Rev. Julie Van Til, Pastor (she/her)

708-798-2800        jvantil@fccfaithful.org

Julie was unanimously voted in as our Pastor in May of 2020 during the Covid pandemic - one for the FCC history books!  She strives to be the kind of pastor that helps create community, normalize change and foster growth for everyone, with the hope that we at least expand our capacity to hear, honor and learn from each other. Julie has a conversational way of preaching, engaging the congregation personally, and inviting connection with God in the moment. 
Julie and her husband, Andrew both grew up in the Midwest and lived in San Francisco, where Julie pastored at City Church prior to their move to FCC. They have two children, Ave and Everett, who attend H-F High School.  Along with individual interests, the whole family loves music, theater, books and travel. They especially enjoy exploring National Parks, interactive museums, and anyplace with water in the summertime. 

 

Betsy Hanzelin, Executive Director of Church Ministries (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 18        bhanzelin@fccfaithful.org

Betsy joined the FCC staff in1992 and served as Youth Director until June of 2015. She began the Director of Congregational Enrichment position July 2015 and became Exec. Dir. of Church Ministries in March 2022.  In this position, she supervises Directors of Youth Ministry, Children's Ministry, and Communication and Connection,  and provides support for Governing Board, Worship, Adult Spiritual Formation, and the Boards of Lay Ministry and Faith in Action.  Betsy, and her husband Rick, both grew up at FCC, were married here and have two adult daughters, Grace (Doctoral Student at University of Texas-El Paso) and Emma (who is better known as Ms. Hanzelin at Western Avenue School).

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Jamie Ford, Executive Director of Church Operations (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 23      jford@fccfaithful.org

Jamie officially joined the FCC staff as an Admin in Spring 2016, and became the Director of Church Operations in May 2019.  Jamie and her husband Scott have been members since 2010.  When she isn't working, Jamie enjoys time with her daughters, Annie & Sammy and their rambunctious Great Dane, Stella.  Jamie is happiest when she is outside, cooking or by the water! 

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Rev. Dr. Dawnn Pirani Brumfield, Pastoral Care Associate (she/her)

dbrumfield@fccfaithful.org

Rev. Dawnn was called to bring her gifts for Pastoral Care to our community by joining our staff in August 2022. She is ordained by the International Council of Community Churches and has served in many capacities, including as an Associate Pastor, Clinical Psychotherapist, and Facilitator for Anti-bias and trauma-informed care trainings.  She identifies her specific spiritual gifts as administration, counseling, preaching and teaching. The Search Committee found her to be a warm, genuine, and compassionate presence who they believe will bless those in need of pastoral care. She will bring astute, creative, detail-oriented leadership to our care ministries, and, like FCC, is passionate about community inside and outside the church walls. 

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Rev. Travis Adams, Youth Ministry Director (he/him)

708-798-2800, ext. 19     tadams@fccfaithful.org

Travis Adams joined the FCC staff in February 2020 after having worked with youth at churches in St. Louis and in London, England.  He brings a new energy and perspective to our great tradition of Youth Ministry at FCC, and has a strong commitment to creating relationships and sharing faith with young people. Travis deeply values the immeasurable worth of having a space of worship and community where one is permitted to ask questions without fear, express feelings without constraint and encounter love without conditions.  Travis' wife Megan is a veterinarian and practices at a clinic in Flossmoor.  They live in Flossmoor with their three lovable dogs!  

Amie Laven, Children's Ministries Director (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 16   alaven@fccfaithful.org

Amie and her husband, Dan, joined FCC in 2017, and have lived for the last 16 years in Flossmoor, where they have raised their four daughters, Halena, Kendall, Braylin and Lourdes.  Amie is very excited for the opportunity to teach and inspire the children of FCC in their journey of learning and growing in God’s love. She looks forward to joining the wonderful staff at FCC and sharing its ministry.  In her free time, Amie enjoys gardening, music, fashion, and volunteering, most recently with the HF Choir Board.  

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Brooke King-LaBreck, Communication & Connection Director (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 13       bking@fccfaithful.org

Brooke has been a part of FCC for many years, as she was raised in the church. She joined the FCC staff in 2004 as an Administrative Assistant and in 2019 became the Director of Communications and Community Engagement.   She enjoys using her background in the arts, creative spirit and love for the church to keep the congregation and community informed and connected through our website, social media, promotional materials and special events.  She also provides support for the Board of Community & Connection.  Brooke, who is the proud mom of Dylan and Ash, also enjoys traveling with her husband, Chris, singing, painting, photography, gardening, and DIY projects in her "spare time".

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Rob Calhoon, Music Ministry Director (he/him)

rcalhoon@fccfaithful.org

Rob, who was born and raised in Flossmoor, and even spent portions of his youth participating in FCC Music programming. He is thrilled to return to FCC as our Music Director, directing choir, ensembles, and hand bells. Rob is also the Director of Orchestras at Parker Junior High School, as well as the founder and Artistic Director of the Sounds of Illinois Community Music Center. He has a Masters in Music Education from Northwestern University and has a lifetime of experience as a musician performing everywhere from jazz clubs and orchestra pits to hotel lobbies and even on top of a circus wagon! Rob and his wife Alanna Cotch have two children: Sam, who studies Music Education at the University of Illinois, and Avery, who is currently at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. 

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Dallas Collins, Weekday Preschool Director

708-798-1876      dcollins@fccfaithful.org

Dallas graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and joined FCC staff in 2009 and operated as our WPS Assistant Director for 10 years prior to becoming our Director in 2020. Dallas resides in Homewood with her husband Jim and their teenage children James and Addison. She also sits on the HF Park District Board of Commissioners. In her spare time she enjoys going to the beach and playing with her dogs. Her guidance,high energy and smile are a blessing in the halls of Weekday Preschool.

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Judy Jensen, Financial Manager (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 14        judyjensen@fccfaithful.org

Judy joined the FCC staff in 2000, following previous work in a bank and experience in financial management.  At FCC, she keeps the records and handles all incoming and outgoing money for both the church and Weekday Preschool. She is most appreciated by the staff as being the one who does payroll! Judy and her husband, Chuck, joined FCC in 1973 and raised their daughters, April and Amy here. Amy and Erik have a daughter, Sydney who is the light of Judy’s life and calls her “Mag”.

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Kathi Leahy, Office Administrator (she/her)

708-798-2800, ext. 11    kleahy@fccfaithful.org

Kathi is in the main office 9 am - 1 pm, Mondays - Fridays managing facility requests, phones, and covering administrative needs for Leadership staff. She is well-known in our community, as she is also the Vice President of Membership for the Homewood PTA and sits on the board of Foundation 153. Kathi and her husband, Brendan reside in Homewood with their two children, Elliott and Emilia. In her spare time she takes her kids to soccer, baseball and softball practices. She loves music and gardening and is not very fond of birds.

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Jeff Hamrick, Organist & Accompanist (he/him)

Jeff prefers the term “collaborative keyboardist” and is delighted to be able to make music for a welcoming and loving congregation just around the corner from his house. He previously served as keyboardist and music director at Countryside Church UU in Palatine and at First Unitarian Church of Chicago in Hyde Park. He has been active throughout his three decades in Chicagoland as a singer, accompanist, and diction coach and works as an editor at the University of Chicago Press. He and his partner Chris are avid gardeners. You can usually find Jeff puttering around in his backyard “woods,” trying to figure out how to restore the ecosystem one native plant at a time.

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Bob Callahan, Day Porter (he/him)

Bob's friendly presence has been a part of staff since 2013! He is on site every other Sunday morning as well as part-time on weekdays. He and his wife, Ellen, reside in Homewood. They have two grown daughters. When Bob isn't on the job he enjoys unwinding with music, fishing, and most recently...yoga!

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Everett Van Til, Alternate Porter (he/him)

Everett joined our staff in the Summer of 2023 as an Alternate Porter and can be found working every other Sunday as well as setting up for events and lending an extra hand during the week as his schedule allows. He is a Junior at HF and as you may have already guessed by the last name, he is the son of Pastor Julie. Everett is on the debate team, chess team, scholastic bowl, and mathletes. This leaves very little room for anything else, but to relax he enjoys music and sweet, sweet sleep.

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Michael Linde, Music Ministry Associate (he/him)

On any given Sunday, you will find Michael up in the balcony at the sound board. He comes to us with a lifetime of sound production experience, both as a producer and as a product specialist. Michael was born and raised in the South Suburbs, and spent a good number of years playing keyboards and seeing the world with his band, The Blue Meanies.

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