Pastors and staff members

Rev. Jonathan Fell began his appointment at First UMC, Iowa City in July of 2010. He is an Iowa City native; he is a 2003 graduate of City High and completed his Bachelor of Arts in English and Religious studies at the University of Iowa in 2007. In 2010, he completed his Master of Divinity at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

Cathy Stange is also seen almost every day here at the church. Cathy serves as the Director of the Little Angels Learning Center Ministry of our church. Her responsibilities here include overall management and administration of our child care program. She also manages classroom staff to ensure a quality program and ensures the safety and development of all children enrolled. Cathy has been with Little Angels Learning Center since it opened in July 2005. She started as a preschool teacher and as of last April moved into the Director position. Working with children and families is a passion of Cathy's and she hopes to be working in this field for many years to come.

Sage River is in her fourth year as the Coordinator of Health and Caring Ministries for our church. Her primary roles include overseeing eighteen Ministry Action Teams, including: visitation ministry, bereavement cards, birthday and Christmas cards to homebound and care center residents, blood pressure clinics, Blue Christmas service, CareNotes displays around the church, celebration and support dinners, comfort shawls, emergency/first aid/accessibility, first aid supplies, health ministry library, heart healthy dinner, homecoming service for homebound members, Hospice CD drive, mental health awareness, women's hospitality baskets, and our newest venture: purchasing an Automatic External Defibrillation Unit and providing training in its use. Some of Sage's regular activities include: making home, hospital, and nursing home visits; providing support and counseling on health-related issues for individuals and their families or loved ones; making referrals to community resources; providing support for those experiencing grief and bereavement, or serious illnesses.

Koi Hin Samuel Kwok has been serving at FUMC since August 2002. He was born in Hong Kong and grew up in a Christian family. Samuel is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting and the Graduate Certificate in Sacred Music at the University of Iowa. Prior to coming to Iowa, he taught music theory, composition, choral conducting and piano at Hong Kong Baptist University and at the Hong Kong International Institute of Music. Samuel has been actively involved in music ministries in Hong Kong and  U.S. since 1980s. He believes we can praise and glorify the Triune God in many different musical styles. His passion is to use his music to bring joys to everyone, especially to seniors, young children, the sick and the poor. His ultimate goal of music making is to spread the Gospel to every corner of the world. He introduced several choral works by Asian composers, including his own compositions. As a composer, he has written compositions for varied media including vocal, instrumental, chamber, choral, electro-acoustical, theatrical and orchestra. His works have been performed in Asia, Europe and the United States. His piano arrangements and compositions have been recorded in 5 CDs in Hong Kong, one of them was sung by a Hong Kong pop singer and published by PolyGram Records in 1989. His published choral work "Psalm 67" has been broadcast worldwide by BBC radio in 1997. Most recently he was invited to compose the Festival Song for the Hong Kong Franklin Graham Festival (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association). As a pianist, Samuel has performed solo recitals and piano concertos with orchestras in Texas and Hong Kong.  Samuel also loves to accompany vocalists and instrumentalists. He performed with Hong Kong Children's Choir at the Hong Kong International Airport Opening Ceremony in 1998. He has been accompanied all the choirs of the University of Iowa before he came to FUMC. Samuel's motto is “Do Your Best, God Will Do The Rest”! Samuel and his wife, Janica have two boys; Joshua and Caleb. Both of them are 100% Hawkeyes! He enjoys playing with his boys and wife, eating, sleeping, reading history books, talking to people and learning how to live healthily and joyfully. Samuel loves to travel around the world to meet different people. He has traveled 15 nations, including D.C. and 27 States.

Business Manager, Hillary Biancuzzo is approaching her two year anniversary with FUMC in this position.  Her main responsibilities include maintaining all financial records, preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, processing and posting all receipts and disbursements, preparing quarterly contribution statements for members of the congregation, payroll and benefits administration, human resources management, and assisting in annual budget preparation and financial stewardship campaigns.  Hillary serves as a staff liaison to the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, Administrative Council and Little Angels Board of Directors.

Liz Swanton manages the Church Office. She is responsible for formatting and producing the newsletter, church bulletins, and other print material, preparing the worship service recording for radio broadcast, maintaining the website, and scheduling events on the church calendar. Born on the Southside of Chicago, Liz moved to Iowa City and came to work for our church following her graduation from Grinnell College.  She enjoys camping, playing disc golf, walking, biking, and generally being outside.

Charles Thiede has served as Sunday custodian for eight and a half years.  He started full-time as facilities manager in January 2007.  In addition to cleaning, he looks after the church's boiler, electrical system, plumbing and structure as well as taking care of the grounds. When he isn't at church, Charles enjoys reading, baking, drawing and monitoring international radio broadcasts.

 

Michael Davidson hails from Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, which lies about twenty-five miles northwest of Madison along the Wisconsin River. From an early age, he was fascinated with music and began taking organ lessons at the age of five with Janet Mangin, eventually rotating between piano and organ weekly. Throughout middle school and high school, he actively participated in a variety of musical activities, singing in multiple choirs, and being an active member in the high school show choir. His involvement in the Sauk Prairie show choir, Executive Session, led to his earning two Best Male Vocalist awards, once at a Logan High School competition in La Crosse, WI, and once at a National Competition in Nashville, TN. His studies in music eventually led him to the University of Iowa, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance in May, 2008, studying with Dr. Delbert Disselhorst and Dr. Brett Wolgast. He also enjoyed performing with the University Choir and Kantorei such works as Bach's Mass in B Minor, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Verdi's Requiem. Michael also used his time to serve as a secretary and founding member of the University of Iowa chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Michael served as organist for multiple denominations and has found a true calling in the field of music ministries. He is grateful to the kind people of First United Methodist Church for welcoming him into their midst and looks forward to continuing to provide musical support for worship.