Rev. Kyrmen Rea, Pastor
Pastor Kyrmen (pronounced “Carmen”) is an Indiana native, born and raised in Columbus. She is a graduate of IUPUI (BA, Rhetoric and Public Address) and Christian Theological Seminary (MDiv). Pastor Kyrmen is passionate about preaching and often shares her love of storytelling in her messages. Through her sermons, she invites the congregation to deeply engage with scripture in its context while making connections to the complexities of contemporary life. She considers it a privilege to provide pastoral care to those experiencing challenging seasons, coming alongside them on the journey of meaning-making. Pastor Kyrmen is committed to equipping people to do the work of justice and compassion to which God calls us as we follow Jesus’ model of radical hospitality and care for those living at the margins of society. Following Jesus is tricky business that requires plenty of nourishment, so Pastor Kyrmen is enthusiastic about strengthening congregants’ sense of connection to one another as well as facilitating learning opportunities.
Pastor Kyrmen is a proud mom to four young adults: a graduate student, two college undergrads, and a high school senior who is learning at home. She spent several years on staff as a teacher and production assistant for local youth theater ministries, passing her love of theater to her family. She is a musician, playing piano and singing (though rusty these days) and enjoys classic films, a good cup of coffee, reading, and spending time with her maltipoo, of whom all her children are jealous as they are sure he is her favorite. Perhaps what Pastor Kyrmen enjoys most is spending time in conversation with others, exchanging thoughts, ideas, stories, and truths.
If you are experiencing a pastoral emergency, please contact Pastor Kyrmen at 317-408-9782.
Ashlyn Reynolds, Director of Youth Ministries
Ashlyn Reynolds grew up in Bedford, attending Bedford First Christian Church. There she participated in leadership opportunities within the church as well as working with youth and children as sponsor, leader, teacher, mentor, and friend. Ashlyn graduated with a BFA in photography from Indiana University in 2017. Following graduation she participated in the National Benevolent Association’s XPLOR program. During her residency she interned for Prison Performing Arts, an organization that provides theater programs for incarcerated youth and adults. The internship experience affirmed her passion for learning and education in the arts. She is currently pursuing a masters in art education at Indiana University, and hopes to encourage creativity in middle and high schoolers.
Sarah Lynne Gershon, Student Associate Pastor
Sarah Lynne Gershon grew up in a large evangelical church in Orlando, Fl. After reading through the gospels for the first time in high school she was sent on a journey that eventually lead her to join a catholic worker, an intentional community (unaffiliated with the Roman Catholic church) where members offer beds in their homes for people who would otherwise be without housing. Sarah Lynne, her husband Brett, and their two children Alasdair and Iver moved to Bloomington three years ago to join the catholic worker here. Since then she has developed a passion for helping her children grow in a practical, Jesus-centered faith and for leading adults in worship, prayer, and bible study. Recognizing a call to pastoral ministry, Sarah Lynne began studying at Christian Theological Seminary in 2018 and is on a slow, part time track towards a Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theology degree. Sarah Lynne loves chatting about the bible and theology, singing from the Sacred Harp as often as possible, and throwing feast day celebrations.
Jan Harrington, Director of Music
Jan Harrington is Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus of Conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he conducted and taught for 33 years until his retirement in 2007. During his entire tenure at IU, he conducted the Indiana University Singers,as well as various orchestral concerts, operas and oratorios. For 10 years he was conductor of the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble. He also served as Chair of the Choral Department from 1998 to his retirement, taught graduate conducting, and continues to act as mentor to the graduate choral conducting students as well as conduct professionally. During the 2010-2011 academic year, he served as Visiting Professor of Conducting and Interim Director of Choral Ensembles at DePauw University and gave graduate choral seminars at Temple University. Maestro Harrington continues as the Artistic Director of the professional chamber chorus Apollo’s Voice, which he founded at the request of the Indianapolis Symphony in 1998. Also an active conductor of opera and orchestral performances, his operatic performances have spanned the repertoire from Monteverdi’s Orfeo to John Adams’ Nixon in China, and his orchestral and choral performances have been consistently noted for their inventive programming, communicative excitement, and technical brilliance.
Shayla Van Hal, Assistant Director of Music, Organist and Handbell Choir Director
Shayla Van Hal is in the third year of her doctoral studies in organ performance and literature at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she is a student of Christopher Young. She has most recently been the organist at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. Before coming to IU, she was organist, pianist, and bell choir director at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kansas. She is a graduate of Luther College and has two masters degrees from the University of Kansas. She also comes with over ten years of experience in church music ministry.
Additional Staff
Linda Abe, Wedding Ministry
Braeden Janes, director of online worship
Jennifer Fettchenhauer, Executive Administrator
Eve Schultes-Ridge, Administrative Assistant
John Adams, Sunday Caretaker and Night Security