of the Angels’ Wings bell choir. We feel blessed that our congregation supports our bell choir and appreciates its contributions to music programs and services at MSUMC. We have followed CDC guidelines during the pandemic to continue ringing and participating in online worship services. Conducting bell ringers is challenging but a whole lot of fun. Our choir would love to have more “ringers” join us so we can use our entire five-octave set of bells.