Come back soon for updated information. We have had new additions and will add them when new pictures etc. are gathered.
Pastors
Through June 2025, we are being served by co-senior pastors, Rev. Pam Abbey and Rev. Eileen Lindsay.
Pastor Pam Abbey has a long history with WCUMC, having attended here for several years while she was doing an Extension Ministry focused on drama and working a few years as the Bus Stop director. She has served churches in the northern Sierra, Fresno, and several congregations here in Central Contra Costa County. She is married to Kent, who is in our choir and serves as a Trustee. She has two degrees in Theatre and received her M.Div. from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Born a Hoosier, she has basketball in her blood and is a staunch Warriors fan. Do not schedule meetings on game nights!
Pastor Eileen Lindsay served WCUMC before her retirement, and agreed to come back on an interim basis to serve with Pastor Pam.
We are happy to announce that Bishop Sandra Olewine, Bishop of CA-NV Conference, has appointed Reverend Pablo Rovere as our new pastor, effective July 1, 2025.
District Superintendent, Rev. David Niu, shared this message with us regarding Pastor Pablo and what he brings to us ”his wisdom, administrative skills, teaching ability, and a compassionate pastoral heart.”
Pastor Pablo is married to the Rev. Michelle Magee, a clergy member in the Evangelical Lutheran Church and they are blessed with three wonderful children, ages 17 to 10 yrs.
Pastor Pablo comes to us from the Central Valley District where he led the congregation of Hanford UMC since July of 2018. Prior to Hanford UMC, Pastor Pablo served in several capacities in the Cal-Pac Conference and in Arizona. Pastor Pablo was born, raised, educated in Argentina, completing theological classes here, and is a life-long Methodist.
We are anxious for you to greet/welcome Pastor Pablo and family into our WCUMC family of believers. We will have many blessings to celebration in this coming year and the arrival of Pastor Pablo is one of those blessings.
Office Manager
Our office manager is the camera-shy Cathy Stussi (she/her). Starting 11/25/24, Office Hours will be 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Director of Music Ministries
Michelle was hired as Director of Music Ministries in March of 2022. Having earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and a Master of Music in performance from the Dana School of Music in Youngstown, OH, she initially landed at WCUMC playing trumpet with the Pacific Brass Quintet. The inclusive and service-oriented nature of the church was an immediate draw for both Michelle and her wife Tina who now claims the title First Lady of Music. They joined the church family in 2008, joined the choir, and have been nurtured here ever since.
Michelle was hired in 2013 as the Youth Director with the intention of providing stability for the program after several years of turnover. The joy of working with the youth and witnessing their spiritual growth fueled her own spiritual flame; enough for her to “step up” when the still small voice whispered to apply for the music position almost a decade later.
Michelle’s energy and passion are infectious, and one might hear an “A-men!” or “Oooh! Sweet Baby Jesus” in the middle of rehearsal or worship service. From traditional anthems to contemporary Christian chart toppers, praise band to gospel a capella, Michelle loves the diversity our musicians and congregation are willing to explore with her.
The opportunity to foster a deeper connection with God, deeper roots into one’s own faith journey, and the shared ensemble connection is a beautiful gift that music provides. “Grateful”, she repeatedly says, “is not a big enough word”.
Organist
JUSTIN MCCOY is a Chicago, Illinois native who obtained his undergraduate degree in Pipe Organ from Ohio Wesleyan University with additional focus on voice and choral music education. He began playing the piano at the age of 4, the organ at 11 and the drums at 14, and has continuously been serving churches in one or more of those musical capacities since he was 16 years old. Prior to joining the staff at WCUMC, he served as organist at Central United Methodist Church (now Resurrection Brookside) in Kansas City, MO for 11 years and was also the director of music for the last 2 years of his tenure. Outside of churches, he has decades of professional performance experience on the piano, as a drummer/percussionist and as a vocalist. Justin performed with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City for 7 seasons as a chorister, and also has numerous other professional theater credits as an actor, pianist, drummer/percussionist and sound designer.
Justin and his wife DeQuila moved to the Bay area from Kansas City in late 2020. Outside of his role at WCUMC, he is a Quality Assurance and Customer Experience Manager in the health insurance industry. He is also currently the collaborative pianist for AfterGlow Chorus in Oakland, and he also continues to teach piano and voice in both private studio and school settings. Justin and DeQuila reside in Oakland with their daughter, Jett, and two dogs, Lincoln and Dasher.
Director of Bell Ministries
Tessique Houston became our Director of Handbells in August, 2013. She began ringing here in 2005. Tessique holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, where her main instrument was flute. She has been ringing handbells since she fell in love with them during her student teaching in 1995.
As an active musician, Tessique currently rings with Sonos Handbell Ensemble and Tapestry Ringers and Singers, teaches at various handbell clinics throughout the area, and works part time as a substitute teacher for the Mt. Diablo School District. She is also an active member of The Handbell Musicians of America and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Tessique and her husband, Brian, enjoy getting out in their 5th wheel to get away from it all – but they do take the cats with them!