Marlene Metz, Music Director
Marlene Metz began her career as Music Director at North Unitarian Universalist Congregation in 2003. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music degree in flute performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Marlene’s distinguished music training has also developed her impressive artistry on guitar and voice. Notably, throughout Marlene’s career, she has taught private flute lessons as well as music and movement classes for young children. Currently, she is well-known throughout the greater Columbus area as a performer of music for kids at venues that include recreation centers and community festivals.
Marlene’s deep passion and commitment to music inspire the NUUC Adult Choir every Sunday with their electric performances. She strives to create a meaningful atmosphere for worship with outstanding and exciting music.
Marlene is also the mother to two beautiful children, Prescott and Rosemary. She and her husband Bryan live in Galena and enjoy hobbies including pottery, organic gardening, telemark skiing, and cooking with tofu.
Rachel Baker, Intern Minister
Rachel joins us this year as our Intern Minister. Rachel, a life-long Unitarian Universalist, is a candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry. She has just completed her Masters of Divinity coursework at Starr King School for the Ministry affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Recently, she served as a chaplain at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Throughout her religious life she has participated in a number of religious leadership and education opportunities. Rachel is committed to social justice. This commitment has lead Rachel to experience a variety of direct care justice work, including literacy training for adults and children, operating a homeless shelter, and teaching English and HIV/AIDS prevention workshops while a Peace Corps volunteer.
Rachel has lived on both the east and west coasts and is looking forward to experiencing the mid-west. She maintains a nearly daily meditation and prayer practice and manipulates wool into felt objects. Rachel draws inspiration from hikes in the Utah desert and New England forests with her partner, Andrew.
Wade Jones, Accompanist
Wade Jones joined us as our congregation’s pianist in the fall of 2007. Wade has traning in classical music from the conservatory at the University of Cincinnati. He also holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the Ohio State University. Most recently, Wade served as Interim Pianist at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus. He teaches private piano students, and enjoys composing jazz settings for traditional hymn tunes.
Jeri Dill has served as the Administrative Assistant to Rev. Susan Ritchie since August 2005.
Jeri is originally from Virginia but now calls central Ohio home.
Jeri has a long-time background in administrative support and special events production. In addition to her part-time duties at NUUC, Jeri currently performs the office duties for her husband’s remodeling/carpentry business and devotes a great deal of time to caring for her mother and stepfather.
Jeri is not a congregant of NUUC (as the Board made a deliberate decision to fill her position from outside the congregation), but she states that she enjoys getting to know and working with congregants through the many projects and committee work. She especially appreciates the flexible schedule and calmer pace of her current duties and considers her job “therapy”; getting to apply her skills and talents by working for a respected and learned minister in a charming old historic building.