Luke serves as the Regional Director of Youth Ministry for Parkside, Elk Grove, and Loomis UCCs. Prior to launching this ministry, he lived and worked in New York as an actor. Aside from his work in the arts, Luke served as a peer advocate for Transgender youth, Trans folks in the performing arts, and Transgender people of faith. He also continues to perform virtually on the worship team at Forefront Church in Brooklyn and as a musician with Loomis Basin UCC. Returning home to the greater Sacramento area where he was born and raised, Luke shares life with his wife Ana and their two rescue mutts, Captain and Willow.

Selah started attending Parkside in 2017 and started in the role of Sunday School Teacher in November 2022. She loves working with kids and is passionate about creating and maintaining a space where children can learn from and develop connections with each other and her at Sunday School each week.

Selah studies math at UC Davis and plans on becoming a teacher. She enjoys making music, clothes, art, and she loves being a drag queen.

Janet began playing the organ and piano for Parkside in 1979. Before that, she attended Sunday school here as a child, sang in the choir in the 9th grade and taught Sunday school for a couple of years for Parkside's Kindergarten. She has led the Youth Choir and also the Adult Choir for several years in between directors. Janet is a private piano instructor in the Greenhaven / Pocket area of Sacramento and Elk Grove.

Jeff started with Parkside in 2020. Through his theological education, ministry and professional experience, Jeff has become invested in helping people and organizations tell their stories.

In addition to serving at Parkside, Jeff is a podcast producer and media consultant, including co-hosting two podcasts himself; Irenicast and Divine Cinema.

Laura is a member of Parkside Community Church in a four-way covenant along with the NCNCUCC and serves as Sr. Minister at Federated Church in Placerville, CA.

Prior to attending seminary, Laura was a commercial banker for Chase Manhattan and Bank of America and a full-time mother.

Laura served on the Board of Trustees at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), associated with the University of California - Berkeley.

Laura received a Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of Creation Spirituality (now Wisdom University of Graduate Studies) in Oakland, California, and her Masters of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion at the GTU in Berkeley. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Texas in Austin and she is a graduate of Highland Park High School in Dallas.

She served as the Vice President on the board of Focus on Teens, a Dallas nonprofit that ministers to the homeless students of the Dallas Independent School District. In California, Laura was the chairman of the board of directors for Contra Costa Interfaith Housing in Pleasant Hill, California - a permanent, supportive housing development for formerly homeless families.

Jolie completed her field education at Park side community Church in 2016. She served in youth ministry, liturgical life and Bible study as a supporting member in leadership.

As a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, Jolie was drawn to Parkside UCC for its commitment to racial and social justice, gender equality and LGBTQ rights. As a former mental health case manager and peer support specialist, Jolie values the intersections of spirituality and wellness.

In 2020, Jolie received her Masters of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary while completing her clinical pastoral education at UC Davis Medical Center during the peak of the covid pandemic. She currently serves as a per diem hospital chaplain for Common Spirit / Dignity Health.

As a mother of five daughters, Jolie spends her time navigating the challenges and joys of parenthood. During her free time Jolie can be found singing, skateboarding, exploring nature or listening to live music! Despite her many responsibilities, she is always up for an adventure!

Lauren joined Parkside in Spring 2021 along with her partner, Reuben.

A 2018 Dean’s Scholar and Master of Divinity graduate of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA where she was awarded the Beloved Community Award for her contributions to creating a vibrant and transformational PSR Community, Lauren’s greatest passion is to facilitate and co-create brave spaces where young people are invited to show up as their full selves, with permission to continue to discover and be curious about who they are and what they think, believe, and feel about the world around them. She recently completed a 9 month residency as a Chaplain at the UC Davis Medical Center, providing spiritual care and support to patients and staff during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren currently serves as the Interim Director of Spiritual Engagement at CA House in Davis, CA, where she brings her experience of facilitating immersive community service work and comprehensive sexuality education with a focus on empowerment and coaching to her programmatic and spiritual care work with UC Davis students.

A farmgirl at heart, when not working or pursuing steps towards ordination, Lauren can be found outside on the water or in the mountains, paddleboarding, hammocking, hiking, and traveling the world, gardening, playing with her dog, or, if inside: writing letters, reading a good book or working on her blog of inclusive and diverse youth literature recommendations.