OUR STAFF
Senior Pastor: James Brassard
James and Youth Group on retreat
James and Andrea Brassard
Contact Info: ccpcpastor@verizon.net
301-262-6008 (church) 301-352-0075 (home)
I am a native of the Pacific Northwest, growing up in the state of Washington in the home of a Presbyterian ministry and a school teacher. My home church had wonderful youth program which included yearly mission trips around the region. After high school I attended Whitworth College, a small church-related liberal arts school in Spokane, Washington, graduating with a degree in American political history and economics. I worked two years after college as a sales representative. I enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 1984.
My first call was to congregation in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania where I was very active in campus ministry. After five years, I moved my family to Wayne, New Jersey (a New York City suburb) where I served for 15 years.
My wife Andrea and I moved to Bowie in June of 2004 when I accepted a call to CCPC. Andrea is a nurse who works for AARP in Washington, DC and part time at George Washington University; she serves as a nurse practitioner. I am blessed with four almost adult children, ages 24-29. Three of them live in New York City. My children are the focus of most of my vacation time. My hobbies include golf and church softball. I am an avid student of American history and 20th century Protestant preaching.
Director of Music: Susan Ricci Rogel
Contact Info: ricci-rogel@msn.com 301-262-6775 (home) or 301-758-0211 (cell)
I live with my husband of 20 years, John, and our two daughters, Sara and Amanda, who are 16 and 10. We also have a chow/retriever mix dog named Cindy and two cats named Figaro and Carmen. We live in the Highbridge Park section of Bowie, and have since 1991.
How did you come to CCPC? I came to CCPC in June of 2006. My upbringing was in the Presbyterian church, but I had previously been at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church in Greenbelt, where I had been director of music for 17 years. When my mother was taking care of the kids while John and I were in Hawaii in January 2006, she brought the kids to CCPC. That just happened to be the first Sunday that Jon Youngdahl announced his retirement and the vacancy of the music director position. So, needless to say -- I applied for the job -- and here I am. We love our new CCPC family very much!
What is your role at CCPC? I am the music director for CCPC, which means that I coordinate the musical activities for the Chancel, Cornerstone and Clinquant Choirs for weekly and special services as well as planning for any instrumental or vocal soloists. We have a wealth of gifted musicians at the church, and it is fantastic to be able to share their musical gifts with the congregation. I also love to get the youth involved in the musical forces at CCPC -- and we welcome their talent!
What’s the best part of your role? The best part of my role at CCPC is being able to work with SO MANY wonderful people who love music and love the Lord. The congregation is very appreciative and enjoys our musical "menus" for the services. Working with exemplary musicians like Kevin and Scott is also a blessing and an honor!
Those who know me understand my love of chocolate (okay, addiction...), my passion for movies (romantic comedies, dramas and sci-fi) and my Jungian psychology background. I also like to bake, travel and read -- but I usually only get to do that during the summer!
Worship Team Leader: Kevin Clemence
My parents were among the founding members here in the 1960s, so I grew up running around here like our kids do now. My wife Lara and I were the first couple married in the new sanctuary in 1994, a month after the dedication. And now our daughter, Alaina, is growing up here too. I have been involved with music at CCPC for 30 years now, and have had the privilege of making music and worshiping with many fine musicians over the years. The Worship Team is now in its fifth year, and it has been a great calling to work with yet another group of very dedicated people, to bring our hearts together in worship through the gifts of music.
Coordinator of Ministry to Children and Their Families:
Rebecca Coleman
Contact Info: ccpckids@gmail.com 301-262-6008
I grew up in Greenbelt and University Park, attending Eleanor Roosevelt High School, where I met my husband Mike. We have four children ranging in age from four to 12. I studied Elementary Education at the University of Maryland at College Park for three years before finishing my degree in English. Although I have lived in Prince George's County since the age of four, I have traveled widely throughout the U.S. and Europe; and my husband and I love to take our kids to new places. We have explored caves in New Hampshire, let our kids climb on the statues in Central Park, and sent our oldest son rolling down a hill in a giant hamster ball in Tennessee.
How did you come to CCPC? We were searching for a new church that had excellent children's and youth ministry programs and, after seeing the many events listed on CCPC's website, decided to give it a try. We fell in love with the welcoming community and the uplifting spirit of the Sunday services, and we have been here ever since.
What is your role at CCPC? I am responsible for making Sunday school a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for our youngest members; and, along with their teachers, to teach them about God's love for each one of them. I also plan holiday events, family nights, and Vacation Bible School, together with a wonderful team of volunteers.
What is the best part of your role? Having come to my faith while in college, I have a deep appreciation for the happiness Christianity brings to my life and I do not take it for granted one bit. Because of that, I love to celebrate holidays in a big way and help children build great memories of growing up in a church community. It's very rewarding to me to share my enthusiasm for the Christian faith.
Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministry:
Kristen Zacheis
Contact Info: ccpcyouth@verizon.net 301-262-6008 phone: 845-729-8125
I grew up in New York State (Rockland County), attended Moravian College for my Bachelors in Sociology and attended Widener University for my Master in Social Work. After I graduated, I moved down to Maryland for a job and have been here for two and a half years. I work in La Plata, MD as a child and adolescent mental health therapist and live in Capitol Heights, MD. I began attending CCPC about a year and a half ago while searching the greater DC area for a Presbyterian church I could call my new home and started volunteering with the youth group about nine months ago. I have worked with and attended youth groups many times before and really enjoy working with these teens.
Pastoral Assistant for Outreach and Care:
Margaret Hallau
Contact Info: ccpcpa@verizon.net 301-262-6008
I grew up on a farm in the Appalachian mountains in southwest Virginia. My husband Bill and I met as first year high school teachers. We’ve had many wonderful adventures over the years, which often included our two daughters, now 35 and 31. After 27 years, I retired in 2007 from directing the outreach, publication, and research efforts of the demonstration elementary and high schools that are part of Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. As a new grandma who raised daughters, I’m looking forward to adventures that will include my grandson.
How did you come to CCPC? Our family has lived in Bowie since 1982 but for ten years we continued to go to church about an hour from here. As our daughter Heather got older, she started coming to Youth Group at CCPC. I wanted to find out about this church so started attending and loved it. I joined the bell choir and a circle, served on various committees, arranged flowers and read with the Tiger Lilies. Several years ago Anita Pesses and I received training to set up CCPC’s Stephen Ministry so that caring people can listen and walk along side of individuals who are facing life’s challenges. I continue to do these things as a member of CCPC.
What is your role at CCPC? I’m a “behind the scenes” person, providing support to the Board of Deacons, overseeing the content of our web page and keeping it current, editing the Caller and other documents, and assisting James with pastoral care. I look at CCPC from the perspective of visitors. What is the first impression when they enter the atrium? Can visitors figure out what is expected? How can we make them feel welcome? What kind of follow up information do they need?
What do you like best about your role? CCPC is filled with amazing people and I am blessed to be a part of this Christian community where we can grow together and serve our risen Lord. It’s a pleasure to look around and see what needs to be done—and then to figure out how to do it. For example, I replaced our outdated directory. We started with pictures taken by CCPC photographers (at no cost to families) and ended up with a directory that can be updated periodically. I appreciate CCPC’s willingness to try something new with the directory and patience while it was being developed. Like many projects of this magnitude, it took longer than expected. It’s the supporting spirit of people at CCPC that makes my work fun.
People might be surprised to know that I rode a zip line through 11 platforms down a mountain in a rain forest in Costa Rica, definitely a once in a lifetime experience. In my spare time, I love to read, garden, and be a grandma.
Robin Seekford
Administrative Assistant
Contact Information: ccpcbowie@verizon.net 301-262-6008
Photo Credit: Dick Arnold