Our Staff

Rev. Ken Green, Senior Pastor and Head of Staff
Rev. Green is originally from Seattle, Washington, where he met his wife, Tassie, who is also an ordained minister. They have two children. Ken attended the University of Washington, earning a B.A in Speech Communication in 1984 and a Masters degree emphasizing instructional communication in 1987. Ken graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with his Masters of Divinity degree in 2001.

Rev. Green comes to First Presbyterian Church of La Grange after serving as the Associate Pastor for Young Families and the Discipleship of Children at the Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, a 4,200-member church that is extremely well known and respected within the denomination.

Prior to his ordination, Rev. Green was a trainer in Management & Communication for the Boeing Co. and a tenured faculty member at Seattle Central Community College where he taught classes in speech communication. He also has 14 years experience as a lay volunteer at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, where he served as an Elder and on numerous committees including a Pastor Nominating Committee and a Church Officer Nominating Committee. In addition, he served as a small-group leader and a leadership team facilitator, and he participated in mission trips.

Rev. Green serves as moderator of the session and as head of staff. In addition to preaching, he provides pastoral care for the congregation and assists boards and committees in their ministries. He also works with session on the reevaluation and implementation of the church’s strategic plan.


Rev. Rebecca McClintock, Associate Pastor
Rebecca joined the staff of FPCLG in summer 2009 as Associate Pastor. She is involved in pastoral care and youth and children’s ministries as well as many other areas within our church. She brings a particular affinity to contemplative prayer that is expected to impact our worship.
 
Rebecca brings hands-on experiences in many areas. These experiences include Clinical Pastoral Education with the Phoebe Ministries Nursing Home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a Seminary internship at San Geronimo Community Presbyterian Church in Northern California, and experience as Worship and Hospitality Coordinator for the seminary from which she received her divinity education.
 
Rebecca has led changes within contemporary services, delighted in the guidance of curriculum for children’s ministry, and enjoyed being in the classroom teaching Sunday school. Her depth and breadth of knowledge and commitment reflects an Ohio upbringing that was grounded in the Presbyterian Church. She is an avid reader and delivers thought-provoking sermons that connect scripture to everyday occurrences.
 
Born near Wooster, Ohio, Rebecca shadowed her accountant father who taught Sunday School and was also ordained in the church as a deacon and an elder. She also learned from her mother who taught bible study and served on CNC committees. She has grown up in the church and witnessed first-hand how faith communities and pastors function. This experience struck a chord within her early on, and it later fueled her aspirations.
 
Rebecca received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Wooster College and went on to earn her Master of Divinity degree as well as a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. Spiritual Direction is the practice of guiding others in where they see God in their lives.


Doreen Sterba DeZur, Director of Handbell & Youth Choirs
If you have heard the Crusader choir sing, and seen Doreen conduct them, you see her passion and how it inspires our youngest members. Likewise, the beauty of the handbells is unforgettable. In addition to directing the Crusader Choir and Handbell Choirs, Doreen teaches general music in both public and parochial schools while maintaining a private music studio for piano. She also has given piano concerts throughout the Midwest and in the Yucatan.




Henry Sybrandy, Organist
Henry has graced the keyboard at our church for many years. Another staff member with a University of Chicago connection, he works at the University of Chicago administration office, commuting from Hyde Park for rehearsals and services. Henry writes weekly music notes for the Sunday bulletin explaining how the music selected for the service ties to the themes of the sermon, anthem or church calendar.




Beata Kernan, Financial Secretary
Beata came to First Presbyterian Church in January, 1999, from an accounting background with law firms working in the Loop. She likes working with figures. She never had to work with a budget until she came here. Working with the various committees and their accounting needs makes the job very interesting.

One of Beata's hobbies is collecting horse figurines. Many, many years ago, she had the real thing (a grey half-Arab) and went to horse shows in Illinois and the neighboring states.


Pat Eagan, Property Supervisor
In his role as Property Supervisor, Pat truly is a jack-of-all trades. He is responsible for the maintenance of the church building, grounds and equipment. He makes the walk across the street at all hours to open and close the building. He works closely with the property committee to communicate needs and discuss the allocation of limited dollars for building repairs. He is called upon to help people unload their cars, to help set up the hose for the mother-daughter adventure water night, and a myriad of other jobs that do much to help others. Pat celebrated 30 years with FPCLG in summer of 2006.


Susan Dudek, Coordinator for Children's Ministries
Susan coordinates our church school volunteers and works closely with the Associate Pastor, Curriculum Advisors and Children's Ministry Committee to develop and implement curricula that are lively, interesting and instructive. She brings administrative and child development experience gleaned from her other career as a nationally-certified flute teacher who teaches in several area high schools as well as her own flute studio. Susan and her family have been members of FPCLG for over 20 years.



Jason Fahrenbach, Director of Traditional Music
Jason comes to us from Park Ridge Presbyterian Church.  He currently teaches General Music and Chorus at Lincoln Jr. High in Skokie where he directs a 95 member chorus of students from all grades. He holds his Bachelors in Music Education from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he studied with Dr. Joe Grant and Dr. Chester Alwes and is also an active member of MENC, ACDA, and IMEA.





Mark Filippi, Contemporary Worship Leader
Mark has been a professional musician for more than 30 years. He has extensive experience in both music and music technology with a background in sound, lighting and video design as well as installation and training. As both a worship leader and songwriter, his desire and passion is to excellently use music to draw people into the presence of the excellent God. Mark and his wife, Melissa, live in Bull Valley, IL where they are raising their two children, Grace (9) and Grant (7).




Judy Monzella, Youth Ministry Coordinator
Judy joined the staff of FPCLG as the Youth Ministry Coordinator in the summer of 2008. Her role is to manage the day to day details in support of the church's youth ministry. This includes ensuring compliance with the Child Protection Policy & Procedures as well as working closely with the Associate Pastor and Youth Committee to assist in the planning, preparation and implementation of curriculum, events and retreats. Judy and her family have been active members of the church since 1992.




Carol Denlinger, Church Secretary
Carol joined our staff as church secretary in May 2009 after substitute teaching in Western Springs for over eight years. She worked in the development department at the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and has served in numerous volunteer roles at the Theatre of Western Springs, Young Life, District 101 schools and other local organizations. Carol received her B.S. degree in Business from Valparaiso University and spent the majority of her professional career in human resources at Chicago Title and Trust Company. She lives in Western Springs with her husband, Dave and two daughters, Abbey and Kristie.



Jen Stockbridge, Pastors' Secretary
Jen is our part-time Pastors’ Secretary.  Jen and her husband Paul have been church members since 2000. They recently served as editors of the Church & Home newsletter for six years.  Jen is also a Faith Forest Ranger for Grades 2-3 and is on the Communications Committee.  She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, with a major in education and a minor in psychology, received a Masters degree from National-Louis University and taught for seven years at Greenwood School in South Holland, Illinois.

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