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
Rhayma Blake, Church Administrator
With strong Midwestern roots, Rhayma has been nourished by the Unity Church, the church of the blue skies (during her bicycling days), the Episcopal Church, and now the Lummi Island Congregational Church. In the past, she developed and led a Girl Scout troop for the homeless seeking refuge in her church in downtown St. Louis and used her M.B.A. to help develop new products for a major corporation. Currently, she is involved in the politics of the Lummi Island ferry, heads up the monthly parish dinners (affordable dinners that raise funds for outreach and build community), plays a little marimba, and helps to keep the church office running smoothly.
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.
Di Kegeles, Bookkeeper
Di came to Lummi Island in 2004 from Berkely, CA with her wife and family of pets looking for a less hectic and crowded life. She immediately became involved in Island life but also continued to work off island in the bookkeeping field. In 2010 she was able to transition those skills into working as an independent personal and small business bookkeeper, taking only island clients and started at LICC in 2016. When she's not counting the big buckaroos at the church, she can be found gardening, hiking, agate hunting, playing with her dog and working on the photography business that she and her wife own.
