Rev. Jamie Kepros, Pastor
Jamie grew up on a farm in Iowa where she loved spending time outdoors. She went east for college and studied religion and philosophy at Wellesley. As an active Catholic through her college years, Jamie journeyed through questions, challenges, and celebrations as she followed her call to ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. Her theological horizons have been enriched by feminist, liberation, and process theologies. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology and was ordained in 2010. Before coming to serve at Lummi Island Congregational Church in 2015, she served as a campus minister at the University of Northern Colorado, and as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Laramie, Wyoming.
Jamie lives with her spouse, Rev. Sharon Benton (Lead Pastor of First Congregational Church in Bellingham), Samson the loveable mutt, and Baba and Hillary the cat sisters. Jamie enjoys having a home with flowers and trees that grow despite her brown thumb, living close to the water, writing, laughter, and pondering the relationship between spirit and matter.
"It is my joy to connect with you on your spiritual journey. I welcome conversation and questions and honor your path. I can be with you in celebration or crisis, officiate your wedding or lead memorial services. Some of my favorite words are: compassion, possibility, mystery, peace."
Jamie grew up on a farm in Iowa where she loved spending time outdoors. She went east for college and studied religion and philosophy at Wellesley. As an active Catholic through her college years, Jamie journeyed through questions, challenges, and celebrations as she followed her call to ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. Her theological horizons have been enriched by feminist, liberation, and process theologies. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology and was ordained in 2010. Before coming to serve at Lummi Island Congregational Church in 2015, she served as a campus minister at the University of Northern Colorado, and as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Laramie, Wyoming.
Jamie lives with her spouse, Rev. Sharon Benton (Lead Pastor of First Congregational Church in Bellingham), Samson the loveable mutt, and Baba and Hillary the cat sisters. Jamie enjoys having a home with flowers and trees that grow despite her brown thumb, living close to the water, writing, laughter, and pondering the relationship between spirit and matter.
"It is my joy to connect with you on your spiritual journey. I welcome conversation and questions and honor your path. I can be with you in celebration or crisis, officiate your wedding or lead memorial services. Some of my favorite words are: compassion, possibility, mystery, peace."
Cindy Minkler, Pianist
Cindy Minkler (Lakota Sioux) graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.A. in Music Education (K-12) and Piano Performance. Since then, she’s been an educator, graduation speaker, freelance pianist, piano teacher, and performer. In the 90’s, Cindy was seen on the hit dramedy television show “Northern Exposure.” In 2003 she was invited to perform at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco where she featured her original composition, “Battle of the Little Big Horn.” Cindy performed and won an award at the 2009 West Coast American Indian Music Awards Show. She recently finished her studies in music therapy at Western Michigan University. When covid-19 clears she plans on continuing music therapy programs at schools to enhance learning by improving attention and social skills, managing anxiety and promoting emotional expression. Minkler produced two of her original piano CD’s, “Chronological Growth” and “Holdin’ Me Up.” During her free time she enjoys playing the piano, composing, writing, swimming, going on walks, collecting rocks and photography. You can find Cindy on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@SiouxPianist
Cindy Minkler (Lakota Sioux) graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.A. in Music Education (K-12) and Piano Performance. Since then, she’s been an educator, graduation speaker, freelance pianist, piano teacher, and performer. In the 90’s, Cindy was seen on the hit dramedy television show “Northern Exposure.” In 2003 she was invited to perform at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco where she featured her original composition, “Battle of the Little Big Horn.” Cindy performed and won an award at the 2009 West Coast American Indian Music Awards Show. She recently finished her studies in music therapy at Western Michigan University. When covid-19 clears she plans on continuing music therapy programs at schools to enhance learning by improving attention and social skills, managing anxiety and promoting emotional expression. Minkler produced two of her original piano CD’s, “Chronological Growth” and “Holdin’ Me Up.” During her free time she enjoys playing the piano, composing, writing, swimming, going on walks, collecting rocks and photography. You can find Cindy on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@SiouxPianist
Sahara Burson, Office Administrator & Rental Coordinator
Sahara recently relocated from the bustle of Portland, Oregon to peaceful Lummi Island seeking a more connected way of living. The community has been so welcoming, and she is very grateful to live in this lovely place. With a degree in Spanish and TESOL from WWU and in Education from WGU, she enjoys learning and teaching. However, taking a different turn in her career, she now works from home managing condominium associations in the Seattle area. Her weekdays are a blend of project management at work and administrative tasks at the church, while her personal life is filled with the joys of baking, tending to her porch garden, doting on her pets, and cozy days watching cooking competition shows with her partner.
Sahara recently relocated from the bustle of Portland, Oregon to peaceful Lummi Island seeking a more connected way of living. The community has been so welcoming, and she is very grateful to live in this lovely place. With a degree in Spanish and TESOL from WWU and in Education from WGU, she enjoys learning and teaching. However, taking a different turn in her career, she now works from home managing condominium associations in the Seattle area. Her weekdays are a blend of project management at work and administrative tasks at the church, while her personal life is filled with the joys of baking, tending to her porch garden, doting on her pets, and cozy days watching cooking competition shows with her partner.
Victoria Souze, Yoga Instructor, Custodian
Victoria has lived on Lummi Island for over thirty years. She is active in the marine mammal world and is the Director for the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Victoria puts in a lot of time helping distressed marine mammals and educational outreach. One of her favorite things is to participate in educational outreach for elementary school children. She believes that we are the caretakers of our environment and that it is our responsibility to perpetuate a healthy ecosystem to leave as a legacy to the next generation. Victoria is also a Kundalini Yoga teacher and feels that a strong spiritual relationship with God is tantamount to being a happy, healthy and holy human being.
Cheryl Hood, Bookkeeper
Cheryl Hood has a BBA in Accounting and has been in a variety of positions in her 40-year career: working as an Accountant, and in Banking as a Controller and CFO, an Operations Manager, and a Project Manager.
She and her husband, James Addington, lived on Lummi for 8 years, where Cheryl held positions as Treasurer for both the Lummi Island Congregational Church and for Lummi Island Heritage Trust. She also was a member of The Gathering Place Project Team, primarily in
fundraising and as the Project Manager working with the Contractor.
Cheryl and James currently live in Ferndale, where they are helping to raise their 6-year-old granddaughter.
Cheryl Hood has a BBA in Accounting and has been in a variety of positions in her 40-year career: working as an Accountant, and in Banking as a Controller and CFO, an Operations Manager, and a Project Manager.
She and her husband, James Addington, lived on Lummi for 8 years, where Cheryl held positions as Treasurer for both the Lummi Island Congregational Church and for Lummi Island Heritage Trust. She also was a member of The Gathering Place Project Team, primarily in
fundraising and as the Project Manager working with the Contractor.
Cheryl and James currently live in Ferndale, where they are helping to raise their 6-year-old granddaughter.
