About Our Churches
Our Community
We celebrate the expansive image of God in everyone, and we humbly strive to create a Beloved Community in which all are cared for and valued. In our faith community, you will find middle-aged adults, parents raising children, older adults, young children, and youth. We celebrate the variety of backgrounds and gifts within our church.
Our Beliefs
We believe the divine spark dwells within all of God’s creation. We believe that Jesus was and is our Teacher, Healer, Savior, Friend, and Way. We believe that the Holy Spirit enlivens, guides, inspires, and empowers. We take the Bible seriously and not literally. We value personal and communal experience of the Holy Spirit over doctrinal litmus tests.
Our Mission
We are called to live out our faith every day of the week, by showing love in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities. Everything we do as people of faith is grounded in prayer and listening deeply to the Holy Spirit. We understand that prayer and action are two sides of the same coin. We are committed to educating ourselves about how racism operates so that we can disrupt it.
Meet Our Staff
Pastor
Rev. Melissa Boyer
Rev. Melissa Boyer earned a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1999 and has been practicing ministry ever since. She is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.
Pastor Melissa says, "I believe that God is More -- more than human words and concepts can possibly define or capture. God is within us, within creation, and also beyond us. The teachings, example, and spiritual strength of Jesus are my life foundation. The Bible is my foundation as well, and I take it seriously -- but not literally. I'm firmly planted within the Christian tradition, and I believe that God is found in other religious traditions as well. Love for God, neighbor, & self, and acceptance of God’s radical grace, are the cornerstones of my faith." She has special training in Gestalt Pastoral Care, coaching, and conflict transformation.
Pastor Melissa shares life, learning, and joy with her beloved spouse Barry Mangione. She is the proud parent of two young adult children and one elderly dog. She’s enthusiastic about board games, working out, hiking, and laughing whenever possible. She loves reading and writing, and loves to create things: food, music, vegetable gardens, food, a sustainable lifestyle, food, spaces for people to connect with each other, food...
Music Director
Peter Muir
Peter's career as a church musician dates all the way back to him becoming a chorister in Westminster Abbey, London, at the tender age of 8! Internationally recognised as choral director, organist, pianist, singer, educator, and musicologist, his approach is guided by a passionate belief in the power of music to transform the well-being of individuals and communities.
As a performer and choir director, Peter has an unusually wide range, navigating different styles like jazz, gospel, popular and classical with equal ease. And he believes that the spirit of the music-making is more important than its technical accuracy. As he puts it: “It's the heart that matters, not the technique.”
His work at Katonah UMC aside, Peter is widely known for his effervescent performances of ragtime and early jazz. He has a Ph.D. in historical musicology, and has written a groundbreaking book on early blues titled Long Lost Blues; a follow-up scholarly edition of early blues will be published later in 2023. As an educator, he focuses on using music to enhance the lives of marginalized communities, especially people with developmental disabilities. You can read more about him at www.PeterMuir.com
