Staff
Blythe Sawyer, Pastor
Welcome to our website. I hope you’ve seen here a little glimpse of who we are as a community and what we value. I love this church and I feel so lucky to be in ministry here.
I’m the mother of two wonderful boys - four-year-old Elan and eight-year-old Isaiah. I grew up in California, attended seminary at Pacific School of Religion, then spent a couple of years as a minister in Kansas before I was called to this wonderful place. In addition to my work in ministry, I am involved in the community through leadership in the North Bay Sponsoring Committee, and as a member of the Educational Foundation at Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley, where my son is a student.
I believe, from the depths of my soul, that the church is an expression of God’s hopes for the world. I’ll admit we don’t always live up to this high and holy calling, but I want to be a part of making it happen. This is the place where people young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, shy and gregarious come together and fall in love. The kind of love that offers care and compassion unreservedly. The kind of love that reaches beyond itself to bring transformation to people who desperately need it. So I’m here to offer myself to the work of living in community, to help people see themselves in the story of God’s grace and to raise up joyful and faithful people.
I hope that if you asked the members of this church about me, they would tell you that I love them, that I pay attention to the lives of the youngest and the oldest, and everyone in between. I hope they’d tell you that I’m faithful in my life and my preaching. Sometimes our members joke about having a hip, young, tattooed pastor. I'm not sure about the hip part, but I do bear a tattoo with the word jubilate. It's a latin word, meaning you will rejoice. Life is not always easy, or even always happy, but at its core, underlying everything, I try to remember to live in deep joy.
I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please feel free to send me an email by clicking here. I look forward to hearing from you!
Terese Daniele, Office Administrator
I have been on staff as the church secretary/office manager for two years. Often times, I am lucky enough to be the first person you encounter when contacting UCC. Whether you are interested in joining us on a Sunday morning in worship or you are interested in using one of our wonderful spaces for a community service group or a wedding, I am the person to speak with.
My husband Anthony and I have four children: Isabella, Samara, Jacob, and Riley. In addition to being of service here at UCC Petaluma, I also serve as treasurer for the Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley PTA. And just to add a little balance and excitement, I am now participating in Roller Derby with the Sonoma County Roller Derby girls—tons of fun. You should definitely check out a “bout”!
I enjoy being of service and sharing some of the wonderful things about United Church of Christ Petaluma. I am continually inspired by the individuals that create this community. This church has many people of different beliefs, backgrounds, ages, and interests. Somehow these differences are also what make us strong. In times of need, we come together and give support, in times of joy, we celebrate. And we work together to make a difference in this world. I love to see an organization that lives by its word. There is depth and a strong foundation to build upon and evolve. In the time that I have been working here, my faith has grown stronger because I can truly see God at work. If you are interested in learning more, please come visit us!
Al Martin, Music Director
I have served as part-time music director for the past eight years. Growing up in the southeastern U.S., I received a masters degree in musicology from UNC Chapel Hill. After serving as a full-time music minister for 24 years, I had a major life change and eventually moved to California. I enjoy the mediterranean climate here, and I love the rich diversity of people in this very special part of the world.
Although I work full time in retail sales management, my first love continues to be church music. I enjoy playing the organ and piano, but I especially love working with choral groups. Our small but very dedicated church choir experiences a real camaraderie when we meet to practice and to sing in worship times. For me, worship is the starting point in our church—from there we disperse to live our individual lives in witness, love and service. I have found a wonderful home in our church, a rich tapestry of interesting, inquiring and caring people, and I experience a great openness and acceptance here.
